Inconsequenceoftherevolution,theannualinterestofthedebtofFrancewillbereducedatleastsixmillionssterling,bypayingoffupwardsofonehundredmillionsofthecapital;which,withlesseningtheformerexpensesofgovernmentatleastthreemillions,willplaceFranceinasituationworthytheimitationofEurope。
  Uponawholereviewofthesubject,howvastisthecontrast!WhileMr。BurkehasbeentalkingofageneralbankruptcyinFrance,theNationalAssemblyhasbeenpayingoffthecapitalofitsdebt;andwhiletaxeshaveincreasednearamillionayearinEngland,theyhaveloweredseveralmillionsayearinFrance。NotawordhaseitherMr。BurkeorMr。PittsaidabouttheFrenchaffairs,orthestateoftheFrenchfinances,inthepresentSessionofParliament。Thesubjectbeginstobetoowellunderstood,andimpositionservesnolonger。
  ThereisageneralenigmarunningthroughthewholeofMr。Burke'sbook。
  HewritesinarageagainsttheNationalAssembly;butwhatisheenragedabout?Ifhisassertionswereastrueastheyaregroundless,andthatFrancebyherRevolution,hadannihilatedherpower,andbecomewhathecallsachasm,itmightexcitethegriefofaFrenchman(consideringhimselfasanationalman),andprovokehisrageagainsttheNationalAssembly;
  butwhyshoulditexcitetherageofMr。Burke?Alas!itisnotthenationofFrancethatMr。Burkemeans,buttheCourt;andeveryCourtinEurope,dreadingthesamefate,isinmourning。HewritesneitherinthecharacterofaFrenchmannoranEnglishman,butinthefawningcharacterofthatcreatureknowninallcountries,andafriendtonone—acourtier。WhetheritbetheCourtofVersailles,ortheCourtofSt。James,orCarlton—House,ortheCourtinexpectation,signifiesnot;forthecaterpillarprincipleofallCourtsandCourtiersarealike。TheyformacommonpolicythroughoutEurope,detachedandseparatefromtheinterestofNations:andwhiletheyappeartoquarrel,theyagreetoplunder。NothingcanbemoreterribletoaCourtorCourtierthantheRevolutionofFrance。ThatwhichisablessingtoNationsisbitternesstothem:andastheirexistencedependsontheduplicityofacountry,theytrembleattheapproachofprinciples,anddreadtheprecedentthatthreatenstheiroverthrow。ConclusionReasonandIgnorance,theoppositesofeachother,influencethegreatbulkofmankind。Ifeitherofthesecanberenderedsufficientlyextensiveinacountry,themachineryofGovernmentgoeseasilyon。Reasonobeysitself;andIgnorancesubmitstowhateverisdictatedtoit。
  ThetwomodesoftheGovernmentwhichprevailintheworld,are—
  First,Governmentbyelectionandrepresentation。
  Secondly,Governmentbyhereditarysuccession。
  Theformerisgenerallyknownbythenameofrepublic;thelatterbythatofmonarchyandaristocracy。
  ThosetwodistinctandoppositeformserectthemselvesonthetwodistinctandoppositebasesofReasonandIgnorance。—AstheexerciseofGovernmentrequirestalentsandabilities,andastalentsandabilitiescannothavehereditarydescent,itisevidentthathereditarysuccessionrequiresabelieffrommantowhichhisreasoncannotsubscribe,andwhichcanonlybeestablisheduponhisignorance;andthemoreignorantanycountryis,thebetteritisfittedforthisspeciesofGovernment。
  Onthecontrary,Government,inawell—constitutedrepublic,requiresnobelieffrommanbeyondwhathisreasoncangive。Heseestherationaleofthewholesystem,itsoriginanditsoperation;andasitisbestsupportedwhenbestunderstood,thehumanfacultiesactwithboldness,andacquire,underthisformofgovernment,agiganticmanliness。
  As,therefore,eachofthoseformsactsonadifferentbase,theonemovingfreelybytheaidofreason,theotherbyignorance;wehavenexttoconsider,whatitisthatgivesmotiontothatspeciesofGovernmentwhichiscalledmixedGovernment,or,asitissometimesludicrouslystyled,aGovernmentofthis,thatandt'other。
