Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]

7/30/2019 Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]

1/6

RalphWaldoEmersonPolitics

(1844)

IndealingwiththeState,weoughttorememberthatitsinstitutionsarenotaboriginal,thoughtheyexistedbeforewewereborn:thattheyarenotsuperiortothecitizen:thateveryoneofthemwasoncetheactofasingleman:everylawandusagewasamansexpedienttomeetaparticularcase:thattheyallareimitable,allalterable;wemaymakeasgood;wemaymakebetter.Societyisanillusiontotheyoungcitizen.Itlies

beforehiminrigidrepose,withcertainnames,men,andinstitutions,rootedlikeoaktreestothecentre,roundwhichallarrangethemselvesthebesttheycan.Buttheoldstatesmanknowsthatsocietyisfluid;therearenosuchrootsandcentres;butanyparticlemaysuddenlybecomethecentreofthemovement,andcompelthesystemtogyrateroundit,aseverymanofstrongwill,likePisistratus,orCromwell,doesforatime,andeverymanoftruth,likePlato,orPaul,doesforever.Butpoliticsrestonnecessaryfoundations,andcannotbetreatedwithlevity.Republicsaboundinyoungcivilians,whobelievethatthelawsmakethecity,thatgravemodificationsofthepolicyandmodesofliving,andemploymentsofthepopulation,thatcommerce,education,andreligion,maybevotedinorout;andthatanymeasure,thoughitwereabsurd,maybeimposedonapeople,ifonlyyoucangetsufficientvoicestomakeitalaw.Butthewiseknowthat

foolishlegislationisaropeofsand,whichperishesinthetwisting;thattheStatemustfollow,andnotleadthecharacterandprogressofthecitizen;thestrongestusurperisquicklygotridof;andtheyonlywho

buildonIdeas,buildforeternity;andthattheformofgovernmentwhichprevails,istheexpressionofwhatcultivationexistsinthepopulationwhichpermitsit.Thelawisonlyamemorandum.Wearesuperstitious,andesteemthestatutesomewhat:somuchlifeasithasinthecharacteroflivingmen,isitsforce.Thestatutestandstheretosay,yesterdayweagreedsoandso,buthowfeelyethisarticletoday?Ourstatuteisacurrency,whichwestampwithourownportrait:itsoonbecomesunrecognizable,andinprocessoftimewillreturntothemint.Natureisnotdemocratic,norlimitedmonarchical,butdespotic,andwillnotbefooledorabatedofanyjotofherauthority,bythepertestofhersons:andasfastasthepublicmindisopenedtomoreintelligence,thecodeisseentobebruteandstammering.Itspeaksnotarticulately,andmustbemadeto.Meantimetheeducationofthegeneralmindneverstops.Thereveriesofthetrueandsimpleareprophetic.Whatthetenderpoeticyouthdreams,andprays,andpaintstoday,butshunstheridiculeofsayingaloud,shallpresentlybetheresolutionsofpublicbodies,thenshallbecarriedas

grievance

and

bill

of

rights

through

conflict

and

war,

and

then

shall

be

triumphant

law

and

establishment

forahundredyears,untilitgivesplace,inturn,tonewprayersandpictures.ThehistoryoftheStatesketchesincoarseoutlinetheprogressofthought,andfollowsatadistancethedelicacyofcultureandofaspiration.

Thetheoryofpolitics,whichhaspossessedthemindofmen,andwhichtheyhaveexpressedthebesttheycouldintheirlawsandintheirrevolutions,considerspersonsandpropertyasthetwoobjectsforwhoseprotectiongovernmentexists.Ofpersons,allhaveequalrights,invirtueofbeingidenticalinnature.Thisinterest,ofcourse,withitswholepowerdemandsademocracy.Whilsttherightsofallaspersonsareequal,invirtueoftheiraccesstoreason,theirrightsinpropertyareveryunequal.Onemanownshisclothes,andanotherownsacounty.Thisaccident,depending,primarily,ontheskillandvirtueoftheparties,ofwhichthereiseverydegree,and,secondarily,onpatrimony,fallsunequally,anditsrights,ofcourse,areunequal.

Note

ThisisoneoftheEssaysthatEmersonpublishedintheperiod18411844.Init,headvocatesthepracticeofselfgovernmentasthemostrightfulwayforindividualstosetupapropersocialorganisation.

