A 
1811.]. 
‘More men of generally virtuous princi- 
ples, or of brilliant talents, would not, 
Lapprehend, be added. The absence 
of imposing talents, however, we should 
have no cause to regret, if their places 
was supplied by plain sound sense; but 
Virtue, public and private, is an essen- 
tial requisite to a useful public character, 
It appears still that the alteration would, 
to a certain extent, be beneficial; and 
the purchase of seats in parliament, or 
the appointment. by government, by 
peers, or by commoners, of persons to 
fill them, is an opprobriam which no lan- 
guage can exaggerate, 
Iam reluctant to repress ardour in a 
good cause. I desire deed, that such 
a temperate plan of reform as has been 
mentioned, may be pursued until it is 
effected; not pursued however with a 
passionate warmth which, at the expence 
of the public tranquillity, would extort 
by violence what cannot be instantly ob- 
tained by reason; but with a firm and 
patient perseverance, which strives to 
overcome ubstacles by peaceful and con- 
ciliatory means, and never deviates nor 
desists until crowned with success. But 
while the friends of reform do not relax 
in their efforts, let them not be too san- 
guine in their expectations of the bene-~ 
Fcial effect of their plans, lest disap- 
pointiment in this respect, when their ab- 
ject is attained, should excite new and 
dangerous projects, or a restless desire 
of change. Men must indeed be indivi- 
\ diially reformed before society can ap- 
proach perfection, or government be 
conducted upon right principles. 
Tn the mode of elections, much of 
good might, however, be easily effected. 
A choice by private ballot in towns, pa- 
fishes, or districts, and in every place 
at the same time, would at once check 
cortuption, and abolith disorders, odious 
in themselves, and injurious to the public 
morals and happiness. . Let this object 
then be above all things pursued, and its 
attainment will indeed furnish cause for 
triumph. 
No person of candour can doubt that 
Many oppose refurm from a sincere ap- 
prehension, that, when che door of inno- 
vation is opened, we are not certain of 
our ability to shut it, but that revolution 
with all its horrors‘may tush in, Such 
Opponents deserve respect, and even 
their opinion is above contempt. But 
with pradent management, an evil so 
justly to be dreaded may doubtless be 
averted. The measure ought not to be 
— ftemperately prosecuted, nor ungra- 
ly opposed; but considered with 
—— Monvuty Mac, No.2i4. 
Observations on Reform. 
521 
quiet deliberation, and without eclat be 
speedily accorded. 
Let us be persuaded that so long as we 
approve the general plan of our political 
constitution, it is both ov: duty and our 
interest to treat every. branch of the gos. 
vernment with external. reverence, not- 
withstanding our objections to some par- 
ticulars in their onstruction, or to some 
features in their character. The deporte 
ment observed towards establishments, 
will not readily vary with the variations 
in their purity. Mankind are, and pro- 
bably ever will be, passively led by haq. 
bit, aud instinctively impressed by names 
and forms. And it would be a Jament- 
able error to suppose that the ill conduct 
of members of an excellent establish- 
ment would warrant us in destroying or 
endangering the establishment itself, 
T would conclude with the remark, that 
as a virtuous end will not sanctify vicious 
means; so neither can a good object be 
safely and certainly promoted by men of 
general bad principles. IN. 
May 26,1911. 
; 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, i 
HE great problem about the liberty 
of the press may be solved in a 
very narrow compass. Its perplexity 
has been occasioned by the want of due 
discrimination. betweeo discussions on 
abstract and public topics and strictures 
on private character. The enemies of 
free inquiry purposely cqnfound these 
distinct objects, in order to destroy all 
liberty; and the friends of discussion fall 
into the. snare, and often defend the right 
of exposing private vices as apparently 
connected with the general liberty of the 
public press. Ifence, the rivht to de« 
fame private persons being inixed with 
the right to discuss general public to- 
pics, both parties are’ right, and both at 
the same time wrong! 
Whén a man, therefore, is tried ina 
court of law for writing a public-:pirited 
attack on some corrupt measure of an 
administration, the Judge ofter exclaims 
to the Jury in language like the follow=: 
ing:—“ Gentlemen, if such abominable 
hbels as these are to be suffered, you will 
not be able to sleep in your beds; your 
fire-sides will cease to be a sanctuary; 
and atl that is desirable in life, and all 
thac religion teaches us to hold sacred, 
will lose their protection and security !"— © 
thereby confounding things as opposite 
as the Antipodes! Such libsls as those 
described, would indeed deserve dif- 
SK ferent 
* 
