2/7 【历史上的今天】富兰克林为“美国勇气”作辩护

美国历史上的今天

<An Imaginary Speech>

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When: Feb 7, 1755

What: Benjamin Franklin published <An Imaginary Speech> in defense of American courage.

Why significant: The speech was intended to counter an unnamed officer’s comments to Parliament that the British need not fear the colonial rebels, because “Americans are unequal to the People of this Country [Britain] in Devotion to Women, and in Courage, and worse than all, they are religious.”

In countering this three-pronged critique, Franklin noted that the colonial population had increased while that of Britain had declined. Franklin concluded that American men must therefore be more “effectually devoted to the Fair Sex” than their British counterparts.

In dealing with the comparative courage, Franklin held that American militiamen repeatedly saved the day after British officers blundered during the French and Indian War. What’s more, he added, “Indiscriminate Accusations against the Absent are cowardly Calumnies.”

Finally, on religion, Franklin overcame his distaste for piety to remind readers that zealous Puritans rid Britain of the despised King Charles I. Franklin surmised that his parliamentary critic was a Stuart [Catholic] sympathizer and therefore disliked American Protestants, “who inherit from those Ancestors, not only the same Religion, but the same Love of Liberty and Spirit.”

Tags: American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin, founding fathers, <An Imaginary Speech>