312 Effects of the Knowledge of Bk. iv. 



reason why every free government tends constant- 

 ly to destruction ; and that its appointed guar- 

 dians become daily less jealous of the encroach- 

 ments of power. It is the reason why so many 

 noble efforts in the cause of freedom have failed ; 

 and why almost every revolution, after long and 

 painful sacrifices, has terminated in a military 

 despotism. While any dissatisfied man of talents 

 has power to persuade the lower classes of people 

 that all their poverty and distress arise solely from 

 the iniquity of the government, though, perhaps, 

 the greatest part of what they suflfer is uncon- 

 nected with this cause, it is evident that the seeds 

 of fresh discontents and fresh revolutions are con- 

 tinually sowing. When an established government 

 has been destroyed, finding that their poverty 

 is not removed, their resentment naturally falls 

 upon the successors to power ; and when these 

 have been immolated without producing the de- 

 sired effect, other sacrifices are called for, and so 

 on without end. Are we to be surprised that, 

 under such circumstances, the majority of well- 

 disposed people, finding that a government with 

 proper restrictions is unable to support itself 

 against the revolutionary spirit, and weary and 

 exhausted with perpetual change to which they 

 can see no end, should give up the struggle in 

 despair, and throw themselves into the arms of 

 the first power which can afford them protection 

 against the horrors of anarchy ? 



A mob, which is generally the growth of a re- 

 dundant population goaded by resentment for real 



