The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-07
EDnurD BUnKh


Chnmpien OF American n,ghts.
To TEE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir. The 9TH
Of July, 1897, marks the Tooth anniversary Of
tho death Of Edmund Burke. All Americans,
all lovers of freedom throughout tho world. have
q deep and abiding interest In the life OF this
great man, and the centenary Of his passing
should not go by without the recognition Of a
people whose most courageous friend he was In
tho darkest days that preceded their epoch
making struggle for liberty.
Edmund Burke was the defender Of the rights
OF the American co!onists ut a timo when prac-
tically the entire landed. commercial, and gov
erning classes OF England were arraycd against
them; when to DO q friend Of the pioneers be-
yond the seas brought down upon his head tho
imputation and some of the social and political
pendeSpee, i is true. Which he had predicted,
with the wisdom of q Statesman and almost the
tl' tSs S a. : tp5s9s Sosn ST9ag n e z slssTn III q a Tssi Sia
thereby yindiocting Burkc's course to tho fnirer
never quite forgiven BY q narrow and selfish
generation for the objectionable offence Of cham
ssition 70 the supposed pecunisry and politiiesi
advantage Of the then masters OF the British
Burke, from beginning to end of the series of
and his Ministers. did not hesitate to dcnounce.
proceedings and their incompatibility with the
constitutional rights of British subjects. Nor
out the consequence Of these acts upon a peeSpis
70 whom liberty was Of the soil. dearor than
life and their moasre possessions wruns from
HI. arst srS:. speech; Q 4 Ams.io.n TssH.
tack upon all, and the calling Of ! Continental
and met at PhiisdeIphia Sept. g. TIA. On tn;
day, OF its adjournment Massachusetts organ
prepare . for forci SSple resi.tt an oo a sen eGsHe eleo.
ton took place in England in that month Of the
Continental Congress. and q large majority wss
then tic ssGond town Of the kingdom and
whose apparent interests lay in the coercion OF
Nevertheless, Burke, on March 20. IT'S laid
before the Commons his thirteen resolutions for
reconciliation, and in their support made the
greatest as It Is the most prophetic. Of all b.
OF this noble effort He says:
Ny resolutions, therefore. mean to establish TIE
equity and justice OF taxation Of America By grant
and not by imposition. To mark the legal compo
tency Of the Colony Assemblies fer the support Of
their Government In peace. and for public aids IN
time of war. To acknowledge that this legal compe
tency has had q duttful and beneficial exercise; and
that experience has shown the bsnsnt OF their grants,
and the futility OF parliamentary taxation O. .
method Of supply. . . . Sir, / ahal open
the whole plan TO you. together with such
observations on the motions . may tsnd
to illustrate them where they may want explanation
Tho INST Is q resolution THAT the colonies and
plantations Of Great Britain In North America, con-
siEtins OF fourteen separate governments. and oon-
tanning 1000 900 and upward OF free Inhabitants.
have not had the liberty and privilege Of electtng and
sending any knights and ~bursssses. or other. 70 rep
resent them in the high court of Parliament"
This 10 q plain matter Of fact, necessary to Be lntd
tho language OF the Constitution; II IL taken nearly
verbatim from acts Of Parliament The seooad Il
like unto the INST.
THAT the said colonies and plantations have been
liable to and boundsn by several subsidies. paymonts.
rates and taxes given and granted By Parliament.
though the said colonies and plantations have not
their knishtu and ourEesses in the said high court OF
Parliament of their own election 20 represent the
condition of their country: by lack thereof they have
been oftentimes touched and grfeved by subsidies
given. granted. and assented 70 In the said court IN q
manner preJudidai TO the commonwealth. quietnesA.
rest, and peace OF Ii. subjccs inhahiting within tia
aAne."
Il this description too hot or too cold. too strong OF
too weAk2 Does It arrosste too much to the supreme
legislature? Does Il lean too much TO the claims of
tho people? II II runs into any Of these errors the
fault IL not mine. 1t Is the language OF your own
ancient acts Of Parliament. It Is tie genuine protuct
OF the ancient. rustic. manly. home bred sense Of thi.
| country. Inofe " noeeQ NOrQe e1pTeo1iv0
OF grievance in this second resolution. Whioh thoss
who are resolved always TO be In the right VIII deny
to contain matter OF fact. Is applied TO the present
case; although Parliament thought them true with
regard TO the counties OF Chester and Durham TheJ
will deny that the Americans were ever touched OF
Erieved with the taxes- II tAsy consider nothing IN
tAxes but their weight Is peouniary impoafaona
there might be some pretenos for this denial. But
men may be sorely touoned and deeply e1sved IN
their privileges as well n In their purseA- Men may
lose little In property by the act which takes away
all their freedom. when . man 10 robbed Of
tribe on the highway. It is not the twopence that con
stitutes the capital outrage. . All this, l know
well enough. will sound Wild and chtmertcA 10 thi
profane hero OF those vulgar and mechanical poltt
clans who have no place among us; . sor1 Of peopl
who think that nothing exists but what ID gross an
material; and who, therefore. far from being quail
ned to DO directors Of the great movement Of empire
arc not Mt TO turn awheel in the machine But q
men truly initiated and rightly taught. thess rulinl
and master principles, which in the oransou Of sucl
mon rs have mentioned have no substantial existence
arc in truth everything and all In all. NaEnanimit
In politics s not seldom the Sruest wisdom; and
great empire and little minds 20 III together. II W
are conscious Of our station. and glow with seal .
Nil our places a. becomes our situation and oursalve.
We ought to ~anspicate all our public proosedtnss O
America with tho old warning Of the Church. Sarsr,
eordd- We ought TO elevate our minds to the geai
ness OF that TO which the order Of Providence In
called N.
Tho first Of these resolutions was put to a vot
and was rejected, 2TO to 70.
On April 10. 1Tio. not ono month later. tn
musket yolleys OF Lexington and Concord regi.
tered the American vote upon tho subject; o
May 10 q new Congress assembled in Philade
phiR; on June Is George Washington becAm
COMMANDMENT Chief of tho army of the Unite
States; on July 4, l77d, the Declaration OF II
dependence was adopted. and the great work c
! freedom was crowned on Sept. s. 1888. by tn
signing OF the treaty acknowledging the ind,
pendence OF the United States.
!, During these years OF oppression and Of stru,
gle Edmund Burke was tho firm friend OF III
4 coloniSts and the sentiment thereby arouse
against him at home WAS a heavy weight upo
his subsequent career, both politically and 81
. cially.
a Nor do his claims to grateful remembrance O
. the centenary OF his death rest solely upon h
7 advocacy OF justice for our own country. .
0 glimpse at a few points in his career may be
present value.
, Burke was born in Dublin in 1880. his fatht
I being an attorney. lie was graduated froi
r Dublin University in l74s. His earliest di
n tinction came from his literary work. his fr.
|. great success coming In the publication of h
u essay on The Sublime and the Beautiful II
aarra In par1taVnAnf axclnairalv n" L. -ls