1846.] Our Social, Political and Educational System. 107 



not till then, shall we realize the blessings of a government in all 

 respects wisely and virtuously conducted. 



In recent years the fact has again and again forced itself upon 

 the consideration of the country, that devoted patriotism, eminent 

 ability and faithful public services no longer furnish any guaranty 

 of success to office; for no sooner are men thus distinguished pre- 

 sented to the people for their suffi-ages, than at them are aimed 

 the envenomed shafts of falsehood, calumny and detraction. Ah! 

 how many a noble heart, whose every pulsation was for the good 

 of the country, has writhed under the influence of this corrupting 

 viru!i ! How many a lofty genius, capable of the highest states- 

 manship, and which was, at the same time, the glory of the 

 country and an ornament to humanity, has fallen before those 

 deadly shafts! Such there have been in this country as in others. 

 They have fallen, truly; but it is consolatory to know that 



•' They fell, devoted and undying." 



No monumental marble is necessary to perpetuate their memories; 

 but their names shall ever be enshrined in the hearts of the pure, 

 the just and patriotic, with those of Phocion, of Tully, of Svdney 

 and of Hampden. 



It has come to that, in this country, that it is the imperious 

 duty of the public man, who aspires to honors and station, to 

 imbue his mind thoroughly with the knowledge, and his heart 

 with the principles of party intrigues and management; so that 

 he can secure, by chicane and circumvention, that which he could 

 not reach by fair and honorable means. Nor is moral depravity 

 any barrier to success. If he should be 



" Fit for , stratagems and spoils ;" 



ay, and, perhaps, for treason, too; or if he should be suflSciently 

 obscure, from never having served his country; or, if he should 

 be distinguished at all, distinguished for his very insignificance, 

 then is he a fit individual for the highest promotion. 



This is a great, a very great error in the times; and one which 

 must he remedied. A high standard of morals is as necessary in 

 politics as in our social organization; and until our politicians, in 

 their various capacities as public servants, rigidly conform to that 

 standard, it were useless to expect that their efibrts will be at- 

 tended by any very stable or beneficent results. 



I have thus alluded to some of the evils growing out of the 

 present state of our social and political systems. How can these 

 evils be corrected? By educating the minds of the people. Let 

 this but be attended to, fully and faithfully, and the object is ac- 

 complished. No corrector of abuses, whether in the body poli- 

 tic or in our social organization, is half so effective as the amelio- 