  ThemovingpowerinthisspeciesofGovernmentis,ofnecessity,Corruption。
  HoweverimperfectelectionandrepresentationmaybeinmixedGovernments,theystillgiveexercisetoagreaterportionofreasonthanisconvenienttothehereditaryPart;andthereforeitbecomesnecessarytobuythereasonup。AmixedGovernmentisanimperfecteverything,cementingandsolderingthediscordantpartstogetherbycorruption,toactasawhole。Mr。BurkeappearshighlydisgustedthatFrance,sinceshehadresolvedonarevolution,didnotadoptwhathecalls"ABritishConstitution";andtheregretfulmannerinwhichheexpresseshimselfonthisoccasionimpliesasuspicionthattheBritishConstitutionneededsomethingtokeepitsdefectsincountenance。
  InmixedGovernmentsthereisnoresponsibility:thepartscovereachothertillresponsibilityislost;andthecorruptionwhichmovesthemachine,contrivesatthesametimeitsownescape。Whenitislaiddownasamaxim,thataKingcandonowrong,itplaceshiminastateofsimilarsecuritywiththatofidiotsandpersonsinsane,andresponsibilityisoutofthequestionwithrespecttohimself。ItthendescendsupontheMinister,whosheltershimselfunderamajorityinParliament,which,byplaces,pensions,andcorruption,hecanalwayscommand;andthatmajorityjustifiesitselfbythesameauthoritywithwhichitprotectstheMinister。Inthisrotatorymotion,responsibilityisthrownofffromtheparts,andfromthewhole。
  WhenthereisaPartinaGovernmentwhichcandonowrong,itimpliesthatitdoesnothing;andisonlythemachineofanotherpower,bywhoseadviceanddirectionitacts。WhatissupposedtobetheKinginthemixedGovernments,istheCabinet;andastheCabinetisalwaysapartoftheParliament,andthemembersjustifyinginonecharacterwhattheyadviseandactinanother,amixedGovernmentbecomesacontinualenigma;entailinguponacountrybythequantityofcorruptionnecessarytosoldertheparts,theexpenseofsupportingalltheformsofgovernmentatonce,andfinallyresolvingitselfintoaGovernmentbyCommittee;inwhichtheadvisers,theactors,theapprovers,thejustifiers,thepersonsresponsible,andthepersonsnotresponsible,arethesamepersons。
  Bythispantomimicalcontrivance,andchangeofsceneandcharacter,thepartshelpeachotheroutinmatterswhichneitherofthemsinglywouldassumetoact。Whenmoneyistobeobtained,themassofvarietyapparentlydissolves,andaprofusionofparliamentarypraisespassesbetweentheparts。Eachadmireswithastonishment,thewisdom,theliberality,thedisinterestednessoftheother:andallofthembreatheapityingsighattheburthensoftheNation。
  Butinawell—constitutedrepublic,nothingofthissoldering,praising,andpitying,cantakeplace;therepresentationbeingequalthroughoutthecountry,andcompleteinitself,howeveritmaybearrangedintolegislativeandexecutive,theyhavealloneandthesamenaturalsource。Thepartsarenotforeignerstoeachother,likedemocracy,aristocracy,andmonarchy。
  Astherearenodiscordantdistinctions,thereisnothingtocorruptbycompromise,norconfoundbycontrivance。PublicmeasuresappealofthemselvestotheunderstandingoftheNation,and,restingontheirownmerits,disownanyflatteringapplicationstovanity。Thecontinualwhineoflamentingtheburdenoftaxes,howeversuccessfullyitmaybepractisedinmixedGovernments,isinconsistentwiththesenseandspiritofarepublic。Iftaxesarenecessary,theyareofcourseadvantageous;butiftheyrequireanapology,theapologyitselfimpliesanimpeachment。Why,then,ismanthusimposedupon,orwhydoesheimposeuponhimself?
  Whenmenarespokenofaskingsandsubjects,orwhenGovernmentismentionedunderthedistinctandcombinedheadsofmonarchy,aristocracy,anddemocracy,whatisitthatreasoningmanistounderstandbytheterms?
