A conclusive ending to Burke’s speech

When I was first assigned Edmund Burke’s speech for reading this year, I thought it was going to be a short, dry, and extremely focused speech which would not interest me. Instead, I found myself pleasantly surprised. Burke spoke with poise and elegance, with humor a brilliant sense of sarcasm. I found his speech fun to read, not only because of how he spoke, but because of how he used the rhetorical strategies that I had been learning about last year. Although his policies were not acted on soon enough to keep the colonies from rebelling, he speech was nevertheless inspiring and enjoyable.

Moving analogies to make a point (Ft. Edmund Burke)

Sometimes a well placed analogy can be the key to illustrating your point perfectly to your audience. There really isn’t much to it- just that certain analogies will really hit home with different people. Edmund Burke provides a great example of this, “Do you mean to tax America, and to draw a productive revenue from thence? If you do, speak out; name, fix, ascertain this revenue; settle its quantity; define its objects; provide for its collection; and then fight when you have something to fight for. If you murder—rob! if you kill—take possession! and do not appear in the character of madmen, as well as assassins, violent, vindictive, bloody, and tyrannical, without an object. But may better counsels guide you!” In other words, work something out and think about it first! Don’t just impose or take away taxes for no reason whatsoever! From what my source text says, this fell with immense weight on the audience.

Edmund Burke, an acrostic

Educated he is, of that there is no doubt

Demonstrating poise and elegance

Mirroring the styles of great speakers

Understanding how to work a crowd

Never at a lack for confidence

Denouncing his opponents and their foolish ideas

Believing in his noble cause

Unrelenting in the pursuit of what is right

Realizing when to strike

Kindling the fire of justice

Eccentric, an excellent portrait of effluent speech

The good old days

Following the crowd’s energetic cries of “Go on! Go on!” Burke decides to reminisce about the previous days of the House. He talks about their most honorable moments, their victories, and the times that they came together to accomplish something noble. Then you can almost feel him looking pointedly at his opponent as he laments how those days are no more and how the House is separated. For any of those that didn’t catch his tone, he moved straight from talking about the good old days to about his opponent and how his opponent’s views were were wrong and poorly informed. With this strategy, even somebody who did not consciously recognize the connection that Burke was making would certainly make a subconscious note of that. A very sneaky way to further discredit his opponent indeed.

Considerate Suspense

As he was about to continue and explain a certain point in his speech, Burke all of the sudden seemed to remember that he was still talking to a large audience about a quite controversial issue (although his sudden memory sounded quite planned to me.) He proceeded to speak to his audience, “I hope I am not going into a narrative troublesome to the House.” To which they responded, as I’m sure he anticipated, with cries of “Go on, go on!” This served a dual purpose. Not only did Burke keep his audience engaged and anticipating, he made them feel like he was in consideration of them and that he cared about what they were comfortable with. Smooth moves Burke.

Could I have been British?

Most of you who can remember your days in history class in school will remember being taught in some form or fashion about the tea taxes and the Boston Tea Party that sparked the American Revolution. For those who don’t remember or are so done with school that they don’t care to, I’ll give a brief recap. Basically, Britain put massive taxes on the American colonies for quite a few commodities, including tea. Now, the taxing of tea specifically wasn’t some unholy crime, but what it represented was what got the Americans angry. Colonies were not even governed by Americans, yet the British had the gall to tax them an inordinate amount? Preposterous! A little while after that America and Britain went to war, and the rest is history (Please, I shouldn’t have to give you that story as well.) Now we get to the food for thought. If Britain had lifted the taxes and done other things to soothe the colonists, would we still be part of Britain today? Who knows? I suppose it doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t have gotten the accent either way.

Drop bombs on them

It appears as if Burke is now ready to drop a bomb into his argument. After opening up with a his statement with a satirical comment directed toward “the noble lord,” (the man who had gotten Britain into the position it was at the time) he proceeds to inform his audience of the lord’s underhanded dealings regarding the law. He includes multiple examples of political failure and underhanded dealings, gives drastic numbers, and provides a critical commentary of the lord’s decisions regarding the tax fiasco- all the while maintaining a withering mockery of this “noble lord.” If you need a lesson in putting someone down, read some of this material by Burke.

 I mean, just look at that face! So sassy.

Edmund Burke was a genius

I haven’t even read one-fifth of his speech yet, but already I am impressed by Burke’s skill. Following his suggestion of a solution, he proceeded to talk about how the Minister had screwed up in his execution of administering and repealing the American taxes. Everybody knew it, it was no mystery to the Parliament who was at fault. However, Edmund did not continue forward and bash the Minister. Instead, he masterfully explained that essentially, he was there to help the Minister save face. “Most men, especially great men, do not always know their well-wishers. I come to rescue that Noble Lord out of the hands of those he calls his friends; and even out of his own. I will do him the justice he is denied at home. He has not been this wicked or imprudent man. He knew that a repeal had no tendency to produce the mischiefs which give so much alarm to his Honourable friend. His work was not bad in its principle, but imperfect in its execution.” With that paragraph, he just got the powerful ally of the Minister on his side. I am very impressed with Burke’s progress so far in his speech and look forward to continuing reading.

How to speak like a vulture – An analysis of Edmund Burke’s speech on American Taxation

Even as we open up in the Burke’s speech, its obvious that the good folks in the Parliament are sick and tired of talking about the Americans’ complaints about taxes. This topic had come up a good many times in their meetings, and at this point the members had taken to walking off to the adjoining rooms for refreshments instead of taking part in the conversation. Burke knew that it was about time to get these men excited, engaged, and interested, so he first addresses what they’re all thinking, “For nine long years, session after session, we have been lashed round and round this miserable circle of occasional arguments and temporary expedients. I am sure our heads must turn, and our stomachs nauseate with them. We have had them in every shape; we have looked at them in every point of view. Invention is exhausted; reason is fatigued; experience has given judgement; but obstinacy is not yet conquered.” The only reasonable response to such a thing is “Well Mr. Burke, what do you plan to do about it?” This is what Burke wanted, and he played it perfectly. He said what they were all thinking and expressing in a way that suggested that he had a brilliant solution to it. That is a great example of how to pay attention to your surroundings and take advantage of the opportunities presented to you.