The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-11

England and france -
The papers of both countries admit the
enality of both. One has il. nys ala English |
ournal, at the top Of the tree; the other at the
oots. The rotten boroughs polluie aud poison !
he Electoral system in England; the Court dis |
lenses its filth in the upper sphere in france.
Lord Broughsm remarked in the House OF
.orJs: 4r Ell.
ia had received from the other side OF the
Channel letter. which il was natural Tor ms
friends 10 write, painful for him 10 read. why
ire you,' said one, 'to set up as purists III Eng
and. Why are YOU, like the Pharisee, 10 ''a"A
:od YOU are not other men arei why are
= on TO hold that things are done in France
which England is incapable of enduring
Official corruption, bad, wicked, despicabie'
|oathsomc as II was, involved the offence OF re-
ceiviny n consideration for promoting per-
son TO Office. Then came the pinch OF The
man who received brioe
col illuminated himself and injured the Govern
ment with which he is connected. The man
who bribed him commits great offence
against the state; but within how narrow
limits lies the injury they can do TO pubic
morals. For look at your system OF bribery
at elections; look at the wholesale system OF
arguments against the practice were SO exu-
berant that he might apply TO them the com
mon expression, You cannot see the wood
for the trees But he would single out one
consideration. Every man who was a MEM
Der of Parliament, u candidate, or supper
ter Of u candidate, could no longer lay 10 his
soul the fattering junction that he was only
encouraging political offence in bribery.
God forbid he should encourage perjury" he
would say. But every act of bribery ran the
race, and morally incurred the guilt oil per-
jury; in most cases the actual crime was per-
petrated. Surprising 200 men received head
money at Hull or elsewhere, they were ex-
posed to imminent hazard Of having the bril-
berry oath administered. A man therefore
went TO the booth, the hastings, the poll
knowing that the oath might be put 10 him.
and of 100 men how naEy could II be sup
posed would refuse the bribery oath! Not J
per cent. Not ten men out Of the whole num-
ber
This is not over pleasant picture But
writers console themselves thus--"ln France
corruption is at its height;-in the high
est places in England it is not 70, it does moi
mount. Nor is the representation proper
tionsteIy, corrupt as the constituency, in TN
latter. At the base Of the English system tn
evil is far greater than in France, but il does 10
ascend in England as it does in france TO an in
famous china \, greatest in the greatest places
| The question is, not which is best, but which
is worst We don't wonder the French cor
respondents Of Lord Brougham complain o
English satire and rebuke Ii will not do 70
kettle to call pot, black. Both, certainly, have
enough to undo. to remedy, to reform. thougl
Of the two, corruption in the constituency, O.
corruption in high places, give Us by all mcan
the latter. The tops Of the tree can be cut of
and no great harm done; roots cannot he dug mp
or loose ned, without hurt and Danger.
Lord Brougham applied his remarks direc,l,
to the English elections-elec tons just bel,
and which show that the people there are be
ginning to think for themselves, said he;
"'The approaching contests had an aspec
somewhat new, because there never WAS an oc
casion within our memory when ther. s.
great dislocation OF parties, so little regula
discipline. and when what might be Gale,
.the regulars had so little chance; but, alas
| though this was a novelty, the prospect wa
| not the less formidable. FOR what might ID
| seen, in consequence of the watchwords O
| Wing and Torv,' Liberal and Conservative,
| no longer being found in the olden time
to divide the country Why, men were TO b
| found coming forward who wholly IN
known-probably well known. and as muc
| trusted as known, in their on private secluded
ami exceedingly select circle, but wholly un
known to their country at large; that som
might say, signifed lttle-but, wholly un
| 10 for which hey ~,
ing 10 stand, aud their addresses showing tina
| they were unknown, and that his own ignor
| ance of them did not argue himself unknown,
| for thew came forward. and all, with al
apology for soliciting the sutfrages in this pre-
dicamcnt He Lord Brougham) had made in
CURRY into about half-a-dozen of these cases
| ana he found that no human being in the pli
ces where these men were PRAYING for the great
| est trust that could be vested IN mortal hands
| that OF being lawgivers-knew anything abou
| them. save, perhaps, some member Of the pro
| fession TO which he Lord Broughlm had IN
| honour to belong. some attorney; how lon
| known to him was another question; but thei
intercourse possibly, though short, had bee
passing sweet "a laughs aud as the candidat
i had brought with him letter of credit, tner
was no difficulty in quietly getting resoiu
| ton come to.-.We. the people On laugh I'VE
the people of Andover'-'we, the people &
Barnstable,' or, the case might b.. are c
opinion that Mr.. Se-andSo is fl and prone
person to represent this place In Parliament
| The attorney ran up a bill, and tn. internedia.
agent had his commission; and the representa-
tive might be fit man enough, but when bette
known he might not happen TO represent tn
| place, having had taste of the expense of IN
honour. 1t might he as with a worthy gen
| tleman, who said, whom returning than ks 10
| being elected, Gentlemen, | have bought you
| but will no: sell you,'-hcar, hear said TIA
| electors, we hope you will come again. .Oh
no. he answered, Il can't come again; /, cost
too much for that { laugh.) These gentle
men might nominally represent a borough, bu
really represented their own purse
This ''dislocstion' of parties has been lon
foreseen. Neither Tory, nor Wing, has me
the wishes or wants Of the people, and the grcs
Chartist move, or the yet greater agitation q
O'Connel. taught them that they were OUT doc
legislators more powerful than indoor ones
platform larger and more omnipotent than par
lament. Hence the anti corn law-league
Hence the cheap postage action. and all aocia
reformatory processes.
| The under classes in England have long ,ske
90" g"od govern"'~~s i"oy s"c Tor IL now
They claim it as right. ''lf freedom have an
meaning it means enjoyment of this right
wherein all other rights are enjoyed, 1, is
sacred right and duty on both sides; and Tn
summary Of all duties between the two Glasses
Why does not the one toll with his hands, if tn,
| other be not TO toll, still more unweariedlv, viii
heart and headl The brswny craftsman lind
it no childs play to mould his unpliant wgge,
masses; neither is guidance Of men a Gilettan
tism; what it becomes when treated as iilet