Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/234

196 at variegated things. In truth it contains all kinds of republics, and it appears neceary for any one, who wants to contitute a city, as we do at preent, to come to a democratic city, as to a general fair of republics, and chooe the form that he fancies: he will not be in want of models. Is not this a weet and divine manner of life for the preent? To be under no neceity to govern, although you were able to govern; nor to be ubject, unles you incline; nor to be engaged in war when others are; nor to live in peace when others do o, unles you be deirous of peace; and though there be a law retraining you from governing or adminitering jutice, to govern nevertheles, and adminiter jutice if you incline? Have you not oberved, in uch a republic, men condemned to death or banihment continuing till, or returning like heroes, and walking up and down openly, as if no one oberved them? Is not this indulgence of the city very generous, in magnificently depiing all care of education and dicipline, and in not regarding from what ort of puruits one comes to act in public affairs, but honouring him, if he only ay he is well affected towards the multitude? Thee things, and uch as thee; are to be found in a democracy; and it would be a pleaant ort of republic, anarchical and variegated, ditributing a certain equality to all alike, without ditinction.

Let us conider now the character of a democratical man, and how he aries out of that parimonious one who, under the oligarchy, was trained up by his father in his manners. Such a one by force governs his own pleaures, which are expenive, and tend not to making money, and are called unneceary. Eating, o far as conduces to preerve life, health, and a good habit of body, is a plea-