Or, Write on Burke’s arguments against the use of force in his “Speech on Conciliation with America”.
Or, On what grounds does Burke depreciate the use of force in dealing with the American situation?
Or, What are Burke’s objections to the use of force in dealing with the American colonies?
Answer: “The proposition is peace. Not peace through the medium of war; not peace to be hunted through the labyrinth of intricate and endless negotiations; not peace to arise out of universal discord fomented, from principle, in all parts of the Empire, not peace to depend on the juridical determination of perplexing questions, or the precise marking the shadowy boundaries of a complex government. It is simple peace; of perplexing questions, or the precise marking the shadowy sought in its natural course, and in its ordinary haunts. It is peace sought in the spirit of peace and laid in principles purely pacific.” [Speech on Conciliation with America: Edmund Burke]
In the “Speech on Conciliation with America” Edmund Burke, the great British parliamentarian of the 18th century makes a fierce and imperishable campaign against the policy of trying to coerce the American colonies and upholds his policy of compromise. His purpose is to establish peace. Burke is goaded by lofty morality, political justice, the liberality of outlook, and profound sympathy for humanity.
From the very outset, Burke is in favor of conciliation. In the speech, he puts forward his plea and arguments for conciliation with the American people. America is an opulent colony and it would be too costly to lose such a wealthy colony. He prefers the policy of compromise and conciliation to force and coercion because “Nothing less will content me than whole America.” This is why he is in favor of ‘prudent management’ than of force. He says:
“America, gentlemen say, is a noble object. It is an object well worth fighting for.”
Burke argues that ‘it is necessary to consider distinctly the true nature and the peculiar circumstances of the object we have before us’. He further argues that America must be governed practically taking into consideration the pros and cons of the matter. He says:
“……we must govern America according to that nature and to those circumstances, and not according to our own imaginations, nor according to abstract ideas of right–by no means according to mere general theories of government, the resort to which appears to me, in our present situation, no better than arrant trifling.”
The “Speech on Conciliation with America” progresses through three phases: an ostensibly objective review of America and the facts of her condition; an argument for restoring colonial loyalty through self-taxation; and a defense of the resolutions as the best course of future action. Burke is in favor of conciliation and against the use of force. He is in favor of wise management of America because force is a feeble instrument:
“…..my opinion is much more in favor of prudent management than of force; considering force, not as an odious, but a feeble instrument for preserving a people so numerous, so active, so growing, so spirited as this, in a profitable and subordinate connection with us.”
Burke’s objection to the use of force is based on some logical grounds. He puts forward several arguments to prove the futility of the use of force as an instrument of policy. In the first place, force is a temporary measure. It cannot permanently control a people:
“….use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment, but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again, and a nation is not governed which is perpetual to be conquered.”
Force cannot eradicate the root cause of discontent or disobedience. Again, a nation cannot be perpetually conquered by force.
The second objection to force is its uncertainty. The use of force does not guarantee success; it may fail. Again, the use of force, being the ultimate resort, does not leave any other options. If conciliation fails, force remains; if force fails, no hope of conciliation is left “conciliation failing, force remains; but, force failing, no further hope of reconciliation is left.”
The third objection to the use of force is that it will impair the very object for which force is used:
“A further objection to force is, that you impair the object by your very endeavors to preserve it. The thing you fought for is not the thing which you recover; but depreciated, sunk, wasted, and consumed in the contest.”
Burke’s point is that the wealth and opulence of the colonies will be devastated because of force. America will not remain strong, perfect, and productive. After a long war, America will be exhausted in her resources; she will be injured, crippled, and broken. In that case, America will be unprofitable to England. Burke objects to the use of force because he wants “whole America”. Again, in the long struggle England might get weakened and it might create an opportunity for a third party to enter the war and win the game.
Last, of all, force is a new experiment. Britain had never before embarked on such an experiment in the matter of governing her colonies. Burke says:
“Lastly, we have no sort of experience in favor of force as an instrument in the rule of our Colonies.”
The use of force may lead to danger and destroy the whole purpose. America has been wealthy and prosperous because of non-interference policy of England. So far the colonies have enjoyed sufficient freedom in managing their own affairs. It is this wise indulgence and recognition of the principle of freedom that has been the root cause of her present prosperity.
In addition, Burke draws attention to “temper and character” of the American people. The American people possess a fierce love of freedom and liberty, which is sure to be outraged by a show of force. The love of freedom in their character will not tolerate the application of force to bring them to subjugation. Burke makes his point clear:
“In this character of the Americans, a love of freedom is the predominating feature which marks and distinguishes the whole; and as an ardent is always a jealous affection, your Colonies become suspicious, restive, and untractable whenever they see the least attempt to wrest from them by force or shuffle from them by chicane, what they think the only advantage worth living for.”
In the speech, Burke shows that six factors namely (i) English descent of the colony people (ii) existence of popular government in the colonies (iii) practice of Protestantism (iv) possession of slaves (v) their study of law and (vi) the geographical distance between the colonies and the mother country have contributed to the development of the fierce spirit of liberty among the American people. Force will be vehemently opposed by these freedom-loving people.
Thus, in the “Speech on Conciliation with America,” Burke argues in favor of conciliation and compromise and opposes the use of force. Burke is a realist in this regard. His arguments are strong.
Leave a comment