The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-30

above the selfish and unpatriotic Influences
which have hitherto swayed them, and abandon
| to the middle classes fair share of the exclu-
sive privileges which they have so much
abused, they may still preserve the natural
performance with which their wealth and
great territorial possessions invest them. If,
on the contrary, they mistake the character of
the present reform movement and confound it
with the demands which they have hitherto
succeeded in satisfying by small concessions,
they will be swept off and annihilated by the
| gathering storm, with as remorseless and as un-
| sparing hand as were the old nobility OF
| France by the revolution of 1882 Then will
| 60 by the board, not only the relics OF the old
feudal privileges, the law of premogeniture,
and territorial monopolies in general, but all
the political influences which they carry with
them. For half century afterwards, as in
France, the old families will find themselves as
completely excluded from share in the adj
ministration of public affairs as the middle
| classes in England are now. Whether the
monarchical system itself will survive the
shocks which these changes will inaict upon it,
will of course depend on the good sense and
| moderation Of the English people, and its own
| adaptabdity to the requirements of popular
government.
| Such we repeat, are the consequences to be
looked for from the failure of the English aris-
tocracy to concede The reforms demanded from
them by the masses. They have been tried and
found wanting as governing body, and unless
they consent to the infusion of popular ele-
ments amongst them, their prestige and in
fuence is forever gone. The question now
arises whether they have the good sense and
sagacity to appreciate the dangers Of their posi-
ton, and to apply the pruning knife to the ex-
crescences complained of, before the axe is
brought to bear by ruder hands on the root OF
the tree. 1t would seem not. When Lord Pal
merston was called by the unanimous voice of
the English people to the direction of the
government, it was hoped that he would have
comprehended the true nature of the crisis, aud
would have insisted upon carrying out such
sweeping reforms in the various departments
of the State as would have saved not only the
country from the dangers which pressed upon
it from arstocratic incapacity, but his own
order from the consequences of their per-
verse, corrupt, and unpatriotic policy in the
management Of public affairs. But in this re-
spect, as we at the time predicted, his lordship
has wofully disappointed the expectations of
those who trusted him. Since his accession to
the Office Of Premier he has seemed to think
that his chief mission was to defend the aris-
tocracy from popular assault; for, on every
occasion, instead of fairly plunging himself in
medius res, he canters off into heroic eulogisms
about this class, declaring that it is ever fore
it will be an evil day for England when it
ceases to be SO. Will the English people SUBJ
nit to the degrading assumptions conveyed in
such declarations? What, has it come to this,
that they are to be regarded as a flock of help
less sheep, with the aristocracy as the shepherds
shepherds who more frequently play the part
of the wolf than Of the protector?
These questions have already been answered
in a manner not to De mistaken, by the
great reform meeting which was held in
London on the 9th, and a full report
of which we publish today. That as
sembaee was composed Of some of the most
influential merchants and shipowners-in fact,
the commercial aristocracy of London. Some
idea may be formed of the wealth and respect
ability Of the individuals who attended it, from
the fact that twenty five OF the persons pre-
sent subscribed five hundred dollars each to
further the objects Of the movement. The
statements made at this meeting by Mr.. Lind
say, the great shipowner, Mr.. Gassiot, Mr..
Powles, and others, are worthy of perusal,
from the lamentable picture which they present
of the careless and reckless manner in which
the public affairs Of England are administered.
From the sentiments expressed at this meet
ing, and the bold and uncompromising charac-
ter of the resolutions passed at it, it is evident
that the measures of reform announced by Lord
PalmerstoD as being in preparation by the go
verpment, will fall far short of the expectations
and demands of the English people. So far as
we can understand, these measures are limited
to the cor solidation of the ordnance and com
missariat with the administration Of the
army into "a single depart ment, under
the direction of the Minister of War, and
some few changes in the conditions required
for admission into the army itself. We learn
from source upon which reliance may be
placed thst il is contemplated to found mill
tary acal0hy on the plan Of West Point, in
which all aspirauts for the army will for the
future have to graduate. The creation of such
an establishment will no doubt ensure mi litary
efficiency; hut unless it is accompanied by the
safeguards which protect it from abuses here,
and, above ALL the abolition Of the sale of com
missions, it will only serve to render the mo-
nopoly of the army by the aristocracy closer
than before. Suppose, for instance, that our
sy stem of nominations to such an institution
were adopted in England, without further
changes being intro fused in the political or
gsniz ition of the government, what would be
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