The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-13

SPIRIT OF THE ENGLISH PRESS.
From the Spectato

SPIRIT OF THE ENGLISH PRESS.
From the Spectator.
The PILLARS OF HERcuLEs.-To be beaten on the
Navigation laws, for the remnant of the old Tory
party to be exterminated; and Lord SANKEY'S brave
stand is but like that of Orlando at Roncesvales,
where Charlemagne and all his host were laid low
In this country, them the longwaged contest ceases
| between tyranny and freedom, between Absolutism
end Liberalism. The right divine is forgotten
dogma; the liberty of the subject is title uncon-
tested, and therefore no longer needing to be de-
Tended. The surviving differences concern degree,
and not fundamental principles. All parties assent
to the expediency of political reorganization, more
or less general, more or less rapid. Chartism Con-
servatism, and modern Liberalism, have common
doctrines, and only dissent to specific measures.
The abandonment of the Navigation laws puts the
finishing stroke to the old regime.
Are we, then, entering political millennium Is
Britain really the Island of the Blessed, where dis
sention ceases; where man will help his brother,
each bent promoting the common good of all, all
of each' Hardly. Wakefield hazards a novelty
in political economy in recognising any future for
Chartism and Socialism. We have long way to
travel before we can even think of harmony as the
rule of political life-a long and doubtful way.
Rather, we have entered upon new and UNI
poughed sea. Free trade and free navigation are
the Pillars OF Hercules, marking the end of the re-
gon which we have known from earliest history,
and the opening of wide unknown ocean of the
future. Under what circumstances, with what re-
sources, what councils, do we enter upon that wide
unsurveyed ocean,
The subsiding of political antagonisms which we
have noted IN this country, has not yet begun on
the Continent generally. Nay, we seem almost TO
be upon the verge of war between Absolutsm and
Freedom, in which the extremes of Divine Right
and Republicanism likely TO take an active part.
That the doctrines of Limited Monarchy rising
IL.
able amount of influence remaining to the two
tremes. Ii is not in human knowledge W foretell
the issue with any certainty; but the interests of
this country cannot permanently stand separate
from the issue of the struggle between the great po
litical elements on the Continent: as victory re-
mains with Absolutism, debating from the White
Sea 10 the Mediterranean, with Republicanism pre-
vaIling from Venice and Marsees Eerchance to
Warsaw and to Moscow, or with the milder and
more opportune influence Of Limited Monarchy,
the reflective consequences to this country must be
momentous. In the progress of the struggle, the
moral influence of England, backed by her material
weight, might be very considerable, largely modi-
flying the balance Of the victory. What then,
the resources with which England Is endowed to
invigoraie and enighten her action for the protec
ton Of her own interests-for the service of her
allies, whose political intelligence and energies her
| friendship might develop-for the service of man.
kind, whose permanent interests so largely AT
stakei
A difficult and doubtful question. Both as re-
spects internal and external action, England enters
upon the future under circumstances greatly altered
With free trade, we must henceforth openly and
avowedy depend less upon home supplies, more
upon foreign supplies that rs not IN itself, CONNER
cally and materially bad thing; but IL tends
to constitute trade the sole chief basis Of political
science and action. Our craftsmanship, abroad and
at home, must more than ever turn upon the I'LL.
IL. A. "A.
all pretension TO old Colonial system; while by
the conduct Of our administration we are abandon
ing not only the formula but the substance-the
uses Of the Colonies, the Colonies themselves.
With the disuse Of the Navigation laws in keep
ing up a nursery Of seamen, we ayowedy abandon
a cardinal point in the maintenance Of our Navy;
impressment too has probably become impossible
so that SOpe wholly new expedient for securing an
effective supply Of seamen Is imperatvely de-
handed. But the want Of certain measures is not
the most alarming fact; one more alarming Is the
change which has taken place through the altered
habits and avocations Of the people, the bulk Of
which is no. longer q maritime people. An Eng
lishman ls no longer born saIlor-nor one Eng
lishman In ten, nor one in hundred.
Still that il not the most formidable change
With the abolition Of "Toryism" has expired the
power Of public organization by means Of the Gov
! eminent but no equally effective faculty Of organ
ization has sprung up in Us place. With the in
creased preponderancy Of trading objects, the OBJ
ects Of national feeling have fallen INTO contempt
there is reverence for the traditions Of the past,
no personal attachment for leading men, nor any
other natural motive Of spontaneous organization.
The mechanical organization Of leagues" for spe-
cal objects Is miserable substitute, without vitality
/ or virtue.
To crown our Deficiencies, we have statesmen
who show total Incapacity TO understand the drift
Of contemporary history-who boast ignorance Of
the peri which menaoes our Colonies, think that
the special consables slew the dragon Of Chartsm
on the 10th Of April, lS46, and smile at the idea Of
any hazardous elements existing IN our own so
/ ciety.
| Thus England is launched into the vide sea Of
the future without maritime people, without
nationality, without policy.