6。Donationoftwentyshillingseachfortwentythousandmarriages。
7。Allowanceoftwentythousandpoundsforthefuneralexpensesofpersonstravellingforwork,anddyingatadistancefromtheirfriends。
8。EmploymentatalltimesforthecasualpoorinthecitiesofLondonandWestminster。
SecondEnumeration9。Abolitionofthetaxonhousesandwindows。
10。Allowanceofthreeshillingsperweekforlifetofifteenthousanddisbandedsoldiers,andaproportionateallowancetotheofficersofthedisbandedcorps。
11。IncreaseofpaytotheremainingsoldiersofL19,500annually。
12。Thesameallowancetothedisbandednavy,andthesameincreaseofpay,astothearmy。
13。Abolitionofthecommutationtax。
14。Planofaprogressivetax,operatingtoextirpatetheunjustandunnaturallawofprimogeniture,andtheviciousinfluenceofthearistocraticalsystem。*[39]
Thereyetremains,asalreadystated,onemillionofsurplustaxes。
Somepartofthiswillberequiredforcircumstancesthatdonotimmediatelypresentthemselves,andsuchpartasshallnotbewanted,willadmitofafurtherreductionoftaxesequaltothatamount。
Amongtheclaimsthatjusticerequirestobemade,theconditionoftheinferiorrevenue—officerswillmeritattention。Itisareproachtoanygovernmenttowastesuchanimmensityofrevenueinsinecuresandnominalandunnecessaryplacesandofficers,andnotallowevenadecentlivelihoodtothoseonwhomthelabourfalls。Thesalaryoftheinferiorofficersoftherevenuehasstoodatthepettypittanceoflessthanfiftypoundsayearforupwardsofonehundredyears。Itoughttobeseventy。Aboutonehundredandtwentythousandpoundsappliedtothispurpose,willputallthosesalariesinadecentcondition。
Thiswasproposedtobedonealmosttwentyyearsago,butthetreasury—boardtheninbeing,startledatit,asitmightleadtosimilarexpectationsfromthearmyandnavy;andtheeventwas,thattheKing,orsomebodyforhim,appliedtoparliamenttohavehisownsalaryraisedanhundredthousandpoundsayear,whichbeingdone,everythingelsewaslaidaside。
Withrespecttoanotherclassofmen,theinferiorclergy,Iforbeartoenlargeontheircondition;butallpartialitiesandprejudicesfor,oragainst,differentmodesandformsofreligionaside,commonjusticewilldetermine,whetherthereoughttobeanincomeoftwentyorthirtypoundsayeartooneman,andoftenthousandtoanother。Ispeakonthissubjectwiththemorefreedom,becauseIamknownnottobeaPresbyterian;andthereforethecantcryofcourtsycophants,aboutchurchandmeeting,keptuptoamuseandbewilderthenation,cannotberaisedagainstme。
Yesimplemenonbothsidesthequestion,doyounotseethroughthiscourtlycraft？Ifyecanbekeptdisputingandwranglingaboutchurchandmeeting,yejustanswerthepurposeofeverycourtier,wholivesthewhileonthespoilsofthetaxes,andlaughsatyourcredulity。Everyreligionisgoodthatteachesmantobegood;andIknowofnonethatinstructshimtobebad。
Allthebefore—mentionedcalculationssupposeonlysixteenmillionsandanhalfoftaxespaidintotheexchequer,aftertheexpenseofcollectionanddrawbacksatthecustom—houseandexcise—officearededucted;whereasthesumpaidintotheexchequerisverynearly,ifnotquite,seventeenmillions。ThetaxesraisedinScotlandandIrelandareexpendedinthosecountries,andthereforetheirsavingswillcomeoutoftheirowntaxes;
butifanypartbepaidintotheEnglishexchequer,itmightberemitted。Thiswillnotmakeonehundredthousandpoundsayeardifference。
Therenowremainsonlythenationaldebttobeconsidered。Intheyear1789,theinterest,exclusiveofthetontine,wasL9,150,138。Howmuchthecapitalhasbeenreducedsincethattimetheministerbestknows。Butafterpayingtheinterest,abolishingthetaxonhousesandwindows,thecommutationtax,andthepoor—rates;andmakingalltheprovisionsforthepoor,fortheeducationofchildren,thesupportoftheaged,thedisbandedpartofthearmyandnavy,andincreasingthepayoftheremainder,therewillbeasurplusofonemillion。
