JB/015/194/001

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That instances may be found in which power will not have been abused – but
have been employed for the public good, is most true: – where for example, it has
been used for the establishment of wise laws at home – or the maintenance &
manifestation of the virtues of justice abroad.

But these cases are rare, – & rarer still are the cases where glory, fame & these
other brilliant possessions have been sought, – or acquired from such a beneficent source. Rarely
indeed that honor & renown are spoken of but in connection with murderous or
mischievous deeds. The reputation acquired by benevolence shrinks into absolute
insignificance when compared with that which the pernicious – and flagitious abominable
enterprises have obtained for monarchs.

What is to be done? What but to reform opinion in the melancholy case where of these
gorgeous things so much little is to be had by innoxious means - so much by
flagitious means? What, but to present the portraits of vice & virtue in
their contrasted hideousness and beauty? What, but to paint in their
true colors those malefactors, in comparison of whom a common incendiary
is as much inferior in the scale of mischievousness as the greatest a small quantity
of mischief in one shape is inferior to the greatest quantity of mischief
in all shapes, capable of being perpetrated by foreign or domestic war.

It may be said that these tinsel baubles are in fact all made subservient
to interest – to national interest. Not so! for those who preach up their
value disclaim the vulgar & the sordid speculation dream of interest.
What declaimer would ever talk about giving up renown to interest? – of sacrificing
honor to prudence? Fling down the substance to catch the shadow –cast
away the real, in order to possess the imaginative – in this you have
the clamour of patriotism & nationality.

Not but that national interest might be more
undeviatingly & unexceptionably pursued without danger to probity or
prudence than private interest. By acquisition of territory private property interest
may be increased – not so the public interest – not by conquest – not
by colonization – the interest of the ruling few, undoubtedly may be
served – but not that of the subject many.

Strange it is that the misery produced by those
influences which have been described – misery on so vast a scale – of
such intensity – & such duration – should be looked on for the most
part with the composure of indifference & the or the excitement of
admiration – & yet more strange that such composure – & such admiration
should sometimes flow from minds who would visit Acts, – or even
thoughts which do no mischief, – with unbridled abhorrence, – popular punishment or
even penal visitation.

Identifier: | JB/015/194/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	015	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	194	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	j & m mills 1828
Marginals		Paper Producer	john fraunceis gwyn
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1828
Notes public		ID Number	5410
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