New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-05
ETHICAL REFORM IN BRITAIN.

r.
While the Spanish people, with the cry OF
"Viva la Moraldad, " are insisting that their Gov.
enment shall be 10 dishOnOrng reflex of them
selves. so the British middle class are enforcing
upon the class above them their own higher
standards Of humanity and morality. This new
curreLt of sentiment has compelled the adhesion
of both Parliament and the Government. One Of
the marked features Of the Reform bill was the
cutting down of the time for polling from fifteen
DAYS TO two. Thus one Of the most salient char
acter.tcs of elections in the good old times" was
swept away. TO the unqualified benefit Of public
morals; to the mortal injury Of the British Con-
stitution said some. More lately, the public oPin-
ion of the middle-cass has compelled the House
Of Commons to unyeil to public gaze its own
corruption, and to bring to light the compacts
of the Coppocks aud the machinery Of the Reform
and Carlton Clubs, BY which the elections to the
honorable House are influenced. The acts against
bribery at Elections and for appointing commits
sion to take evidence on the spot, have been
passed in very shame. The late Tory Ministry
suffered 10 greater depreciation in the eyes of the
middle. class than when it was discovered before
Committee of the House of Commons that be-
tween the Duke Of Northumberland and Major
Beresford (both members of the Ministry the
National Dock Yards had been tempered with
and unworthy men had been advanced above men
of merit on account of their political suoservi-
eDcy, and that Sir Baldwin Walker, Superintend-
ent Of the Navy, had resigned in Indignation at
thts proceedings, and that Major Bere,fOrd had
given dinners and canvassed the workmen arm in
arm with the Tory candidate Of the borough.
Mojor Beresford spologized in Parliament, and the
Duke Of Northumberland protested on his ducal
honor that he knew nothing about it, although
be had signed al the papers and appointments
that led TO the Superintendent resignation.
Last year it was discovered that Prince Albert
and the Duke of Cambridge had avariciOusly ac
ctpted two lucrative sinecure cOlonelcies which
Committee Of the House of Commons had per
mitted to be Il tanned, on the express understand
ing that they would be given by the authorities at
the Horse Guards as rewards for distinguished
/ services in the field" The middle class and
the press deeply felt this insult to the House of
Commons, as well as the faithless subseryiency Of
the Horse Guards and this circumstance gave
great impulse to that tide Of unpopuarity which
has ever since set against the Prince, nOtwish-
standing his eager efforts to pr0pitiate popular
favor; and the Duke Of Cambridge only diverted
attention from himself by rushing into active ser
vice in the existing war against Russia. Twice
in Difference to this sleepess middle class censor
chip have the present Conservative Liberal Min
istry had to cancel the appointments they had
made. To the old aristocratic qualification Of
good connections the middie-class have sue
ceeded in adding their own qualification of good
character. This latter condition the appointees
did not fulfil; one had been convicted Of bribery
At an election, and the other had been black
leg" and, since he had left the turf to become
Mr.. Gladstorei Private Secretary, had been en-
gagged in stock jObbing operations. Consequently
the Duke Of Newcastle was obliged TO revoke
Mr.. stonor's patent Of South Australian Judge.
chip, and Sir George Grey cancelled the Colonial
appointment to which the Hon. F. L.wler had
been advanced. In both cases the Minister made
the smende TO public opinion, and promised
to exercise greater vigilance for the future.
Since the period Of the Reform bill, when the
middle class began to obtain control over the Ms
tionsl Administration, sinecures in every depart
ment have been gradually abolished, aud economy
enforced to degree that would have appeared
revolutionary to an unreformed and sristocradc
house, and the principle Of the present Chancel-
lor Of the EIchequer to carry on the war by max.
Ing the income of the year equal to the expendi.
lures in contrast to the unprincped course OF the
Tory Government of Britain during the last war
has been applauded with one voice by the middle
class a. the truly honest course, although that
policy brought with it the doubling Of an already
onerous Income Tax. Itseems evident that in many
of it's Aspects the greet Ethical Revolution we
have been describing 10 the old antsgonism b.