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Government is necessary： but let it be remarked by the way； that its necessity does not grow exclusively or chiefly out of the fact that the human race by sin has fallen from its primitive integrity； or original righteousness。 The fall asserted by Christian theology； though often misinterpreted； and its effects underrated or exaggerated； is a fact too sadly confirmed by individual experience and universal history； but it is not the cause why government is neces… 18 sary； though it may be an additional reason for demanding it。 Government would have been necessary if man had not sinned； and it is needed for the good as well as for the bad。 The law was promulgated in the Garden； while man retained his innocence and remained in the integrity of his nature。 It exists in heaven as well as on earth； and in heaven in its perfection。 Its office is not purely repressive； to restrain violence； to redress wrongs； and to punish the transgressor。 It has something more to do than to restrict our natural liberty； curb our passions； and maintain justice between man and man。 Its office is positive as well as negative。 It is needed to render effective the solidarity of the individuals of a nation； and to render the nation an organism； not a mere organizationto combine men in one living body； and to strengthen all with the strength of each； and each with the strength of allto develop； strengthen； and sustain individual liberty； and to utilize and direct it to the promotion of the common wealto be a social providence； imitating in its order and degree the action of the divine providence itself； and； while it provides for the common good of all； to protect each； the lowest and meanest； with the whole force and majesty of society。 It is the minister of wrath to wrong… 19 doers； indeed； but its nature is beneficent； and its action defines and protects the right of property； creates and maintains a medium in which religion can exert her supernatural energy； promotes learning； fosters science and art； advances civilization； and contributes as a powerful means to the fulfilment by man of the Divine purpose in his existence。 Next after religion； it is man's greatest good； and even religion without it can do only a small portion of her work。 They wrong it who call it a necessary evil； it is a great good； and； instead of being distrusted； hated； or resisted； except in its abuses； it should be loved； respected； obeyed； and if need be； defended at the cost of all earthly goods； and even of life itself。
The nature or essence of government is to govern。 A government that does not govern； is simply no government at all。 If it has not the ability to govern and governs not； it may be an agency； an instrument in the bands of individuals for advancing their private interests； but it is not government。 To be government it must govern both individuals and the community。 If it is a mere machine for making prevail the will of one man； of a certain number of men； or even of the community； it may be very effective sometimes for good； sometimes 20 for evil； oftenest for evil； but government in the proper sense of the word it is not。 To govern is to direct； control； restrain； as the pilot controls and directs his ship。 It necessarily implies two terms； governor and governed； and a real distinction between them。 The denial of all real distinction between governor and governed is an error in politics analogous to that in philosophy or theology of denying all real distinction between creator and creature； God and the universe； which all the world knows is either pantheism or pure atheismthe supreme sophism。 If we make governor and governed one and the same； we efface both terms； for there is no governor nor governed； if the will that governs is identically the will that is governed。 To make the controller and the controlled the same is precisely to deny all control。 There must； then； if there is government at all； be a power； force； or will that governs； distinct from that which is governed。 In those governments in which it is held that the people govern； the people governing do and must act in a diverse relation from the people governed； or there is no real government。
Government is not only that which governs； but that which has the right or authority to govern。 Power without right is not govern… 21 ment。 Governments have the right to use force at need； but might does not make right； and not every power wielding the physical force of a nation is to be regarded as its rightful government。 Whatever resort to physical force it may be obliged to make； either in defence of its authority or of the rights of the nation； the government itself lies in the moral order； and politics is simply a branch of ethicsthat branch which treats of the rights and duties of men in their public relations； as distinguished from their rights and duties in their private relations。
Government being not only that which governs； but that which has the right to govern； obedience to it becomes a moral duty； not a mere physical necessity。 The right to govern and the duty to obey are correlatives； and the one cannot exist or be conceived without the other。 Hence loyalty is not simply an amiable sentiment but a duty； a moral virtue。 Treason is not merely a difference in political opinion with the governing authority； but a crime against the sovereign； and a moral wrong； therefore a sin against God； the Founder of the moral Law。 Treason； if committed in other Countries； unhappily； has been more frequently termed by our countrymen Patriotism and loaded with honor than branded as a crime； the 22 greatest of crimes； as it is； that human governments have authority to punish。 The American people have been chary of the word loyalty； perhaps because they regard it as the correlative of royalty； but loyalty is rather the correlative of law； and is； in its essence； love and devotion to the sovereign authority； however constituted or wherever lodged。 It is as necessary； as much a duty； as much a virtue in republics as in monarchies； and nobler examples of the most devoted loyalty are not found in the world's history than were exhibited in the ancient Greek and Roman republics； or than have been exhibited by both men and women in the young republic of the United States。 Loyalty is the highest； noblest； and most generous of human virtues； and is the human element of that sublime love or charity which the inspired Apostle tells us is the fulfilment of the law。 It has in it the principle of devotion； of self…sacrifice； and is； of all human virtues； that which renders man the most Godlike。 There is nothing great； generous； good； or heroic of which a truly loyal people are not capable； and nothing mean； base； cruel； brutal； criminal； detestable； not to be expected of a really disloyal people。 Such a people no generous sentiment can move； no love can bind。 It mocks at duty； scorns vir… 23 tue； tramples on all r