A new distemper has spread itself
over Europe, infecting our princes, and inducing them to keep up an
exorbitant number of troops. It has its redoublings, and of necessity
becomes contagious. For as soon as one prince augments his forces, the
rest of course do the same; so that nothing is gained thereby but the
public ruin. Each monarch keeps as many armies on foot as if his people
were in danger of being exterminated: and they give the name of
peace
[14]
to this general effort of all against all. Thus is Europe
ruined to such a degree that were private people to be in the same
situation as the three most opulent powers of this part of the globe,
they would not have necessary subsistence. We are poor with the riches
and commerce of the whole world; and soon, by thus augmenting our
troops, we shall be all soldiers, and be reduced to the very same
situation as the Tartars.
[15]
Great princes, not satisfied with hiring or buying troops of petty
states, make it their business on all sides to pay subsidies for
alliances, that is, generally to throw away their money.
The consequence of such a situation is the perpetual augmentation of
taxes; and the mischief which prevents all future remedy is that they
reckon no more upon their revenues, but in waging war against their
whole capital. It is no unusual thing to see governments mortgage their
funds even in time of peace, and to employ what they call extraordinary
means to ruin themselves — means so extraordinary indeed, that such are
hardly thought of by the most extravagant young spendthrift.
