登陆注册
5194800000015

第15章 INDEPENDENCE(2)

Such are the passions aroused by civil strife.We need not now, when they are, or ought to be, dead, spend any time in deploring them.It suffices to explain them and the events to which they led.There was one and really only one final issue.Were the American colonies free to govern themselves as they liked or might their government in the last analysis be regulated by Great Britain? The truth is that the colonies had reached a condition in which they regarded themselves as British states with their own parliaments, exercising complete jurisdiction in their own affairs.They intended to use their own judgment and they were as restless under attempted control from England as England would have been under control from America.We can indeed always understand the point of view of Washington if we reverse the position and imagine what an Englishman would have thought of a claim by America to tax him.

An ancient and proud society is reluctant to change.After a long and successful war England was prosperous.To her now came riches from India and the ends of the earth.In society there was such lavish expenditure that Horace Walpole declared an income of twenty thousand pounds a year was barely enough.England had an aristocracy the proudest in the world, for it had not only rank but wealth.The English people were certain of the invincible superiority of their nation.Every Englishman was taught, as Disraeli said of a later period, to believe that he occupied a position better than any one else of his own degree in any other country in the world.The merchant in England was believed to surpass all others in wealth and integrity, the manufacturer to have no rivals in skill, the British sailor to stand in a class by himself, the British officer to express the last word in chivalry.It followed, of course, that the motherland was superior to her children overseas.The colonies had no aristocracy, no great landowners living in stately palaces.They had almost no manufactures.They had no imposing state system with places and pensions from which the fortunate might reap a harvest of ten or even twenty thousand pounds a year.They had no ancient universities thronged by gilded youth who, if noble, might secure degrees without the trying ceremony of an examination.They had no Established Church with the ancient glories of its cathedrals.In all America there was not even a bishop.In spite of these contrasts the English Whigs insisted upon the political equality with themselves of the American colonists.The Tory squire, however, shared Samuel Johnson's view that colonists were either traders or farmers and that colonial shopkeeping society was vulgar and contemptible.

George III was ill-fitted by nature to deal with the crisis.The King was not wholly without natural parts, for his own firm will had achieved what earlier kings had tried and failed to do; he had mastered Parliament, made it his obedient tool and himself for a time a despot.He had some admirable virtues.He was a family man, the father of fifteen children.He liked quiet amusements and had wholesome tastes.If industry and belief in his own aims could of themselves make a man great we might reverence George.He wrote once to Lord North: "I have no object but to be of use: if that is ensured I am completely happy." The King was always busy.Ceaseless industry does not, however, include every virtue, or the author of all evil would rank high in goodness.Wisdom must be the pilot of good intentions.George was not wise.He was ill-educated.He had never traveled.He had no power to see the point of view of others.

As if nature had not sufficiently handicapped George for a high part, fate placed him on the throne at the immature age of twenty-two.Henceforth the boy was master, not pupil.Great nobles and obsequious prelates did him reverence.Ignorant and obstinate, the young King was determined not only to reign but to rule, in spite of the new doctrine that Parliament, not the King, carried on the affairs of government through the leader of the majority in the House of Commons, already known as the Prime Minister.George could not really change what was the last expression of political forces in England.The rule of Parliament had come to stay.Through it and it alone could the realm be governed.This power, however, though it could not be destroyed, might be controlled.Parliament, while retaining all its privileges, might yet carry out the wishes of the sovereign.The King might be his own Prime Minister.The thing could be done if the King's friends held a majority of the seats and would do what their master directed.It was a dark day for England when a king found that he could play off one faction against another, buy a majority in Parliament, and retain it either by paying with guineas or with posts and dignities which the bought Parliament left in his gift.This corruption it was which ruined the first British Empire.

We need not doubt that George thought it his right and also his duty to coerce America, or rather, as he said, the clamorous minority which was trying to force rebellion.He showed no lack of sincerity.On October 26, 1775, while Washington was besieging Boston, he opened Parliament with a speech which at any rate made the issue clear enough.Britain would not give up colonies which she had founded with severe toil and nursed with great kindness.

Her army and her navy, both now increased in size, would make her power respected.She would not, however, deal harshly with her erring children.Royal mercy would be shown to those who admitted their error and they need not come to England to secure it.

