The people of England of the present day, have a traditionary and historical idea of the bravery of their ancestors; but whatever their virtues or their vices might have been, they certainly were a people who would not be imposed upon, and who kept governments in awe as to taxation, if not as to principle.
Paine observes that while the English people admire their ancestors' bravery, those ancestors were also vigilant against government imposition, especially regarding taxation.
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To account for this sudden transition, it is proper to observe that there are two distinct species of popularity; the one excited by merit, and the other by resentment.
The object is not so much the produce of the tax as the justice of the measure.
Whether robbery shall be banished from courts, and wretchedness from countries?
But the spirit of the nation was not to be overcome, and it was so fully sensible of the strong ground it had taken--that of withholding taxes--that it contented itself with keeping up a sort of quiet resistance, which effectually…