第100章

Hereallisquiet。TheBritishwarhasleftusindebt；butthatisacheappriceforthegoodithasdoneus。Theestablishmentofthenecessarymanufacturesamongourselves，theproofthatourgovernmentissolid，canstandtheshockofwar，andissuperioreventocivilschism，arepreciousfactsforus；andofthesethestrongestproofswerefurnished，when，withfoureasternStatestiedtous，asdeadtolivingbodies，alldoubtwasremovedastotheachievementsofthewar，haditcontinued。Butitsbesteffecthasbeenthecompletesuppressionofparty。ThefederalistswhoweretrulyAmerican，andtheirgreatmasswasso，haveseparatedfromtheirbrethrenwhoweremereAnglomen，andarereceivedwithcordialityintotherepublicanranks。EvenConnecticut，asaState，andthelastoneexpectedtoyielditssteadyhabits(whichwereessentiallybigotedinpoliticsaswellasreligion)，haschosenarepublicangovernor，andrepublicanlegislature。Massachusettsindeedstilllags；becausemostdeeplyinvolvedintheparricidecrimesandtreasonsofthewar。Buthergangreneiscontracting，thesoundfleshadvancingonit，andalltherewillbewell。ImentionedConnecticutasthemosthopelessofourStates。LittleDelawarehadescapedmyattention。ThatisessentiallyaQuakerState，thefragmentofareligioussectwhich，there，intheotherStates，inEngland，areahomogeneousmass，actingwithonemind，andthatdirectedbythemothersocietyinEngland。Dispersed，astheJews，theystillform，asthosedo，onenation，foreigntothelandtheylivein。TheyareProtestantJesuits，implicitlydevotedtothewilloftheirsuperior，andforgettingalldutiestotheircountryintheexecutionofthepolicyoftheirorder。WhenwarisproposedwithEngland，theyhavereligiousscruples；butwhenwithFrance，thesearelaidby，andtheybecomeclamorousforit。Theyare，however，silent，passive，andgivenoothertroublethanofwhippingthemalong。NoristheelectionofMonroeaninefficientcircumstanceinourfelicities。Fourandtwentyyears，whichhewillaccomplish，ofadministrationinrepublicanformsandprinciples，willsoconsecratethemintheeyesofthepeopleastosecurethemagainstthedangerofchange。Theevanitionofpartydissensionshasharmonizedintercourse，andsweetenedsocietybeyondimagination。Thewarthenhasdoneusallthisgood，andthefurtheroneofassuringtheworld，thatalthoughattachedtopeacefromasenseofitsblessings，wewillmeetwarwhenitismadenecessary。

IwishIcouldgivebetterhopesofoursouthernbrethren。TheachievementoftheirindependenceofSpainisnolongeraquestion。

Butitisaveryseriousone，whatwillthenbecomeofthem?

Ignoranceandbigotry，likeotherinsanities，areincapableofself-government。Theywillfallundermilitarydespotism，andbecomethemurderoustoolsoftheambitionoftheirrespectiveBonapartes；

andwhetherthiswillbefortheirgreaterhappiness，theruleofoneonlyhastaughtyoutojudge。Noone，Ihope，candoubtmywishtoseethemandallmankindexercisingself-government，andcapableofexercisingit。Butthequestionisnotwhatwewish，butwhatispracticable?Astheirsincerefriendandbrotherthen，Idobelievethebestthingforthem，wouldbeforthemselvestocometoanaccordwithSpain，undertheguaranteeofFrance，Russia，Holland，andtheUnitedStates，allowingtoSpainanominalsupremacy，withauthorityonlytokeepthepeaceamongthem，leavingthemotherwiseallthepowersofself-government，untiltheirexperienceinthem，theiremancipationfromtheirpriests，andadvancementininformation，shallpreparethemforcompleteindependence。IexcludeEnglandfromthisconfederacy，becauseherselfishprinciplesrenderherincapableofhonorablepatronageordisinterestedco-operation；unless，indeed，whatseemsnowprobable，arevolutionshouldrestoretoheranhonestgovernment，onewhichwillpermittheworldtoliveinpeace。

Portugal，graspingatanextensionofherdominioninthesouth，haslosthergreatnorthernprovinceofPernambuco，andIshallnotwonderifBrazilshouldrevoltinmass，andsendtheirroyalfamilybacktoPortugal。Brazilismorepopulous，morewealthy，moreenergetic，andaswiseasPortugal。Ihavebeeninsensiblyled，mydearfriend，whilewritingtoyou，toindulgeinthatlineofsentimentinwhichwehavebeenalwaysassociated，forgettingthatthesearemattersnotbelongingtomytime。Notsowithyou，whohavestillmanyyearstobeaspectatoroftheseevents。Thattheseyearsmayindeedbemanyandhappy，isthesincereprayerofyouraffectionatefriend。”THEFLATTERIESOFHOPE”

_ToFransoisdeMarbois_

_Monticello，June1