Thepresentschemeofpayingoffthenationaldebtappearstome,speakingasanindifferentperson,tobeanill—concerted,ifnotafallaciousjob。Theburthenofthenationaldebtconsistsnotinitsbeingsomanymillions,orsomanyhundredmillions,butinthequantityoftaxescollectedeveryyeartopaytheinterest。
Ifthisquantitycontinuesthesame,theburthenofthenationaldebtisthesametoallintentsandpurposes,bethecapitalmoreorless。Theonlyknowledgewhichthepubliccanhaveofthereductionofthedebt,mustbethroughthereductionoftaxesforpayingtheinterest。Thedebt,therefore,isnotreducedonefarthingtothepublicbyallthemillionsthathavebeenpaid;anditwouldrequiremoremoneynowtopurchaseupthecapital,thanwhentheschemebegan。
Digressingforamomentatthispoint,towhichIshallreturnagain,IlookbacktotheappointmentofMr。Pitt,asminister。
IwastheninAmerica。Thewarwasover;andthoughresentmenthadceased,memorywasstillalive。
Whenthenewsofthecoalitionarrived,thoughitwasamatterofnoconcerntoIfeltitasaman。Ithadsomethinginitwhichshocked,bypubliclysportingwithdecency,ifnotwithprinciple。
ItwasimpudenceinLordNorth;itwasawantoffirmnessinMr。Fox。
Mr。Pittwas,atthattime,whatmaybecalledamaidencharacterinpolitics。Sofarfrombeinghackneyed,heappearednottobeinitiatedintothefirstmysteriesofcourtintrigue。Everythingwasinhisfavour。Resentmentagainstthecoalitionservedasfriendshiptohim,andhisignoranceofvicewascreditedforvirtue。
Withthereturnofpeace,commerceandprosperitywouldriseofitself;yeteventhisincreasewasthrowntohisaccount。
Whenhecametothehelm,thestormwasover,andhehadnothingtointerrupthiscourse。Itrequiredeveningenuitytobewrong,andhesucceeded。Alittletimeshowedhimthesamesortofmanashispredecessorshadbeen。Insteadofprofitingbythoseerrorswhichhadaccumulatedaburthenoftaxesunparalleledintheworld,hesought,Imightalmostsay,headvertisedforenemies,andprovokedmeanstoincreasetaxation。Aimingatsomething,heknewnotwhat,heransackedEuropeandIndiaforadventures,andabandoningthefairpretensionshebeganwith,hebecametheknight—errantofmoderntimes。
Itisunpleasanttoseecharacterthrowitselfaway。Itismoresotoseeone's—selfdeceived。Mr。Pitthadmeritednothing,buthepromisedmuch。Hegavesymptomsofamindsuperiortothemeannessandcorruptionofcourts。Hisapparentcandourencouragedexpectations;andthepublicconfidence,stunned,wearied,andconfoundedbyachaosofparties,revivedandattacheditselftohim。Butmistaking,ashehasdone,thedisgustofthenationagainstthecoalition,formeritinhimself,hehasrushedintomeasureswhichamanlesssupportedwouldnothavepresumedtoact。
Allthisseemstoshowthatchangeofministersamountstonothing。
Onegoesout,anothercomesin,andstillthesamemeasures,vices,andextravagancearepursued。Itsignifiesnotwhoisminister。Thedefectliesinthesystem。Thefoundationandthesuperstructureofthegovernmentisbad。Propitasyouplease,itcontinuallysinksintocourtgovernment,andeverwill。
Ireturn,asIpromised,tothesubjectofthenationaldebt,thatoffspringoftheDutch—Anglorevolution,anditshandmaidtheHanoversuccession。
Butitisnowtoolatetoenquirehowitbegan。Thosetowhomitisduehaveadvancedthemoney;andwhetheritwaswellorillspent,orpocketed,isnottheircrime。Itis,however,easytosee,thatasthenationproceedsincontemplatingthenatureandprinciplesofgovernment,andtounderstandtaxes,andmakecomparisonsbetweenthoseofAmerica,France,andEngland,itwillbenexttoimpossibletokeepitinthesametorpidstateithashithertobeen。Somereformmust,fromthenecessityofthecase,soonbegin。Itisnotwhethertheseprinciplespresswithlittleormuchforceinthepresentmoment。Theyareout。Theyareabroadintheworld,andnoforcecanstopthem。Likeasecrettold,theyarebeyondrecall;andhemustbeblindindeedthatdoesnotseethatachangeisalreadybeginning。
Ninemillionsofdeadtaxesisaseriousthing;andthisnotonlyforbad,butinagreatmeasureforforeigngovernment。Byputtingthepowerofmakingwarintothehandsoftheforeignerswhocameforwhattheycouldget,littleelsewastobeexpectedthanwhathashappened。
