The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-01

Tne Beginning ox Reform ansI Revolution
In Eugtama-
According 70 our private correspondence and TO
the pubic journals we have received by the last
steamer, we are perfectly satisfied that the first
movement for reform, gradually converting to re-
voluuon, has now commenced in England Do
ring the last few months, some local attempts were
made in Liverpool, Edinburgh, and other places,
10 establish what is called ga financial reform as
ISOLATION This association held Its meetings.
put forward its orators, and published its state.
ments--al tending to show the terrible waste of
expenditure of the British government, and the
awful amount of taxes wrung, year after year, from
the oppressed population of the British empire.
These movements, however, were local, and ap-
peared to have hut little influence upon the public
mind, until the great meeting held at Manchester,
on the 10th of last month, at which Mr.. Golden.
Mr. Bright, Mr.. Miner Gibson, Mr.. Wilson, and
other eminent men of the liberal party, who took
a prominent part in the late anti-cern law league
agitation, came forward and laid down the pro-
gramme Of the future proceedings of this new as
soclation.
The great objects embraced by this new move
ment, are the reduction of the public expenditure
from sixty millions of pounds sterling per an
num, to nifty millions, and also the extension of
the electoral franchise to those classes of the COM
munity who have been hitherto unrepresented in
the House of Commons. The speeches of Cob
den and Bright, delivered ON that occasion, were
worthy of the fame of these eloquent men. and
fully rlvaled any of their former efforts during
their late successful agitation In another cause
They give picture of the financial affairs of the
Prtt, oh e.
non OF ~ landed arlstoc acy, that might be
enough sink the British islands down TO the
bottom OF the sea- even TO lower abyss than that
Of Sodom and Gomorrah, as mentioned in the
holy Scriptures
The movement thus commenced Is lust what we
expected, and what We have long ago pointed M,
in the Herald as our readers may recollect 10 he
the only practicable and effective reorm-lead,no
we have no doubt, ultimately to a revolution-of
which the British race of the present day is suscep
tbe. The Chartists OF England were an ignorant
and Inefficient body of guer,ilas. The Repealers
OF Ireland could hardly be considered, IN point Of
intelligence or practical good sense, as much bet
ter than the Chartsts. O'Brien and his associates
among the confederates, were also as great a act
OF simpletons in their futile and silly attempts at
revolution in Ireland, as Feargus O'Connor and
the other Chartist leaders in England. The
only practical, established, and good old
English Anglo-Saxon mode OF reform and
revolution, is that now struck out at Man.
chester by those eloquent and talented men
Golden and Bright, with their associates. and
the result OF their past exertons is guaranty
OF their future success.
1t wasa similar movement, conducted by SINH
lar leaders, that, In the reign of the Stuarts two
centuries ago, led to the abolition OF monarchy.
and the establishment of the old commonwe alth
revolution, to succeed In England, must be con.
Quoted bit by bit, as biologists represent the
growth OF coral beds and continents Sudden ex.
plosions may be congenial to the popular FEELINGS
OF France or Italy, but volcanic erupuons do NOT
suit the Anglo Saxon temperament on either side
OF the Atlantic. The American revolution was q
bit by bit change, that ultimately led , the estab-
lishment of a republic, which now ,tonishes the
world The British reformers now ,pitatnu for
retrenchment OF the public expcndt IRE. and an
extension OF the elective franchise, will have
party to represent them in the House of Commons
and will be able to battle successfully with the
power ofthe landlords and the money changers. and
ultimately effect the great objects they purpose to
accompllsh-the liberation of the British islands
from the degradation Of castles and the tyranny or
arstocratic domination.
Have they not reason to attempt some financial
revolution In the British Islands! The nonu.,,on
Of Great Britain and Ireland numbers nearly ,b;r,
millions Of souls The expenditure amouD,. -
sixty millions Of pounds sterling, or nearly ,brs.
hundred millions OF dollars per annum This
enormous sum Of money Is yearly absorbed
IL. kxac . I'll
their dependents, while at the same time thew or.
cupy three'fourths OF the soil OF this ill-ia,ed
country. The trade, the industry, the skill of the
middle and lower classes are taxed to the utmos,
extremity, while the soil which Is owned bv the
arstocracy Is exempt from every impost, for the
purpose of keeping that limited class In a state Of
ldleness and dissipation. But this Is not ALL From
Hindostan, with a population OF nearly one hun
dred millions, and from other foreign possessions.
there Is annual tribute exacted am bunting YEARLY
70 thirty millions Of pounds sterling, or one hun
dred and forty millions of dollars-all of which IA
expended among small number who have had
the good fortune to be born to the possession OF
exclusive rank and privileges. If ever there wss
great nation, possessing the highest intellectual
development, full Of enterprise and sc,v,v a.
pressed, taxed, and trampled upon a. tho nr.a,
masses of the British population are by the ret.
cracy, history gives no trace of its existence. and
we believe 1t must be admitted that Great Br;,.,,
furnishes the greatest and most terrible e.amal.
In oil the annals of time.
On another occasion, when we have more space
at our disposal, we shall give to our readers some
extracts from the speeches delivered on that great
occasion, from which may be dated the first de-
sided practical and hopeful movement towards a