  Iftherereallyexistedintheworldtwoormoredistinctandseparateelementsofhumanpower,weshouldthenseetheseveraloriginstowhichthosetermswoulddescriptivelyapply;butasthereisbutonespeciesofman,therecanbebutoneelementofhumanpower;andthatelementismanhimself。Monarchy,aristocracy,anddemocracy,arebutcreaturesofimagination;andathousandsuchmaybecontrivedaswellasthree。
  FromtheRevolutionsofAmericaandFrance,andthesymptomsthathaveappearedinothercountries,itisevidentthattheopinionoftheworldischangingwithrespecttosystemsofGovernment,andthatrevolutionsarenotwithinthecompassofpoliticalcalculations。Theprogressoftimeandcircumstances,whichmenassigntotheaccomplishmentofgreatchanges,istoomechanicaltomeasuretheforceofthemind,andtherapidityofreflection,bywhichrevolutionsaregenerated:Alltheoldgovernmentshavereceivedashockfromthosethatalreadyappear,andwhichwereoncemoreimprobable,andareagreatersubjectofwonder,thanageneralrevolutioninEuropewouldbenow。
  Whenwesurveythewretchedconditionofman,underthemonarchicalandhereditarysystemsofGovernment,draggedfromhishomebyonepower,ordrivenbyanother,andimpoverishedbytaxesmorethanbyenemies,itbecomesevidentthatthosesystemsarebad,andthatageneralrevolutionintheprincipleandconstructionofGovernmentsisnecessary。
  WhatisgovernmentmorethanthemanagementoftheaffairsofaNation?
  Itisnot,andfromitsnaturecannotbe,thepropertyofanyparticularmanorfamily,butofthewholecommunity,atwhoseexpenseitissupported;
  andthoughbyforceandcontrivanceithasbeenusurpedintoaninheritance,theusurpationcannotaltertherightofthings。Sovereignty,asamatterofright,appertainstotheNationonly,andnottoanyindividual;andaNationhasatalltimesaninherentindefeasiblerighttoabolishanyformofGovernmentitfindsinconvenient,andtoestablishsuchasaccordswithitsinterest,dispositionandhappiness。TheromanticandbarbarousdistinctionofmenintoKingsandsubjects,thoughitmaysuittheconditionofcourtiers,cannotthatofcitizens;andisexplodedbytheprincipleuponwhichGovernmentsarenowfounded。EverycitizenisamemberoftheSovereignty,and,assuch,canacknowledgenopersonalsubjection;andhisobediencecanbeonlytothelaws。
  WhenmenthinkofwhatGovernmentis,theymustnecessarilysupposeittopossessaknowledgeofalltheobjectsandmattersuponwhichitsauthorityistobeexercised。InthisviewofGovernment,therepublicansystem,asestablishedbyAmericaandFrance,operatestoembracethewholeofaNation;andtheknowledgenecessarytotheinterestofalltheparts,istobefoundinthecenter,whichthepartsbyrepresentationform:ButtheoldGovernmentsareonaconstructionthatexcludesknowledgeaswellashappiness;governmentbyMonks,whoknewnothingoftheworldbeyondthewallsofaConvent,isasconsistentasgovernmentbyKings。
  WhatwereformerlycalledRevolutions,werelittlemorethanachangeofpersons,oranalterationoflocalcircumstances。Theyroseandfelllikethingsofcourse,andhadnothingintheirexistenceortheirfatethatcouldinfluencebeyondthespotthatproducedthem。Butwhatwenowseeintheworld,fromtheRevolutionsofAmericaandFrance,arearenovationofthenaturalorderofthings,asystemofprinciplesasuniversalastruthandtheexistenceofman,andcombiningmoralwithpoliticalhappinessandnationalprosperity。
  "I。Menareborn,andalwayscontinue,freeandequalinrespectoftheirrights。Civildistinctions,therefore,canbefoundedonlyonpublicutility。
  "II。Theendofallpoliticalassociationsisthepreservationofthenaturalandimprescriptiblerightsofman;andtheserightsareliberty,property,security,andresistanceofoppression。
  "III。Thenationisessentiallythesourceofallsovereignty;norcananyIndividual,oranybodyofmen,beentitledtoanyauthoritywhichisnotexpresslyderivedfromit。"
