Burke, Edmund -- Speech (1780-09-06), prior to the election, Bristol Guildhall

Dave — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:45:26 +0000

I have no idea of a liberty unconnected with honesty and justice. Nor do I believe that any good constitutions of government or of freedom can find it necessary for their security to doom any part of the people to a permanent slavery. Such a constitution of freedom, if such can be, is in effect no more than another name for the tyranny of the strongest faction; and factions in republics have been, and are, full as capable as monarchs of the most cruel oppression and injustice.

Edmund Burke (1729–1797) Anglo-Irish statesman, orator, philosopher
Speech (1780-09-06), prior to the election, Bristol Guildhall

Regarding Catholic emancipation following the Gordon Riots over the Papists Act of 1778. He failed to be re-elected to his seat in Parliament in the election.

WIST Quotations

Burke, Edmund -- Speech (1780-09-06), prior to the election, Bristol Guildhall