| cams_benton_b028_f012_002_013[upper left corner]
13
13 [centered]
watching & oversight of all affairs. It must keep
progress with the times & people. It must be futile
in expedients. It must change its measures
with the mutations of things. It must meet
extraordinary crises with extraordinary measures.
It must show itself equal to any emergency,
or lose its moral force. Every man must feel
that it touches him; that he has a personal
interest in it; – that it is his government, for
all the essential purposes of a government.
If he can not feel this – if the ruling forces are
so far removed, or so slack, that he forgets,
in his alarm, that there is any such power
overshadowing him; then is he thrown back on
himself & his own feebleness; – &, like the sons
of Ishmael he may fear feels that every man's hand
is against him – & feel that his hand must be
against every man. He feels that, in effect, he is an out-cast [outcast], & an outlaw;
and that any one may shoot him who is vile enough. | cams_benton_b028_f012_002_013[upper left corner]
13
13 [centered]
watching & oversight of all affairs. It must keep
progress with the times & people. It must be futile
in expedients. It must change its measures
with the mutations of things. It must meet
extraordinary crises with extraordinary measures.
It must show itself equal to any emergency,
or lose its moral force. Every man must feel
that it touches him; that he has a personal
interest in it; – that it is his government, for
all the essential purposes of a government.
If he can not feel this – if the ruling forces are
so far removed, or so slack, that he forgets,
in his alarm, that there is any such power
overshadowing him; then is he thrown back on
himself & his own feebleness; – &, like the sons
of Ishmael he may fear feels that every man's hand
is against him – & feel that his hand must be
against every man. He feels that, in effect, he is an out-cast [outcast], & an outlaw;
and that any one may shoot him who is vile enough. |
EN