Page 1 of 6Ralph Waldo Emerson, Politics (1844)

6/30/2011http://www.panarchy.org/emerson/politics.1844.html


2/6

Personalrights,universallythesame,demandagovernmentframedon theratioofthecensus:propertydemandsagovernmentframedontheratioofownersandofowning.Laban,whohasflocksandherds,wishesthemlookedafterbyanofficeronthefrontiers,lesttheMidianitesshalldrivethemoff,andpaysataxtothatend.Jacobhasnoflocksorherds,andnofearoftheMidianites,andpaysnotaxtotheofficer.ItseemedfitthatLabanandJacobshouldhaveequalrightstoelecttheofficer,whoistodefendtheirpersons,

butthatLaban,andnotJacob,shouldelecttheofficerwhoistoguardthesheepandcattle.And,ifquestionarisewhetheradditionalofficersorwatchtowersshouldbeprovided,mustnotLabanandIsaac,andthosewhomustsellpartoftheirherdstobuyprotectionfortherest,judgebetterofthis,andwithmoreright,

thanJacob,

who,

because

he

is

ayouth

and

atraveller,

eats

their

bread

and

not

his

own.

Intheearliestsocietytheproprietorsmadetheirownwealth,andsolongasitcomestotheownersinthedirectway,nootheropinionwouldariseinanyequitablecommunity,thanthatpropertyshouldmakethelawforproperty,andpersonsthelawforpersons.

Butpropertypassesthroughdonationorinheritancetothosewhodonotcreateit.Gift,inonecase,makesitasreallythenewowners,aslabourmadeitthefirstowners:intheothercase,ofpatrimony,thelawmakesanownership,whichwillbevalidineachmansviewaccordingtotheestimatewhichhesetsonthepublictranquillity.

Itwasnot,however,foundeasytoembodythereadilyadmittedprinciple,thatpropertyshouldmakelawforproperty,andpersonsforpersons:sincepersonsandpropertymixedthemselvesineverytransaction.Atlastitseemedsettled,thattherightfuldistinctionwas,thattheproprietorsshouldhavemoreelective

franchisethan

non

proprietors,

on

the

Spartan

principle

of

calling

that

which

is

just,

equal;

not

that

which

isequal,just.

Thatprinciplenolongerlookssoselfevidentasitappearedinformertimes,partly,becausedoubtshavearisenwhethertoomuchweighthadnotbeenallowedinthelaws,toproperty,andsuchastructuregiventoourusages,asallowedtherichtoencroachonthepoor,andtokeepthempoor;butmainly,becausethereisaninstinctivesense,howeverobscureandyetinarticulate,thatthewholeconstitutionofproperty,onitspresenttenures,isinjurious,anditsinfluenceonpersonsdeterioratinganddegrading;thattruly,theonlyinterestfortheconsiderationoftheState,ispersons:thatpropertywillalwaysfollowpersons;thatthehighestendofgovernmentisthecultureofmen:andifmencanbeeducated,theinstitutionswillsharetheirimprovement,andthemoralsentimentwillwritethelawoftheland.

Ifitbenoteasytosettletheequityofthisquestion,theperilislesswhenwetakenoteofournaturaldefences.Wearekeptbybetterguardsthanthevigilanceofsuchmagistratesaswecommonlyelect.Society

alwaysconsists,

in

greatest

part,

of

young

and

foolish

persons.

The

old,

who

have

seen

through

the

hypocrisyofcourtsandstatesmen,die,andleavenowisdomtotheirsons.Theybelievetheirownnewspaper,astheirfathersdidattheirage.Withsuchanignorantanddeceivablemajority,Stateswouldsoonruntoruin,butthattherearelimitations,beyondwhichthefollyandambitionofgovernorscannotgo.Thingshavetheirlaws,aswellasmen;andthingsrefusetobetrifledwith.Propertywillbeprotected.Cornwillnotgrow,unlessitisplantedandmanured;butthefarmerwillnotplantorhoeit,unlessthechancesareahundredtoone,thathewillcutandharvestit.Underanyforms,personsandpropertymustandwillhavetheirjustsway.Theyexerttheirpower,assteadilyasmatteritsattraction.Coverupapoundofearthneversocunningly,divideandsubdivideit;meltittoliquid,convertittogas;itwillalwaysweighapound:itwillalwaysattractandresistothermatter,bythefullvirtueofonepoundweight; andtheattributesofaperson,hiswitandhismoralenergy,willexercise,underanylaworextinguishingtyranny,theirproperforce, ifnotovertly,thencovertly;ifnotforthelaw,thenagainstit;withright,orbymight.

