Parties. 69 



men. The motive to eat both, some contended, 

 being equal, it was impossible for the animal to 

 come to a conclusion. He would therefore re- 

 main in a state of inaction, for ever and for ever. 

 This problem, so puzzling to scholastic philoso- 

 phy, would at once be decided by the ass, and 

 the experimentum crucis would effectually silence 

 every doubt. It is impossible for a man, how- 

 ever quietly disposed, to act the supposititious part 

 of the scholastic ass, and remain neutral between 

 the parties, or bundles of hay. He must in truth 

 participate in one or in both, and as it respects any 

 radical difference of principle, it is very immate- 

 rial which he selects. There are some pendulum 

 politicians who are continually oscillating between 

 parties, and these men in endeavoring to expiate 

 their former oppugnation by fiery zeal, are mere 

 fire-brands in society. In order to cover their 

 turpitude, they assume high-sounding names, and 

 are in verity political partizans, laying claim to 

 be high-minded, and like Jupiter on Olympus, 

 elevated above the atmosphere of common beings. 

 And what adds infinitely to the force of these pre- 

 tensions, is to find the most of these gentry to bt 

 the heroes of petty strife, and the leaders of village 

 vexation, the fag ends of the learned professions, 

 and the outcasts of reputable associations. 1 of- 

 ten think of the observations of the honest old 



