82 THE LAWS OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY 



adjusted labor, where not only the branch and branehlet, 

 but even the little twig, leaf, and leaf-scale are all fully 

 employed to the extent of their capacity. Where the in- 

 dividual talent of a community is thus fully and univer- 

 sally developed, there must be freedom. 



There always will be individuals pre-eminently gifted, 

 but where talent abounds, there is less danger from the 

 inherent selfishness of those thus liberally endowed by 

 Nature. Let knowledge be diffused on the most enlarged 

 and liberal scale, and the sceptre of tyrants is broken, the 

 throne of delusion crumbles, and individual freedom is 

 fully insured. It is impossible for a people, thoroughly 

 enlightened, ever to be enslaved ? Tyranny can never 

 flourish on the soil of this country. 



In nothing is the supremacy of America so apparent, 

 as in the fact that when men of talent, accustomed to 

 sway the mind of the ignorant masses in Europe, are 

 exiled to these shores, they have to settle down here after 

 awhile as ordinary men. America extends to them a hos- 

 pitable welcome, but because they have come to a " free 

 country," they cannot monopolize, for any length of time, 

 any exorbitant share of popular attention and favor. They 

 may be eloquent orators and journalists, but that is nothing 

 in a country where such gins are abundantly developed. 

 It is true they may contrive to create a local disturbance 

 for awhile, but then it is soon over ; their names are for- 

 gotten, never mentioned, and they take their ranks as or- 

 dinary mortals. 



The truth is, that society in America resembles a wide- 

 spread and well-developed tree, where a great many 

 branches make an equally powerful growth on all sides, 

 so that it is not easy to distinguish amongst them any 

 particular branch which takes the lead. It is not an easy 

 thing for any man to render himself conspicuous by his 

 abilities in a country where there is so much individual 

 talent called forth by education. Now this is all right. 

 It is good policy founded on Nature. 



Continue to educate thy children, Columbia ! Inspire 

 them with an inextinguishable love of truth and freedom, 



