471. ARISTOCRACY, Insurrection against.—
But even in Europe a change has
sensibly taken place in the mind of man.
Science has liberated the ideas of those who
read and reflect, and the American example
has kindled feelings of right in the people.
An insurrection has consequently begun of
science, talents, and courage, against rank and
birth, which have fallen into contempt. It
has failed in its first effort, because the mobs
of the cities, the instrument used for its accomplishment,
debased by ignorance, poverty
and vice, could not be restrained to rational
action. But the world will soon recover from
the panic of this first catastrophe. Science is
progressive, and talents and enterprise are
on the alert. Resort may be had to the people
of the country, a more governable power from
their principles and subordination; and rank,
and birth, and tinsel-aristocracy will finally
shrink into insignificance, even there. This,
however, we have no right to meddle with. It
suffices for us, if the moral and physical condition
of our own citizens qualifies them to
select the able and good for the direction of
their government, with a recurrence of elections
at such short periods as will enable them
to displace an unfaithful servant, before the
mischief he meditates may be irremediable.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. vi, 227.
Ford ed., ix, 429.
(M.
1813)
