Thoughts on the Present Discontents, and SpeechesBurke, Edmund
General
Thoughts on the Present Discontents, and Speeches
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1789
Here is a sketch, though a slight one, of the constitution, laws, and
policy, of this new Court corporation. The name by which they choose to
distinguish themselves, is that of _King's men_, or the _King's friends_,
by an invidious exclusion of the rest of his Majesty's most loyal and
affectionate subjects. The whole system, comprehending the exterior and
interior Administrations, is commonly called, in the technical language
of the Court, _Double Cabinet_; in French or English, as you choose to
pronounce it.
Whether all this be a vision of a distracted brain, or the invention of a
malicious heart, or a real faction in the country, must be judged by the
appearances which things have worn for eight years past. Thus far I am
certain, that there is not a single public man, in or out of office, who
has not, at some time or other, borne testimony to the truth of what I
have now related. In particular, no persons have been more strong in
their assertions, and louder and more indecent in their complaints, than
those who compose all the exterior part of the present Administration; in
whose time that faction has arrived at such a height of power, and of
boldness in the use of it, as may, in the end, perhaps bring about its
total destruction.
It is true, that about four years ago, during the administration of the
Marquis of Rockingham, an attempt was made to carry on Government without
their concurrence. However, this was only a transient cloud; they were
hid but for a moment; and their constellation blazed out with greater
brightness, and a far more vigorous influence, some time after it was
blown over. An attempt was at that time made (but without any idea of
proscription) to break their corps, to discountenance their doctrines, to
revive connections of a different kind, to restore the principles and
policy of the Whigs, to reanimate the cause of Liberty by Ministerial
countenance; and then for the first time were men seen attached in office
to every principle they had maintained in opposition. No one will doubt,
that such men were abhorred and violently opposed by the Court faction,
and that such a system could have but a short duration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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