The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• A Letter to Grover Cleveland.
• Section I.
• Section II.
• Section III.
• Section IV.
• Section V.
• Section VI.
• Section VII.
• Section VIII.
• Section IX.
• Section X.
• Section XI.
• Section XII.
• Section XIII.
• Section XIV.
• Section XV.
• Section XVI.
• Section XVII.
• Section XVIII.
• Section XIX.
• Section XX.
• Section XXI.
• Section XXII.
• Section XXIII.
• Section XXIV.
• Section XXV.
• Section XXVI.
• Section XXVII.

Section III.

Sir, if any government is to be a rational, consistent, and honest one, it must evidently be based on some fundamental, immutable, eternal principle; such as every man may reasonably agree to, and such as every man may rightfully be compelled to abide by, and obey. And the whole power of the government must be limited to the maintenance of that single principle. And that one principle is justice. There is no other principle that any man can rightfully enforce upon others, or ought to consent to have enforced against himself. Every man claims the protection of this principle for himself, whether he is willing to accord it to others, or not. Yet such is the inconsistency of human nature, that some men—in fact, many men—who will risk their lives for this principle, when their own liberty or property is at stake, will violate it in the most flagrant manner, if they can thereby obtain arbitrary power over the persons or property of others. We have seen this fact illustrated in this country, through its whole history—especially during the last hundred years—and in the case of many of the most conspicuous persons. And their example and influence have been employed to pervert the whole character of the government. It is against such men, that all others, who desire nothing but justice for themselves, and are willing to unite to secure it for all others, must combine, if we are ever to have justice established for any.