The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-17

derstood here in the United States, and we NAV
add, even among her neighbors on the continent
of Europe. The late abortion of the chartist
movement has contributed greatly to mislead
other nations as to the true situation of England
Having, during our late excursion abroad, visited
the capitals of most of the great nations of Europe
and soJourned for some time in London-the great
est of them alive are perhaps better able to form
an opinion, impartial spectators, than even the
leaders themselves of the public press in London,
and certainly much better than those journalists in
this country who help to misead public opinion by
the crude and unfounded theories they put forth
upon the condition and prospects of England. The
views we published upon the condition of Europe
in general, and France in particular, some time
before the great events which have lately tran
spired, entle us to some little credit for political
foresight. Those views appeared, at the time,
startling, and even extravagant, to many of the
readers of the Herald, and as such they were
designated by the Times and other journals
of London; but very short time proved the cor
rectness of our judgment, and the events them
selves have vindicated the soundness of our con-
illusions. We never expected anything from the
chartist movement. AS class they are an insig-
nifcant and despised set of ignorant pretenders
and theorists. The fear and activity of the 20.
vemment was not reused against them; but there
was an apprehension that the other elements Of
discomfort and revolution, existing among the peo-
pie, mghtbe gathered together by their gathering,
and unite in action at their threat of action. As
class they stand isolated from the people of Eng
land, who have little sympathy with them, and in
ninety-nine cases out Of hundred scarcely know
who they are, or what they aim at. They are
sect of fanatics, quasi Fourierites, or CONNIE
nists-a class which in every country where they
exist, stand aloof and separate from the people
are sort of excrescent fungus on the political
body, incapable of leading in any great movement
and only coming forward after movement, to i'm
pede its progress and destroy all the good effects II
might be capable Of effecting. The movement OF
this contemplate sect was, therefore, in England.
premature action of presumption and folly, and
has ended, as all who knew them, were aware il
would do, in contempt and pity. The public mind
however has been led astray, both in this countr,
and in Europe, by their silly exhibition; and tn,
false and erroneous idea is now, in consequence
taken up, and generally received, wiz" that the
English people have attempted revolution, and
have signally failed in their attempt"
The English people have not yet moved. The
English government stands; but it stands upon
precipice. All the elements of fearful revolution
are at work, and are fermenting in England
Those elements, or the operating causes which
render a terrific revolution and Embarrassment in
evitable, sooner or later, in England, may be
briefly enumerated as follows:-l. A corrupt and
exclusive system of representation. 2. A corrupt,
proud, wealthy, aristocratic, and pampered priest
hood. s. corrupt, naughty, proud, and impe-
rious aristocracy of descent 4. A corrupt, proud
nsolent, aristocracy of rich parrcnues, mer-
chants, bankers and tradespeople, which we
call in America, the " Goldfish aristocracy." 5. A
starving, discontinued, and cruelty oppressed pea
santry and tenantry. s. An unemployed, discon-
tented population Of manufacturers and operatives.
Z. An oppressive and overweight system of ex-
action and taxation. 8. financial system of
complicated and patched up bankruptcy. 9. A
system of enormous and exravagant governmental
expense, in pensions and brides to the royal family,
the aristocracy, gentry, clergy, army and navy.
TO- An enormous debt, which now absorbs and
swallows up all the resources of the country, merely
to pay the annual interest upon it.
Here is enough. We need not go on further with
our enumeration. Here are seeds of revolution
and ruin, which cannot fail in due time to produce
apentiful and terrible harvest. From what we have
here developed, it must be plain to every rejecting
person, not only that England stands upon the
brink of fearful political revolution, but also that
such revolution is as much wanted as it is nevi-
table. One thing-one common sentiment-rc-
tards and continually postpones it; and that
is, the universal consciousness among the people
hat such huge and complicated mass and sys.
tenn of misrulc, must, when it falls, crush, over
whcm and ruin all who are in reach of its tuln-
bling and totering battlements. In this feeling the
people have endured il longer than they would have
done had the remedy been less dangerous. They
have stood like sick man with cup of medicine
in his hand, hesitating to swallow it. Health he
knows is desirable, and he knows he is far from
it but the dose is so herculean its taste is 80 bit
ter, and the effects are SO racking that he puts of
the evil moment when he must swallow it.
Such is precisely the situation Of England
Everybody knows that a revolution must soon take
place-eveybody knows that it cannot be STAYED
ofi-everybody knows that il is necessary az well
as inevitable, and everybody is afraid Of the awful
moment, which, like the sword of Democles, is
suspended over the banqueting halls of the high
the noble and the wealthy. The people of Eng
land offer a singular contrast to the people of
France. No movement or revolution in England
has ever succeeded, which originated with the
lower classes, and no revolution has ever happened
there Tin which the people, and not the arstocracy
were tbs acfors) without long struggle, aud a
sangunary civil war The revolution of I64s, in
which the people were lbe actors, was not ac-
compished ill after several years of bloodshed
and civil war The revolution of 1853, in