The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-03-28
Progressive Revolution in England.

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have been hitherto the iects Of close mo-
nopoIy--the prizes Of the Arisl"cra2y. This
is an extension of the princi pie which the En-
glish Government had introduced in the late
renewal of the charter of the East India Com
pany. The cadetships, formerly the privilege
of the few, were open to all who could give
proof of responsibility and qualifications. 1t
is an abandonment, in part Of system o! OIL
fetal patronage, that is, through Parllamenta-
ry influence, peculiar to the mixed monarchl.
cal and arstocratica government of Great
Britain, and concession to the Democratic
principle With the recent step in the reform
of the representation, it is significant sign
that points to other and important changes.
Monopolies are surrendering their prlvIle-
ges in that country, as regards both classes
and orders, reaching the sources as well oi III
dnstrial interests, AS of royal and arISlocratlc
prerogative and ministerial patronage. The
| commercial and manufacturing towns have al
ready made their influence felt against the land
I'd arstocracy which had long engrossed not
only parliamentary power, but Official station,
at least in its lower grades. Occasionally,
pIebian, like Mr.. Canning aad Sir Robert Peel,
welding the irresistible power Of genius would
reach the highest point of ministerial eleva-
tnn, but the younger members of the anSto-
cratic families, would eugross the offices in the
Church, in the army, the navy and thecoones.
These offices formed the consideration for par
liamemtary votes. Throwing open the field of
official employment for sixteen hundred offices,
AS has been stated, to those classes, which
have been heretofore excluded, will operate
greater change in the relative position OF the
English Democracy and Aristocracy, than ap-
pears on the surface, combined as it will be,
with the increasing antagonism between the
commercial aud manufacturing classes. as rep
resented in the parliament and the territorial
ariStocracy.
A silent revolution is thus gning on in the
character Of the British Government, whc ap,
pears to be voluntary and spontaneous, but is
the effect Of pressure from the increasing pre-
ponderance in wealth and political cons'lera-
ton of the towns and Burroughs over the coun-
ties. the two former the seats Of commercial
and manufacturing opulcnce, and the latter OF
landed influence and ascendcncy. These re-
cent changes. therefore, enlargins the demo"
cratic element in the House t Commons, and
giving Il wider sphere for civic ambition, are
symlt"nls that indicate the augmenting intin-
cllce Of the popular principle. Like almost all
either changes in British political institutions.
they are quiet and gradual but not the less po-
trntial The English people are arerse to rad
icaIi>m in al its forms. The very name OF
Rryulutinn is hateful to them. Their genius
iucIineS towards cautious progression. The
Slmbo!s "i party will be displayed showing
hostile attitudes, ON the theatre of Parllamenta'
nv struggles involving, it would seem, prnci-
pies of directly opposite tendency, but II the
respective speeches and votes of the leaders and
followers of whigsm and tory ism, are nayzcd
they will show, not only an aversion in both
t. fundamental change, but rcpugnance to the
alterations in the subordinate machinery OF
government, unless by successive steps.
In making these concessions, however, to
popular prilrciples-in in widening the basis OF
representation, and enlargng the field of official
employment TO the middle classes the En-
gIish Ministry. while abridgng the influence OF
the Ari>tocracv, are contracting the sources OF
patronage and parting with its attendant ad'
vantages.
The open plrchasr of votes forms no part of
parliamentary management, as i'll the days OF
Sir Robert WalpoIe ; but it is impossible, un-
der monarchcal rule, where pronptitudc and
o'c'S'"n are re'u.''" III ; al '"u '"" ';una,nras
L" carry on war u; ".p.;,I's Dr.
M'tnou. ''g g !''n Oh nNar'"' 'iind h, ha ;n
l'''','''' r'es. "'r'''s "'. npi Tho .n
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o' ra'l'''h'''H''S I'H'c","s's "" I;I.a
orunarl co"J"nr'urHs' r't p'l"'t: W." "" "Md
the present against hussa' VIZ
arms tue government "'''' d" ,,,ni
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