Common Sense-第4章
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e argument； and inquire into some of the many material injuries which these colonies sustain； and always will sustain； by being connected with； and dependent on great britain： to examine that connection and dependence； on the principles of nature and mon sense； to see what we have to trust to； if separated； and what we are to expect； if dependant。
i have heard it asserted by some； that as america hath flourished under her former connection with great britain that the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness； and will always have the same effect。
nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument。
we may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk that it is never to have meat； or that the first twenty years of our lives is to bee a precedent for the next twenty。
but even this is admitting more than is true； for i answer roundly； that america would have flourished as much； and probably much more； had no european power had any thing to do with her。 the merce； by which she hath enriched herself； are the necessaries of life； and will always have a market while eating is the custom of europe。
but she has protected us； say some。 that she has engrossed us is true； and defended the continent at our expense as well as her own is admitted； and she would have defended turkey from the same motive； viz。 the sake of trade and dominion。
alas； we have been long led away by ancient prejudices； and made large sacrifices to superstition。 we have boasted the protection of great britain； without considering； that her motive was interest not attachment； that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account； but from her enemies on her own account； from those who had no quarrel with us on any other account； and who will always be our enemies on the same account。
let britain wave her pretensions to the continent； or the continent throw off the dependence； and we should be at peace with france and spain were they at war with britain。
the miseries of hanover last war ought to warn us against connections。
it has lately been asserted in parliament； that the colonies have no relation to each other but through the parent country； i。 e。 that pennsylvania and the jerseys； and so on for the rest； are sister colonies by the way of england； this is certainly a very round…about way of proving relationship； but it is the nearest and only true way of proving enemyship； if i may so call it。
france and spain never were。 nor perhaps ever will be our enemies as americans； but as our being the subjects of great britain。
but britain is the parent country； say some。 then the more shame upon her conduct。 even brutes do not devour their young； nor savages make war upon their families； wherefore the assertion； if true； turns to her reproach； but it happens not to be true； or only partly so and the phrase parent or mother country hath been jesuitically adopted by the king and his parasites； with a low papistical design of gaining an unfair bias on the credulous weakness of our minds。 europe； and not england； is the parent country of america。 this new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of europe。 hither have they fled； not from the tender embraces of the mother； but from the cruelty of the monster； and it is so far true of england； that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home； pursues their descendants still。
in this extensive quarter of the globe； we forget the narrow limits of three hundred and sixty miles （the extent of england） and carry our friendship on a larger scale； we claim brotherhood with every european christian； and triumph in the generosity of the sentiment。
it is pleasant to observe by what regular gradations we surmount the force of local prejudice； as we enlarge our acquaintance with the world。 a man born in any town in england divided into parishes； will naturally associate most with his fellow…parishioners （because their interests in many cases will be mon） and distinguish him by the name of neighbour； if he meet him but a few miles from home； he drops the narrow idea of a street； and salutes him by the name of townsman； if he travel out of the county； and meet him in any other； he forgets the minor divisions of street and town； and calls him countryman； i。 e。 countryman； but if in their foreign excursions they should associate in france or any other part of europe； their local remembrance would be enlarged into that of englishmen。 and by a just parity of reasoning； all europeans meeting in america； or any other quarter of the globe； are countrymen； for england； holland； germany； or sweden； when pared with the whole； stand in the same places on the larger scale； which the divisions of street； town； and county do on the smaller ones； distinctions too limited for continental minds。 not one third of the inhabitants； even of this province； are of english descent。
wherefore i reprobate the phrase of parent or mother country applied to england only； as being false； selfish； narrow and ungenerous。
but admitting； that we were all of english descent； what does it amount to？ nothing。 britain； being now an open enemy； extinguishes every other name and title： and to say that reconciliation is our duty； is truly farcical。 the first king of england； of the present line （william the conqueror） was a frenchman； and half the peers of england are descendants from the same country； therefore； by the same method of reasoning； england ought to be governed by france。
much hath been said of the united strength of britain and the colonies； that in conjunction they might bid defiance to the world。 but this is mere presumption； the fate of war is uncertain； neither do the expressions mean any thing； for this continent would never suffer itself to be drained of inhabitants； to support the british arms in either asia； africa； or europe。
besides what have we to do with setting the world at defiance？ our plan is merce； and that； well attended to； will secure us the peace and friendship of all europe； because； it is the interest of all europe to have america a free port。 her trade will always be a protection； and her barrenness of gold and silver secure her from invaders。
i challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation； to shew； a single advantage that this continent can reap； by being connected with great britain。 i repeat the challenge； not a single advantage is derived。 our corn will fetch its price in any market in europe； and our imported goods must be paid for； buy them where we will。
but the injuries and disadvantages we sustain by that connection； are without number； and our duty to mankind at large； as well as to ourselves； instruct us to renounce the alliance： because； any submission to； or dependence on great britain； tends directly to involve this continent in european wars and quarrels； and sets us at variance with nations； who would otherwise seek our friendship； and against whom； we have neither anger nor plaint。 as europe is our market for trade； we ought to form no partial connection with any part of it。
it is the true interest of america to steer clear of european contentions； which she never can do； while by her dependence on britain； she is made the make…weight in the scale of british politics。
europe is too thickly planted with kingdoms to be long at peace； and whenever a war breaks out between england and any foreign power； the trade of america goes to ruin； because of her connection with england。
the next war may not turn out like the last； and should it not； the advocates for reconciliation now； will be wishing for separation then； because； neutrality in that case； would be a safer convoy than a man of war。
every thing that is right or natural pleads for separation。 the blood of the slain； the weeping voice of nature cries； tis time to part。
even the distance at which the almighty hath placed england and america； is a strong and natural proof； that the authority of the one； over the other； was never the design of heaven。 the time likewise at which the continent was discovered； adds weight to the argument； and the manner in which it was peopled increases the force of it。 the reformation was preceded by the discovery of america； as if the almighty graciously meant to open a sanctuary to the persecuted in future years； when home should afford neither friendship nor safety。
the authority of great britain over this continent； is a form of government； which sooner or later must have an end： and a serious mind can draw no true pleasure by looking forward under the painful and positive conviction； that what he calls 〃the present constitution〃 is merely temporary。 as parents； we can have no joy； knowing that this government is not sufficiently lasting to ensure any thing which we may bequeath to posterity： and by a plain method of argument； as we are running the next generation into debt； we ought to do the work of it； otherwise we use them meanly and pitifully。 in order to discover the line of our duty rightly； we should take our children in our hand； and fix our station a few years farther into life； that eminence will present a prospect； which a f