Theboundariesofpersonalinfluenceitisimpossibletofix,aspersonsareorgansofmoralorsupernatural

force.Underthedominionofanidea,whichpossessesthemindsofmultitudes,ascivilfreedom,orthereligioussentiment,thepowersofpersonsarenolongersubjectsofcalculation.Anationofmenunanimouslybentonfreedom,orconquest,caneasilyconfoundthearithmeticofstatists,andachieveextravagantactions,outofallproportiontotheirmeans;as,theGreeks,theSaracens,theSwiss,theAmericans,andtheFrenchhavedone.

Inlikemanner,toeveryparticleofpropertybelongsitsownattraction.Acentistherepresentativeofacertainquantityofcornorothercommodity.Itsvalueisinthenecessitiesoftheanimalman.Itissomuchwarmth,somuchbread,somuchwater,somuchland.Thelawmaydowhatitwillwiththeownerofproperty,itsjustpowerwillstillattachtothecent.Thelawmayinamadfreaksay,thatallshallhavepowerexcepttheownersofproperty:theyshallhavenovote.Nevertheless,bya higherlaw,theproperty




3/6

will,yearafteryear,writeeverystatutethat respectsproperty.Thenonproprietorwillbethescribeoftheproprietor.Whattheownerswishtodo,thewholepowerofpropertywilldo,eitherthroughthelaw,orelseindefianceofit.Ofcourse,Ispeakofalltheproperty,notmerelyofthegreatestates.Whentherichareoutvoted,asfrequentlyhappens,itisthejointtreasuryofthepoorwhichexceedstheiraccumulations.Everymanownssomething,ifitisonlyacow,orawheelbarrow,orhisarms,andsohasthatpropertytodisposeof.

Thesamenecessitywhichsecurestherightsofpersonandpropertyagainstthemalignityorfollyofthe

magistrate,determines

the

form

and

methods

of

governing,

which

are

proper

to

each

nation,

and

to

its

habitofthought,andnowisetransferabletootherstatesofsociety.Inthiscountry,weareveryvainofourpoliticalinstitutions,whicharesingularinthis,thattheysprung,withinthememoryoflivingmen,fromthecharacterandconditionofthepeople,whichtheystillexpresswithsufficientfidelity, andweostentatiouslypreferthemtoanyotherinhistory.Theyarenotbetter,butonlyfitterforus.Wemaybewiseinassertingtheadvantageinmoderntimesofthedemocraticform,buttootherstatesofsociety,inwhichreligionconsecratedthemonarchical,thatandnotthiswasexpedient.Democracyisbetterforus,becausethereligioussentimentofthepresenttimeaccordsbetterwithit.Borndemocrats,wearenowisequalifiedtojudgeofmonarchy,which,toourfatherslivinginthemonarchicalidea,wasalsorelativelyright.Butourinstitutions,thoughincoincidencewiththespiritoftheage,havenotanyexemptionfromthepracticaldefectswhichhavediscreditedotherforms.EveryactualStateiscorrupt.Goodmenmustnotobeythelawstoowell.Whatsatireongovernmentcanequaltheseverityofcensureconveyedinthewordpolitic,whichnowforageshassignifiedcunning,intimatingthattheStateisatrick?

Thesame

benign

necessity

and

the

same

practical

abuse

appear

in

the

parties

into

which

each

State

divides

itself,ofopponentsanddefendersoftheadministrationofthegovernment.Partiesarealsofoundedoninstincts,andhavebetterguidestotheirownhumbleaimsthanthesagacityoftheirleaders.Theyhavenothingperverseintheirorigin,butrudelymarksomerealandlastingrelation.Wemightaswiselyreprovetheeastwind,orthefrost,asapoliticalparty,whosemembers,forthemostpart,couldgivenoaccountoftheirposition,butstandforthedefenceofthoseinterestsinwhichtheyfindthemselves.Ourquarrelwiththembegins,whentheyquitthisdeepnaturalgroundatthebiddingofsomeleader,and,obeyingpersonalconsiderations,throwthemselvesintothemaintenanceanddefenceofpoints,nowise

