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laws are imperative. No one, as yet, has ever ob- 

 jected to the law of gravity, yet it as surely works 

 death as life. 



We see, all around us, the most pitiable and 

 indubitable proof that law is, to our feelings, 

 merciless. 



Many a man, by a momentary disregard of 

 some law known or unknown, has set in motion 

 a chain of circumstances which has utterly ruined 

 him ! In fact the force of law, in many in- 

 stances, only becomes apparent at the expense of 

 the happiness or life of some unfortunate. How 

 expensive are some of the lessons we have learned 

 concerning the law of steam or electricity ! 



Look at the maniac, the cripple, the idiot, the 

 libertine ! Look at the asylum, the hospital, the 

 poor house, the prison ! Do these teach us the 

 mercy and suavity, or the rigor of law? 



This view of affairs may produce pessimists, 

 but optimism, which is born of error or ignorance 

 is fatal. 



However unhandsome the thought may seem, 

 it is, nevertheless, true that law is more discer- 

 nible and government more authoritative through 

 the medium of their retributions than by their 

 benefits. 



There comes associated with the very principle 

 of government the law of retribution. Its sever- 

 ity, nature and duration are not pertinent here 



