But we have come together from our various pursuits to contemplate the
virtue and power of the American Revolution in itself and in its
consequences, to show that the sentiment of gratitude is not dead
within us--and finally, and above all, to thank God for the choice
displays of His goodness to the American people.
There are men who deny the virtue of the Revolution. They do it in
obedience to the doctrine that all wars are wrong. But those only can
consistently maintain this doctrine who also maintain that all
governments are wrong. The idea of government includes the idea that
there are governing and governed parties to it. In this country the
two are united. But all governments which have ever existed, including
our own, make war upon those who forcibly question their authority,
undermine their power, violate their laws, outrage the persons or
property of their citizens. These are acts of hostility against a
state, and are prevented or redressed by force--the element of war.
Therefore, in principle, the daily operations of a government in time
of peace are not to be distinguished from its movements in war; and in
war as well as in peace each government is responsible for the manner
in which it exercises its authority.
If we may employ force in support of good government, we may also
employ force in the overthrow of a bad government.
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