66 Eliot: Franklin 



currency, national wealth, free trade, the slave trade, 

 the effects of luxury and idleness, and the misery and 

 destruction caused by war. Not even his caustic wit 

 could adequately convey in words his contempt and 

 abhorrence of war as a mode of settling questions arising 

 between nations. He condensed his opinions on that 

 subject into the epigram: " There never was a good war 

 or a bad peace." 



Franklin's political philosophy may all be summed up 

 in seven words — first freedom, then public happiness and 

 comfort. The spirit of liberty was born in him. He 

 resented his brother's blows when he was an apprentice, 

 and escaped from them. As a mere boy he refused to 

 attend church on Sundays in accordance with the custom 

 of his family and his town, and devoted his Sundays to 

 reading and study. In practicing his trade he claimed 

 and diligently sought complete freedom. In public and 

 private business alike he tried to induce people to take 

 any action desired of them by presenting to them a mo- 

 tive they could understand and feel — a motive which 

 acted on their own wills and excited their hopes. This 

 is the only method possible under a regime of liberty. 

 A perfect illustration of his practice in this respect is 

 found in his successful provision of one hundred and 

 fifty four-horse wagons for Braddock's force when it 

 was detained on its march from Annapolis to Western 

 Pennsylvania by the lack of wagons. The military 



