But what is to restore order
and safety on the ocean? The death of George III? Not at all. He is only
stupid; and his ministers, however weak and profligate in morals, are
ephemeral. But his nation is permanent, and it is that which is the
tyrant of the ocean. The principle that force is right, is become
the principle of the nation itself. They would not permit an honest
minister, were accident to bring such an one into power, to relax their
system of lawless piracy. These were the difficulties when I was with
you. I know they are not lessened, and I pity you.
It is a blessing, however, that our people are reasonable; that they are
kept so well informed of the state of things as to judge for themselves,
to see the true sources of their difficulties, and to maintain
their confidence undiminished in the wisdom and integrity of their
functionaries. _Macte virtute_ therefore. Continue to go straight
forward, pursuing always that which is right, as the only clue which can
lead us out of the labyrinth. Let nothing be spared of either reason or
passion, to preserve the public confidence entire, as the only rock
of our safety. In times of peace the people look most to their
representatives; but in war, to the executive solely. It is visible that
their confidence is even now veering in that direction; that they are
looking to the executive to give the proper direction to their affairs,
with a confidence as auspicious as it is well founded.
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