The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-06-15
THE ENGLISH ARIsToCRAGY.
The Union lStsuntonl Republican has the

The Union (Stsuntonl Republican has the
following:
f,ur exee,lent friends Of The Richmond Dispatch
who are strictly neutral, upon ell questions con
pecsed with our own politics, have been amussss
themselves with speculations upon the speeoy
downfall Of the Englhh Aristccracy we nsss
heard similar predictions 90 often, thai we
shem pretty much az we do the givines GUY y,
Father Miller's disciples IN relation 70 'ue ~
Advent. We are far more interts ~ .de .a.I
our own liberties and confess 10 our tesrs hat pee
sw.sn Som.S.rr e rs.ea,ers and Northern fanatics
III. "a n more danger of the downfall on our own
free Institutions. than prooaoiiity H tns wv.
throw of the British Constitution Upon tnis euo-
feet ne are disposed to say--for Heavens sake, II
there IL to be an arls,ocracy, let be an arttocra
cy avay over 10 Europe, instead OF the vulgar pre-
tension of Goldfish aristocracy at home
In this last aspiration of our Staunton
friend, we cordially unite. We will not quar-
rel with any people about tastes. If Euglish-
men prefer an aristocracy, let them have it.
We admit that that is one of the articles
which they have brought to greater perfec
tion than is possible in America. we nave
nothing here in that line but veneeripg,
pinch beck, sham, counterfeit humbug. The
Republican may also be correct in its opini-
ons that our own political fabric will give
way before that anomalous and rickety
structure, the British Constitution. We do
not believe, however, that in progressive
age, and among sober, calculating people
like the English, the ariStocracy can long
survive such shocks as it has received from
the developments of the Eastern war.
If the aristocratic influence of England
has increased of late years, its commercial
influence has also increased, and the two sys-
TENS have just come into violent collision
in the great meeting of London merchants.
That more decisive results have not followed
that meeting, is attributable to the fact that
the monied classes refused to avail them
selves of the assistance of the masses, to hold
out any prospect of the extension of popular
franchises, or to say one word or breathe
one desire in behalf of European liberty
The people, however, still form somewhat
numerous party in England, and cannot but
gain from the competition of the aristocratic
and commercial elements. On this subject,
the New York Citizen remarks that, if hard
pressed, the oligarchy of place aud title will
probably re introduce Lord John Russells
franchise scheme to tranquilize the masses;
but that very fact will force the monied
class to compete by concession for popular
support. so that every incident that sharpens
the struggle, will throw the popular element
still more into the ascendancy, and drive the
two rich contending classes into death
struggle with each other. Add to this consi-
deration, the distrust of the aristocratic sys
tenn, which has been engendered by the con-
tinued blunders of the war, and more espe-
cially by the contrast between the military
efficiency of France, in which merit is the
rule of promotion, and of England, in which
aristocracy is the controlling influence; the
heavy debt and taxation of the war; the
low wages and desr food and the increasing
knowledge aud numbers of working-me
and surely we have some reason for doubt
ing the stability of the aristocratic system of
England. At this moment while millions of
Eoglishmen are but one remove from star
walton, nearly the whole of the island is mo-
nopolized by noblemen's estates and parks
three noblemen own nearly all London; the
whole government is in the hands of sim
gle noble family and its branches; and even in
the House of Commons, the aristocratic ele
ment is powerful. If, under the moral and
pecuniary pressure of the war, the throne
does not go down with the aristocracy, the
English people must be more profoundly at
tached to the forms of roy atty than any other
race of men under the canopy of Heaven
100000 per annum for Queen; ESQ, 900
per anuum to support her husband: $1,000
per aunum for the Queen Dowager; $4,000
per snnum for each of the innumerable chill
dren OF Victoria-these are expenses which
Englishmen will not be willing to sustain
whenthey become competent for self govern.
men', and can secure real, instead of no
minal Executive, at a cost not greater thar
they now pay for one of Victorias children