belongingtotheirsystem.Apartyisperpetuallycorruptedbypersonality.Whilstweabsolvetheassociationfromdishonesty,wecannotextendthesamecharitytotheirleaders.Theyreaptherewardsofthedocilityandzealofthemasseswhichtheydirect.Ordinarily,ourpartiesarepartiesofcircumstance,andnotofprinciple;as,theplantinginterestinconflictwiththecommercial;thepartyofcapitalists,andthatofoperatives;partieswhichareidenticalintheirmoralcharacter,andwhichcaneasilychangegroundwitheachother,inthesupportofmanyoftheirmeasures.Partiesofprinciple,as,religioussects,orthe

partyoffreetrade,ofuniversalsuffrage,ofabolitionofslavery,ofabolitionofcapitalpunishment,degenerateintopersonalities,orwouldinspireenthusiasm.Theviceofourleadingpartiesinthiscountry(whichmaybecitedasafairspecimenofthesesocietiesofopinion)is,thattheydonotplantthemselvesonthedeepandnecessarygroundstowhichtheyarerespectivelyentitled,butlashthemselvestofuryinthecarryingofsomelocalandmomentarymeasure,nowiseusefultothecommonwealth.Ofthetwogreatparties,which,atthishour,almostsharethenationbetweenthem,Ishouldsay,that,onehasthebestcause,andtheothercontainsthebestmen.Thephilosopher,thepoet,orthereligiousman,will,ofcourse,wishtocasthisvotewiththedemocrat,forfreetrade,forwidesuffrage,fortheabolitionoflegalcrueltiesinthepenalcode,andforfacilitatingineverymannertheaccessoftheyoungandthepoortothesourcesofwealthandpower.Buthecanrarelyacceptthepersonswhomthesocalledpopularpartyproposetohimasrepresentativesoftheseliberalities.Theyhavenotathearttheendswhichgivetothenameofdemocracywhathopeandvirtueareinit.ThespiritofourAmericanradicalismisdestructiveandaimless:itisnotloving;ithasnoulterioranddivineends;butisdestructiveonlyoutofhatredandselfishness.Ontheother

side,

the

conservative

party,

composed

of

the

most

moderate,

able,

and

cultivated

part

of

the

population,

is

timid,andmerelydefensiveofproperty.Itvindicatesnoright,itaspirestonorealgood,itbrandsnocrime,itproposesnogenerouspolicy,itdoesnotbuild,norwrite,norcherishthearts,norfosterreligion,norestablishschools,norencouragescience,noremancipatetheslave,norbefriendthepoor,ortheIndian,ortheimmigrant.Fromneitherparty,wheninpower,hastheworldanybenefittoexpectinscience,art,orhumanity,atallcommensuratewiththeresourcesofthenation.

Idonotforthesedefectsdespairofourrepublic.Wearenotatthemercyofanywavesofchance.Inthestrifeofferociousparties,humannaturealwaysfindsitselfcherished,asthechildrenoftheconvictsatBotanyBayarefoundtohaveashealthyamoralsentimentasotherchildren.Citizensoffeudalstatesarealarmedatourdemocraticinstitutionslapsingintoanarchy;andtheolderandmorecautiousamongourselvesarelearningfromEuropeanstolookwithsometerroratourturbulentfreedom.Itissaidthatin




4/6

ourlicenseofconstruingtheConstitution,andinthedespotismofpublic opinion,wehavenoanchor;andoneforeignobserverthinkshehasfoundthesafeguardinthesanctityofMarriageamongus;andanotherthinkshehasfounditinourCalvinism.FisherAmesexpressedthepopularsecuritymorewisely,whenhecomparedamonarchyandarepublic,saying, thatamonarchyisamerchantman,whichsailswell,butwillsometimesstrikeonarock,andgotothebottom;whilstarepublicisaraft,whichwouldneversink,butthenyourfeetarealwaysinwater. Noformscanhaveanydangerousimportance,whilstweare

befriendedbythelawsofthings.Itmakesnodifferencehowmanytonsweightofatmospherepressesonourheads,solongasthesamepressureresistsitwithinthelungs.Augmentthemassathousandfold,it

cannotbegin

to

crush

us,

as

long

as

reaction

is

equal

to

action.

