! Thoughts on PUBLIC CREDIT. 315 
tins has Tome advantages alfo ; it creates a dependance; it helps 
to fallen the bonds of union, and to fupport the being, if not the 
welfare of nations upon the folid foundation of mutual interefl. 
It would be abfurd to entertain a thought of paying off the 
fmallefl part of our debt, during a war; but we mull endevor 
to prevent the increafe of it. This may appear as a romantic 
enterprize, ’till we conlider that the only way to preferve our- 
felves even for the present, is to guard againll future evils. 
I do not think that peftilence or earthquakes are neceffary to 
awaken us ; and tho’ war was never recommended to improve 
the good fenfe or morals of a people, diftrefs may render us more 
virtuous, and it may be alfo inftrumental to the opening our 
eyes with regard to our political interefl. 
Notwithflanding what fome politicians affert ; if there is a 
god who directs the affairs of mankind ; if he abhors falfe- 
hood, it cannot be true policy to proceed on principles which 
are not founded in truth. What confolation is it, that the er- 
rors and mifcondu&s of nations, in their national capacity, are 
punifhable by temporal evils ? The distinction of public and 
private in this cafe is fo nice, that one hardly fees the differ- 
ence : and are not temporal evils, the evils we moft dread ? But 
if we plead a political neceffity of doing that which may involve 
individuals in diftrefs ; fo far as individuals are induced by any 
notion of policy, in plain oppofition to morality, to be inflru- 
mental to fuch diftrefs, fo far their punifhment I believe will 
not be temporal only. 
Some think they have made wonderful difcoveries, and tell 
us that minifters of flate calculate much on the. vices, but very 
S f 2 little 
