Answer:
The author is referring to England at the end.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote was extracted from Thomas Paine's Common Sense, a pamphlet written in 1775-1776 with the purpose of advocating American independence from England. The author clearly states it is preposterous for a continent - America - to be controlled by an island - England.
According to Paine, there was no other reasonable way out when it came to the disputes between England and the United States but independence. America, it was his opinion, should have its own constitution and government, free from interference.