Government
‹ 9 · Outline
10.Government in history, nation and empire
10a.Empire, conquest and dominion over nations
See also: Race and Nationality 8a · Language 9c · History 7d
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 80Rome's dominion is to rule the subject world with no bounds.read · scan
- p. 232Rome's imperial arts: to rule mankind, spare the conquered and subdue the proud, in contrast to Greek arts.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 357–358Caesar Augustus' decree of enrolment sends everyone to his own city.read · scan
Plutarch, ThemistoclesVol. 12
- p. 20–22Fortifying Athens and building Piraeus as state policy tying the city to the sea.read · scan
Plutarch, PericlesVol. 12
- p. 47Colonies also garrison and deter allies from rebellion.read · scan
Plutarch, AristidesVol. 12
- p. 100Command of the confederacy passes to Athens through gentleness and wise policy, not force.read · scan
- p. 100–102Greeks yield supreme command and are assessed city by city; demagogues inflate tribute to please the people.read · scan
Tacitus, GermanyVol. 33
- p. 108Tribute and imperial frontier administration: some tribes exempt, others become part of a province.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 305–306The Roman imperial standard as the emblem of rule, passing to Caesar.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 329Germans should govern the empire honestly rather than give it up, regardless of how it was acquired.read · scan
Francis Pretty, Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the WorldVol. 33
- p. 214–215Native people cede their province and become subjects, transferring rule to England.read · scan
- p. 217Drake sets a plate recording the Queen's right and title and the people's surrender.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 73Statesmen who make a small state great differ from mere courtiers who fiddle; true greatness of estates is the subject.read · scan
- p. 138–139Great states grow over-powerful and empires enervate subject peoples, so their breakup brings war.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 319Catalog of world empires and their seats, shown in Adam's vision.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 359Satan fears losing his empire of Earth and Air to a new king.read · scan
- p. 395Rome's praetors, proconsuls, lictors, legions and embassies show imperial administration and dominion over nations.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 128–129Britain refuses colonial union for defense, fearing the colonies would grow military and feel their strength, and sends regulars.read · scan
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsVol. 10
- p. 395Greek colonies set their own government, laws and magistrates, independent of the mother city, which claimed no jurisdiction over them.read · scan
- p. 395–397Roman colonies remained subject to the mother city's jurisdiction and legislative authority, unlike independent Greek colonies, and served as garrisons over conquered provinces.read · scan
- p. 424Colonial empire and its debts, burdening consumers, were maintained solely to create a monopoly of customers.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 406Rudenz notes the King's dominion of markets, courts, highways and tolls that enclose the Swiss.read · scan
- p. 406–411Rudenz notes the Empire cannot protect itself and alienates its towns, so it cannot shield the cantons.read · scan
Declaration of RightsVol. 43
- p. 147–148Allegiance to the crown and subordination to Parliament are affirmed, while taxes must come from the colonists' own legislatures.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 431–432Governor Don Gonzalo complains to the Venetian minister that Renzo, a supposed insurrectionist, is harboured in Bergamo.read · scan
- p. 432–433Diplomatic exchanges pass through Venice, sheriff and minister to Don Gonzalo; Venetian policy attracts Milanese silk-weavers by offering security.read · scan
- p. 433Governor Don Gonzalo has no personal enmity toward Renzo; petty persons are linked invisibly to great affairs of state.read · scan
- p. 434Ministers, duke, emperor and king negotiate treaties, investiture and sequestration of disputed states.read · scan
- p. 435Richelieu, Venice, the Pope and Savoy maneuver; Don Gonzalo must swallow an ally's grabbing for fear of his revolting to France.read · scan
Thomas Babington Macaulay, MachiavelliVol. 27
- p. 387Italian states became satellites of France and Spain, so diplomats abroad mattered more than domestic administrators.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 336The British Empire and the United States govern and dominate a large share of the world's population.read · scan
- p. 388–389English force their island by-laws on India, China and other great countries.read · scan
- p. 468Colonial policy grown liberal, giving independence and educating peoples for self-government.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 133Mill defends Lord Durham's Canadian policy; the report's colonial self-government was soon adopted in Canada and other colonies.read · scan
