Page:Criticism on the Declaration of independence, as a literary document (IA criticismondecla00seld).pdf/40

 power but to deceive. It cheats—that is all. The advantage gained by believing a fiction, is always a minus quantity. We are in fact a little more ignorant after it, than we were before. All the advantage we gain therefore, by placing credence in the first part of the Declaration, is an accession to our ignorance, not our knowledge. And some of us have all along been the fools that did not know the difference.

Is it matter of surprise that the subjects of the severe but rational and effectual governments of Europe, should mock at us for instituting a government, to secure ourselves in rights, which we affirm our Creator has endowed us with, in such an unalienable manner withal, that we cannot get rid of them if we would? Is it marvellous, that the ready writers of other lands, should scatter their sneers at. national literature, in part made up of a vainglorious revelation of what was known before?

Suppose our author had set forth the following self-evident truths, (which I claim, and I think, shall be able to show are superior to those he parades) namely—we hold the following truths to be self-evident that the moon is one solid sphere of gold—that all men are endowed by their Creator with an unalienable right to an equal proportion of this treasure; and furthermore, that they are likewise endowed by the same authority, with an unalienable right to pursue any method to get possession which they think consistent with their happiness!! The superiority I claim for this setting-forth, consists in this,—it would be precious information to lunatics; whereas for the matter of his, it is as useless to the same as to the insane. Under my dispensation, the moonstruck might insist upon their rights, with any given amount of pertinacity; and revel in the full consolation that they were well off as to riches. I would not however be understood to insinuate, that this stock in the moon would go current in Wall street at present; or that it would pay a debt at the bank, at least, not till the brokers began to receive moon-shine for cash, and statements of self-evident truths for an increase of knowledge; but what I would insinuate in behalf of this stock is, that quite probably it would be useful among the chivalry for the purposes of hypothecation. As a matter of pledge it would be superior in value to their "sacred honor," and in bons-fide debts far better than their promises.