17.5. 5. That when the People in the North of Asia and those of the North
of Europe made Conquests, the Effects of the Conquest were not the same.
The nations in the north of Europe conquered as freemen; the people in
the north of Asia conquered as slaves, and subdued as others only to
gratify the ambition of a master.
The reason is that the people of Tartary, the natural conquerors of
Asia, are themselves enslaved. They are incessantly making conquests in
the south of Asia, where they form empires: but that part of the nation
which continues in the country finds that it is subject to a great
master, who, being despotic in the south, will likewise be so in the
north, and exercising an arbitrary power over the vanquished subjects,
pretends to the same over the conquerors. This is at present most
conspicuous in that vast country called Chinese Tartary, which is
governed by the emperor, with a power almost as despotic as that of
China itself, and which he every day extends by his conquests.
We may likewise see in the history of China that the emperors
[5]
sent Chinese colonies into Tartary. These Chinese have become Tartars,
and the mortal enemies of China; but this does not prevent their
carrying into Tartary the spirit of the Chinese government.
A part of the Tartars who were conquerors have very often been
themselves expelled; when they have carried into their deserts that
servile spirit which they had acquired in the climate of slavery. The
history of China furnishes us with strong proofs of this assertion, as
does also our ancient history.
[6]
Hence it follows that the genius of the Getic or Tartarian nation
has always resembled that of the empires of Asia. The people in these
are governed by the cudgel; the inhabitants of Tartary by whips. The
spirit of Europe has ever been contrary to these manners; and in all
ages, what the people of Asia have called punishment those of Europe
have deemed the most outrageous abuse.
[7]
The Tartars who destroyed the Grecian empire established in the
conquered countries slavery and despotic power: the Goths, after
subduing the Roman empire, founded monarchy and liberty.
I do not know whether the famous Rudbeck, who in his Atlantica has
bestowed such praises on Scandinavia, has made mention of that great
prerogative which ought to set this people above all the nations upon
earth; namely, this country's having been the source of the liberties of
Europe — that is, of almost all the freedom which at present subsists
amongst mankind.
Jornandes the Goth called the north of Europe the forge of the human
race. I should rather call it the forge where those weapons were framed
which broke the chains of southern nations. In the north were formed
those valiant people who sallied forth and deserted their countries to
destroy tyrants and slaves, and to teach men that, nature having made
them equal, reason could not render them dependent, except where it was
necessary to their happiness.
Footnotes
[5]
As Vouty V, emperor of the fifth dynasty.
[6]
The Scythians thrice conquered Asia, and thrice were driven
thence. Justin, ii. 3.
[7]
This is in no way contrary to what I shall say in book xxviii. 20
concerning the manner of thinking among the German nations in respect to
the cudgel; let the instrument be what it will, the power or action of
beating was always considered by them as an affront.
