PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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DaiJ of .suomi,iSi::,); e.yplaiilcd.
ondly, because redress in the (\\"0 cases is not equally
attainable. Resistance callnot be attempted 'vit~
equal hopes of Sl1cce,s, or with the same pro~pect of
receiving SUppOrT from others, where the people are
reconciled to tllcir sufferings, as \vhere they are
alarmed by innovation. In this way, and no otherwise,
the subjects of diffeicnt ~tates posses different
civil rights; the duty of obedience is defined by different
bCJundaries ; and tIle point of ju~tifiable resistance
placed at different parts of the j cale of suffering
-all which is sufficiently intelligible without a social
compact.
VII. "The interest of the whole society is binding
upon e"Very part of it." No rule, short of this, will
provide for the stability of civil government, or for
the peace and safety of social life. Wherefore, as iIl~
dividual members of the state are not peril1itted to
pursue their private emolument to the prejudice of
the community, so is it equally a consequence of
this rule, that no particular colon)?, province, to\\~n,
or district, can justly concert measures for their separate
interest, which shaii appear at the same time to
diminish the S1.11il of pl!blic prosperity. I do not
mean, that it is necessary to the justice of a measure,
that it profit each and every part of the community ;
for as the happiness ~f the \,"hole may be inc.reased,
\,~hi.lst that of sonIC parts is diminished, it is possible,
'.hat the conduct of one part of an empire may be
detr,mcntal to sonle orther part, and yet just, prov!­
ded one part gain more in happiness, than the other
part lo~es, so that the comnlon \\~eal
be angolen,ted l)y
the change: but what I affirm is, that those counsels
can ne,rer be reconciled with the obligations resulting
~-r(,;rrl ,\~i\"il Ullic 11, ·;ivhicl1 callse tIle r:JJho/{,' i.'Jappirless of
~he ~oLiety to be impaired for the conveniency of a
P(:i·t. rl"'his COllClllsion is applicablb to tl1~ qllcstion
:1f rigllt bet\vecn Great Britain ll!lU her rcv()ite(l
C('j lorlit~s~ I-leld I l)Cell an i\. 111 (-: rican, I sl1ou!d not 11~rve'
.hC'i~ght it ~D :mgh to h:1":r had ii: even demon