Persons in America would be authorized to grant pardons and furnish the guarantees which would proceed from the royal clemency.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 系统农女种田忙

    系统农女种田忙

    【新文《农门娇女有点田》已发布】穿越成最穷猎户家的大闺女,余暮暮内心没有半分波澜,毕竟瘸腿老爹憨厚老实,善良娘亲蕙质兰心,一双弟妹也乖巧懂事。可莫名其妙被绑定一个系统,让她发家致富也就算了,那什么强制撩夫任务是什么鬼,她的人设是高冷女猎户好吗?!只是说好的撩夫,为什么她才是被撩的那个?!“暮暮,余生我只愿与你朝朝暮暮。”(系统种田文,巨宠巨甜,女主二次穿越)
  • 弃妇的极致重生

    弃妇的极致重生

    上辈子,她是携带空间的穿越女,身披耀眼的猪脚光环;她甩掉渣男,寻找真爱,利用神奇的空间和对历史的预知帮真爱封王拜相,一时风光无限。但在这鲜花着锦的表象后面,却隐藏着无尽的悲哀。这辈子,她又重生在命运的转折点,她该如何选择——是再次踢掉渣男,潇洒和离而去?还是改变自我、改造渣男,步步富贵步步荣华?!=================================================简言之,就是穿越女的重生生活。
  • 自控术:如何管住自己的生活心理学

    自控术:如何管住自己的生活心理学

    人人都能拥有自控力! 也许你有以下问题: 晚上不肯睡、早上不肯起;不吃或很少吃早餐;挑食或偏食;懒得锻炼或基本不锻炼;每天很忙但效率很低;网游控或微博控;一网购就Hold不住;月光一族;购物狂、信用卡“负翁”;怯尝怕生;异性恐惧症;戒不了烟、减不了肥…… 那表示,你正在失控! 失控,是一种对时间和生活失去自主能力的心理病变。它会蚕食自信、乐观、淡定等正能量,还会摧毁人的创造力与意志力。失控的后果很严重。 本书运用心理学、医学与神经学的方法,帮助你认识住在身体里的7个分身,同时激发正能量,远离负面小情绪。而其实,每个人都可以拥有无比强大的自己。
  • 从大灭绝开始

    从大灭绝开始

    “妈妈,世界上真的有人类吗?”“傻孩子,那只是大家想象出来的生物罢了。地球在我们兽人文明之前怎么可能还有其他文明呢?”“世界上真的有人类呢。”“为什么呢?爸爸?”“科学家们已经发现了人类的化石了,依照骨架构造出来的样子与民间故事中描绘的一模一样呢。”(PS:已有150W字完结老书,更新稳定,放心入坑)
  • 元史学:19世纪欧洲的历史想象(人文与社会译丛)

    元史学:19世纪欧洲的历史想象(人文与社会译丛)

    《元史学:19世纪欧洲的历史想象(人文与社会译丛)》指出任何史学作品都包含了一种深层结构、一种未经批评而被接受的范式,它是诗学的,也是语言学的。书中以十九世纪八位有代表性的史学思想家为例,展示其历史著述所采用的主导性比喻方式,从而确证历史作品普遍存在的诗学本质。
  • 做心平气和的女人:哈佛大学最受欢迎的女性情商课

    做心平气和的女人:哈佛大学最受欢迎的女性情商课

    女人最宝贵的财富不在别处,在于保持一颗宁静的心。世界著名心灵导师写给女人幸福一生的忠告:不要盲目和别人攀比,幸福是感觉的,不是炫耀的;不刻薄,尖锐的话题要用平和的语气来说;不抱怨,从控制情绪开始;优雅的谈吐让你魅力四射;工作让女人更有魅力;爱人是沙,握得越紧失得越快;告诉他,他是你这一生最正确的决定。
  • 此意寄昭昭

    此意寄昭昭

    超青春青梅竹马类型图书。她灯溪镇小霸王乔初意曾经天不怕地不怕。可唯独怕高智商且冷漠脸的薄昭浔。这些年,远了又近了,那些感情和守候,原以为是春花一场,到后来才发现,其实是十年月光。从疏远到亲近,从离开到重逢,从年幼到独当一面,感谢这一路我们结伴而行,从此都不再孤单。
  • 一代灵宗

    一代灵宗

    九霄大陆一代灵宗百里云霄,重返都市年少之时,拾起年少轻狂,再闯九天云外,报血海深仇。
  • 娶个蛊女做老婆

    娶个蛊女做老婆

    阴差阳错上了女友的闺蜜竟然中蛊了,之后我走向了一条逆袭之路。
  • 余味:跟随余秋雨品中国文化

    余味:跟随余秋雨品中国文化

    如果读者对余秋雨先生的散文还有质疑,那么就请从《余味:跟随余秋雨品中国文化》开始--翻开第一页,从《余味:跟随余秋雨品中国文化》对余秋雨散文作品零星片语的撷取中,用心去鉴赏、去品味、去感悟,去摸索知识以外的文化内涵,细细体悟这份绵延不尽的文化“余味”。