The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
H..

Before indicating the feelings with which the
English Wings watched our struggle for inde-
pendence. Mr.. Ford directs attention to the
fact that the scheme Of taxing the colonies did
not originate as a party measure. The great
increase of imperial expenditure on account OF
the American civil and military establishment
caused by the French and Indian war would
naturally suggest 1t to any economical admin
istration. The idea of imposing taxes had
been preached as early as 1880. when the Whig
leader, Walpole. was at the head Of affairs. but
had been rejected by that statesman. The
angry controversy in Massachusetts, over the
issue OF general search warrants forthe discov-
cry OF smuggled goods. in which James Otis
distinguished himself. and which John Adams
regarded as tho first step toward revolution. be-
gan while the elder Pitt was still Prime Minister.
The passage OF the first Stamp act. in 1705.
met with little opposition in Parliament and
was almost unnoticed in England. The vio-
lent outburst Of resentment in America took
English statesmen by surprise. That the Wings
were as much committed as the Tories to the
principle Of taxation is manifest from the cir
cumstance that, although the Stamp act was
repealed by the short-lived Wing Ministry OF
1886. the right Of Parliament to tax the colo
MES was strongly reafirmed. Nevertheless, as
moderation and considerateness were habitual
characteristics of Wing policy. it is probable
enough that. had the Wings remainedin power.
means might have been found to satisfyimperial
needs without outraging colonial sentiment.
In any event. however. a profound change in
the relations Of the colonies to the home Gov
eminent would have been required to make
room for the growing spirit of self reliance and
incipient nationality. No class of men were
less fitted to deal with such a delicate matter
than the Tories. under Lord North, whom
George III. raised to power in 177O as the in
struments Of his personal will. and for whom
he provided a parliamentary majority by the
exercise of every influence which the Crown
could bring to bear. Their sole idea OF deal
ing with American affairs was to meet colonial
resistance with stubborn coercion.
Mr.. Ford thinks that. while the burning in
terest with which American party leaders in
our own lines follow the fortunes Of adhesive
campaign in an important State represents the
kind OF feeling with which the English Whic
leaders regarded the struggle Of the American
Wings. it can afford no measure Of its depth or
intensity. The English Wings recognized that
the men who organized the Continental Con-
gress. who bombarded King and Parliament
with constitutional arguments. and who finally
declared their independence OF the British
Crown. were men OF the same breed and type
as those who had upset the throne OF James II.
Moreover. tho English Wings believed that
their own party existence. nay, the very life OF
the English Constitution, was staked upon the
issue Of the contest waged on the other side Of
the Atlantic. AT the time when the Ameri-
can discomfort broke out in open insurrection,
the Wing party in England was in a dispirited
state. The spirit OF resistance to Crown en-
c~roachments which had famed so audaciously
in the Letters of Junius and in the diatribes Of
Wilkes seemed to have died out altogether.
England" wrote Chatham. rs no more like
old England, or England forty years ago. than
the monsignori OF modern Rome are like the |
Decii, the Gracchi or the Catos." Burke de-
clared: THE people have fallen into a total
Indifference to any matters OF public concern.
l do not suppose that there was ever anything |
like this torpor in any period OF our history
Junius wrote to his publisher that it would be
folly for him to write anything more. since the |
cause had become hopeless. The only enec-
tive resistance to the designs OF the court
was that which came from the colonies. If
that should he broken down.. 1t was the belief
Of the Whig leaders that the ruin OF English
liberties would follow. The Duke of Richmond
took steps to provide himself with a suitable
asylum in France In case American defeat
should be the signal of prescription in Eng |
land. The chiefs of the English Wings COM
pared the Continental troops to the army of
deIiverance led by William of Orange in l6Ss, |
1t was. in fact. the surrender Of CORVALLIS
which gave the deathblow to the system of per- |
sonal rule which the King had laboriously
erected. and ended a long crisis by definitely
setting the course OF the English constitutional
development In tho ways of Parliamentary
government. The event. in truth. was n victory
for the Wings on both sides OF the water. and
was treated as such. Terms OF separation
were arranged without rancor. Nominally, |
the American interests were in charge OF
France: but the American commissioners by
direct negotiation with the Wing Ministry.
then In power. obtained greater concessions
than France had intended, as it was not her
policy to favor the rise Ut n great power in
America. Her design was that the solo nayi-
CATION Of the Mississippi and the sole dominion
over the unoccupicd Western country should
be the sation which Spain would re-
ceivc for entering the alliance against Eng
land. On her own account, France was on
posed to giving so great Il share in the New
foundland fisheries as was claimed by the
American Commissioners. BY the aid Of their
Wing friends. however. the American PIenipo-
tentiaries were successful at every point. To
the young nation were accorded liberal fishery
rights, and territorial claims were conceded
which provided a continental area wherein 10
expand.