National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-31
Il ABOUT EDMUND BURKE,
One OF ths Greatest Orators OF She World
His Views ON Liberty

the principles asserted and maintained by the rev.
| olutionsry patriots: This wonderful speech was
| delivered in Parliament on the 22d March, IT'S.
and is believed by judges to be one of the best of
| that wonderful man. Edmund Burke was an
lrishman, born in Dublin in 1870, went TO London
in 1850 to study law, and, having the requisite
| qualifications, was elected to Parliament in lT65.
| He wGs the unfaltering friend of the colonies
during the eyentful period of the revolution, and
was their able defender at all times in season and
| out of season. As early IS 1868 Parliament i'm
posed heavy taxes upon the people, without their
consent, having no representatives in that high
| court" The colonists resisted these taxes, and
maintained that taxation and representation were
inseparable This was the sole issue, and in that
| position
| BURKE SUSTAINED AND DEFENDED THEM.
In this opposition Massachusetts, and Virginia
| took the lead and became the "most obnoxious"
The patriots of these colonies were of the first
magnitude; the former had John and Samuel
| Adams, Josiah Quincy, and others; the latter had
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Patrick
| Henry, John Marshall, and host of others. The
spirit of liberty" was intense, and the widest
! disorders prevailed. The laws were openly re-
sisted, and the law officers appointed to execute
! them threatened with death, and some, believe
! were actually hung who would not abandon their
obnoxious work; others were let off with the
rope upon their necks upon promise not to enforce
| the laws" And persons "were threatened with
murder and assassination if they persisted in pur
chasing and using the stamped paper" boy
cotting" was then universal and terrible.
AT THIS EyENTFUL PERIOD
Burke entered Parliament and took sides with
the Reyolutionists. He maintained the same opin-
ions that Adams, Quincy, Hancock, Washington,
Jefferson, and Patrick Henry did. Speaking of
this fierce spirit" he said: "I 1t threatens to con-
sumo u.s." And again he says TO Parliament:
sWhat in the name of God, will you do with it?'
Owing to these disorders in part, but mainly
through the power and logic of Burke's arguments,
the tax laws were all repealed, except the tax on
tea which only three pence per pound, or about
five cents of our currency. and for this paltry sum
andthe enforcement of tyrannical and unconstitu-
tional law she precipitated the revolutionary war,
which was successfully resisted by the colonies
upon the high and lofty principle of liberty.
Massachusetts, brought on the conflict by the de-
struction of the tea, and British army was sent
over to chaStise her and enforce the law.
She stood, fguratively, fettered slave and
guilty felon, with the rope upon her neck, in the
high court of Parliament, with no advocate but
Burke.
THE POLICY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
was the humiliation and suojugation of the peo-
pie by the army in the North and the "enfran-
chisement Of the slaves in Virginia and the Caro-
hnas." Slavery existed in all the colonies by the
operation Of the slave trade under the English
laws indeed, it was forced upon the colonies, not
withstanding the protests of the people. There
fore, for its existence in the United States no man
can be held justly responsible for it its conse
quence. 1t was planted by England and grew up
with the people and at the time of the revolution
they numbered 100000, or about one fourth as
many as the whites, according to Burkes esti-
mate. In his exhaustive and mastery orations
Burke held that no revenue would ever come from
America-"not shilling, and that the people
could never be conquered" Speaking of them. he
said: I" In this character of the American people
the love of freedom is the predominating feature
which marks and distinguishes the whole" If
anything were wanting to this necessary opera
ton of the form of government, religion would
have given it complete effect. Religion, always
principle of energy in this new people, is no way
worn out or impaired and their mode of profess
ing it is also one main cause of this free spirit.
THE PEOPLE ARE PRoTEsTANTs.
and that kind which is the most adverse to all i'm
plicit submission of mind and opinion. This a
persuasion not only favorable liberty but built
upon it." All professionalism. even the most cold and
passive is sort of dissent. But the religion most
prevalent in our Northern colonies is a refinement
the principle of resistance. The colonists left
England when this spirit was high, and In the
emigrsnts was highest of ALL
Speaking right along of the South he said Sir,
I can perceive by their manner that some gentle
men object to the latitude OF this description; be-
cause in the Southern colonies the church of
England forms large body and has regular es-
Enlistment. It is certainly true. There is. how
ever. q circumstance attending these colonies
which in my opinion fully Counterbalances this
difference and makes the spirit OF liberty still
high and naughty than in those of the North ward.
il is that In Virginia and the Csrolinas they have
q vast number of slaves. Where this is the case in
any part of the world those who are free are by far
the most proud and jealous of their freedom.
Freedom is to them not only an enjoyment but
kind Of rank and privilege. Not feeling. then.
that freedom, in other countries where it is e
common blessing and as broad and general as the
air may be united with ahJect toll, with great
misery, with all the exterior of servtude,
LIBERTY LOOKS AMONG THEM
like something more noble and liberal do not
mean, sir to commend the superior morality of
this sentiment which has at least as much pride
as virtue: but cannot alter the nature OF man.
The fact is so, and these people OF the Southern
colonies are much more strongly, and with an
higher and more stubborn spirit, attached to lib
eTty than those of the Northward Such were all
the ancient Commonwcalths; such were our
Gothic ancestors; such in days were the Poles;
and such will be all masters of slaves unless they
are slaves themselves. In such a people the
spirit Of freedom fortifes it, and renders it in
vincible" Mr.. Hoar declares this passage false
These were few of the many reasons given by
this wise and philosophic statesman in support OF
the invincibility OF the patriots of the revolution
aTy era. Whether true false, Burke stated
proposition in relation to the whole trouble with
England that did not come true with the accuracy
o. inspired prophecy.
cannot omit the closing passage ofhis last effort
in oF nd n VII Of q
people aspiring for liberty and strangers 10 him,
without consideration and with earthly mo-
tive; indeed, his course in this business lost
him favor among the Tory party Knowing fun
well that the doom of America was sealed il Par
lament
WITH 4 BROKEN HEART HE SAID:
Ali this, know well enough. will sound wild and
chimer1ca 10 the prOfane herd OF those vulgar and
mechanical politicians sort of people who think
that nothing exists bHt what gross and material:
and who therefore. far from being qualified TO be d.
rectOrs OF the great movements Of empire not fit
To turn the machine. Magnanlmity in politics Is not
seldom the truest wisdom, and great empire and
LITTLE minds go i'll together.
Il are conscious of situation. and glow with
zeal 10 fill place as becomes station and our
selves, ought 10 auSpicate all proceedings
America with the old warning of the church
c0rda: We ought TO elevate minds the great
OF that to which the order OF Providence has
called us Let US get an American revenue as have
got an American empire.
But England would not listen, and so lost reve-
nue. and empire. as Burke had said again and
again. Thank God for it! Thank God! 1 cannot
think that SO great and honorable man as Burke
would assert falSehood on so importante subject
and al such 8 time. or that he would formulate
theory unsupported by the best proofs. He was
man of great caution, modest and difndent; he
rushed into wild theories or antasms, although
his intelligence embraced the whole sphere of