On the record
They may be so, if they are sober and diligent; as they are better paid for their labour.
Source
gutenberg.orgBenjamin Franklin: “They may be so, if they are sober and diligent; as they are better paid for their labour.”
Editor's note · Context
Franklin suggests that diligence and sobriety lead to better wages for laborers in America, indicating a meritocratic aspect of American society.
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More from Benjamin Franklin
May 8, 1753
Few of their Children in the Country learn English . . . The Signs in our Streets have Inscriptions in both Languages, and in some places only [their language] . . . In short, unless the Stream of their Importation could be turned…
Our legal method of compulsion is by imprisonment: the Indians cannot and will not imprison one another; and if we attempt to imprison them, I apprehend it would be generally disliked by the nations, and occasion breaches.
That compelling the colonies to pay money without their consent, would be rather like raising contributions in an enemy's country, than taxing of Englishmen for their own public benefit.
Many quarrels and wars have arisen between the colonies and Indian nations, through the bad conduct of traders, who cheat the Indians after making them drunk, &c. to the great expence of the colonies both in blood and treasure.
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