Works of the late Doctor Benjamin Franklin/Obſervations on War
OBSERVATIONS ON WAR.
BY the original law of nations, war and extirpation were the puniſhment of injury. Humanizing by degrees, it admitted ſlavery inſtead of death: a farther ſtep was, the exchange of priſoners inſtead of ſlavery: another, to reſpect more the property of private perſons under conqueſt, and be content with acquired dominion. Why ſhould not this law of nations go on improving? Ages have intervened between its ſeveral ſteps. but as knowledge of late increaſes rapidly, why ſhould not thoſe ſteps be quickened? Why ſhould it not be agreed to, as the future law of nations, that in any war hereafter the following deſcription of men ſhould be undiſturbed, have the protection of both ſides, and be permitted to follow their employments in ſecurity? viz.
1 . Cultivators of the earth, becauſe they labour for the ſubſiſtence of mankind.
2. Fiſhermen, for the ſame reaſon.
3. Merchants and traders in unarmed ſhips, who accommodate different nations by communicating and exchanging the neceſſaries and conveniencies of life.
4. Artiſts and mechanics, inhabiting and working in open towns.
It is hardly neceſſary to add, that the hoſpitals of enemies ſhould be unmoleſted—they aught to be aſſiſted. It is for the intereſt of humanity in general, that the occaſions of war, and the inducements to it, ſhould be diminiſhed. If rapine be abolished, one of the encouragements to war is taken away; and peace therefore more likely to continue and be laſting.
The practice of robbing merchants on the high ſeas—a remnant of the antient piracy—though it may be accidentally beneficial to particular perſons, is far from being profitable to all engaged in it, or to the nation that authoriſes it. In the beginning of a war ſome rich ſhips are ſurprized and taken. This encourages the firſt adventurers to fit out more armed veſſels; and many others to do the ſame. But the enemy at the ſame time become more careful; arm their merchant ſhips better, and render them not ſo eaſy to be taken: they go alſo more under the protection of convoys. Thus* while the privateers to take them are multiplied, the veſſels ſubject to be taken, and the chances of profit, are diminiſhed; ſo that many cruiſes are made wherein the expences overgo the gains; and, as is the caſe in other lotteries, though particulars have got prizes, the maſs of adventurers are loſers, the whole expence of fitting out all the privateers during a war being much greater than the whole amount of goods taken.
Then there is the national loſs of all the labour of ſo many men during the time they have been employed in robbing; who beſides ſpend what they get in riot, drunkenneſs, and debauchery; loſe their habits of induſtry; are rarely fit for any ſober buſineſs after a peace, and ſerve only to increaſe the number of highwaymen and houſebreakers. Even the undertakers who have been fortunate, are, by ſudden wealth, led into expenſive living, the habit of which continues when the means of ſupporting it ceaſe, and finally ruins them: a juſt puniſhment for their having wantonly and unfeelingly ruined many honeſt, innocent traders and their families, whoſe ſubſtance was employed in ſerving the common intereſt of mankind.