  Intheseprinciples,thereisnothingtothrowaNationintoconfusionbyinflamingambition。Theyarecalculatedtocallforthwisdomandabilities,andtoexercisethemforthepublicgood,andnotfortheemolumentoraggrandisementofparticulardescriptionsofmenorfamilies。Monarchicalsovereignty,theenemyofmankind,andthesourceofmisery,isabolished;
  andthesovereigntyitselfisrestoredtoitsnaturalandoriginalplace,theNation。WerethisthecasethroughoutEurope,thecauseofwarswouldbetakenaway。
  ItisattributedtoHenrytheFourthofFrance,amanofenlargedandbenevolentheart,thatheproposed,abouttheyear1610,aplanforabolishingwarinEurope。TheplanconsistedinconstitutinganEuropeanCongress,orastheFrenchauthorsstyleit,aPacificRepublic;byappointingdelegatesfromtheseveralNationswhoweretoactasaCourtofarbitrationinanydisputesthatmightarisebetweennationandnation。
  Hadsuchaplanbeenadoptedatthetimeitwasproposed,thetaxesofEnglandandFrance,astwooftheparties,wouldhavebeenatleasttenmillionssterlingannuallytoeachNationlessthantheywereatthecommencementoftheFrenchRevolution。
  Toconceiveacausewhysuchaplanhasnotbeenadopted(andthatinsteadofaCongressforthepurposeofpreventingwar,ithasbeencalledonlytoterminateawar,afterafruitlessexpenseofseveralyears)itwillbenecessarytoconsidertheinterestofGovernmentsasadistinctinteresttothatofNations。
  WhateveristhecauseoftaxestoaNation,becomesalsothemeansofrevenuetoGovernment。Everywarterminateswithanadditionoftaxes,andconsequentlywithanadditionofrevenue;andinanyeventofwar,inthemannertheyarenowcommencedandconcluded,thepowerandinterestofGovernmentsareincreased。War,therefore,fromitsproductiveness,asiteasilyfurnishesthepretenceofnecessityfortaxesandappointmentstoplacesandoffices,becomesaprincipalpartofthesystemofoldGovernments;
  andtoestablishanymodetoabolishwar,howeveradvantageousitmightbetoNations,wouldbetotakefromsuchGovernmentthemostlucrativeofitsbranches。Thefrivolousmattersuponwhichwarismade,showthedispositionandavidityofGovernmentstoupholdthesystemofwar,andbetraythemotivesuponwhichtheyact。
  WhyarenotRepublicsplungedintowar,butbecausethenatureoftheirGovernmentdoesnotadmitofaninterestdistinctfromthatoftheNation?
  EvenHolland,thoughanill—constructedRepublic,andwithacommerceextendingovertheworld,existednearlyacenturywithoutwar:andtheinstanttheformofGovernmentwaschangedinFrance,therepublicanprinciplesofpeaceanddomesticprosperityandeconomyarosewiththenewGovernment;
  andthesameconsequenceswouldfollowthecauseinotherNations。
  AswaristhesystemofGovernmentontheoldconstruction,theanimositywhichNationsreciprocallyentertain,isnothingmorethanwhatthepolicyoftheirGovernmentsexcitestokeepupthespiritofthesystem。EachGovernmentaccusestheotherofperfidy,intrigue,andambition,asameansofheatingtheimaginationoftheirrespectiveNations,andincensingthemtohostilities。Manisnottheenemyofman,butthroughthemediumofafalsesystemofGovernment。Instead,therefore,ofexclaimingagainsttheambitionofKings,theexclamationshouldbedirectedagainsttheprincipleofsuchGovernments;andinsteadofseekingtoreformtheindividual,thewisdomofaNationshouldapplyitselftoreformthesystem。
  WhethertheformsandmaximsofGovernmentswhicharestillinpractice,wereadaptedtotheconditionoftheworldattheperiodtheywereestablished,isnotinthiscasethequestion。Theoldertheyare,thelesscorrespondencecantheyhavewiththepresentstateofthings。Time,andchangeofcircumstancesandopinions,havethesameprogressiveeffectinrenderingmodesofGovernmentobsoleteastheyhaveuponcustomsandmanners。—Agriculture,commerce,manufactures,andthetranquilarts,bywhichtheprosperityofNationsisbestpromoted,requireadifferentsystemofGovernment,andadifferentspeciesofknowledgetodirectitsoperations,thanwhatmighthavebeenrequiredintheformerconditionoftheworld。
