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¬higher afterwards amidst a splendid career of national glory; yet she then perhaps touched her meridian height, not having at that time embarked in an habitual system of expenditure, beyond the golden medium just adverted to, her debt being then no larger than to create a wide spread interest to support the state, but leaving what might be fairly termed the full fruits of industry and talents, subject to no tor- menting visitations of a prodigal government, which can in the end have no escape from bankruptcy but by rendering its subjects bank- rupt. — In the first condition of a nation, the people may be compared to the crew of a well manned vessel in a prosperous voyage, called upon for no exertions but to forward her in her course : the second may be better likened to the toils and sufferings of a tempest, when the ship can only be kept even in doubtful safety, by incessant pumping, when all hopes of advantage are extinguished, and the only principle of obedience is the preservation of life. ¬"Un- ¬