Reasonsarealreadyadvancedinthiswork,showingthatwhateverthereformsinthetaxesmaybe,theyoughttobemadeinthecurrentexpensesofgovernment,andnotinthepartappliedtotheinterestofthenationaldebt。Byremittingthetaxesofthepoor,theywillbetotallyrelieved,andalldiscontentwillbetakenaway;andbystrikingoffsuchofthetaxesasarealreadymentioned,thenationwillmorethanrecoverthewholeexpenseofthemadAmericanwar。
Therewillthenremainonlythenationaldebtasasubjectofdiscontent;
andinordertoremove,orrathertopreventthis,itwouldbegoodpolicyinthestockholdersthemselvestoconsideritasproperty,subjectlikeallotherproperty,tobearsomeportionofthetaxes。Itwouldgivetoitbothpopularityandsecurity,andasagreatpartofitspresentinconvenienceisbalancedbythecapitalwhichitkeepsalive,ameasureofthiskindwouldsofaraddtothatbalanceastosilenceobjections。
Thismaybedonebysuchgradualmeansastoaccomplishallthatisnecessarywiththegreatesteaseandconvenience。
Insteadoftaxingthecapital,thebestmethodwouldbetotaxtheinterestbysomeprogressiveratio,andtolessenthepublictaxesinthesameproportionastheinterestdiminished。
Supposetheinterestwastaxedonehalfpennyinthepoundthefirstyear,apennymorethesecond,andtoproceedbyacertainratiotobedeterminedupon,alwayslessthananyothertaxuponproperty。Suchataxwouldbesubtractedfromtheinterestatthetimeofpayment,withoutanyexpenseofcollection。
Onehalfpennyinthepoundwouldlessentheinterestandconsequentlythetaxes,twentythousandpounds。Thetaxonwagonsamountstothissum,andthistaxmightbetakenoffthefirstyear。
Thesecondyearthetaxonfemaleservants,orsomeotherofthelikeamountmightalsobetakenoff,andbyproceedinginthismanner,alwaysapplyingthetaxraisedfromthepropertyofthedebttowarditsextinction,andnotcarryittothecurrentservices,itwouldliberateitself。
Thestockholders,notwithstandingthistax,wouldpaylesstaxesthantheydonow。Whattheywouldsavebytheextinctionofthepoor—rates,andthetaxonhousesandwindows,andthecommutationtax,wouldbeconsiderablygreaterthanwhatthistax,slow,butcertaininitsoperation,amountsto。
Itappearstometobeprudencetolookoutformeasuresthatmayapplyunderanycircumstancesthatmayapproach。Thereis,atthismoment,acrisisintheaffairsofEuropethatrequiresit。Preparationnowiswisdom。Iftaxationbeonceletloose,itwillbedifficulttore—instateit;neitherwouldthereliefbesoeffectual,asifitproceededbysomecertainandgradualreduction。
Thefraud,hypocrisy,andimpositionofgovernments,arenowbeginningtobetoowellunderstoodtopromisethemanylongcareer。Thefarceofmonarchyandaristocracy,inallcountries,isfollowingthatofchivalry,andMr。Burkeisdressingaristocracy,inallcountries,isfollowingthatofchivalry,andMr。
Burkeisdressingforthefuneral。Letitthenpassquietlytothetombofallotherfollies,andthemournersbecomforted。
ThetimeisnotverydistantwhenEnglandwilllaughatitselfforsendingtoHolland,Hanover,Zell,orBrunswickformen,attheexpenseofamillionayear,whounderstoodneitherherlaws,herlanguage,norherinterest,andwhosecapacitieswouldscarcelyhavefittedthemfortheofficeofaparishconstable。Ifgovernmentcouldbetrustedtosuchhands,itmustbesomeeasyandsimplethingindeed,andmaterialsfitforallthepurposesmaybefoundineverytownandvillageinEngland。
Whenitshallbesaidinanycountryintheworld,mypoorarehappy;
neitherignorancenordistressistobefoundamongthem;
myjailsareemptyofprisoners,mystreetsofbeggars;theagedarenotinwant,thetaxesarenotoppressive;therationalworldismyfriend,becauseIamthefriendofitshappiness:whenthesethingscanbesaid,thenmaythatcountryboastitsconstitutionanditsgovernment。
