The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-11

ment 46. Willis has 10; population would
give it 6, and property g. The West Riding Of
York has IS population would give it 80, or
property %. It's, however, needless 20 multiply
| instances. Every county in England exhibits
the same discrepancies.
Now, il is idle To call this representative
system. Ii represents no class but the aristoc-
| racy. or those who hold land and property I'M
der them, which is the same thing and is a
systematic exclusion of the masses of the people
from participation in the Government Yet
what does the wing ministry propose in these
circumstances Why it proposes to reduce the
ESQ qualification to ego, and the clio to
f5 but the glaring and horrible inequalities of
the existing state of things they do not touch
They leave the corrupt borough system az il is,
they leave the disabilities of the working men
as they are, and they simply admit few more
electors to their rights by lowering the money
bar! What miserable and shameless shrink
ing from truth and duty
Lord John Russell in his opening speech,
admitted that during the last twenty years,
since the passage Of the Reform bill, the people
of England had made great progress in intelli-
gence and refinement and therefore he allows
few more property holders their rights
Cheap postage, cheap books mechanics institu-
tons athen@ums, Inventions to d. fuse and
cheaper knowledge, have increased prodgiously
during the last twenty years yet the mechanic
classes who have chiefly pro6ted by those are
declared still incompetent to possess right for
which the drunken Doors of the agricultural
districts, and the corrupt mercenary yote-ped.
dlers of the boroughs are thoughtnot unquali-
fed. The inconsistency and injustice of this
whole arrangement is most marked
Vat "a 10 Nnlv 81 a,,I Of L.
English SYSTEM which, from foundation to
capstone, is a thorough organization of Govern
mcnt to protect the privileges of the arstocrat-
| = fsnilies. AZ :, -. T.. 1~,,xth~t the House of
Commons is 50 one-sided this same body of
-. 7-Sssessss the vt}ssy House entirety & San
negative any laws passed by the Commons, and
inasmuch rs it has SO many of its creatures in
the Commons, it can dictate almost any measure
that it may see fit to carry In this way, oil the
laws regulating the tenure of land have been
made obstacles to its transfer into the hands of
the common people for there is not in ngland
| registry of deeds, and the expenses Of con-
veyancing are enormous. In this way, too oil
the taxes are imposed so as to fall not upon the
land, which is in the hands of the aristocracy,
but upon the commercial classes and the la.
borers Controlling the Legislation, then, with
the ability to logislate as they please, and COM
paratively exempt from taxation is there any
wonder that the British aristocracy is so mag
nificent and mighty
The liberals here, the party represented by
Golden and Bright are perfectly aware of this
state of things, and are struggling against it
but in my opinion they meet the question tim
idly, and are inefficient as an opposition. They
carried the anti-corn laws, it is true; but they
carried them not so much by force of argument
and opinion, as by the peculiar political and
commercial circumstances of the time. And
doubt whether they will now carry any large
and liberal reform of the franchise, if they do
not indeed, consent to accept the meager pit
lance doled out to them by Lord John. They
want enterprise, fearlessness, and independence.
Placed in comfortable positions themselves they
do not wholly comprehend the miseres of the
people, and at the same time have most
orthodox love of respectability. The chartists
and radicals they do not off course associate with
and they rather cross over to the other side
when they see an Irish member, who is faith
full to his country, coming along They are able
however, and diligent and prepare the work
for higher order of men.
| Ii is pretty certain that Lord Johns bill will
pass. IL meets no very strong opposition on
the part Of the conservatives; and the liberals
after proposing few amendments for consist
ency sake, viii. take it for tho best they can
get Thus the reform agitation will again
end for some years in n most slender result
The mouse will run out from the mountain
and the volcanic heavings will cease. My God
how the poor people are humbugged and be.
trayed by those paltry politicians Is it strange
that there are revolutions, is it strange that
Europe every few years is the scene of terrific
civil wars and bloodshed Even under pro-
fessedly constitutional and free Governments
| they are bsmboozed in the shockingest manner
but their time, thank God will soon come.
O.