"The battle of the King with his aristocracy remains yet to be told by the historian who shall view the reign of George more justly ... It was he, with the people to back him, who made the war with America; it was he and the people who refused justice to the Roman Catholics; and on both questions he beat the patricians. He bribed: he bullied: he darkly dissembled on occasion: he exercised a slippery perseverance, and a vindictive resolution, which one almost admires as one thinks his character over. His courage was never to be beat. It trampled North under foot; it beat the stiff neck of younger Pitt: even his illness never conquered that indomitable spirit. As soon as his brain was clear, it resumed the scheme, only laid aside when his reason left him ....
And then here is where Thackeray begins to talk more generally:
"I believe it is by persons believing themselves in the right that nine-tenths of the tyranny of this world has been perpetrated. Arguing on that convenient premise, the Dey of Algiers would cut off twenty heads of a morning; Father Dominic would burn a score of Jews in the presence of the Most Catholic King, and the Archbishops of Toledo and Salamanca sing Amen. Protestants were roasted, Jesuits hung and quartered at Smithfield, and witches burned at Salem, and all by worthy people, who believed they had the best authority for their actions.
"And so, with respect to old George, even Americans, whom he hated and who conquered him, may give him credit for having quite honest reasons for oppressing them. ..."I have no wish but the prosperity of my own dominions, therefore I must look upon all who would not heartily assist me as bad men, as well as bad subjects." That is the way he reasoned. "I wish nothing but good, therefore every man who does not agree with me is a traitor and a scoundrel."
Thackeray notes that George's religious belief of being ordained in his kingship also fueled this fire. And his policies were popular with the people - noting the votes in the Commons in favour of his positions. Yet, Thackeray comments on this popularity:
"Popular? - so was the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes popular in France: so was the massacre of St. Bartholomew: so was the Inquisition exceedingly popular in Spain."
Liberty, joined with Law, is our British heritage, but even the British could at times not see how they were violating their own basic principles - especially when religious fervour was involved. That section of the ruling class in our country now in power has basically become a religious cult. They will, with religious fervour, continue to violate the liberties of our people, just as tyrants before them have done, thinking they are doing what is right; "It is the right thing to do." May we, the freedom-loving descendants of our colonial fathers, maintain our hope in God, and may He have mercy upon our oppressors as we seek to love them as our Lord taught us. Deo Vindice!
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