The Work Of Extremists

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 116, 12 September 1941, Page 5

The Work Of Extremists

UT, on' both sides of the Atlantic the issues between England and America were accentuated by a small, extremist group. In Britain, the King and his Ministers took a high and mighty tone, and weuldn’t make the necessary concessions, Instead of concessions, they favoured a policy of coercion. Then, when coercion failed-we know that it usually does failthey did offer some concessions; but, of course, they did it too late. On the American side, fiery writers and speakers like Patrick Henry’ and Sam Adams were dwelling on every grievance they could find. When the King tried coercion they advocated resistance. When resistance succeeded, and the King offered concessions, they increased their demands. Both in Britain and America, there were moderate and statesmanlike men who thought that the gulf could easily be bridged. Edmund Burke, the great orator, spoke in favour of conciliation; and on the American side, such a man as Benjamin Franklin put forward proposals which could have saved the day. Even when the Americans voiced their grievances, what they asked for at first was not independence but guaranteed political rights within the empire. In effect, they wanted in the eighteenth century something like the Dominion status which we enjoy in the twentieth. As late as autumn in 1775, the legislatures of five colonies passed resolutions against independence, and, even in January, 1776, the king’s health was being toasted each night in the officer’s mess where Washington presided.-(‘" Democracy Through the Ages: The American War of Independence," by Professor Leslie Lipson, 2YA, August 25.) -_ =