10.6. 6. Of Conquest made by a Republic.
It is contrary to the nature of
things that in a confederate government one state should make any
conquest over another, as in our days we have seen in Switzerland.
[4]
In mixed confederate republics, where the association is between petty
republics and monarchies, of a small extent, this is not so absurd.
Contrary is it also to the nature of things that a democratic
republic should conquer towns which cannot enter into the sphere of its
democracy. It is necessary that the conquered people should be capable
of enjoying the privileges of sovereignty, as was settled in the very
beginning among the Romans. The conquest ought to be limited to the
number of citizens fixed for the democracy.
If a democratic republic subdues a nation in order to govern them as
subjects, it exposes its own liberty; because it entrusts too great a
power to those who are appointed to the command of the conquered
provinces.
How dangerous would have been the situation of the republic of
Carthage had Hannibal made himself master of Rome? What would he not
have done in his own country, had he been victorious, he who caused so
many revolutions in it after his defeat?
[5]
Hanno could never have dissuaded the senate from sending succour to
Hannibal, had he used no other argument than his own jealousy. The
Carthaginian senate, whose wisdom is so highly extolled by Aristotle
(and which has been evidently proved by the prosperity of that
republic), could never have been determined by other than solid reasons.
They must have been stupid not to see that an army at the distance of
three hundred leagues would necessarily be exposed to losses which
required reparation.
Hanno's party insisted that Hannibal should be delivered up to the
Romans.
[6]
They could not at that time be afraid of the Romans; they
were therefore apprehensive of Hannibal.
It was impossible, some will say, for them to imagine that Hannibal
had been so successful. But how was it possible for them to doubt it?
Could the Carthaginians, a people spread over all the earth, be ignorant
of what was transacting in Italy? No: they were sufficiently acquainted
with it, and for that reason they did not care to send supplies to
Hannibal.
Hanno became more resolute after the battle of Trebia, after the
battle of Thrasimenus, after that of Cann; it was not his incredulity
that increased, but his fear.
Footnotes
[4]
With regard to Tockenburg.
[5]
He was at the head of a faction.
[6]
Hanno wanted to deliver Hannibal up to the Romans, as Cato would
fain have delivered up Cæsar to the Gauls.
