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MORALS. |
231 |
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Such must be our situation when the government falls into the hands of artful, selfish and designing men. Nor can our interests be much safer in the hands of a weak, ignorant or incompetent sot of rulers. We have compared government to a machine. It may be illustrated by a manufactory filled with various complicated engines, all of which are set in motion by a fall of water, acting upon one great wheel. Under a skilful and vigilant superintendent, the work goes regularly and safely on: the great wheel communicates its action to the others, and a vast complication of wheels. and bands, and cogs, proceeds, with different degrees of celerity, indeed, but each according to its design, and each accomplishing the end for which it was intended. Thus the whole establishment proceeds with safety and success. But suppose that the superintendents are ignorant, and do not understand the machines: or suppose they are negligent and inattentive. Disorder will soon creep into all parts of the establishment. There will be the grating of wheels here, the rending of bands there, and the crush of cogs in another place. The great wheel will acquire an irregular motion; and the whole work, so lately a beautiful and useful contrivance, will rush into a state of anarchy and utter ruin. |
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