The

fact

of

two

poles,

of

two

forces,

centripetalandcentrifugal,isuniversal,andeachforcebyitsownactivitydevelopstheother.Wildlibertydevelopsironconscience.Wantofliberty,bystrengtheninglawanddecorum,stupefiesconscience. Lynchlaw prevailsonlywherethereisgreaterhardihoodandselfsubsistencyintheleaders.Amobcannotbeapermanency:everybodysinterestrequiresthatitshouldnotexist,andonlyjusticesatisfiesall.

Wemusttrustinfinitelytothebeneficentnecessitywhichshinesthroughalllaws.Humannatureexpressesitselfinthemascharacteristicallyasinstatues,orsongs,orrailroads,andanabstractofthecodesofnationswouldbeatranscriptofthecommonconscience.Governmentshavetheirorigininthemoralidentityofmen.Reasonforoneisseentobereasonforanother,andforeveryother.Thereisamiddlemeasurewhichsatisfiesallparties,betheyneversomany,orsoresolutefortheirown.Everymanfindsasanctionforhissimplestclaimsanddeedsindecisionsofhisownmind,whichhecallsTruthandHoliness.Inthesedecisionsallthecitizensfindaperfectagreement,andonlyinthese;notinwhatisgoodtoeat,goodtowear,gooduseoftime,orwhatamountofland,orofpublicaid,eachisentitledtoclaim.Thistruthand

justicemenpresentlyendeavourtomakeapplicationof,tothemeasuringofland,theapportionmentofservice,theprotectionoflifeandproperty.Theirfirstendeavours,nodoubt,areveryawkward.Yetabsoluterightisthefirstgovernor;or,everygovernmentisanimpuretheocracy.Theidea,afterwhicheachcommunityisaimingtomakeandmenditslaw,is,thewillofthewiseman.Thewiseman,itcannotfindinnature,anditmakesawkwardbutearnesteffortstosecurehisgovernmentbycontrivance;as,bycausingtheentirepeopletogivetheirvoicesoneverymeasure;or,byadoublechoicetogettherepresentationofthewhole;or,byaselectionofthebestcitizens;or,tosecuretheadvantagesofefficiencyandinternalpeace,

byconfidingthegovernmenttoone,whomayhimselfselecthisagents.Allformsofgovernmentsymbolizeanimmortalgovernment,commontoalldynastiesandindependentofnumbers,perfectwheretwomenexist,perfectwherethereisonlyoneman.

Everymansnatureisasufficientadvertisementtohimofthecharacterofhisfellows.Myrightandmywrong,istheirrightandtheirwrong.WhilstIdowhatisfitforme,andabstainfromwhatisunfit,myneighbourandIshalloftenagreeinourmeans,andworktogetherforatimetooneend.ButwheneverI

findmydominionovermyselfnotsufficientforme,andundertakethedirectionofhimalso,Ioverstepthetruth,andcomeintofalserelationstohim.Imayhavesomuchmoreskillorstrengththanhe,thathecannotexpressadequatelyhissenseofwrong,butitisalie,andhurtslikealiebothhimandme.Loveandnaturecannotmaintaintheassumption:itmustbeexecutedbyapracticallie,namely,byforce.Thisundertakingforanother,istheblunderwhichstandsincolossaluglinessinthegovernmentsoftheworld.Itisthesamethinginnumbers,asinapair,onlynotquitesointelligible.Icanseewellenoughagreatdifferencebetweenmysettingmyselfdowntoaselfcontrol,andmygoingtomakesomebodyelseactaftermyviews:butwhenaquarterofthehumanraceassumetotellmewhatImustdo,Imaybetoomuchdisturbedbythecircumstancestoseesoclearlytheabsurdityoftheircommand.Therefore,allpublicendslookvagueandquixoticbesideprivateones.For,anylawsbutthosewhichmenmakeforthemselves,arelaughable.IfIputmyselfintheplaceofmychild,andwestandinonethought,andseethatthingsarethusorthus,thatperceptionislawforhimandme.Weareboththere,bothact.Butif,withoutcarryinghimintothethought,Ilookoverintohisplot,and,guessinghowitiswithhim,ordainthisorthat,hewillnever

obey

me.

This

is

the

history

of

governments,

one

man

does

something

which

is

to

bind

another.