Withinthespaceofafewyearswehaveseentworevolutions,thoseofAmericaandFrance。Intheformer,thecontestwaslong,andtheconflictsevere;inthelatter,thenationactedwithsuchaconsolidatedimpulse,thathavingnoforeignenemytocontendwith,therevolutionwascompleteinpowerthemomentitappeared。
Fromboththoseinstancesitisevident,thatthegreatestforcesthatcanbebroughtintothefieldofrevolutions,arereasonandcommoninterest。Wherethesecanhavetheopportunityofacting,oppositiondieswithfear,orcrumblesawaybyconviction。Itisagreatstandingwhichtheyhavenowuniversallyobtained;andwemayhereafterhopetoseerevolutions,orchangesingovernments,producedwiththesamequietoperationbywhichanymeasure,determinablebyreasonanddiscussion,isaccomplished。
Whenanationchangesitsopinionandhabitsofthinking,itisnolongertobegovernedasbefore;butitwouldnotonlybewrong,butbadpolicy,toattemptbyforcewhatoughttobeaccomplishedbyreason。Rebellionconsistsinforciblyopposingthegeneralwillofanation,whetherbyapartyorbyagovernment。
Thereought,therefore,tobeineverynationamethodofoccasionallyascertainingthestateofpublicopinionwithrespecttogovernment。OnthispointtheoldgovernmentofFrancewassuperiortothepresentgovernmentofEngland,because,onextraordinaryoccasions,recoursecouldbehadwhatwasthencalledtheStatesGeneral。ButinEnglandtherearenosuchoccasionalbodies;andastothosewhoarenowcalledRepresentatives,agreatpartofthemaremeremachinesofthecourt,placemen,anddependants。
Ipresume,thatthoughallthepeopleofEnglandpaytaxes,notanhundredthpartofthemareelectors,andthemembersofoneofthehousesofparliamentrepresentnobodybutthemselves。Thereis,therefore,nopowerbutthevoluntarywillofthepeoplethathasarighttoactinanymatterrespectingageneralreform;
andbythesamerightthattwopersonscanconferonsuchasubject,athousandmay。Theobject,inallsuchpreliminaryproceedings,istofindoutwhatthegeneralsenseofanationis,andtobegovernedbyit。Ifitpreferabadordefectivegovernmenttoareformorchoosetopaytentimesmoretaxesthanthereisanyoccasionfor,ithasarightsotodo;andsolongasthemajoritydonotimposeconditionsontheminority,differentfromwhattheyimposeuponthemselves,thoughtheremaybemucherror,thereisnoinjustice。Neitherwilltheerrorcontinuelong。
Reasonanddiscussionwillsoonbringthingsright,howeverwrongtheymaybegin。Bysuchaprocessnotumultistobeapprehended。Thepoor,inallcountries,arenaturallybothpeaceableandgratefulinallreformsinwhichtheirinterestandhappinessisincluded。Itisonlybyneglectingandrejectingthemthattheybecometumultuous。
Theobjectsthatnowpressonthepublicattentionare,theFrenchrevolution,andtheprospectofageneralrevolutioningovernments。OfallnationsinEuropethereisnonesomuchinterestedintheFrenchrevolutionasEngland。Enemiesforages,andthatatavastexpense,andwithoutanynationalobject,theopportunitynowpresentsitselfofamicablyclosingthescene,andjoiningtheireffortstoreformtherestofEurope。Bydoingthistheywillnotonlypreventthefurthereffusionofblood,andincreaseoftaxes,butbeinaconditionofgettingridofaconsiderablepartoftheirpresentburthens,ashasbeenalreadystated。Longexperiencehoweverhasshown,thatreformsofthiskindarenotthosewhicholdgovernmentswishtopromote,andthereforeitistonations,andnottosuchgovernments,thatthesematterspresentthemselves。
Intheprecedingpartofthiswork,IhavespokenofanalliancebetweenEngland,France,andAmerica,forpurposesthatweretobeafterwardsmentioned。ThoughIhavenodirectauthorityonthepartofAmerica,Ihavegoodreasontoconclude,thatsheisdisposedtoenterintoaconsiderationofsuchameasure,provided,thatthegovernmentswithwhichshemightally,actedasnationalgovernments,andnotascourtsenvelopedinintrigueandmystery。ThatFranceasanation,andanationalgovernment,wouldpreferanalliancewithEngland,isamatterofcertainty。
