Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/133

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Civil Liberty, &c.
129

If an Order of the Senate should be given for the Burning of a Paper legally declared seditious; such a Populace would be incited to rescue it from the Fire: And they who had thus incited them would boast, that it was rescued by the Hands of "the People."

Every talking Demagogue, who should oppose the Measures of Government, would be artfully and indiscriminately obtruded on such an ignorant Populace, as a Patriot or a Heroe. And They who had thus obtruded him would boast, that he was the Favourite of "the People."

Every distinguished Friend to the Measures of Government would be artfully obtruded on such a Populace, as the Enemy of his Country: And They who had thus obtruded him would boast, that he was the Detestation of "the People."

Every Act of the Legislature, which contradicted the Passions or partial Interests of such a Populace or their Leaders, would be branded by them, as arbitrary