Local Self-Government and CentralizationThis historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ... CONCLUSION. Whoever would ward danger off must be prepared to look that danger resolutely in the face. But, doing this, it is no less necessary that he should also well know and remember what it- is that is worth warding off danger from. That a mischief has got to great head, is no reason for despairing of relief from it: but it is reason, instead, for searching the more carefully into the nature of that mischief. The true patriot will never sit down and deplore what may rouse either his grief or his indignation. He will rather say, always: --" The State is inclining to a consumption, yet not incurable;"* and will seek what cure may best be found. When a system, like that of Centralization, is the great mischief to be struggled with, it will never help the cause of those who would remove it, to condescend to deal with it and its abettors as other than a system: --individuality and personality are quite beside the mark; and the descending to these will but serve to divert attention from the true radical mischief. Nor should it ever be forgotten, too, that many may become, by circumstances, mixed up with the working of a system without having had any original designs hostile to the liberties of their fellow-men. It is, in many, as much want of consideration (though undoubtedly such consideration is the duty of all) as it is fore-plotted ill, that leads them to help forward a system that is fatal to Free Institutions and to human progress. Though it is unquestionable that the plan * Sir Edward Coke; 1 Rushworth, 497. and objects of Centralization, as a System, have been deliberately begun, and are being as deliberately carried on, in order to undermine Free Institutions, yet it may oftentimes be "worth observation, that, though" some... |
