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leaders, that it could scarcely lay a claim to purity of feeling, or soar to patriotism of purpose. Since that era, faction has rapidly generated faction, of grovelling views, and unholy ends, so as to cause political collisions to fester into mere cancers upon the body politic, eating into their vitality, and spreading disease and death over the whole face of our institutions. Yet have the people been enticed into their support by plausible professions of leaders, and the wheedling arts of insincere demagogues, to the detriment of their best interests, the sacrifice of their time, and the loss of their character. Lured on by the cant of party, the slang of affected patriotism, and the hollow promise of patronage, men have closed their eyes, as well as their understandings, to the deception of the game, which made use of them and their interests for the sheer and exclusive benefit of an aspiring demagogue, who, when his purpose was obtained, cast the squeezed orange from him with undissembled contempt. It is to be hoped this epoch of delusion is rapidly passing into the waste of oblivion, never to be recalled; and that the producers of wealth will now be reinforced by the former deluded followers of faction, to second their reforms, and aid them in their labours. A little reflection and inquiry cannot fail to produce this highly desirable result. Let us progress a little further in this investiga

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PERSONAL PARTIES are at all times, and under all circumstances, highly dangerous, and often prove fatal, to the liberties of a free people. They are founded on selfishness, and terminate in usurpation and abuses. They first lead to the obscurity of principles, and gradually produce a total obliteration of all the great landmarks, which are founded on the fundamental

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differences of government, and engraven on the inalienable rights of man. After confounding, in this manner, all distinctions between right and wrong, justice and oppression, freedom and bondage, they soon tend to beget in the popular mind, a total apathy or indifference to whatever relates to political affairs. What is radically erroneous or pernicious, is often glossed over as right, and adopted by affection or reverence for a name—what is nefarious in principle, and even frightful in its consequences, is often welcomed, cherished, and promoted, without reflection, or inquiry, because a voice gilded with popularity has suggested its performance. Men of conflicting views, irreconcilable principles, and incompetent minds, are huddled together in personal parties for a moment, until some shock of interest severs them wider than ever, with embittered animosity, and aggravated feelings; or, if they cohere after the first collision, it is at the increased expense of all that is worthy of esteem and admiration in the human character. Honesty is sacrificed to expediency, truth to self-interest, patriotism to ambition, and public virtue to private aggrandisement. Honour and right can never tolerate such heterogeneous associations. The most callous and adroit knaves, in such parties, smile at the hypocrisy of one another. Mutual distrust, suspicion, and contempt sit upon the face of every thinking man of the ill-assorted group. Yet nothing discomposes the complacency of these venal spirits, and acquiescence in the ruin of their country is purchased by a bribe, a commission, or a a promise of patronage, hid in the mists of the indefinite future. The mere animals disport with their wonted glee, under the shadow of any power, however corrupt; as there are some birds that can live even

upon the gum and berries of the upas tree. A wise, prudent, and virtuous people, therefore, in order to continue free, will never lose sight of PRINCIPLE; and as parties never can be wholly demolished, in a country where government is founded on equality of rights, it well deserves its attention, whether that party ought not to be embraced and cherished, which is built upon the grand fundamental doctrines of INDUSTRY, MERIT, GENERAL HAPPINESS, the distribution of property on the principle of the wORTH of LABOUR, and the intelligence, virtue, and comfort of the whole people?

PARTIES OF INTEREST, however, though some of them are not much better in principle, are less noxious, because one party may be brought to check, or controul another, as the party of stockholders and capitalists, may be met, and counteracted by the party of the producers; which is a real party of GENERAL INTEREST, whose ascendency could not fail to shed a genial, and prosperous beam upon the whole society. Such a party would merely exhibit the INTEREST OF SOCIETY, concentrating for the true fulfilment of the original terms of the social compact, the happiness and comfort of the whole. This we now behold in those parties of the working men, who, resisting the seductions of fanaticks on the one hand, and demagogues on the other, steadily follow in the path of science and justice, under the banner of labour the source of wealth, and industry the arbiter of its distribution.

It must be accounted a most calamitous circumstance for the sons of labour, that at the period of their emancipation, from the rigours of feudal servitude, in all countries, there should have arisen at the same time, to distract their attention, and entice them from their rights and their happiness, the turmoil, tumult,

and collision of political excitement, to lead them still in manacles, at the heels of ambitious demagogues; and as effectually blast their hopes of competence, as the old system from which they had just emerged. This untoward event, however, is rather to be ascribed to their former ignorance of their rights, than to a wilful neglect of them. The specious colours with which capital invests her extortions; the appearance of justice, when protected by law, in which she envelopes her oppressions, all tend to blind the uninformed multitude, and even perplex the intelligent and scientific. But that era of darkness has happily passed away, and regenerated man is slowly progressing to the recovery of his violated rights, in defiance of all the formidable obstructions of pride, prejudice, wealth, rank, and intellect.

The physician, to cure a disease, must be free and candid with his patient, and his patient must exhibit neither reserve nor petulance: the wound must be probed to the bottom, all gangrene cut away, or labour and skill are both spent in vain. It cannot be concealed, it would be unwise to dissemble the fact, that the most formidable obstruction to the attainment of justice, in the distribution of labour, and the consequent opinion of honour and merit, attaching to industry, instead of disgrace, is to be found in the pride and lofty bearing of the literary, erudite, intellectual, and scientific classes. The educated are generally the rich; and where the exception prevails, necessity, or accident, as in the case of labour, soon brings the object under the influence, and within the patronage of the affluent. No habit of mind is so decided and obstinate, as the contempt of learning for ignorance, or of genius for stolidity. In addition to this, the FEUDAL forms of

all colleges, and universities, place an insuperable barrier between the unlettered mechanic, and the classical dignitary. In all situations, and under all circumstances, charters create a virtual NOBILITY. The Doctor of Laws, the Master of Arts, and other similar unmeaning titles, betray the aristocracy of the revival of learning, under Popes, Kings, Emperors, and Princes, and express the determination of wealth, to protect its privileges by golden barriers, as well as legal restraints and intimidations. Literature and education, thus affianced to opulence, naturally feel a strong repugnance to share their intellectual dominion with the mass of society, or to look upon ignorance with a feeling of complacency, or even of tolerance. The prejudice is by this means confirmed, that the occupations of labour, not only do not require the lights of science, and the polish of letters, but that the successful prosecution of trade, mechanics, and other modes of toil, are entirely incompatible with that celestial light, which education sheds upon the mind. Thus it is, that after the shackles of feudal tyranny have been stricken from us, and our equality solemnly proclaimed, and acknowledged by the voICE OF NATIONS, the very light which should beam upon our path, to lead us to the temple of truth and justice, is transformed to a thunderbolt, to shatter and destroy. Even this obstacle, however, will prove unavailing, and must yield to the force of opinion, whilst the press remains unshackled and the ballot-boxes free.

It is admitted on all hands by the philanthropists of the age, that the condition of society demands amelioration. They affect to sympathise with the misery, and exhort to reform the depravity of man.-They call upon the labouring mass, to cease their crime, and to

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