- p. 175–176He denounced English mode of governing Ireland and suspension of Habeas Corpus.read · scan
- p. 176–178Government prepared military resistance against the meeting.read · scan
- p. 179Argues against separation of Ireland and England.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 982–983Parliament of man as federated world government.read · scan
Edward Augustus Freeman, Race and LanguageVol. 28
- p. 249–252Government boundaries should as far as possible coincide with national boundaries, though not by inflexible rule.read · scan
- p. 254Political tradition and interest overcame language and geography, tying the islands to the English crown as dependencies.read · scan
- p. 255Union under the same government has been a foremost cause in forming nations.read · scan
- p. 255–257Great Britain and France are politically united; Welsh and Gaelic speakers are one with the Saxon for political purposes.read · scan
- p. 259Political reasons forbade annexing some German-speaking lands; a continuous territory under one government and tongue forms a nation.read · scan
- p. 262Nationality has parted company from political government under Turkish and Austro-Hungarian rule.read · scan
- p. 269Hungary has a national government for Magyars only, imperfect regarding Slaves, Saxons and Rouman, and within the larger monarchy.read · scan
Treaty with RussiaVol. 43
- p. 432Plenipotentiaries appointed by the President and Emperor negotiate the transfer of dominion.read · scan
Recognition of the Independence of CubaVol. 43
- p. 440–441United States disclaims sovereignty, pledging to leave control of Cuba to its people after pacification.read · scan
Treaty with Spain (1898)Vol. 43
- p. 444–445Spain cedes public buildings, forts and property of the Crown's public domain to the new sovereign.read · scan
Convention Between the United States and the Republic of PanamaVol. 43
- p. 459–460No change in Panama's government or laws may affect United States rights under the convention without its consent.read · scan
10b.Political instability, revolution and the decline of states
See also: Revolution 4c
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 61Recluses argue the world is a seething torrent no one can guide; Confucius still feels bound to serve.read · scan
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 19–20An honest man fighting wrong in the state cannot survive in public life; he must keep a private station.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters of CiceroVol. 9
- p. 107With things in the state as they are, public life yields no profit or worthwhile life.read · scan
- p. 170A guest describes the political state as shocking and hopeless now that Caesar has fallen, with rebellion predicted.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 406The helpless king is borne along by the clamoring town factions divided over peace or war.read · scan
Plutarch, AlcibiadesVol. 12
- p. 132The Four Hundred usurpers are expelled and the people recall Alcibiades.read · scan
Plutarch, CiceroVol. 12
- p. 218–219Seeing the commonwealth sliding through faction toward absolute monarchy, he retired to study.read · scan
Plutarch, CaesarVol. 12
- p. 288Rome, bribed and violent in elections, is left without government like a ship without a pilot.read · scan
- p. 291–292Magistrates can no longer govern and Pompey declares the city in anarchy.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 327–328Dictator appoints Master of the Horse; other magistrates cease authority; Dolabella's debt-cancelling law seized by force.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 135–136Factional strife and betrayals among Pisan rulers, with Ugolino raised to supreme power.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 169Florentine offices and populace are changed, showing unstable government.read · scan
Niccolò Machiavelli, The PrinceVol. 36
- p. 43Italy split into states ruled by the Church and republics of citizens unfamiliar with arms, who hired foreigners.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 13Medici return from exile and reclaim their arms; officeholders change and the father loses his palace place.read · scan
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Drake RevivedVol. 33
- p. 185–186The Massacre of Paris is reported, with the Admiral slain and France become 'Frensy'; Italian practices are blamed for overmastering French simplicity.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 61States should not try experiments unless necessity is urgent or utility evident.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 78–79Kent laments a commonweal where lords keep courts and kings are imprisoned; power displaced from the crown.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 112–114Something is rotten in the state of Denmark; usurper wears the crown after a forged account of the king's death.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 315Albany resigns his absolute power to Lear and restores rights to Edgar and Kent.read · scan