  Asitisnotdifficulttoperceive,fromtheenlightenedstateofmankind,thathereditaryGovernmentsarevergingtotheirdecline,andthatRevolutionsonthebroadbasisofnationalsovereigntyandGovernmentbyrepresentation,aremakingtheirwayinEurope,itwouldbeanactofwisdomtoanticipatetheirapproach,andproduceRevolutionsbyreasonandaccommodation,ratherthancommitthemtotheissueofconvulsions。
  Fromwhatwenowsee,nothingofreforminthepoliticalworldoughttobeheldimprobable。ItisanageofRevolutions,inwhicheverythingmaybelookedfor。TheintrigueofCourts,bywhichthesystemofwariskeptup,mayprovokeaconfederationofNationstoabolishit:andanEuropeanCongresstopatronisetheprogressoffreeGovernment,andpromotethecivilisationofNationswitheachother,isaneventnearerinprobability,thanonceweretherevolutionsandallianceofFranceandAmerica。
  TheRightsOfMan:PartTheSecondParttheSecondCombiningPrincipleAndPracticeToM。delaFayetteAfteranacquaintanceofnearlyfifteenyearsindifficultsituationsinAmerica,andvariousconsultationsinEurope,Ifeelapleasureinpresentingtoyouthissmalltreatise,ingratitudeforyourservicestomybelovedAmerica,andasatestimonyofmyesteemforthevirtues,publicandprivate,whichIknowyoutopossess。
  TheonlypointuponwhichIcouldeverdiscoverthatwedifferedwasnotastoprinciplesofgovernment,butastotime。FormyownpartIthinkitequallyasinjurioustogoodprinciplestopermitthemtolinger,astopushthemontoofast。Thatwhichyousupposeaccomplishableinfourteenorfifteenyears,Imaybelievepracticableinamuchshorterperiod。Mankind,asitappearstome,arealwaysripeenoughtounderstandtheirtrueinterest,provideditbepresentedclearlytotheirunderstanding,andthatinamannernottocreatesuspicionbyanythinglikeself—design,noroffendbyassumingtoomuch。Wherewewouldwishtoreformwemustnotreproach。
  WhentheAmericanrevolutionwasestablishedIfeltadispositiontositserenelydownandenjoythecalm。ItdidnotappeartomethatanyobjectcouldafterwardsarisegreatenoughtomakemequittranquilityandfeelasIhadfeltbefore。Butwhenprinciple,andnotplace,istheenergeticcauseofaction,aman,Ifind,iseverywherethesame。
  Iamnowoncemoreinthepublicworld;andasIhavenotarighttocontemplateonsomanyyearsofremaininglifeasyouhave,IhaveresolvedtolabourasfastasIcan;andasIamanxiousforyouraidandyourcompany,Iwishyoutohastenyourprinciplesandovertakeme。
  Ifyoumakeacampaigntheensuingspring,whichitismostprobabletherewillbenooccasionfor,Iwillcomeandjoinyou。
  Shouldthecampaigncommence,IhopeitwillterminateintheextinctionofGermandespotism,andinestablishingthefreedomofallGermany。WhenFranceshallbesurroundedwithrevolutionsshewillbeinpeaceandsafety,andhertaxes,aswellasthoseofGermany,willconsequentlybecomeless。
  Yoursincere,AffectionateFriend,THOMASPAINE
  LONDON,Feb。9,1792
  PrefaceWhenIbeganthechapterentitledthe"Conclusion"intheformerpartoftheRightsOfMan,publishedlastyear,itwasmyintentiontohaveextendedittoagreaterlength;butincastingthewholematterinmymind,whichIwishtoadd,Ifoundthatitmusteithermaketheworktoobulky,orcontractmyplantoomuch。
  Ithereforebroughtittoacloseassoonasthesubjectwouldadmit,andreservedwhatIhadfurthertosaytoanotheropportunity。
