The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
BONAPARTE, NAPOLEON / DESTROYER OF CIVILIZATIONS
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That Bonaparte is an unprincipled tyrant, who is deluging the
Continent of Europe with blood, there is not a human being, not even
the wife of his bosom, who does not see; nor can there, I think, be a
doubt as to the line we ought to wish drawn between his successes and
those of Alexander. Surely none of us wish to see Bonaparte conquer
Russia, and lay thus at his feet the whole continent of Europe. This
done, England w6uld be but a breakfast; and, although I am free from
the visionary fears which the votaries of England have affected to
entertain, because I believe he cannot effect the conquest of Europe;
yet put all Europe into his hands, and he might spare such a force, to
be sent in British ships, as I would as leave not have to encounter,
when I see how much trouble a handful of British soldiers in Canada
has given us. No. It cannot be to our interest that all Europe should
be reduced to a single monarchy.
But is our particular interest to make us insensible to all
sentiments of morality? Is it then become criminal, the moral wish
that the torrents of blood this man is shedding in Europe, the
sufferings of so many human beings, good as ourselves, on whose necks
he is trampling, the burnings of ancient cities, devastations of great
countries, the destruction of law and order, and demoralization of the
world, should be arrested, even if it should place our peace a little
further distant? No. You and I cannot differ in wishing that Russia,
and Sweden, and Denmark, and Germany, and Spain, and Portugal, and
Italy, and even England, may retain their independence.
to Thomas Leiper, 1 January 1814
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