The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-24

WHAT We DID FOX ENGLAND.
English people would be hardly pre-
pared to admit that the United States
has done far more for England than
England has ever done for us. II
would scarcely be admitted by Eng
land that the result of the war of indie
pendence had been to check EngIand's
decline into condition OF subserviency
10 the ruling power and started 1t once
more on the road 10 liberty. Those who
have read carefully the speeches and
the pamphlets of the early days Of the
revolution have not failed 70 notice that
the origin of the movement was not III
plan for separation, but in a demand
FOR liberty and for a revival OF rights
guaranteed BY Magma Charta and the
bill Of rights. as well for England as
for the United States.
We are not left to American authori-
ties for this Interpretation of the move
ment. The famous Lord Camden. chief
justice of the common pleas. In the
memorable debate In the house of
lords. not only tried to establish by
citation that parts of the realm had not
been taxed until represented. but he de-
clared that IF the rights of the Ameri-
cans 10 tax themselves could not be es-
tablished in this way it would be we'll
TO give IL to them from principles of
natural justice" To that Lord Mans
field replied that the doctrine Of repre-
sentation seemed ill-founded. He men,
toned that there were 1900, 900 people
in England and Ireland who were not
represented. but who were taxed. This
seemed to Richard Bland, OF Virginia,
To be inconsistent with the genius of
English institutions. He derived the
English constitution from Anglo Saxon
principles of the most perfect equality,
right to vote. He said: IF nine-tenths
of the people OF Britain are deprived Of
the high privilege of being electors. ii
! would be a work worthy OF the best
idkilcltI -PltiiS VI i3C III ftSibKE
| the constitution to its pristine perfec-
| ton.
These reflections are suggested by an
article by II. Morse Stephens in the
| New York Times. in which he remarks
| that 1.-The party Of independence in the
| American colonies unwittingly did an
lea hair
| home in England" and that the VIC
| torious eolonists won as great a vic
| tory for the English as for American
| liberty. The reference we have given
shows that so far from the service be
| ing rendered 'unwittingly" the English
| men In the colonies agreed with some
| Englishmen in Great Britain that it
| was absolutely necessary to freedom to
maintain the principle: mo representa-
| ton. no taxation The truth is that
| the revolution had begun in England
long before. Some Of those engaged in
| 1t left the mother country. remaining
| for. a time Euglishmen. leaving descend
| ants who were colonists. and they trans
| hitting Ia their successors the spirit
| which made Americans. Samuel Adams
| Patrick Henry, and Otis. on this side
! are reflected In England by Chatham
| Camden. Shelburne. Burke, Cavendtsh
| and Fox. three each Of different politi-
/ cal parties. bat united In resistance 10
| the extension of the power of the clown.
| Americans should not forget that
/ Pitt not only advised the repeal Of the
/ stamp act, bat eventually succeeded in
/ having IL repealed He. as was natural
! 10 sn Englishman and minister # the
! crown. held that the sovereignty az
| England should he asserted. bat that
from British authority should be ex-
/ eepted the power 'of taking their money
! without their consent" He added:
| They have never been represented
! AZ all In parliament. would fam know
| ~ whom an American Is represented
here. The idea ~ a virtual representa-
+ ton Of America i'm this house IS the
most contemplate that ever entered into
the head % nan. II does NOT deserve
serious REPUTATION
The earlier leaders 90 the coionlsSs
took the same view as Pit. They did
nat question that the colonies owed al
leSlauca 20 the ktnS bat insisted tha;
they ware completely independent %
parliament. Pitt had never gone SO far