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Show 6o POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL Dominion, the Cabals of Statefmen, or the ravenous Appetites of Individuals for Pow" or Plunder, for Wealth without Indufiry, and Greatnefs without Merit, were the only real and genuine Springs of Action. Now the Aims of Princes in thefe Wars are partly the fame with, and partly different from, thofe of their Subjects: As far as Renown is concerned, their Views are alike, for Heroifm is the Wifh and Envy of all Mankind; and to bea Nation ofHeroes, under the Conduélof an heroic Leader, is regarded, both by Prince and People, as the Summitof all earthly Hap- pinefs. It is really afioniihing to think with what Applaufe and Eclat the Memoirs of fuch SUBJECTS. 61 will be content to be Slaves themfelves, provided they may enflave others; and while the People can look up to the glorious Hero on the Throne, they will be dazzled with the Splendor that furrounds him, and forget the Deeds of the Opprefi'or. Now, from this View of Things, one would be tempted to imagine, that a Practice f0 uni- verfally prevailing, was found in the Courfe and Confiitution of Nature. One would be tempted to fuppole, that Mankind were created on Purpofe to be engaged in deltructive Wars, and to worry and devour one another. " Per- " haps the Earth would be overfiocked with minimum inhuman Monfiers are tranfmitted down, in all ' the Pomp of Profe and Verfe, to dilltant Gene- " falutary upon the Whole, and neceffary for the rations : Nay, let a Prince but feed his Subjeéls "Good of the Remainder. with the empty Diet of military Fame, it matters not what he does belides, in regard to them- ' "there may be fome. Truth in what is vulgarly {elves as well as Others; for the Lives and Li- " by the Downfall, and one People cannot grow " rich but by the impoverilhing, of its Neigh" bours." berties, and every Thing that can render Society a Blefiing, are willingly offered up as a Sacrifice to this Idol, GLORY. And were the Fact to be examined into, you would find, perhaps without a fingle Exception, that the greatel't Conquerors abroad, have proved the heaviei't Tyrants at Home. However, as Victory, like Charity, covereth a Multitude of Sins,- thus it comes to pafs, that reafonab-le Beings will "Numbers were it not for fuch Evacuations, Perhaps, likewife, " given out, that one Nation cannot thrive but AND yet, when we examine into this Affair, neither Reafon, nor Experience will give the leaf: Countenance to this Suppofition. The Reafon of the Thing we will confider now, and referve the Faét 'till by and by. Here then, if Principles of Reafon are to be our Guide, one would think, that :1 Being overflowrng with Benevolence, and not limited in Power, might have , |