按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rank； and office； and title； and all the solemn plausibilities of the world； have lost their reverence and effect； that our foreign politics are as much deranged as our domestic economy； that our dependencies are slackened in their affection and loosened from their obedience； that we know neither how to yield nor how to enforce； that hardly anything above or below； abroad or at home； is sound and entire； but that disconnection and confusion； in office； in parties； in families； in parliament； in the nation； prevail beyond the disorders of any former time； these are facts universally admitted and lamented。〃
When in 1768 troops were sent to Boston to prevent a repetition of the disturbances which had resulted from the arbitrary and insulting manner in which the commissioners of customs exercised their office； Otis was chosen moderator of the town meeting held in protest； and is reported to have declared 〃That in case Great Britain was not disposed to redress their grievances after proper applications； the inhabitants had nothing more to do； but to gird the sword to the thigh； and shoulder the musket。〃 Another account presents a somewhat more temperate tone； representing Otis as 〃strongly recommending peace and good order； and the grievances the people labored under might in time be removed； if not； and we were called on to defend our liberties and privileges； he hoped and believed we should； one and all； resist even unto blood； but at the same time； he prayed Almighty God it might never so happen。〃
The change from favorable conditions both in England and in the Colonies to the state of unrest depicted by these passages from Burke and Otis； had been brought about by the attempt to use strong measures； enforced with no just regard for the welfare of the whole people。 The English Ministry failed to realize that it is of the utmost importance not to make mistakes in the use of strong measures； that firmness is a virtue only when it accompanies the most perfect wisdom。 Their course of political conduct； combined with the establishment of a system of favoritism both at home and abroad like that adopted by Henry the Third of France； produced results of the same kind as the latter。
Members of parliament for the most part were practically convinced that they did not depend on the affection or opinion of the people for their political being； and gave themselves over； with scarcely the appearance of reserve； to the influence of the court。 There was thus developed both a ministry and parliament unconnected with the people； and we have the deplorable picture of the executive and legislative parts of a government attempting to exist apart from their true foundationthe opinion of the people。 How signally such attempts have always failed is a matter of historical record。 And the steadfast belief that they always will so fail constitutes the great force of public opinion to…day。
Had the English Ministry and the Colonial Governors； in particular Governor Bernard of Massachusetts； recognized certain cardinal principles of individual and national liberty； which were so strongly advocated by Burke and Otis； the course of events in their dealing with the colonists would in all probability have been greatly different from that actually developed。 Burke declared that as long as reputation； the most precious possession of every individual； and as long as opinion； the great support of the state； depend entirely upon the voice of the people； the latter can never be considered as a thing of little consequence either to individuals or to governments。 He pointed out that nations are governed by the same methods； and on the same principles； by which an individual without authority is often able to govern those who are his equals or even his superiors； namely； by a knowledge of their temper； and by a judicious management of it； that is； when public affairs are steadily and quietly conducted； not when government descends to a continued scuffle between the magistrate and the multitude； in which sometimes the one and sometimes the other is uppermost； each alternately yielding and prevailing in a series of contemptible victories and scandalous submissions。 〃The temper of the people amongst whom he presides ought； therefore； to be the first study of a statesman。 And the knowledge of this temper it is by no means impossible for him to attain； if he has not an interest in being ignorant of what it is his duty to learn。〃
Of course it will not do to think that the people are never in the wrong。 They have frequently been so； both in other countries and in England； but in all disputes between them and their rulers； the presumption is at least upon a par in favor of the people。 History justifies us in going even further； for when popular discontents have been very prevalent something has generally been found amiss in the constitution； or in the conduct of the government。 As Burke declares； 〃the people have no interest in disorder。 When they do wrong； it is their error； and not their crime。 But with the governing part of the state it is far otherwise。 They certainly may act ill by design； as well as by mistake。 * * * If this presumption in favor of the subjects against the trustees of power be not the more probable； I am sure it is the more comfortable speculation； because it is more easy to change an administration than to reform a people。〃
Very much the same ideas are presented by Otis in his article on the 〃Rights of the Colonists；〃 and the passage bearing on this present topic will be given for comparison with Burke's treatment。 The pamphlet is divided into four parts； treating respectively of the origin of government； of colonies in general； of the natural rights of colonists； and of the political and civil rights of the British colonists。 The writer maintains； that government is founded not as some had supposed on compact； but as Paley afterwards affirmed； on the will of God。 By the divine will； the supreme power is placed 〃originally and ultimately in the people； and they never did； in fact； freely； nor can they rightfully； make an absolute； unlimited renunciation of this divine right。 It is ever in the nature of a thing given in trust； and on a condition the performance of which no mortal can dispense with； namely； that the person or persons； on whom the sovereignty is conferred by the people； shall incessantly consult their good。 Tyranny of all kinds is to be abhorred； whether it be in the hands of one； or of the few； or of the many。
The colonies were not at all unwilling to pay revenue to the home government； if the manner of payment was just and right。 They were so far from refusing to grant money that the Assembly of Pennsylvania resolved to the following effect： 〃That they always had； so they always should think it their duty to grant aid to the crown； according to their abilities； whenever required of them in the usual constitutional manner。〃 This resolution was presented by Franklin； who was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly； to the Prime Minister of England； Mr。 Grenville； before the latter introduced the Stamp Act into Parliament。 Other colonies made similar resolutions； and had Grenville instead of the Stamp Ac