  Severalotherreasonscontributedtoproducethisdetermination。Iwishedtoknowthemannerinwhichawork,writteninastyleofthinkingandexpressiondifferenttowhathadbeencustomaryinEngland,wouldbereceivedbeforeIproceededfarther。AgreatfieldwasopeningtotheviewofmankindbymeansoftheFrenchRevolution。Mr。Burke'soutrageousoppositiontheretobroughtthecontroversyintoEngland。Heattackedprincipleswhichheknew(frominformation)Iwouldcontestwithhim,becausetheyareprinciplesIbelievetobegood,andwhichIhavecontributedtoestablish,andconceivemyselfboundtodefend。Hadhenoturgedthecontroversy,Ihadmostprobablybeenasilentman。
  Anotherreasonfordeferringtheremainderoftheworkwas,thatMr。
  Burkepromisedinhisfirstpublicationtorenewthesubjectatanotheropportunity,andtomakeacomparisonofwhathecalledtheEnglishandFrenchConstitutions。Ithereforeheldmyselfinreserveforhim。Hehaspublishedtwoworkssince,withoutdoingthis:whichhecertainlywouldnothaveomitted,hadthecomparisonbeeninhisfavour。
  Inhislastwork,his"AppealfromtheNewtotheOldWhigs,"hehasquotedabouttenpagesfromtheRightsOfMan,andhavinggivenhimselfthetroubleofdoingthis,sayshe"shallnotattemptinthesmallestdegreetorefutethem,"meaningtheprinciplesthereincontained。IamenoughacquaintedwithMr。Burketoknowthathewouldifhecould。Butinsteadofcontestingthem,heimmediatelyafterconsoleshimselfwithsayingthat"hehasdonehispart。"—Hehasnotdonehispart。Hehasnotperformedhispromiseofacomparisonofconstitutions。Hestartedthecontroversy,hegavethechallenge,andhasfledfromit;andheisnowacaseinpointwithhisownopinionthat"theageofchivalryisgone!"
  Thetitle,aswellasthesubstanceofhislastwork,his"Appeal,"
  ishiscondemnation。Principlesmuststandontheirownmerits,andiftheyaregoodtheycertainlywill。Toputthemundertheshelterofothermen'sauthority,asMr。Burkehasdone,servestobringthemintosuspicion。Mr。Burkeisnotveryfondofdividinghishonours,butinthiscaseheisartfullydividingthedisgrace。
  ButwhoarethosetowhomMr。Burkehasmadehisappeal?Asetofchildishthinkers,andhalf—waypoliticiansborninthelastcentury,menwhowentnofartherwithanyprinciplethanasitsuitedtheirpurposesasaparty;thenationwasalwaysleftoutofthequestion;andthishasbeenthecharacterofeverypartyfromthatdaytothis。Thenationseesnothingofsuchworks,orsuchpolitics,worthyitsattention。Alittlematterwillmoveaparty,butitmustbesomethinggreatthatmovesanation。
  ThoughIseenothinginMr。Burke's"Appeal"worthtakingmuchnoticeof,thereis,however,oneexpressionuponwhichI
  shallofferafewremarks。AfterquotinglargelyfromtheRightsOfMan,anddecliningtocontesttheprinciplescontainedinthatwork,hesays:"Thiswillmostprobablybedone(ifsuchwritingsshallbethoughttodeserveanyotherrefutationthanthatofcriminaljustice)byothers,whomaythinkwithMr。Burkeandwiththesamezeal。"
  Inthefirstplace,ithasnotyetbeendonebyanybody。Notless,I
  believe,thaneightortenpamphletsintendedasanswerstotheformerpartoftheRightsOfManhavebeenpublishedbydifferentpersons,andnotoneofthemtomyknowledge,hasextendedtoasecondedition,norareeventhetitlesofthemsomuchasgenerallyremembered。AsIamaversetounnecessarymultiplyingpublications,Ihaveanswerednoneofthem。AndasIbelievethatamanmaywritehimselfoutofreputationwhennobodyelsecandoit,Iamcarefultoavoidthatrock。
  ButasIwoulddeclineunnecessarypublicationsontheonehand,sowouldIavoideverythingthatmightappearlikesullenprideontheother。IfMr。Burke,oranypersononhissidethequestion,willproduceananswertotheRightsOfManthatshallextendtoahalf,oreventoafourthpartofthenumberofcopiestowhichtheRightsOfManextended,Iwillreplytohiswork。Butuntilthisbedone,Ishallsofartakethesenseofthepublicformyguide(andtheworldknowsIamnotaflatterer)thatwhattheydonotthinkworthwhiletoread,isnotworthminetoanswer。IsupposethenumberofcopiestowhichthefirstpartoftheRightsOfManextended,takingEngland,Scotland,andIreland,isnotlessthanbetweenfortyandfiftythousand。