Publisher's Synopsis
Edmund Burke (January 12, 1729 - July 9, 1797) was an Irish statesman born in Dublin; author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher, who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain. He was a member of the Whig party. Burke is regarded by most political historians in the English-speaking world as the father of modern English conservatism. He held that the limits of government should be: "That the State ought to confine itself to what regards the State, or the creatures of the State, namely, the exterior establishment of its religion; its magistracy; its revenue; its military force by sea and land; the corporations that owe their existence to its fiat; in a word, to everything that is truly and properly public, to the public peace, to the public safety, to the public order, to the public prosperity." Burke follows in a long line of political philosophers, including Hobbes, Locke, Bastiat and others who were consulted by our Founding Fathers in the construction of the Constitution of the United States of America. To all of these men of reason, and philosophical concern, we owe a great debt of gratitude. If we are to remain true to the roots of our republic and maintain the wealth of liberty they provided. It is well that we learn their thinking, understand their mind-set and affirm our foundations.