Nations,likeindividuals,whohavelongbeenenemies,withoutknowingeachother,orknowingwhy,becomethebetterfriendswhentheydiscovertheerrorsandimpositionsunderwhichtheyhadacted。
Admitting,therefore,theprobabilityofsuchaconnection,Iwillstatesomemattersbywhichsuchanalliance,togetherwiththatofHolland,mightrenderservice,notonlytothepartiesimmediatelyconcerned,buttoallEurope。
Itis,Ithink,certain,thatifthefleetsofEngland,France,andHollandwereconfederated,theycouldpropose,witheffect,alimitationto,andageneraldismantlingof,allthenaviesinEurope,toacertainproportiontobeagreedupon。
First,ThatnonewshipofwarshallbebuiltbyanypowerinEurope,themselvesincluded。
Second,Thatallthenaviesnowinexistenceshallbeputback,supposetoone—tenthoftheirpresentforce。ThiswillsavetoFranceandEngland,atleasttwomillionssterlingannuallytoeach,andtheirrelativeforcebeinthesameproportionasitisnow。Ifmenwillpermitthemselvestothink,asrationalbeingsoughttothink,nothingcanappearmoreridiculousandabsurd,exclusiveofallmoralreflections,thantobeattheexpenseofbuildingnavies,fillingthemwithmen,andthenhaulingthemintotheocean,totrywhichcansinkeachotherfastest。Peace,whichcostsnothing,isattendedwithinfinitelymoreadvantage,thananyvictorywithallitsexpense。Butthis,thoughitbestanswersthepurposeofnations,doesnotthatofcourtgovernments,whosehabitedpolicyispretencefortaxation,places,andoffices。
Itis,Ithink,alsocertain,thattheaboveconfederatedpowers,togetherwiththatoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,canproposewitheffect,toSpain,theindependenceofSouthAmerica,andtheopeningthosecountriesofimmenseextentandwealthtothegeneralcommerceoftheworld,asNorthAmericanowis。
Withhowmuchmoreglory,andadvantagetoitself,doesanationact,whenitexertsitspowerstorescuetheworldfrombondage,andtocreateitselffriends,thanwhenitemploysthosepowerstoincreaseruin,desolation,andmisery。ThehorridscenethatisnowactingbytheEnglishgovernmentintheEast—Indies,isfitonlytobetoldofGothsandVandals,who,destituteofprinciple,robbedandtorturedtheworldtheywereincapableofenjoying。
TheopeningofSouthAmericawouldproduceanimmensefieldofcommerce,andareadymoneymarketformanufactures,whichtheeasternworlddoesnot。TheEastisalreadyacountryfullofmanufactures,theimportationofwhichisnotonlyaninjurytothemanufacturesofEngland,butadrainuponitsspecie。
ThebalanceagainstEnglandbythistradeisregularlyupwardsofhalfamillionannuallysentoutintheEast—Indiashipsinsilver;andthisisthereason,togetherwithGermanintrigue,andGermansubsidies,thatthereissolittlesilverinEngland。
Butanywarisharvesttosuchgovernments,howeverruinousitmaybetoanation。Itservestokeepupdeceitfulexpectationswhichpreventpeoplefromlookingintothedefectsandabusesofgovernment。
Itisthelohere！andthelothere！thatamusesandcheatsthemultitude。
NeverdidsogreatanopportunityofferitselftoEngland,andtoallEurope,asisproducedbythetwoRevolutionsofAmericaandFrance。Bytheformer,freedomhasanationalchampioninthewesternworld;andbythelatter,inEurope。WhenanothernationshalljoinFrance,despotismandbadgovernmentwillscarcelydaretoappear。Touseatriteexpression,theironisbecominghotalloverEurope。TheinsultedGermanandtheenslavedSpaniard,theRussandthePole,arebeginningtothink。
ThepresentagewillhereaftermerittobecalledtheAgeofReason,andthepresentgenerationwillappeartothefutureastheAdamofanewworld。
