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Connecticut as the most hopeless of our States。 Little Delaware had
escaped my attention。 That is essentially a Quaker State； the
fragment of a religious sect which； there； in the other States； in
England； are a homogeneous mass； acting with one mind； and that
directed by the mother society in England。 Dispersed； as the Jews；
they still form； as those do； one nation； foreign to the land they
live in。 They are Protestant Jesuits； implicitly devoted to the will
of their superior； and forgetting all duties to their country in the
execution of the policy of their order。 When war is proposed with
England； they have religious scruples； but when with France； these
are laid by； and they become clamorous for it。 They are； however；
silent； passive； and give no other trouble than of whipping them
along。 Nor is the election of Monroe an inefficient circumstance in
our felicities。 Four and twenty years； which he will accomplish； of
administration in republican forms and principles； will so consecrate
them in the eyes of the people as to secure them against the danger
of change。 The evanition of party dissensions has harmonized
intercourse； and sweetened society beyond imagination。 The war then
has done us all this good； and the further one of assuring the world；
that although attached to peace from a sense of its blessings； we
will meet war when it is made necessary。
I wish I could give better hopes of our southern brethren。 The
achievement of their independence of Spain is no longer a question。
But it is a very serious one； what will then become of them？
Ignorance and bigotry； like other insanities； are incapable of
self…government。 They will fall under military despotism； and become
the murderous tools of the ambition of their respective Bonapartes；
and whether this will be for their greater happiness； the rule of one
only has taught you to judge。 No one； I hope； can doubt my wish to
see them and all mankind exercising self…government； and capable of
exercising it。 But the question is not what we wish； but what is
practicable？ As their sincere friend and brother then； I do believe
the best thing for them； would be for themselves to come to an accord
with Spain； under the guarantee of France； Russia； Holland； and the
United States； allowing to Spain a nominal supremacy； with authority
only to keep the peace among them； leaving them otherwise all the
powers of self…government； until their experience in them； their
emancipation from their priests； and advancement in information；
shall prepare them for complete independence。 I exclude England from
this confederacy； because her selfish principles render her incapable
of honorable patronage or disinterested co…operation； unless； indeed；
what seems now probable； a revolution should restore to her an honest
government； one which will permit the world to live in peace。
Portugal； grasping at an extension of her dominion in the south； has
lost her great northern province of Pernambuco； and I shall not
wonder if Brazil should revolt in mass； and send their royal family
back to Portugal。 Brazil is more populous； more wealthy； more
energetic； and as wise as Portugal。 I have been insensibly led； my
dear friend； while writing to you； to indulge in that line of
sentiment in which we have been always associated； forgetting that
these are matters not belonging to my time。 Not so with you； who
have still many years to be a spectator of these events。 That these
years may indeed be many and happy； is the sincere prayer of your
affectionate friend。
〃THE FLATTERIES OF HOPE〃
_To Fransois de Marbois_
_Monticello； June 14； 1817_
I thank you； dear Sir； for the copy of the interesting
narrative of the Complet d'Arnold； which you have been so kind as to
send me。 It throws light on that incident of history which we did
not possess before。 An incident which merits to be known as a lesson
to mankind； in all its details。 This mark of your attention recalls
to my mind the earlier period of life at which I had the pleasure of
your personal acquaintance； and renews the sentiments of high respect
and esteem with which that acquaintance inspired me。 I had not
failed to accompany your personal sufferings during the civil
convulsions of your country； and had sincerely sympathized with them。
An awful period； indeed； has passed in Europe since our first
acquaintance。 When I left France at the close of '89； your
revolution was； as I thought； under the direction of able and honest
men。 But the madness of some of their successors； the vices of
others； the malicious intrigues of an envious and corrupting
neighbor； the tracasserie of the Directory； the usurpations； the
havoc； and devastations of your Attila； and the equal usurpations；
depredations and oppressions of your hypocritical deliverers； will
form a mournful period in the history of man； a period of which the
last chapter will not be seen in your day or mine； and one which I
still fear is to be written in characters of blood。 Had Bonaparte
reflected that such is the moral construction of the world； that no
national crime passes unpunished in the long run； he would not now be
in the cage of St。 Helena； and were your present oppressors to
reflect on the same truth； they would spare to their own countries
the penalties on their present wrongs which will be inflicted on them
on future times。 The seeds of hatred and revenge which they are now
sowing with a large hand； will not fail to produce their fruits in
time。 Like their brother robbers on the highway； they suppose the
escape of the moment a final escape； and deem infamy and future risk
countervailed by present gain。 Our lot has been happier。 When you
witnessed our first struggles in the war of independence； you little
calculated； more than we did； on the rapid growth and prosperity of
this country； on the practical demonstration it was about to exhibit；
of the happy truth that man is capable of self…government； and only
rendered otherwise by the moral degradation designedly superinduced
on him by the wicked acts of his tyrants。
I have much confidence that we shall proceed successfully for
ages to come； and that； contrary to the principle of Montesquieu； it
will be seen that the larger the extent of country； the more firm its
republican structure； if founded； not on conquest； but in principles
of compact and equality。 My hope of its duration is built much on
the enlargement of the resources of life going hand in hand with the
enlargement of territory； and the belief that men are disposed to
live honestly； if the means of doing so are open to them。 With the
consolation of this belief in the future result of our labors； I have
that of other prophets who foretell distant events； that I shall not
live to see it falsified。 My theory has always been； that if we are
to dream； the flatteries of hope are as cheap；