Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-01
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
REVOLUTION AND REFORM

In reference to the great act Of reform in the
the British Parliament, the Edinburgh Review re-
marks
As The second French revolution has been far
mllder than the first, 50 that great change which
has just been effected in England has been mild
er even than the second French revoluuon--mild
er than any revolution recorded in history
Some orators have described the Reform of the
House oil Commons as a revolution. Others have
denied the propriety of the term. The question.
though in seeming merely question of defini-
ton, suggests much curious and interesting mat
ter for reflection. IL we look at the magnitude
of he reform, it may well be called 4 revolution.
II we look at the means By which it has been
effected it is merely an act Of Parliament.
regularly brought in, read, committed, and
passed. IN the whole history of England,
there is no prouder circumstance than this-that
change which could not, in any other age, or in
any other country, have been effected without
physical violence, should here have been effected
by the force Of reason, aud under the forms Of
law. The work of three civil wars has been ac-
complished by three sessions at Parliament An
ancient and deeply rooted system of abuses has
been fiercely attacked and stubbornly defended.
II has fallen; and npt one sword has been drawn;
mlv has been forced to emigrate. The bank has
kept its credit. The funds have kept their price.
Every man has gone forth to his work and to his
labor till the evening. During the fiercest excite
meht of the contest-durins the first fortnight OF
that immortal Mav-there was not one moment
at which any sanguinary act committed on the
person of any of the most unpopular men in Eng
land, would no; have fl led the country with hor-
ror and indignation And now that The victory
is won, has it been abused? An immense mass Of
DOW er has been transferred from oigarchy
To the nation. Are the members Of the vanquish.
ed oigarchv insecure? Does the natiun seem
disposed to play the tyrant9 Are not those who,
in any other state of society, would have
been visited with the severest vengeance ct the
triumphant party-would have been pining in
dungeons, or Hyng to foreign c0untries-still
taking part as freely as ever III public aHairs!-
Two years ago they were dominant They are
now vanqushed. Yet the whole people would
regard with horror any man who should dare to
propose any ,indictive measure.
| So common is this feeing-so much is 1t a
matter of course among us-that many OF our
readers will scarcely understand what we see to
admire In it. To what are We to attribute the
unparalleled moderation and humanity which
the English people have displayed at this great
| ne answer u DldlU. LUIS WOuP-
ration, this humanity. are the fruits of hundred
and fifty years Of liberty. Daring many gene
rations we have had Legislative assemblies which
however detective their cons titutlon might be,
have always contained MANY members chosen BY
the people, and many others eager to obtain the
appreciation of the people; assemblies IN which
perfect freedom of debate was allowed; assem-
hiies in which the smallest minority had fair
hearing; assemblies in which abuses. even when
they were not redressed were at least exposed.
For many generations we have had the trial by
jury the Habeas Corpus Act, the freedom OF the
press, the right at meeting to discuss public al
fairs, the tight of pettionins the legislature. A
vast portion of the population has long been ac-
customed to the exercise of political functions,
and has been thoroughly seasoned 10 political ex-
element In most other countries there is no
middle course between absolute submission aud
open rebellion. In England there has always
been for centuries constitutional opposition. -
Thus Que institutions had been 50 good that they
had educated us into capacity for better instl
tutivns. There is not large town in the king
dom which does not contain better materials for
Legislatures, than all France could furnish IN
1889. There is not spoutina club at any pot
house in London, in which the rules of debate are
not better understood, and more strictly obser-
we'd, than in the Constituent Assembly. There
Is. scarcely a political union which could not
franc in half an hour declaration of rights su-
perior TO that which occupied the collective wis
dom OF France for several months.