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future. The great evil in a republic of the existence of 

 any marked class distinction is the popular notion that the 

 class of wealth and power was created in some way hj law, 

 and depends for the petpetuity of its privileges upon influ- 

 encing legislation. There could be hardly any belief en- 

 tertained by the citizens of a free country more threaten- 

 ing than that there is behind and before the ballot box a 

 power which can nullify the popular will as there ex- 

 pressed. However false and groundless the belief may be, 

 its existence is always a present danger as a constant 

 source of unrest, and as furnishing a basis for the appeal 

 of demagogues on all occasions. That there should exist 

 in a free country any class distinctions sufficiently marked 

 to invite and emphasize this belief, is a danger to liberty 

 and a menace to strong government. As to such distinc- 

 tions as exist in this country, it is not only desirable, but 

 probable, that they will pass away with the causes which 

 brought them into existence. The events and opportuni- 

 ties which have created some of the most powerful and 

 distinct classes in this country, it may almost be said, will 

 never occur again. Doubtless, if in the earlier years of 

 the nation the great wealth possessed in the public domain 

 had been comprehended, it would have been disposed of 

 with a more chary hand, and under regulations that would 

 have provided for the devotion of some portion of its re- 

 turns to the common interest. Other nations have been 

 wiser in this respect. But what has been done cannot be 

 andone. Titles once vested cannot be disturbed. Some 

 evils that have resulted from the course pursued must be 

 endured until time shall mitigate, if not cure their effects. 

 But with a people engage<l in a varied industry, whose 

 only wealth comes from the pursuit of the ordinary avo- 

 cations which are open to all men everywhere, who have 

 received no peculiar gift from nature and asked no advan- 

 tage from men, or government, class distinctions, if they 

 exist at all, are in their least marked and offensive form. 

 The lines of demarcation are thin and shadowy. The 