- p. 315Albany gives rule of the gored state to Edgar and Kent.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 432–435Trinculo jokes that if the other two islanders are as brained as they, the state totters.read · scan
Sir Henry Vane, A Healing QuestionVol. 43
- p. 126–127Those holding the arms should prepare the people, as faithful guardians, to establish righteous government rather than withhold it.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 142–146Panope reports Athens divided over succession among Phaedra's son, Hippolytus and Aricia, against the laws.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 351–352Just ends by just means bring quiet government; violating nature of things brings convulsions.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 391Magistrates who suffer excess with impunity risk ruin of the state.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Preface to the English DictionaryVol. 39
- p. 204Tongues, like governments, tend naturally to degeneration.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 260–261Institutions should be judged as human characters, sorting good from evil mixed in them.read · scan
- p. 261Reform of existing government contrasted with pulling down the whole fabric.read · scan
- p. 264–265Argues France's accomplishments show government not so oppressive or corrupt as to be unfit for reformation rather than destruction.read · scan
- p. 265–266Claims the deposed French government strove for improvement, corrected abuses and was open to reform; it deserved improvement toward a British constitution.read · scan
- p. 275Abolishing kings and offices would not cure evil; a quantum of power must remain under some name.read · scan
- p. 289A statesman's standard is a disposition to preserve joined with an ability to improve.read · scan
- p. 293A sober legislator must compare old possessors with new ones before violently revolutionizing property.read · scan
- p. 298–299Contrasts the Assembly's conventional arts in seizing power with reckless theory in governing.read · scan
- p. 354The Assembly is charged with assuming undelegated power and taking direction from Parisian clubs and mobs.read · scan
Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, The Federalist, Nos. I and IIVol. 43
- p. 205Wise, well-balanced government requires calm reflection, which the wartime confederation lacked.read · scan
George Washington, Washington's Farewell AddressVol. 43
- p. 245–246Foreign influence is a baneful foe of republican government; attachments let foreign powers tamper with factions and public councils.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 527–528Relaxation of public authority lets villains act with impunity and take over the offices of public administration.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, A Defence of PoetryVol. 27
- p. 350–351The state is driven between anarchy and despotism by unchecked calculation.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, CharacteristicsVol. 25
- p. 336Governments succeed each other in revolutionary fever; proposes summoning the wisest of the commonwealth to consult.read · scan
- p. 352Old political systems burst because ancient methods of administration can no longer manage social resources.read · scan
Andrew Johnson, Proclamation Declaring the Insurrection at an EndVol. 43
- p. 428–429Fundamental principle of government: the overcome must be conciliated rather than held by absolute military power.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 144Judges that South American republics need men of principle before they can succeed.read · scan
- p. 145Unstable republican government, with governors constantly replaced and a party unable to be ruled by any governor but its own.read · scan
- p. 148–149Unstable government in La Plata, never on a staple foundation, threatened by ambitious officers left by the Brazilian war; interest in presidential election seen as good sign.read · scan
- p. 371The president sells fortress guns for lack of a trustworthy officer, having won office by rebelling; he is later shot.read · scan
Abraham Lincoln, Proclamation of AmnestyVol. 43
- p. 418States may reestablish governments when one tenth of 1860 voters take the oath.read · scan
- p. 418–419Proclamation offers a mode to reestablish loyal state governments, not the only acceptable one.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 232–233Dana learns of Mexican political parties and Santa Ana's rule from newspapers; office would reconcile Don Juan to any dynasty.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Twenty-Four Years AfterVol. 23
- p. 391–392The town organized a government and became well governed after a season of crime.read · scan
James Russell Lowell, Abraham LincolnVol. 28
- p. 434Lessons of the French Revolution: passion and dogma cannot build a working political system; sentiment misapplied in politics strains statesmanship, as in Lincoln's wartime leadership.read · scan
Walter Bagehot, John MiltonVol. 28
- p. 187Milton turned against the Long Parliament's rule and attacked it in his History.read · scan
‹ 9 · Outline