Burke entered the House of Commons in 1765, at thirty-five years of age.  He began his public life when the nation was ruled by the great Whig families, whose ancestors had fought the battles of reform in the times of Charles and James.  This party had held power for seventy years, had forgotten the principles of the Revolution, and had become venal and selfish, dividing among its chiefs the spoils of office.  It had become as absolute and unscrupulous as the old kings whom it had once dethroned.  It was an oligarchy of a few powerful whig noblemen, whose rule was supreme in England.  Burke joined this party, but afterwards deserted it, or rather broke it up, when he perceived its arbitrary character, and its disregard of the fundamental principles of the Constitution.  He was able to do this after its unsuccessful attempt to coerce the American colonies.

American difficulties were the great issue of that day.  The majority of the Parliament, both Lords and Commons,—­sustained by King George III., one of the most narrow-minded, obstinate, and stupid princes who ever reigned in England; who believed in an absolute jurisdiction over the colonies as an integral part of the empire, and was bent not only in enforcing this jurisdiction, but also resorted to the most offensive and impolitic measures to accomplish it,—­this omnipotent Parliament, fancying it had a right to tax America without her consent, without a representation even, was resolved to carry out the abstract rights of a supreme governing power, both in order to assert its prerogative and to please certain classes in England who wished relief from the burden of taxation.  And because Parliament had this power, it would use it, against the dictates of expediency and the instincts of common-sense; yea, in defiance of the great elemental truth in government that even thrones rest on the affections of the people.  Blinded and infatuated with notions of prerogative, it would not even learn lessons from that conquered country which for five hundred years it had vainly attempted to coerce, and which it could finally govern only by a recognition of its rights.

Now, the great career of Burke began by opposing the leading opinions of his day in reference to the coercion of the American colonies.  He discarded all theories and abstract rights.  He would not even discuss the subject whether Parliament had a right to tax the colonies.  He took the side of expediency and common-sense.  It was enough for him that it was foolish and irritating to attempt to exercise abstract powers which could not be carried out.  He foresaw and he predicted the consequences of attempting to coerce such a people as the Americans with the forces which England could command.  He pointed out the infatuation of the ministers of the crown, then led by Lord North.  His speech against the Boston Port Bill was one of the most brilliant specimens of oratory ever displayed in the House of Commons.  He did not encourage the colonies in rebellion, but