The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-21 00:00:00

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LONDON:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1841.

It is laid down as a principle by Tory writers,
and acted on by Tory statesmen, that it is proper
and wise in the ruling classes, and, in fact, the
great duty of a Tory Government, to resist the
tendencies of society. This is not merely a
theory, it guides the actions of Tory statesmen.
For them it is enough to say that such is
the tendency of society, to make them think that
it is their duty to resist it. If this be a well-
founded theory, good may result from their ex-
ertions; but if the theory be erroneous, nothing
but mischief of the worst character can be ex-
pected to ensue from the Government being
placed in the hands Of men who, on this vita]
question, act on a false assumption. It is of great
present practical importance, therefore, to ascer-
tain, if we can, from the nature of society, what
are its tendencies.
Let us first observe that this notion of Govern-
ment is directly the reverse of that which in-
duced our ancestors to follow their leaders when
they spread themselves over Britain from Ger-
many. The tendency of society then was for
people to swarm off or migrate, and HENGIST
and Housa, with the other chiefs, were the
agents, not to control or resist this tendency, but
to carry it out. At what period the Government
changed its character, and became the antago-
nist of the popular desires and popular wants,
it would now be too long to trace; but we believe
it will be found to have been gradually assumed
as a usurping aristocracy separated themselves
from the people, came to dread the democracy,
and framed the laws 'and the Constitution ex-
clusively for the preservation of their privileges.
Next let .us notice that this Tory theory of
Government is contradicted by ex •
penence. The
progress of society is towards civilization. It
ist notes t
than less
the
retrogrades not. The increase in wealth, in
in skill, in humanity,
knowledge,
con-
spicuous since the Norman Con
population. Ships,
increase of the roads, canals
commerce,
with all the fine and useful arts, at-
test the progress of modern society. Row
can
it be supposed, when such is the result, that the
tendencies of society are to evil
We may say, too, that in every age thes:, .re-
sults have been obtained, less by means
(%I. Go-
vernment than in spite of it. Our canv.,is and our
commerce, our steam-engines and o,fr: railways,
are in no sense the direct product of royal or
aristocratic will, or even of royrAl or aristocratic
protection. In truth the '.n addle classes, by
whom in the main these imrorovements have been
achieved, grew into powe,r and wealth in spite of
the 'ggverning aristocrr,,ey. For many years the
Tory principle of op-posing the tendencies of so-
ciety prevailed iTA' the national councils, and in
opposition to t',,is principle these results were ac-
complished.„ We have seen the Tory Govern-
ment suC:cessively obliged to give way to the
Aentrir'cies of society towards humanity and tole-
ratir,n; It
was compelled against its will
to mitigate the penal code, and abolish the
slave trade, and it was compelled to abolish
the Test Act, and grant Catholic Emancipation.
Thus experience contradicts the Tory theory;
but in spite of experience the Tories still main-
tain that the tendencies of society are to evil,
and that it is proper and wise in the Government
to resist and oppose them. They act on this er-
roneous theory, and in -proportion as they are
Powerful will be the mischief they will inflict on
'the community.
We may, however, establish the fallacy of
their theory, by looking at the nature of society.
To state a trite fact, in order to begin at the be-
ginning, the human race has been created male
and female. yrom their union springs a family.
Anie.thireHir.6- many families, and they coin_
posee_a-ttibe'o-f -nation. Man is a gregarious ani-
mal; -he Alves. an ; his faculties are
adaPteato._,thaty cof •
- —emg ; his skill and
power, by 4
a.,k7il;ilg.-concert, are increased much
jthe)imple rato of his numbers
musts- :60.1t1_.ift.311. es, from which these ad,
'643, 'Human etoelety, there-