Subject: Politics and Principles

Worldview Sphere: Community and Government

Resource: “Edmund Burke's Legal Erudition and Practical Politics: Ireland and the American Revolution,” Peter J. Stanlis, The Home of American Intellectual Conservatism — First Principles. November 30, 2010.

Learned would be an excellent word to describe Edmund Burke. The basis of his drive was, however, natural, moral law. Seems his prudence in the political realm came from his faith.  “Prudence to Burke was the spirit of God’s moral law fulfilling itself in society throughout history.”(See link below p. 15) In a nation that moves in fits and starts due to political gesturing which leads to paralyzation and frustration, we might listen to some of his wise counsel:

I was persuaded that government was a practical thing, made for the happiness of mankind and not to furnish out a spectacle of uniformity to gratify the schemes of visionary politicians. Our business was to rule not to wrangle: and it would have been a poor compensation that we had triumphed in a dispute, whilst we lost an empire.^[1]

Read about not only a time of cultural clash in England, Ireland and America from one politico, but a bit of wisdom he brings to all those involved in ruling a nation under God.

http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=1466&theme=home&loc=b

^[1] Burke, “Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol,” Works, II, 201-202.