46 BEEMUDA. 



Although this party spirit is in itself so thoroughly 

 unimportant and contemptible — to all, excepting 

 .'those who are under its influence — yet it deserves 

 this notice in as far as it influences the state of 

 society, in impeding the progress of civilization and 

 the march of improvement. It has extinguished 

 public spirit, which exists only among a few : for 

 the petty triumph of party is preferred, at all times, 

 to the public good. 



The community have too frequently been encour- 

 aged to condemn all Government measures as 

 imbecile, and ruinous to the colony. "It requires, 

 therefore, no ordinary firmness and integrity of 

 purpose to bear up against such attacks, carried on 

 as they are in so limited a population, with the 

 rancour of political enmity, and (where personal 

 yanity has been touched) with the bitterness of 

 wounded pride and personal hatred. Even the 

 tyranny of one man over a whole colony, however 

 galling and severe it may be, can never be so intole- 

 rable as the tyranny of a majority over the minority, 

 particularly when the former feel that their power 

 is only transient, and that no time is to be lost in 

 revenging the annoyances and injuries received from 

 their opponents. 



This is the case in Bermuda, and in almost all 



