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all the multiform institutions of men,-that all the complex
machinery of life and society,-that all the aggregate act of
humanity existed first in the mind; that'all these are but the
emanations, in distinct and visible shape, of the pre-existing
and pre-acting human soul. Without denying the reaction of
these institutions, and of this external machinery, as instru-
ments of that general mind of which they are the product, upon
the interests and condition of our race, we shall be satisfied, I
think, that their influence has been exaggerated. We shall
thus be led, not only to a more correct philosophy, but to the
adoption of more rational and efficient means of acting on the
condition of our race,-of promoting its well-being. Strangely
and widely do we mistake in the estimate which we form of the
greatest personages, and the most important influences, judged
merely in their relationship to civil and social institutions, and
to the form and administration of government. We are accus-
tomed to regard the statesmen and politicians of a country,-its
kings, its presidents, its secretaries, and diplomatists, and sena-
tors, and representatives, as the great guardians and conserva-
tors of its liberty and its interests. This is too much the case
with ourselves. But neither in these, nor yet in that other
misnamed rock of safety,-the democracy of numbers,-the
mere preponderance, ever changing, of numerical strength, does
any abiding security lie. True hearts are there, undoubtedly,
many of them, among the first, warm with a patriot's love;
and eloquent lips, touched with fire from the true altar, to vin-
dicate for our wide commonwealth its best good, and to warn it
against threatened ills. But from the high arena of the capitol
at Washington, and from the ten thousand other rostrums
scattered through the land, are there ever issuing discordant as
well as angry voices. Lo here! says one, and lo there! says
another. That democracy of numbers, too, can pull down as
easily, more easily perhaps, than it can build up, and it undoes
to-day its most solemn acts of yesterday. Not in the speculative
doctrines of consolidation or of nullification, of sub-treasury
systems, or of banks, nor yet in the pendulum-swinging of