Page:An address to the thinking independent part of the community.djvu/35

( 35 ) France has done elsewhere, and judge what she may do here. Do we imagine that the youthful vigour of a new-born people can be refilled by the nerveless exertions of a tottering government? For this purpose the braved and mod powerful armies are scarcely sufficient. Nothing short of a united people can afford us full security. The Republican energy of France, mud be met, if met successfully, by republican energy here. When I say, republican, I mean nothing disrespectful to our monarchy or sovereign. To acquire French enthusiasm, there is no occasion that we should adopt French plans of government. We have, as I mentioned before, in our own constitution, a true republican principle. It is languid, but not extinct. It will be easy to revive and give it full activity. The political frame is solid and well proportioned: it requires only to be invigorated and braced anew. We have no need of a revolution. Or if so great and auspicious a change might well be termed a revolution; it would be such as that of much injured Poland, described by Mr. Burke, a revolution in which "not one man incurred loss, or differed degradation. All from the King to the day labourer were improved in their condition. Every thing was kept in its place and order; but in that place and order every thing was bettered."

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