They hold up one another in absurdity,
and look with affirmative impatience, when we shall fall
together by the ears, that they may run away with the prize we
have so dearly won. It is not in man to submit to a defalcation
of empire without reluctance. But in England, where every
cobler, slave as he is, hath been taught to think himself a
king, never.
2. The resemblance, of language, customs, will give them the
most ready access to us. The king of England will have
emissaries in every corner. They will try to light up discord
among us. They will give intelligence of all our weaknesses.
Though we have struggled bravely, and conquered like men, we are
not without imperfection. Ambition and hope will be for ever
burning in the breast of our former tyrant. Dogmatical
confidence is the worst enemy America can have. We need not fear
the Punic sword. But let us be upon our guard against the arts
of Carthage.
3. England is the only European state that still possesses an
important province upon our continent. The Indian tribes are all
that stand between us. We know with what art they lately sought
their detested alliance. What they did then was the work of a
day.
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