Page:Justice and Jurisprudence - 1889.pdf/172

Rh the smallest doubt that, if we had a purely democratic government here, the effect would be the same [as in France in 1848]. Either the poor would plunder the rich, and civilization would perish, or order and property would be saved by a strong military government, and liberty would perish. You may think that your country enjoys an exemption from these evils. I will frankly tell you that I am of a very different opinion. Your fate I believe to be certain, though it is deferred by a physical cause. The day will come when, in the State of New York, a multitude of people, none of whom has had more than half a breakfast, or expects to have more than half a dinner, will choose a legislature. Is it possible to doubt what sort of legislature will be chosen? On one side is a statesman preaching patience, respect for vested rights, strict observance of public faith. On the other is a demagogue ranting about the tyranny of capitalists and usurpers, and asking why anybody should be permitted to drink champagne and to ride in a carriage while thousands of honest folks are in want of necessaries? Which of the two candidates is likely to be preferred by a workingman who hears his children cry for more bread? There is nothing to stop you. Your Constitution is all sail and no anchor."&mdash;.

"If the fundamental principles of American liberty are attacked, and we are driven behind the inner walls of the Constitution to defend them, we can repel the assault only with those same old weapons which our ancestors used a hundred years ago. You must not think the worse of our armor because it happens to be old-fashioned and looks a little rusty from long disuse."&mdash;.

"It is not quite impossible that the farmers and the promoters of the great mining and manufacturing enterprises which have recently been established in the South may yet find the free ballot of the workingman, without distinction of race, is needed for their defence as well as his own."&mdash;.

"For, unquestionably, it is one among the many problems of philosophy to establish a wise economy and prudent stewardship of that ever-shifting mass of incoming and outgoing thoughts which make up our intellectual estate and property."&mdash;.

" political speculations," replied the student, after pausing for sometime to consider the views last set forth by his instructor, "recall to me the significant truth, that there is a constant warfare between the spirit of good and the spirit of evil,&mdash;that neither one of them is in perpetual ascendency over the other.