A

man

whocannotbeacquaintedwithme,taxesme;lookingfromafaratme,ordainsthatapartofmylabourshallgotothisorthatwhimsicalend,notasI,butashehappenstofancy.Beholdtheconsequence.Ofalldebts,menareleastwillingtopaythetaxes.Whatasatireisthisongovernment!Everywheretheythinktheygettheirmoneysworth,exceptforthese.

Hence,thelessgovernmentwehave,thebetter, thefewerlaws,andthelessconfidedpower.TheantidotetothisabuseofformalGovernment,is,theinfluenceofprivatecharacter,thegrowthoftheIndividual;theappearanceoftheprincipaltosupersedetheproxy;theappearanceofthewiseman,ofwhomtheexistinggovernment,is,itmustbeowned,butashabbyimitation.Thatwhichallthingstendtoeduce,whichfreedom,cultivation,intercourse,revolutions,gotoformanddeliver,ischaracter;thatistheendofnature,toreachuntothiscoronationofherking.Toeducatethewiseman,theStateexists;andwiththeappearance




5/6

ofthewiseman,theStateexpires.Theappearanceofcharactermakes theStateunnecessary.ThewisemanistheState.Heneedsnoarmy,fort,ornavy, helovesmentoowell;nobribe,orfeast,orpalace,todrawfriendstohim;novantageground,nofavourablecircumstance.Heneedsnolibrary,forhehasnotdonethinking;nochurch,forheisaprophet;nostatutebook,forhehasthelawgiver;nomoney,forheisvalue;noroad,forheisathomewhereheis;noexperience,forthelifeofthecreatorshootsthroughhim,andlooksfromhiseyes.Hehasnopersonalfriends,forhewhohasthespelltodrawtheprayerandpietyofallmenuntohim,needsnothusbandandeducateafew,tosharewithhimaselectandpoeticlife.Hisrelationtomenisangelic;hismemoryismyrrhtothem;hispresence,frankincenseandflowers.

Wethinkourcivilizationnearitsmeridian,butweareyetonlyatthecockcrowingandthemorningstar.Inourbarbaroussocietytheinfluenceofcharacterisinitsinfancy.Asapoliticalpower,astherightfullordwhoistotumbleallrulersfromtheirchairs,itspresenceishardlyyetsuspected.MalthusandRicardoquiteomitit;theAnnualRegisterissilent;intheConversations Lexicon,itisnotsetdown;thePresidentsMessage,theQueensSpeech,havenotmentionedit;andyetitisnevernothing.Everythoughtwhichgeniusandpietythrowintotheworld,alterstheworld.Thegladiatorsinthelistsofpowerfeel,throughalltheirfrocksofforceandsimulation,thepresenceofworth.Ithinktheverystrifeoftradeandambitionareconfessionofthisdivinity;andsuccessesinthosefieldsarethepooramends,thefigleafwithwhichtheshamedsoulattemptstohideitsnakedness.Ifindthelikeunwillinghomageinallquarters.Itisbecauseweknowhowmuchisduefromus,thatweareimpatienttoshowsomepettytalentasasubstituteforworth.Wearehauntedbyaconscienceofthisrighttograndeurofcharacter,andarefalsetoit.Buteachofushassometalent,candosomewhatuseful,orgraceful,orformidable,oramusing,orlucrative.Thatwedo,asanapologytoothersandtoourselves,fornotreachingthemarkofagoodandequallife.Butitdoes

notsatisfyus,whilstwethrustitonthenoticeofourcompanions.Itmaythrowdustintheireyes,butdoesnotsmoothourownbrow,orgiveusthetranquillityofthestrongwhenwewalkabroad.Wedopenanceaswego.Ourtalentisasortofexpiation,andweareconstrainedtoreflectonoursplendidmoment,withacertainhumiliation,assomewhattoofine,andnotasoneactofmanyacts,afairexpressionofourpermanentenergy.Mostpersonsofabilitymeetinsocietywithakindoftacitappeal.Eachseemstosay,Iamnotallhere.Senatorsandpresidentshaveclimbedsohighwithpainenough,notbecausetheythinktheplacespeciallyagreeable,butasanapologyforrealworth,andtovindicatetheirmanhoodinoureyes.Thisconspicuouschairistheircompensationtothemselvesforbeingofapoor,cold,hardnature.Theymustdowhattheycan.Likeoneclassofforestanimals,theyhavenothingbutaprehensiletail:climbtheymust,orcrawl.Ifamanfoundhimselfsorichnaturedthathecouldenterintostrictrelationswiththebestpersons,andmakelifeserenearoundhimbythedignityandsweetnessofhisbehaviour,couldheaffordtocircumventthefavourofthecaucusandthepress,andcovetrelationssohollowandpompous,asthoseofapolitician?Surelynobodywouldbeacharlatan,whocouldaffordtobesincere.

