times elevating to the highest place one who is best fitted for the lowest,—and again, forcibly keeping down at the bottom a mind intended by nature for the top: but we are speaking of the natural grades in society, founded on differences of use and function.) A body politic, to be complete, must, like a natural body, have head and feet, as well as all the intermediate members. It must have rulers, men of large minds, whose province it is to watch over the general interests of the nation; and it equally needs persons of the humblest faculties, to perform the simplest uses, such as those of the common laborer; and there must be minds of every grade between the two. Now, it is evident, that, together with these differences of function, there must be proportionate inequalities in the amount of wealth needed to sustain these various uses. It is plain that the day-laborer, who has no other expenses than the support of his own humble household, and no other tools to furnish than his pick-axe and spade, does not need as much wealth to sustain him in the discharge of his useful function, as is required by the statesman, who, in the performance of his duties, is expected to entertain foreign ambassadors and other distinguished visitors, and in a manner to sustain the dignity of the nation, by presenting such an appearance as is becoming its public representative. In like manner, all the intermediate grades of function require proportionate degrees of wealth for their support.
Thus, there must plainly be inequalities of wealth in society. This distinction is founded in common sense and in nature. The honey-bee does not need as much food as the ox; nor does the rose-bush receive from
