conquerorwhoenterstriumphantintoacountrywherethemoneyedmenhave，byavarietyofartifices，insensiblyarrivedatinnumerablewaysofencroachingonthepublic，wherethemiserablepeople，whoseeabusesgrownintolaws，arereadytosinkundertheweightofimpression，yetthinktheyhavenorighttoapplyforredress——aconqueror，Isay，maymakeatotalchange，andthenthetyrannyofthosewretcheswillbethefirstthingexposedtohisresentment。
Wehavebeheld，forinstance，countriesoppressedbythefarmersoftherevenues，andeasedafterwardsbytheconqueror，whohadneithertheengagementsnorwantsofthelegitimateprince。Eventheabuseshavebeenoftenredressedwithoutanyinterpositionoftheconqueror。
Sometimesthefrugalityofaconqueringnationhasenabledthemtoallowtheconqueredthosenecessariesofwhichtheyhadbeendeprivedunderalawfulprince。
Aconquestmaydestroyperniciousprejudices，andlay，ifImaypresumetousetheexpression，thenationunderabettergenius。
WhatgoodmightnottheSpaniardshavedonetotheMexicans？Theyhadamildreligiontoimparttothem；buttheyfilledtheirheadswithafranticsuperstition。Theymighthavesetslavesatliberty；theymadefreemenslaves。Theymighthaveundeceivedthemwithregardtotheabuseofhumansacrifices；insteadofthattheydestroyedthem。NevershouldI