Thetendenciesofthetimesfavourtheideaofselfgovernment,andleavetheindividual,forallcode,totherewardsandpenaltiesofhisownconstitution,whichworkwithmoreenergythanwebelieve,whilstwedependonartificialrestraints.Themovementinthisdirectionhasbeenverymarkedinmodernhistory.Muchhasbeenblindanddiscreditable,butthenatureoftherevolutionisnotaffectedbythevicesoftherevolters;forthisisapurelymoralforce.Itwasneveradoptedbyanypartyinhistory,neithercanbe.Itseparatestheindividualfromallparty,anduniteshim,atthesametime,totherace.Itpromisesarecognitionofhigherrightsthanthoseofpersonalfreedom,orthesecurityofproperty.Amanhasarighttobeemployed,tobetrusted,tobeloved,toberevered.Thepoweroflove,asthebasisofaState,hasnever

beentried.Wemustnotimaginethatallthingsarelapsingintoconfusion,ifeverytenderprotestantbenotcompelledtobearhispartincertainsocialconventions:nordoubtthatroadscanbebuilt,letterscarried,andthefruitoflaboursecured,whenthegovernmentofforceisatanend.Areourmethodsnowsoexcellentthatallcompetitionishopeless?Couldnotanationoffriendsevendevisebetterways?Ontheotherhand,letnotthemostconservativeandtimidfearanythingfromaprematuresurrenderofthe

bayonet,

and

the

system

of

force.

For,

according

to

the

order

of

nature,

which

is

quite

superior

to

our

will,

it

standsthus;therewillalwaysbeagovernmentofforce,wheremenareselfish;andwhentheyarepureenoughtoabjurethecodeofforce,theywillbewiseenoughtoseehowthesepublicendsofthepostoffice,ofthehighway,ofcommerce,andtheexchangeofproperty,ofmuseumsandlibraries,ofinstitutionsofartandscience,canbeanswered.

Weliveinaverylowstateoftheworld,andpayunwillingtributetogovernmentsfoundedonforce.Thereisnot,amongthemostreligiousandinstructedmenofthemostreligiousandcivilnations,arelianceonthemoralsentiment,andasufficientbeliefintheunityofthingstopersuadethemthatsocietycanbemaintainedwithoutartificialrestraints,aswellasthesolarsystem;orthattheprivatecitizenmightbereasonable,andagoodneighbour,withoutthehintofajailoraconfiscation.Whatisstrangetoo,thereneverwasinanymansufficientfaithinthepowerofrectitude,to inspirehimwiththebroaddesignof




6/6

renovatingtheStateontheprincipleofrightandlove.Allthosewhohavepretendedthisdesign,havebeenpartialreformers,andhaveadmittedinsomemannerthesupremacyofthebadState.Idonotcalltomindasinglehumanbeingwhohassteadilydeniedtheauthorityofthelaws,onthesimplegroundofhisownmoralnature.Suchdesigns,fullofgeniusandfulloffateastheyare,arenotentertainedexceptavowedlyasairpictures.Iftheindividualwhoexhibitsthem,daretothinkthempracticable,hedisgustsscholarsandchurchmen;andmenoftalent,andwomenofsuperiorsentiments,cannothidetheircontempt.Notthelessdoesnaturecontinuetofilltheheartofyouthwithsuggestionsofthisenthusiasm,andtherearenowmen, ifindeedIcanspeakinthepluralnumber, moreexactly,Iwillsay,Ihavejustbeenconversingwithone

man,to

whom

no

weight

of

adverse

experience

will

make

it

for

amoment

appear

impossible,

that

thousandsofhumanbeingsmightexercisetowardseachotherthegrandestandsimplestsentiments,aswellasaknotoffriends,orapairoflovers.

www.panarchy.org 2000 - 2011


Documents

Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]