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
When they have learned this lesson themselves, they will be willing and
able to teach the Court, that it is the true interest of the Prince to
have but one Administration; and that one composed of those who recommend
themselves to their Sovereign through the opinion of their country, and
not by their obsequiousness to a favourite. Such men will serve their
Sovereign with affection and fidelity; because his choice of them, upon
such principles, is a compliment to their virtue. They will be able to
serve him effectually; because they will add the weight of the country to
the force of the executory power. They will be able to serve their King
with dignity; because they will never abuse his name to the gratification
of their private spleen or avarice. This, with allowances for human
frailty, may probably be the general character of a Ministry, which
thinks itself accountable to the House of Commons, when the House of
Commons thinks itself accountable to its constituents. If other ideas
should prevail, things must remain in their present confusion, until they
are hurried into all the rage of civil violence; or until they sink into
the dead repose of despotism.
SPEECH ON THE MIDDLESEX ELECTION
FEBRUARY, 1771
Mr. Speaker,--In every complicated Constitution (and every free
Constitution is complicated) cases will arise, when the several orders of
the State will clash with one another, and disputes will arise about the
limits of their several rights and privileges. It may be almost
impossible to reconcile them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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