The princes and nobility of France, who from honor and duty, from blood and from principle, are attached to that unhappy crown, have experienced your favor and countenance; and there is no doubt that they will finally enjoy the full…
Edmund Burke
The Public Record
Edmund Burke was an Anglo-Irish writer, philosopher, and politician who is widely credited as the founder of the cultural and political philosophy of conservatism. Regarded as one of the most influential conservative thinkers and political writers of the 18th century, Burke spent the majority of his career in Great Britain and was elected as a member of Parliament (MP) from 1766 to 1794 in the House of Commons of Great Britain with the Whig Party. His writings played a significant role in influencing public views and opinions in both Great Britain and France following the French Revolution in 1789, and he remains a major figure in modern conservative circles.
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It is, Madam, from my strong sense of what is due to dignity in undeserved misfortune, that I am led to felicitate your Imperial Majesty on the use you have lately made of your power.
In my humble situation, I can behold majesty in its splendor without being dazzled, and I am capable of respecting it in its fall.
But, in that state of things, a civil war, which would give to good men and a good cause some means of struggle, is a blessing of comparison that England will not enjoy.
But what disorder would fill the space between the present and that which is to come, in the gross, is no matter of doubtful conjecture.
Thus, religion perishing, and with it this Constitution, it is a matter of endless meditation what order of things would follow it.
On that religion, according to our mode, all our laws and institutions stand, as upon their base.
That the Christian religion cannot exist in this country with such a fraternity will not, I think, be disputed with me.
If ever a party adverse to the crown should be in a condition here publicly to declare itself, and to divide, however unequally, the natural force of the kingdom, they are sure of an aid of fifty thousand men, at ten days' warning, from…
There never was a political contest, upon better or worse grounds, that by the heat of party-spirit may not ripen into civil confusion.
They cannot preserve their credit, but by betraying that authority of which they are the guardians.
They will be considered as venal wretches, apostates, recreant to all their own principles, acts, and declarations.
The ministers of popularity will lose all their credit at a stroke, if they pursue any of those means necessary to give life, vigor, and consistence to government.
In a situation of fatal dependence on popularity, and without one aid from the little remaining power of the crown, it is not to be expected that they will take on them that odium which more or less attaches upon every exertion of strong…
They who go out can never long with zeal and good-will support government in the hands of those they hate.
Government will be for a while the sport of contending factions, who, whilst they fight with one another, will all strike at her.
When thus the helm of justice is abandoned, an universal abandonment of all other posts will succeed.
They will begin rather to consult their own repose and their own popularity than the critical and perilous trust that is in their hands.
The judicial magistrates will find themselves safe as against the crown, whose will is not their tenure; the power of executing their office will be held at the pleasure of those who deal out fame or abuse as they think fit.
Our laws had done all that the old condition of things dictated to render our judges erect and independent; but they will naturally fail on the side upon which they had taken no precautions.
Its care in discovering a conspiracy against the state will be treated as a forged plot to destroy the liberty of the subject: every such discovery, instead of strengthening government, will weaken its reputation.
Judges will think to insinuate and soothe the accused into conviction and condemnation, and to wheedle to the gallows the most artful of all delinquents.
The awful frown of criminal justice will be smoothed into the silly smile of seduction.
A spirit of subterfuge and a tone of apology will enter into all your proceedings, whether of law or legislation.
You will be impatient of your disease, and abhorrent of your remedy.
Politicians like Edmund Burke
