Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-19
GBe QalIp SPY.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10. 1855.
Onr Srslem on PoIi1ica.

United States, to understand and appreciate
our political system and, he held, as a con-
trary proposition, that one who is born and
educated in the United States must, of course,
understand and appreciate our political sys-
tenn. This may seem, from looking on its sur
face, to be very excellent logic-very satisfac.
tory reasonlng-but we doubt if it will stand
the best of strict analysis. 1t may seem
somewhat plausible as a statement of fact
but, it cannot sustain itself IN a etatesmany
scrutiny.
What is there peculiar, about our political
system that a foreigner" cannot comprehend?
Is there nothing like it, in the world; or is it
so difficult of comprehension that one must be
born into it before he can begin to see through
iii The ubject is worth some consideration. 1t
will perhaps be recollected that our system was
proposed and perfected by men who were all
born under the monarchical government of
Great Britain. THEIR monarchical education
and loyal antecedents, did not dsqualify them
from becoming wise and judicous republi-
cans. They loved King George with loyal
love and reverence; and they humbled them.
selves before his throne, like''loyal and faithful
subjects as they professed and claimed to
be; yet, they, subsequently, disclaimed their
royal-loyalty, kicked the throne, shattered the
crown, knocked piece off the sceptre, and
initiated the system which Governor Gardner
seems to consider so complex, that none but
aborn republican can appreciate it. And what
is our system after all 1t is simply modi-
ficaton of the political system of Great Brit
ain, and every intelligent man knows that it
is so. The analogy between the two systems
is complete throughout, no matter whether
we begin the comparison at the top of the fed
eral system, OF start from the basis of the mu-
inequalities. In essence the systems are the
same; the difference between them is in the
mode of construction. The King of Britain
is born to his throne and holds it till he dies
our king is elected once in four years. Our
House Of Repres antatives is elected according
to the various modes prescribed in the differ
lent states the British House of Representa-
tives Cor Commons) is elected, in the four
states of the realm, by county tenants, who
pay $3.50 a year of rent-by burgh tenants,
who pay $50 year of rent --and by freehold
ers, whose holdings are worth more than forty
shillings year. Our Senate is elected by the
legislatures Of the various states; the British
Senate Cor House of Lords) is partly elective,
partly hereditary, and partly appointive. Sow
what essential difference is there between the
British and American systems so far?
Our municipal system-we mean the New
England system-beautiful though it is, and
proud of it though we be- is not original. 1t
is the ancient Anglo-Saxon system, very lit
tie improved upon. 1t is the natural system
of free, social politics, which existed among
our ancestors a thousand years ago, and which
exists in England now. They have their
Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Councilmen,
in England, just as we have; and they are
elected by the rate-payers at the polling booths
just as ours are elected. Everybody i'll Great
Britain can, and does participate, primarily,
in the elections in that country and after
Parliament is in session, everybody can know
and understand the proceedings there What
extraordinary qualification, then, does an in
telligent native of Britain require, to under
stand our systems II is his own system, I'M
der democratic, instead of oligarchic form.
Now, would one of our native ''sand. Killers"
or "poor whites" of South Carolina, be more
likely to understand Massachusetts politics
than native of Britain? Would he be more
worthy to exercise the elective franchise in
New England; He is ''natiye American"
it is true; and, according to the +" Know
Nothing" doctrine, is qualified to vote and
hold Office in the Old Bay State, while such
men as Golden, or Bright, of England, are,
according to the same doctrine, not qualified.
But is not the sand hitler" after all, really
less eligible, than the 60 foreigner" who has
been politically educated where Cromwell and
Hampden were educated? We are afraid that
great many of our people do not fully com
prehend and appreciate, the great variety, and
great diversity of political systems that are
combined in the United States. If they were
to study them more closely, they would find
that wherever there is a restrictive, exclusive
suffrage, there is low state of social and po-
litical morals. There is no danger to a state
from an abundance of liberty; but wherever
there is exclusiveness in politics, there will tie
found naughty slave drivers and debased sand
killers i'll the community.
Our system of politics, in Massachusetts, is
simple, noble, liberal, and true to republican
principles. 1t is easy of comprehension, be-
cause natural; and men never lose the faculty
OF easily understanding and adapting them
selves to whatever is natural. We think it
would be well for our Legislature to pause and
consider Governor Gardner's propositions, be-
fore they think Of acting upon them.
The MINORITY CANDIDATE ron SENATOR
We never expected to see the day when the
Wigs of Worcester, whose protege and idol
Colonel Bulloch has been for quite a number
of years, would turn up their noses at any
act of that gentleman, or that they would ever
be heard denounciDg him in the most EN-.
phatic terms of censure at all the street cor
ners Of the city. But it is even SO. The
chancts of political preferment seemed to the
Colonel much the best after the gubernatorial
election, in the new organization, and
straightway he deserted his old party and for