I Have Written My Book In Obscure Language If I Have
Not Shown That To Me Social Successes And Commercial Prosperity Are
Much Dearer Than Any Greatness That Can Be Won By Arms.
The
Americans had fondly thought that they were to be exempt from the
curse of war - at any rate from the bitterness of the curse.
But the
days for such exemption have not come as yet. While we are hurrying
on to make twelve-inch shield plates for our men-of-war, we can
hardly dare to think of the days when the sword shall be turned into
the plowshare. May it not be thought well for us if, with such work
on our hands, scraps of iron shall be left to us with which to
pursue any of the purposes of peace? But at least let us not have
war with these children of our own. If we must fight, let us fight
the French "for King George upon the throne." The doing so will be
disagreeable, but it will not be antipathetic to the nature of an
Englishman. For my part, when an American tells me that he wants to
fight with me, I regard his offense, as compared with that of a
Frenchman under the same circumstances, as I would compare the
offense of a parricide or a fratricide with that of a mere
commonplace murderer. Such a war would be plus quam civile bellum.
Which of us two could take a thrashing from the other and afterward
go about our business with contentment?
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