Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]
-
Upload
rebeccageo1789 -
Category
Documents
-
view
213 -
download
0
Transcript of 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
-
7/30/2019 Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]
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
Page 2 of 6Ralph Waldo Emerson, Politics (1844)
6/30/2011http://www.panarchy.org/emerson/politics.1844.html
-
7/30/2019 Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]
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
Page 3 of 6Ralph Waldo Emerson, Politics (1844)
6/30/2011http://www.panarchy.org/emerson/politics.1844.html
-
7/30/2019 Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]
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
Page 4 of 6Ralph Waldo Emerson, Politics (1844)
6/30/2011http://www.panarchy.org/emerson/politics.1844.html
-
7/30/2019 Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]
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
Page 5 of 6Ralph Waldo Emerson, Politics (1844)
6/30/2011http://www.panarchy.org/emerson/politics.1844.html
-
7/30/2019 Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Politics [1844]
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
Page 6 of 6Ralph Waldo Emerson, Politics (1844)