Rules by Which a Great Empire May
be Reduced to a Small One
An ancient Sage boasted that, though he could
not fiddle, he knew how to make a great city of a little
one. The science that I, a modern simpleton, am about to
communicate, is the very reverse.
I address myself to all ministers who have the
management of extensive dominions, which from their very
greatness have become troublesome to govern.
However peaceably your colonies have submitted to
your government, shown their affection to your interests,
and patiently borne their grievances; you are to suppose
them always inclined to revolt, and treat them accordingly.
Quarter troops among them, who by their insolence may
provoke the rising of mobs, and by their bullets and
bayonets suppress them. By this means, like the husband who
mistreats his wife from suspicion, you may in time convert
your suspicions into realities.
You ministers know that much of the strength of
government depends on the opinion of the people; and much of
that opinion on the choice of rulers placed immediately over
them. If you send them wise and good men for governors, who
study the interests of of the colonists, and advance their
prosperity, they will think their King wise and good, and
that he is looking out for the welfare of his subjects. If
you send them learned and upright men for Judges, they will
think that their King is a lover of justice. This may
attach your provinces more to his government. You are,
therefore, to be careaful whom you recommend for those
offices. If you can find prodigals, who have ruined their
fortunes, or broken gamblers, these may do well as
governors; for they will probably be rapacious, and provoke
the people by their extortions.
To make your taxes odious, and likely to provoke
resistance, send a board of officers to supervise the
collection, composed of the most indescreet, ill-bred, and
insolent you can find. Let these men have large salaries
paid out of the extorted revenue, and let them live in open,
grating luxury upon the sweat and blood of the industrious;
whom they are to worry continually with groundless and
expensive prosecutions before the above-mentiioned arbitrary
revenue Judges. Let these men, by your order, be exempted
from all the common taxes and burdens of the province,
though they and their property are protected by its laws.
If any revenue officers are suspected of the
least tenderness for the people, discard them. If others
are justly complained of, protect and reward them. If any
of the under officers behave so as to provoke the people,
promote those to better offices.
If the parliaments of your provinces should dare
to claim rights, or complain of your administration, order
them to be harrassed with repeated dissolutions. If the
same men are continually returned by new elections, adjourn
their meetings to some country village, where they cannot be
accommodated. For this, you know, is your Prerogative.
If you are told of discontents in your colonies,
never believe that they are general, or that you have given
rise to them. Therefore, do not think of applying any
remedy, or of changing any offensive measure. Redress no
grievance, lest the people should be encouraged to demand
the redress of some other grievance. Grant no request that
is just and reasonable, lest they should make another that
is unreasonable.
Believe nothing you hear from the friends of the
people. Suppose all their complaints to be invented and
promoted by a few factious demagogues, whom, if you could
catch and hang, all would be quiet. Catch and hang a few of
them accordingly; and the blood of the Martyrs shall work
miracles in favor of your purpose.
Send armies into their country under pretence of
protecting the inhabitants. But, instead of garrisoning the
forts on their frontiers with those troops to prevent
invasions, demolish those forts and order the troops into
the heart of the country, that the savages may be encouraged
to attack the frontiers, so that the troops must be
protected by the inhabitants. This will be seen to be the
result of your ill will or your ignorance, and contribute
greatly to produce and strengthen an opinion among the peo
ple, that you are no longer fit to govern them.
* From The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, vol.
6, Albert H. Smyth, ed. Macmillan, (New York: 1905), pp.
127 - 137.
Return
to Study Guide #1
Revised
September 1, 2003
by Tom Gallup, e-mail address: [email protected]
West Valley College
http://www.westvalley.edu/wvc/ss/gallup/gallup.html