WhenallthegovernmentsofEuropeshallbeestablishedontherepresentativesystem,nationswillbecomeacquainted,andtheanimositiesandprejudicesfomentedbytheintrigueandartificeofcourts,willcease。Theoppressedsoldierwillbecomeafreeman;andthetorturedsailor,nolongerdraggedthroughthestreetslikeafelon,willpursuehismercantilevoyageinsafety。Itwouldbebetterthatnationsshouldwicontinuethepayoftheirsoldiersduringtheirlives,andgivethemtheirdischargeandrestorethemtofreedomandtheirfriends,andceaserecruiting,thanretainsuchmultitudesatthesameexpense,inaconditionuselesstosocietyandtothemselves。Assoldiershavehithertobeentreatedinmostcountries,theymightbesaidtobewithoutafriend。Shunnedbythecitizenonanapprehensionoftheirbeingenemiestoliberty,andtooofteninsultedbythosewhocommandedthem,theirconditionwasadoubleoppression。Butwheregenuineprinciplesoflibertypervadeapeople,everythingisrestoredtoorder;andthesoldiercivillytreated,returnsthecivility。
Incontemplatingrevolutions,itiseasytoperceivethattheymayarisefromtwodistinctcauses;theone,toavoidorgetridofsomegreatcalamity;theother,toobtainsomegreatandpositivegood;
andthetwomaybedistinguishedbythenamesofactiveandpassiverevolutions。Inthosewhichproceedfromtheformercause,thetemperbecomesincensedandsoured;andtheredress,obtainedbydanger,istoooftensulliedbyrevenge。Butinthosewhichproceedfromthelatter,theheart,ratheranimatedthanagitated,entersserenelyuponthesubject。Reasonanddiscussion,persuasionandconviction,becometheweaponsinthecontest,anditisonlywhenthoseareattemptedtobesuppressedthatrecourseishadtoviolence。Whenmenuniteinagreeingthatathingisgood,coulditbeobtained,suchforinstanceasrelieffromaburdenoftaxesandtheextinctionofcorruption,theobjectismorethanhalfaccomplished。Whattheyapproveastheend,theywillpromoteinthemeans。
Willanymansay,inthepresentexcessoftaxation,fallingsoheavilyonthepoor,thataremissionoffivepoundsannuallyoftaxestoonehundredandfourthousandpoorfamiliesisnotagoodthing？Willhesaythataremissionofsevenpoundsannuallytoonehundredthousandotherpoorfamilies—ofeightpoundsannuallytoanotherhundredthousandpoorfamilies,andoftenpoundsannuallytofiftythousandpoorandwidowedfamilies,arenotgoodthings？And,toproceedastepfurtherinthisclimax,willhesaythattoprovideagainstthemisfortunestowhichallhumanlifeissubject,bysecuringsixpoundsannuallyforallpoor,distressed,andreducedpersonsoftheageoffiftyanduntilsixty,andoftenpoundsannuallyaftersixty,isnotagoodthing？
Willhesaythatanabolitionoftwomillionsofpoor—ratestothehouse—keepers,andofthewholeofthehouseandwindow—lighttaxandofthecommutationtaxisnotagoodthing？Orwillhesaythattoabolishcorruptionisabadthing？
If,therefore,thegoodtobeobtainedbeworthyofapassive,rational,andcostlessrevolution,itwouldbebadpolicytopreferwaitingforacalamitythatshouldforceaviolentone。Ihavenoidea,consideringthereformswhicharenowpassingandspreadingthroughoutEurope,thatEnglandwillpermitherselftobethelast;andwheretheoccasionandtheopportunityquietlyoffer,itisbetterthantowaitforaturbulentnecessity。Itmaybeconsideredasanhonourtotheanimalfacultiesofmantoobtainredressbycourageanddanger,butitisfargreaterhonourtotherationalfacultiestoaccomplishthesameobjectbyreason,accommodation,andgeneralconsent。*[40]
Asreforms,orrevolutions,callthemwhichyouplease,extendthemselvesamongnations,thosenationswillformconnectionsandconventions,andwhenafewarethusconfederated,theprogresswillberapid,tilldespotismandcorruptgovernmentbetotallyexpelled,atleastoutoftwoquartersoftheworld,EuropeandAmerica。TheAlgerinepiracymaythenbecommandedtocease,foritisonlybythemaliciouspolicyofoldgovernments,againsteachother,thatitexists。
Throughoutthiswork,variousandnumerousasthesubjectsare,whichIhavetakenupandinvestigated,thereisonlyasingleparagraphuponreligion,viz。"thateveryreligionisgoodthatteachesmantobegood。"
Ihavecarefullyavoidedtoenlargeuponthesubject,becauseIaminclinedtobelievethatwhatiscalledthepresentministry,wishtoseecontentionsaboutreligionkeptup,topreventthenationturningitsattentiontosubjectsofgovernment。Itisasiftheyweretosay,"Lookthatway,oranyway,butthis。"