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and destroys the very foundation it seems to stand on。
the contest for monarchy and succession； between the houses of york and lancaster； laid england in a scene of blood for many years。
twelve pitched battles； besides skirmishes and sieges； were fought between henry and edward。 twice was henry prisoner to edward； who in his turn was prisoner to henry。 and so uncertain is the fate of war and the temper of a nation； when nothing but personal matters are the ground of a quarrel； that henry was taken in triumph from a prison to a palace； and edward obliged to fly from a palace to a foreign land； yet； as sudden transitions of temper are seldom lasting； henry in his turn was driven from the throne； and edward recalled to succeed him。
the parliament always following the strongest side。
this contest began in the reign of henry the sixth； and was not entirely extinguished till henry the seventh； in whom the families were united。
including a period of 67 years； viz。 from 1422 to 1489。
in short； monarchy and succession have laid （not this or that kingdom only） but the world in blood and ashes。 tis a form of government which the word of god bears testimony against； and blood will attend it。
if we inquire into the business of a king； we shall find that in some countries they have none； and after sauntering away their lives without pleasure to themselves or advantage to the nation； withdraw from the scene； and leave their successors to tread the same idle ground。 in absolute monarchies the whole weight of business； civil and military； lies on the king； the children of israel in their request for a king； urged this plea 〃that he may judge us； and go out before us and fight our battles。〃 but in countries where he is neither a judge nor a general； as in england； a man would be puzzled to know what is his business。
the nearer any government approaches to a republic the less business there is for a king。 it is somewhat difficult to find a proper name for the government of england。 sir william meredith calls it a republic； but in its present state it is unworthy of the name； because the corrupt influence of the crown； by having all the places in its disposal； hath so effectually swallowed up the power； and eaten out the virtue of the house of mons （the republican part in the constitution） that the government of england is nearly as monarchical as that of france or spain。 men fall out with names without understanding them。
for it is the republican and not the monarchical part of the constitution of england which englishmen glory in； viz。 the liberty of choosing an house of mons from out of their own body … and it is easy to see that when republican virtue fails； slavery ensues。 why is the constitution of england sickly； but because monarchy hath poisoned the republic； the crown hath engrossed the mons？ in england a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away places； which in plain terms； is to impoverish the nation and set it together by the ears。 a pretty business indeed for a man to be allowed eight hundred thousand sterling a year for； and worshipped into the bargain！ of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of god； than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived。
。。。！
mon SenseII…3
2。3 thoughts on the present state of american affairs
in the following pages i offer nothing more than simple facts； plain arguments； and mon sense； and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader； than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession； and suffer his reason and his feelings to determine for themselves； that he will put on； or rather that he will not put off the true character of a man； and generously enlarge his views beyond the present day。
volumes have been written on the subject of the struggle between england and america。 men of all ranks have embarked in the controversy； from different motives； and with various designs； but all have been ineffectual； and the period of debate is closed。 arms； as the last resource； decide this contest； the appeal was the choice of the king； and the continent hath accepted the challenge。
it hath been reported of the late mr。 pelham （who tho an able minister was not without his faults） that on his being attacked in the house of mons； on the score； that his measures were only of a temporary kind； replied 〃they will last my time。〃 should a thought so fatal and unmanly possess the colonies in the present contest； the name of ancestors will be remembered by future generations with detestation。
the sun never shined on a cause of greater worth。 tis not the affair of a city； a county； a province； or a kingdom； but of a continent … of at least one eighth part of the habitable globe。
tis not the concern of a day； a year； or an age； posterity are virtually involved in the contest； and will be more or less affected； even to the end of time； by the proceedings now。
now is the seed…time of continental union； faith and honour。
the least fracture now will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak； the wound will enlarge with the tree； and posterity read it in full grown characters。
by referring the matter from argument to arms； a new aera for politics is struck； a new method of thinking hath arisen。
all plans； proposals； &c。 prior to the nineteenth of april； i。 e。 to the mencement of hostilities； are like the almanacs of the last year； which； though proper then are superseded and useless now。 whatever was advanced by the advocates on either side of the question then； terminated in one and the same point。 viz。 a union with great…britain： the only difference between the parties was the method of effecting it； the one proposing force； the other friendship； but it hath so far happened that the first hath failed； and the second hath withdrawn her influence。
as much hath been said of the advantages of reconciliation which； like an agreeable dream； hath passed away and left us as we were； it is but right； that we should examine the contrary side of the argument； and inquire into some of the many material injuries which these colonies sustain； and always will sustain； by being connected with； and dependent on great britain： to examine that connection and dependence； on the principles of nature and mon sense； to see what we have to trust to； if separated； and what we are to expect； if dependant。
i have heard it asserted by some； that as america hath flourished under her former connection with great britain that the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness； and will always have the same effect。
nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument。
we may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk that it is never to have meat； or that the first twenty years of our lives is to bee a precedent for the next twenty。
but even this is admitting more than is true； for i answer roundly； that america would have flourished as much； and probably much more； had no european power had any thing to do with her。 the merce； by which she hath enriched herself； are the necessaries of life； and will always have a market while