man
himself, is also true of the organs and systems of organs of which his
body is composed. The nervous system exhibits nerves with double
strands; one set (the motor fibres) conveying nervous force from the
centre as motor power to the limbs; the other, conveying sensations _to_
the centre, from without.

The heart, again, the centre of the circulating system, sends forth its
crimson tide to the farthest circumference, and receives it back as
venous blood--to send it forth afresh when purified in the lungs.

The plant has its ascending and descending sap; it drinks in the air and
sunshine, and gives these forth again in fragrance and fruit. The very
globe receives its life from the sun--and radiates back, forces into
space.

Human governments--human political and social organizations, are no
exceptions to this general law. Every government, even the most
despotic, while it rules a nation with a rod of iron, depends for its
life upon the people whom it oppresses. While the central head radiates
its despotic will through its pliant subordinates, down through all
ranks and classes of the community, it receives from them the means of
its own preservation.

A free government likewise radiates authority from the central head, and
also depends for its life on the people whom it governs. What is the
point of difference between them?

It is simply this:

There are two elements of power in a nation.

One is _moral_, viz., the free-will and consent of the people.

The other is _physical_, viz., military service, and revenue from
taxation.

The free consent of the people is the _soul_ of the national strength.

The treasure and the armies which they furnish, constitute the _body_.

For the highest efficiency, soul and body must act as one, whether in
the individual or in the collective man. They must not be separated.
Hence the perfect right of men who would be free to refuse to be taxed
by government without being represented--without having a voice in its
management. The _material_ support must not be given without the
_moral_--that is one form of slavery.

But of these two elements of national strength, a despotism, a
government of force, possesses and commands only the physical or
material, viz., military service and revenue. It controls only the
_body_ of the national powers. Not resting upon the broad basis of the
free choice and consent of the people, it is like a master who can force
the body of another t