How should a free people guard against ambitious men?

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that a free people should be strictly on their guard against ambitious men, especially in conjunctures that are most likely to increase and make power uncontrollable. He argued that force, not superstition, was the primary danger to liberty at the time. (key quote above) [1]
• BELIEF (1725): Thomas Gordon believed that ambitious men, particularly within the clergy, should be guarded against because their schemes are destructive of civil liberty and imply tyranny. He argued that such men, whether in Rome or Edinburgh, assert powers that are oppressive and contrary to the free constitution of a country. "Such Notions, and the Authors of them, are now as much contemned, as they were insolent and chimerical. ... If I must be enslaved or oppressed by an imperious, assuming Priesthood, what is the Difference to me, whether my Oppressor live at Rome, or Canterbury, or Edinburgh." [2]
• BELIEF (1733): Thomas Gordon believed that a free people should guard against ambitious men by preventing hypocrites from reigning, as their rule leads to the people being insnared. He argued that implicit belief and obedience to such hypocrites result in slavery and that forcing or suppressing private judgment and conscience are the root causes of such evils. "Of such mighty Consequence it is, that the Hypocrite reign not; since, where-ever he does, the People will surely be insnared." [3]
• BELIEF (1734): Thomas Gordon believed that a free people should guard against ambitious men by being cautious of schemes that could be used to destroy reputations and obstruct advancement, particularly through malicious or false accusations. He argued that such schemes could be exploited by ambitious or malicious individuals to undermine others. "If I should view this Scheme of an Inquisition, in the Lights of your own Interest, I believe I could easily deter you from pursuing any such pernicious and detestable Project." [4]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that men should be known through experience in public life rather than theoretical speculation, and that those with experience in government can better judge political matters and human nature. This belief is grounded in his argument that men of affairs and public life, like himself and the addressee, have a better understanding of human nature and the realities of governance than theorists. "Men are to be known, not by Theories taken up in closets, but by Commerce with men; and best of all in those great scenes of public Life, where You, Sir, have sustained, for so many years, a high and important part, and gained eminent experience as well as the just opinion of great sufficiency." [5]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that ambitious men could be corrupted or manipulated by factions, and that this could lead to instability and civil war. He argued that venal commissions and factional politics in the military could create a situation where officers' loyalty is tied to political interests rather than the public good. "How much easier is it to corrupt a few leading Officers, often necessitous, generally ambitious, than to persuade a whole Kingdom, if they are well governed, to destroy themselves?" [6]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that a free people should guard against ambitious men by ensuring that no single office or group holds unchecked power, as this leads to misrule and tyranny. He argued that the Tribunes, despite their intended role to check the Patricians, instead abused their power to deceive the people and undermine the Senate, ultimately leading to the rise of demagogues and tyranny. (key quote above) [7]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that a free people should guard against ambitious men by curing the abuse of liberty in ways consistent with liberty, and that establishing tyranny to prevent such abuse would be a greater corruption. He argued that while the abuse of liberty (turned into licentiousness) is a corruption that threatens public ruin, curing it through tyranny, by giving absolute power to one man, is a worse corruption. "But it would be a much greater Corruption, to cure popular Licence by establishing Tyranny; that is, by giving absolute Power to one Man to prevent the Abuse of Liberty in many." [8]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that a free people should guard against ambitious men by recognizing and condemning false patriotism and hypocrisy, and by valuing an honest and disinterested heart as the true mark of public spiritedness. He argued that ambition and avarice lead individuals to act against the public interest and that such behavior is ultimately self-defeating and condemned by the public. "How eagerly does the ambitious man enter into measures for inlargeing his figure and power? ... the balance must be eternally one way." [9]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that a free people must be vigilant against the misuse of old laws and constitutions by ambitious men, who use them as tools for persecution and oppression. He argued that such men justify their actions under the guise of upholding authority, thereby undermining the Republic and its laws. (key quote above) [10]

What cuts against it

• BELIEF (1725): Thomas Gordon acknowledged that men may form hasty judgments based on dislike, and that necessary but heavy measures may be mislabeled as oppressive. "Men do not easily discern good qualities and intentions in one, to whom they do not wish well." [5]

• ACTION (1725): Thomas Gordon defended certain ambitious clerical figures, arguing that some of their writings, while controversial, were not as destructive as claimed and that they opposed the Pope's authority. "It is true, that some of these high Contenders for unbounded Power in the Church and the Crown, wrote against Popery, and set Bounds to the Prerogative in Church Matters." [2]

• ACTION (1734): Thomas Gordon suggested that ambitious men might exploit schemes to damage reputations, but he also implied that such schemes could be deterred by appealing to self-interest. "If I should view this Scheme of an Inquisition, in the Lights of your own Interest, I believe I could easily deter you from pursuing any such pernicious and detestable Project." [4]

• ACTION (undated): Thomas Gordon noted that ambitious men might manipulate old laws and constitutions to justify their actions, but he also recognized the difficulty of distinguishing between genuine and false patriotism. "Such as are known not to love their Country, cannot reasonably expect to be safe in it, or that enmity to the Public will not meet with public hate." [9]

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Thomas Gordon believed that ambitious men pose a threat to liberty and must be guarded against, particularly in positions of power. (key quote above) [1]

2. He argued that unchecked power, whether in the hands of a prince or a faction, leads to tyranny. "Indeed Liberty doth not only imply Limitation, but can never be secure, where it is not limited." [11]

3. He emphasized the importance of public vigilance and the need for institutions to prevent the abuse of power. "The Tribunes began early to manifest what copious Authority they meant to draw from their short Commission... and consequently the Constitution changed, to make Way, not for a popular Government, but for the furious and unnatural Sway of a few Demagogues." [7]

4. He warned that ambitious men could manipulate laws and constitutions to justify their actions, undermining the very systems meant to protect liberty. "Every Law of the old free State, and every man who loved his Country and her Laws, were repugnant to the reigning Tyranny." [10]

5. He believed that true patriotism and disinterested service were essential to guard against ambition, and that hypocrisy and false patriotism must be condemned. "The desire of applause is implanted in human nature... No disguises can long hide the false Patriot." [9] (Inference: The need for genuine public spiritedness is a key part of his argument.)

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: PARTIAL

The record is silent on specific modern mechanisms for guarding against ambition, such as constitutional checks or democratic reforms. However, Thomas Gordon's principles suggest that a free people should guard against ambitious men by maintaining institutional checks, promoting public spiritedness, and ensuring that power is not concentrated in any one individual or faction.

Extrapolation: Thomas Gordon would likely argue that a free people should guard against ambitious men by ensuring that no single office or group holds unchecked power, by promoting public spiritedness and disinterested service, and by maintaining vigilance against the misuse of laws and constitutions. He would also emphasize the importance of public education and the role of institutions in preventing tyranny.

Competing readings: One reading is that Gordon believed in strict institutional checks and public vigilance to prevent tyranny. Another is that he also recognized the difficulty of distinguishing between genuine and false patriotism, suggesting a more nuanced approach. The record itself supports both readings, as he warned against ambition while acknowledging the complexity of human judgment.

Confidence: Moderate. The record provides clear principles but lacks direct modern applications. The sources are old editions, and some passages are undated, which limits the precision of the analysis. However, the consistency of his arguments across multiple passages supports the extrapolation.