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THE RIGHTS OF MAN


BY THOMAS PAINE

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APPLYING PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE, CHAPTER 2 - OF THE ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT OLD
GOVERNMENTS

It is impossible that such governments as have hitherto existed in the world,
could have commenced by any other means than a total violation of every
principle sacred and moral. The obscurity in which the origin of all the present
old governments is buried, implies the iniquity and disgrace with which they
began. The origin of the present government of America and France will ever be
remembered, because it is honourable to record it; but with respect to the rest,
even Flattery has consigned them to the tomb of time, without an inscription.

It could have been no difficult thing in the early and solitary ages of the
world, while the chief employment of men was that of attending flocks and herds,
for a banditti of ruffians to overrun a country, and lay it under contributions.
Their power being thus established, the chief of the band contrived to lose the
name of Robber in that of Monarch; and hence the origin of Monarchy and Kings.

The origin of the Government of England, so far as relates to what is called its
line of monarchy, being one of the latest, is perhaps the best recorded. The
hatred which the Norman invasion and tyranny begat, must have been deeply rooted
in the nation, to have outlived the contrivance to obliterate it. Though not a
courtier will talk of the curfew-bell, not a village in England has forgotten
it.

Those bands of robbers having parcelled out the world, and divided it into
dominions, began, as is naturally the case, to quarrel with each other. What at
first was obtained by violence was considered by others as lawful to be taken,
and a second plunderer succeeded the first. They alternately invaded the
dominions which each had assigned to himself, and the brutality with which they
treated each other explains the original character of monarchy. It was ruffian
torturing ruffian. The conqueror considered the conquered, not as his prisoner,
but his property. He led him in triumph rattling in chains, and doomed him, at
pleasure, to slavery or death. As time obliterated the history of their
beginning, their successors assumed new appearances, to cut off the entail of
their disgrace, but their principles and objects remained the same. What at
first was plunder, assumed the softer name of revenue; and the power originally
usurped, they affected to inherit.

From such beginning of governments, what could be expected but a continued
system of war and extortion? It has established itself into a trade. The vice is
not peculiar to one more than to another, but is the common principle of all.
There does not exist within such governments sufficient stamina whereon to
engraft reformation; and the shortest and most effectual remedy is to begin anew
on the ground of the nation.

What scenes of horror, what perfection of iniquity, present themselves in
contemplating the character and reviewing the history of such governments! If we
would delineate human nature with a baseness of heart and hypocrisy of
countenance that reflection would shudder at and humanity disown, it is kings,
courts and cabinets that must sit for the portrait. Man, naturally as he is,
with all his faults about him, is not up to the character.

Can we possibly suppose that if governments had originated in a right principle,
and had not an interest in pursuing a wrong one, the world could have been in
the wretched and quarrelsome condition we have seen it? What inducement has the
farmer, while following the plough, to lay aside his peaceful pursuit, and go to
war with the farmer of another country? or what inducement has the manufacturer?
What is dominion to them, or to any class of men in a nation? Does it add an
acre to any man's estate, or raise its value? Are not conquest and defeat each
of the same price, and taxes the never-failing consequence? — Though this
reasoning may be good to a nation, it is not so to a government. War is the
Pharo-table of governments, and nations the dupes of the game.

If there is anything to wonder at in this miserable scene of governments more
than might be expected, it is the progress which the peaceful arts of
agriculture, manufacture and commerce have made beneath such a long accumulating
load of discouragement and oppression. It serves to show that instinct in
animals does not act with stronger impulse than the principles of society and
civilisation operate in man. Under all discouragements, he pursues his object,
and yields to nothing but impossibilities.

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