1846.] Our Social, Political and Educational System. 105 



but there are few, very few, amongst us, who are not affected, 

 more or less, by this sordid passion — a passion which, in all mat- 

 ters, makes us suspicious of our fellows, corrupts the fountains of 

 pure affection, blunts the finer feelings of the soul, and destroys, 

 inevitably, all social enjoyment. 



In this general race for the acquisition of lucre, a few, by one 

 means' or other, are successful. Those few plume themselves upon 

 the distinction which their possessions command for them; at the 

 same time that they are, on account of that distinction, objects of 

 envy and hate by their less fortunate competitors. Money is 

 omnipotent; and the wonderful influence which the possessors of 

 it are enabled to wield, together with the profound homage uni- 

 versally paid to it, has resulted, to a remarkable extent, in estab- 

 lishing an aristocracy of wealth — a tyranny not less arbitrary in 

 its rule than that of the most despotic czar — trampling under foot 

 all that is of real worth in mind and morals, not conibrmable to 

 its unjust exactions. 



No such distinctions in society are recognized in the fundamen- 

 tal principles of our government. But, on the contrary, it is one 

 of its happiest features that places every member of the commun- 

 ity upon the same general level — leaving individual superiority to 

 be accorded upon the only true and just rule — superior knowledge 

 and superior virtue. 



Virtue without knowledge is little better than useless; whilst 

 knowledge without virtue is dangerous in the extreme to the peace 

 and harmony of society; for no principle is better established, 

 both by the theoretical teachings of philosophy and the practical 

 illustrations of history, than that, in all the relations of life — so- 

 cially as well as otherwise — transcendant genius and extensive 

 information, uncontrolled and undirected by virtuous principle and 

 a deep sense of moral accountability, are likely to be dangerous 

 instead of useful to society. This brings me to the second point 

 which I set out to consider. 



In this country all are politicians, A majority of the people 

 are so, to the extent only of forming correct opinions to guide 

 them in the exercise of the right of suffrage ; but a large propor- 

 tion of them are politicians from very different considerations; 

 with which considerations, it is feared, sentiments of patriotism 

 have little to do. All profess to be patriots — such a profession is 

 popular; and upon their popularity, they well know, depends 

 their promotion. With them individual gain is the sole object of 

 their endeavors; and, that accomplished, all else is despised or 

 disregarded. 



Of this class, there are to be found men of such ambitious de- 

 signs, that they become desperadoes in politics; and, for the pur- 

 pose of carrying out those designs, would be ready to join in 



Vol. II., No. 1. 9 



