In The Speech on Conciliation with America the mind and art of Burke
are seen at their highest. It is a varied and mighty piece of pleading in which
the wisdom of Burke as a practical and magnanimous politician has better been
reflected. Endowed with rare farsightedness, he could foretell what was going
to happen in America
and his power to study the situation enabled him to speak like a prophet.
Strangely enough, Burke delivered this speech on the 22nd march year
proving his prophecy accurate.
The speech on conciliation with America abounds in many a sentence
and aphorism which has become part and parcel of English language. These
sayings are not only charged with deep political wisdom, but they are the
instinct with an essential literary beauty. The union of these two Excellencies
has stamped them with immortality.
There are 13 America
colonies under British rule a population of two nations belonging to the European races and a half million of
others. In each of their thirteen colonies there was an elected assembly, a
council sometimes nominated, sometimes elected a governor nominated by the king.
In 1763 the seven years war come to an end and England
found herself saddled with a heavy debt. Grenville
was prime Minister of England
and he took measures to raise money from the colonies. First he took the step to stop the smuggling trade that was being
carried on by the Americans. Next he
levied extra duties on their foreign in parts. These measures were greatly
resented by the Americans. So when in 1765 Grenville
proposed a stamp Duty, there was widespread agitation in all the colonies
against the night of the British parliament
to tax the colonies.
Burke’s arguments are very pragmatic and moving. First of all, Burke places before the
house, a picture of economy of America.
Economy is principal and vital factor of a nation. An economically rich country
cannot be subdued by force. He considers American prosperity, her growing
commerce, flourishing agriculture and large fisheries. In his speech highly
opposed the use of force against the Americans. He says– “My opinion is much more in favour of prudent management, than pf force;
considering force not as an odious.”
In this text, Burke ridicules the idea of prosecuting a whole nation as criminals.
He also criticizes the absurd desire of foolish politicians, who would perhaps
like god to pump the vast Atlantic Ocean dry in order that British parliament may carry on war with the colonies easily and
effectively. He brings the distance between England and America
into his consideration. He argues that the English cannot rule the Americans
from far distance.
Burke argues for conciliation with humanistic zeal fellow-feelings. He says that
they should not insult and ridicule the feeling of millions of their fellow
creatures. He says the present state of dissatisfaction in America can be remedied only by the extension of
English liberties to America.
We find Burke’s pragmatic outlook and political wisdom when he says- “I do not know the method of drawing up an
indictment against a whole people”.
Burke’s conception of government is also important. He believes in a government of the people, for the people and by the
people. As a worldly-wise man he knows that real power of government comes
from the willing submission of the people.
In conclusion we can say that Edmund Burke was a practical politician. He has knowledge
that moved him to come up with the plan of conciliation in the parliament.
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