A circumstance, which in a great measure has given strength and support to these idle and wicked fabrications, is the fuppofed bankrupt, and desperate condition of those, who have embarked in the caufe of the reformation of the abufes of Government. This is a topic, on which the eloquence of ministerial hirelings might give unlimited range to its powers. This is a theme too, on which the futile, and danger-brooding imagination of Mr. Burke may draw many beautiful, many pathetic, and many frightful descriptions. But it is too extravagant and wild for fober fenfe, and impartial underftanding, to be feduced and led away from the path of its duty, by fuch crooked and fhallow artifices. If poor men have engaged themselves in this laudable, and praiseworthy undertaking, have the rich, in the mean time, fat by idle and filent fpectators? Have they given the com mon (I wish every one had thought fo), the common cause no ftrength, no fupport, and no confidence? Is it likely that noblemen of the largest fortunes, of the highest rank and dignity in this country, would have joined in a confpiracy against themselves, and against every thing that was valuable to them? It is true, the names of Grenville, of Mansfield, of Loughborough, of Hay, of Pitt, of Dundas, of Windham, and the venerable Bench of Bishops, have not been among the fplendid lift of those who wish to fee the adminiftration of public affairs juft, pure, and uncontaminated; and bribery and corruption torn up by the roots; but England will long remember, and she will remember with gratitude, and with pride, the names, and the virtues, and the patriotic exertions of a BEDFORD, a STANHOPE, a LAUDERDALE, a LANSDOWNE,. a GUILFORD, a Fox, a SHERIDAN, a GREY, a WHITBREAD, and an ERSKINE. She will remember, too, the names of other good and difinterested Patriots, who will be dear to pofterity, and an ornament to the pages of her future hiftorians. In defiance, however, of all the arts, and fordid ma-. nœuvres nœuvres of vile, and unprincipled men, the rights of the human fpecies have not been able to be brought into contempt, or to be driven away, as the fleeting vifions of dreaming philofophers. They are They are fimple, and are eafily defined. Man gives up a portion of his liberty to government for the protection, and the prefervation of the remainder. This furrender, however, ought to be understood as including only those powers of action, which if unrestrained, would be destructive to the very exiftence of the focial union. Whatever befides this is furrendered to Government, ought to be considered as extorted from him, and a tyrannical act on the part of that Government. A facrifice then of this kind to a Government that has a regard for the interefts and happiness of the people, ought to appear to us a bleffing, rather than a curfe. Let me illuftrate my meaning by an example.-Qn entering into fociety, I recognize the right of property in the poffeffor. This I do as much for my own fake, as I do for his; for if I am permitted to plunder and rob him, it is clear that he, or a ftronger man, will plunder, and rob me again when he has an opportunity to do it. What then do I lose by making myself responsible to my governors, if I take away from another that property, over which I can poffibly have no right, and which therefore I ought not to take away from him? It is evident, I lofe nothing on the contrary, I obtain the privilege of enjoying my own poffeffions. with fecurity, and am under no apprehenfions, from indigent, or from wicked men, who, if there were no restrictions on their actions, would have no terrors to prevent them from committing their depredations on my property, whenever their wants inftigated them. This principle of reafoning will apply to every other furrender we make of what is called our liberty, but what should be called, of our licentioufnefs. Whatever furrender can not be reconciled to this fimple principle is unjustly taken away from us. Government, nor any thing human, has any right over it. Hence it is that nations are either in a ftate of free dom, dom, or of flavery, in proportion to thofe powers of action that are either permitted to remain with them, or that are wrefted from them. For in what refpects does our Govern ment differ from the most defpotic dominions? In this one point only, that we furrender very few of the powers of doing what we please, with more justice I might have faid, we furrender only those liberties which would be injurious to us, if we enjoyed them, other nations furrender not only all thofe liberties, which have this deftructive tendency by being put into execution, but also those very liberties, on which depend every comfort, all human happiness, and every fatisfaction, that can make life to us an object of regard, or of concern ment. That the people of Great Britain are theoretically free, all must allow. May the practice ever continue fo! May Government ever remember that they rule for the many, and not for themselves! Long live the MAJESTY OF THE PEOPLE, that excellent, and free expreffion. Long live, (and, if it be extinguished, may it speedily be re-kindled!) in the bosoms of our Rulers, a sense of the Rights of Men, and of Men's High Prerogatives on Earth! Let Kings affure themselves that they are not God's vice-gerents, but only the laborious, and more exalted fervants of the public; and may every Minister, to whom the high truft of national affairs is committed, be vigilant of the liberties of his fellow-fubjects, remind his Royal Mafter, that while he plumes himself on the fecurity of his title to the English Throne-AS IT WAS WON TO HIM BY ONE REVOLUTION, HE MAY LOSE IT BY ANOTHER. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The fenfible Remarks of "Common Senfe," on the Idolatrous Worship of Kings by their Subjects, in our next Number. Obfervations on the Words "Swinish Multitude," in our next alfo. R. must be convinced, that his Communication is inconfiftent with the Defigns of the Philanthropist. Those who wish to promote the PHILANTHROPIST, by their affiftance, will please to address their favours (poft paid) to the Editors, at Mr. EATON's, No. 74, Newgate-Street. THE PHILANTHROPIST. MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1795. LONDON: Printed for and fold by DANIEL ISAAC EATON, Printer and Bookfeller to the Supreme Majefty of the People, at the Cock and SWINE, No. 74, Newgate ftreet. 1795. PRICE ONE PENNY. FOR THE PHILANTHROPIST. ON THE IDOLATROUS WORSHIP OF KINGS. IT has been obferved by many writers, and, if I mistake not, Mr. Juftice Blackstone, that excellent, and justly celebrated Commentator on the laws of England, has given his authority to the remark, that the pomp, the splendour, and mysterious grandeur, which ever accompany Royalty, are indispensably neceffary; and the reafon affigned for the continuation of them is, that, though sense and philosophy cannot help smiling at the fight of such splendid nonsense and folly, yet, the lower orders of the community abfolutely ftand in need of fome fuch artifices, in order to keep alive their loyalty, and the sense of duty they owe to their fovereign. I must candidly declare, that I never could think of this reafon affigned for keeping up fuch ftate-trick |