Common Sense-第5章
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and fix our station a few years farther into life； that eminence will present a prospect； which a few present fears and prejudices conceal from our sight。
though i would carefully avoid giving unnecessary offense； yet i am inclined to believe； that all those who espouse the doctrine of reconciliation； may be included within the following descriptions。
interested men； who are not to be trusted； weak men； who cannot see； prejudiced men； who will not see； and a certain set of moderate men； who think better of the european world than it deserves； and this last class； by an ill…judged deliberation； will be the cause of more calamities to this continent； than all the other three。
it is the good fortune of many to live distant from the scene of sorrow； the evil is not sufficient brought to their doors to make them feel the precariousness with which all american property is possessed。
but let our imaginations transport us far a few moments to boston； that seat of wretchedness will teach us wisdom； and instruct us for ever to renounce a power in whom we can have no trust。
the inhabitants of that unfortunate city； who but a few months ago were in ease and affluence； have now； no other alternative than to stay and starve； or turn and beg。 endangered by the fire of their friends if they continue within the city； and plundered by the soldiery if they leave it。 in their present condition they are prisoners without the hope of redemption； and in a general attack for their relief； they would be exposed to the fury of both armies。
men of passive tempers look somewhat lightly over the offenses of britain； and； still hoping for the best； are apt to call out； 〃e； e； we shall be friends again； for all this。〃 but examine the passions and feelings of mankind； bring the doctrine of reconciliation to the touchstone of nature； and then tell me； whether you can hereafter love； honor； and faithfully serve the power that hath carried fire and sword into your land？ if yon cannot do all these； then are you only deceiving yourselves； and by your delay bringing ruin upon posterity。 your future connection with britain； whom you can neither love nor honor will be forced and unnatural； and being formed only on the plan of present convenience； will in a little time fall into a relapse more wretched than the first。
but if you say； you can still pass the violations over； then i ask； hath your house been burnt？ hath your property been destroyed before your face！ are your wife and children destitute of a bed to lie on； or bread to live on？ have you lost a parent or a child by their hands； and yourself the ruined and wretched survivor！ if you have not； then are you not a judge of those who have。 but if you have； and still can shake hands with the murderers； then are you unworthy the name of husband； father； friend； or lover； and whatever may be your rank or title in life； you have the heart of a coward； and the spirit of a sycophant。
this is not inflaming or exaggerating matters； but trying them by those feelings and affections which nature justifies； and without which； we should be incapable of discharging the social duties of life； or enjoying the felicities of it。
i mean not to exhibit horror for the purpose of provoking revenge； but to awaken us from fatal and unmanly slumbers； that we may pursue determinately some fixed object。 it is not in the power of britain or of europe to conquer america； if she do not conquer herself by delay and timidity。 the present winter is worth an age if rightly employed； but if lost or neglected； the whole continent will partake of the misfortune； and there is no punishment which that man will not deserve； be he who； or what； or where he will； that may be the means of sacrificing a season so precious and useful。
it is repugnant to reason； to the universal order of things； to all examples from former ages； to suppose； that this continent can longer remain subject to any external power。
the most sanguine in britain does not think so。 the utmost stretch of human wisdom cannot； at this time； pass a plan short of separation； which can promise the continent even a years security。 reconciliation is now a fallacious dream。
nature hath deserted the connection； and art cannot supply her place。 for； as milton wisely expresses； 〃never can true reconcilement grow； where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep。〃 every quiet method for peace hath been ineffectual。 our prayers have been rejected with disdain； and only tended to convince us； that nothing batters vanity； or confirms obstinacy in kings more than repeated petitioning…and nothing hath contributed more than that very measure to make the kings of europe absolute： witness denmark and sweden。 wherefore； since nothing but blows will do； for gods sake； let us e to a final separation； and not leave the next generation to be cutting throats； under the violated unmeaning names of parent and child。
to say； they will never attempt it again is idle and visionary； we thought so at the repeal of the stamp…act； yet a year or two undeceived us； as well may we suppose that nations； which have been once defeated； will never renew the quarrel。
as to government matters； it is not in the power of britain to do this continent justice： the business of it will soon be too weighty； and intricate； to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience； by a power so distant from us； and so very ignorant of us； for if they cannot conquer us； they cannot govern us。 to be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition； waiting four or five months for an answer； which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in； will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness……there was a time when it was proper； and there is a proper time for it to cease。
small islands not capable of protecting themselves； are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care； but there is something very absurd； in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island。 in no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet； and as england and america； with respect to each other； reverses the mon order of nature； it is evident they belong to different systems； england to europe； america to itself。
i am not induced by motives of pride； party； or resentment to espouse the doctrine of separation and independance； i am clearly； positively； and conscientiously persuaded that it is the true interest of this continent to be so； that every thing short of that is mere patchwork； that it can afford no lasting felicity； ……that it is leaving the sword to our children； and shrinking back at a time； when； a little more； a little farther； would have rendered this continent the glory of the earth。
as britain hath not manifested the least inclination towards a promise； we may be assured that no terms can be obtained worthy the acceptance of the continent； or any ways equal to the expense of blood and treasure we have been already put to。
the object； contended for； ought always to bear some just proportion to the expense。 the removal of north； or the whole detestable junto； is a matter unworthy the millions we have expended。 a temporary stoppage of trade； was an inconvenience； which would have sufficiently balanced the repeal of all the acts plained of； had such repeals been obtained； hut if the whole continent must take up arms； if every man must be a soldier； it is scarcely worth our while to fight against a contemptible ministry only。
dearly； dearly； do we pay for the repeal of the acts； if that is all we fight for； for in a just estimation； it is as great a folly to pay a bunker…hill price for law； as for land。 as i have always considered the independancy of this continent； as an event； which sooner or later must arrive； so from the late rapid progress of the continent to maturity； the event could not be far off。 wherefore； on the breaking out of hostilities； it was not worth while to have disputed a matter； which time would have finally redressed； unless we meant to be in earnest； otherwise； it is like wasting an estate on a suit at law； to regulate the trespasses of a tenant； whose lease is just expiring。 no man was a warmer wisher for reconciliation than myself； before the fatal nineteenth of april 1775； but the moment the event of that day was made known； i rejected the hardened； sullen tempered pharaoh of england for ever； and disdain the wretch； that with the pretended title of father of his people can unfeelingly hear of their slaughter； and posedly sleep with their blood upon his soul。
but admitting that matters were now made up； what would be the event？ i answer； the ruin of the continent。 and that for several reasons。
first。 the powers of governing still remaining in the hands of the king； he will have a negative over the whole legislation of this continent。 and as he hath shewn himself such an inveterate enemy to liberty。 and discovered such a thirst for arbitrary power； is he； or is he not； a proper man to say to these colonies； 〃you shall make no laws but what i please。 and is there any inhabitant in america so ignorant as not to know； that according to what is called the present constit
