Mr. Paine has thought fit to offer some advice to his countrymen in the
present juncture, in which, according to some, they stand in
considerable need of it. The performance is not unworthy of the other
productions of this author. It has the same virtues and the same
defects. We have extracted the following passage, as one of the most
singular and interesting.
"America has but one enemy, and that is England. Of the English
it behoves us always to be jealous. We ought to cultivate
harmony and good understanding with every other power upon
earth. The necessity of this caution will be easily shewn. For
1. The united states of America were subject to the government
of England. True, they have acknowledged our independence. But
pride first struggled as much as she could, and sullenness held
off as long as she dare. They have withdrawn their claim upon
our obedience, but do you think they have forgot it? To this
hour their very news-papers talk daily of dissentions between
colony and colony, and the disaffection of this and of that to
the continental interest. They hold up one another in absurdity,
and look with affirmative impatience, when we shall fall
together by the ears, that they may run away with the prize we
have so dearly won. It is not in man to submit to a defalcation
of empire without reluctance. But in England, where every
cobler, slave as he is, hath been taught to think himself a
king, never.
2. The resemblance, of language, customs, will give them the
most ready access to us. The king of England will have
emissaries in every corner. They will try to light up discord
among us. They will give intelligence of all our weaknesses.
Though we have struggled bravely, and conquered like men, we are
not without imperfection. Ambition and hope will be for ever
burning in the breast of our former tyrant. Dogmatical
confidence is the worst enemy America can have. We need not fear
the Punic sword. But let us be upon our guard against the arts
of Carthage.
3. England is the only European state that still possesses an
important province upon our continent. The Indian tribes are all
that stand between us. We know with what art they lately sought
their detested alliance. What they did then was the work of a
day. Hereafter if they act against us, the steps they will
proceed with will be slower and surer. Canada will be their
place of arms. From Canada they will pour down their Indians. A
dispute about the boundaries will always be an easy quarrel. And
if their cunning can inveigle us into a false security, twenty
or thirty years hence we may have neither generals nor soldiers
to stop them."
ARTICLE X.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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