Speech on Conciliation with America, by Edmund Burke (small HC, 1911, $4, which is 1/3 the internet price.)
What an amazing find! An Englishman, one of the great orators of the time, spoke in front of the 1775 British Parliament asking for respect for the concerns of the American colonies. His opinion- America was too far away to be given representation in Parliament. Therefor, he believed, the American colonies should have their own assemblies, as "they are competent of all the purposes of taxation."
" He loved freedom with all his heart... Thus, true to his convictions, he appeared as America's strongest friend, at a time when the English policy was slowly but surely driving the colonists from protest to rebellion. With truly prophetic eye he saw clearly the inevitable result of the petty tyranny with which the king was vexing the hearts of the Americans, and he lived to see with melancholy satisfaction, his predications fulfilled." (from the preface)
In his later years he championed the rights of people of India, and was important in the movement that ended slavery in the British Empire. Now this was a man of courage! Wow doesn't really cover my feelings about what a great man this was. Look for this book on the new non-fiction table. (L-mil.)
