In the days before the American Revolution, Tories were in the majority. While they favored more representation for Americans in the English Parliament, they also wanted to maintain the monarchy. Since they’d never seen such a mindless, fad-driven nincompoop as today’s Prince Charles, they believed the monarchy to be a stabilizing force that was less likely to be swayed by popular fancies.
Many still held to beliefs about “the Divine Right of Kings”, and many of them believed that God chose Kings to do His will. A few believed that the King of England was actually descended from King David, a point still largely ignored by a political/literary/scientific establishment who does not fear God as much as the belief in Him.
When encouraged to join the Revolution and fight against England, one American Tory asked a profound question about the difference between monarchy and democracy: “Am I better off to be ruled by one King, three thousand miles away, or by three thousand kings a mile away?”
If you try to cut down a tree, paint your house the color you want, or park a pick-up truck in some neighborhoods, his question now makes more sense than ever.
