Such,
I think, is very nearly the state of the question between the ancient
founders of monkish superstition, and the superstition of the pretended
philosophers of the hour.
DIFFICULTY AND WISDOM OF CORPORATE REFORM.
There are moments in the fortune of states when particular men are
called to make improvements by great mental exertion. In those
moments, even when they seem to enjoy the confidence of their prince
and country, and to be invested with full authority, they have not
always apt instruments. A politician, to do great things, looks for a
POWER, what our workmen call a PURCHASE; and if he finds that power,
in politics as in mechanics, he cannot be at a loss to apply it. In
the monastic institutions, in my opinion, was found a great POWER for
the mechanism of politic benevolence. There were revenues with a
public direction; there were men wholly set apart and dedicated to
public purposes, without any other than public ties and public
principles; men without the possibility of converting the estate of
the community into a private fortune; men denied to self-interests,
whose avarice is for some community; men to whom personal poverty is
honour, and implicit obedience stands in the place of freedom. In
vain shall a man look to the possibility of making such things when
he wants them. The winds blow as they list.
Pages:
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393