The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-28

wrestling from the aristocracy OF few borough
privileges or the loosening little their hold of
| the counties 1t strikes at once ~ the extinc-
| ton of their monopoly of the governing pow
ers and as consequence, although those who
have set the ball in movement may not them
selves have contemplated it, at the ultimate
abrogation of the monarchical system itself.
This result had long been foreseen and FORE
told by the few sseacious democratic statesmen
who have been able to force their way through the
barriers to political distinction opposed to them
by the prejudices of caste. But the voice Of
warning has been uplifted in vain. The evil
day has been postponed by small concessions to
popular clamor, sufficient for time to serve as
sop to the many headed Cerberus. But this
plan of averting the danger by temporary pal
latives could not be expected to stand the test
of experience. None but a class corrupted by the
long and exclusive enjoyment of power, and be-
sotted by indulgence, could have remained blind
to the unmistskable portents and signs in the
political horizon which have been crowding
upon them for some time past. The great re.
form bill which was to have proved pauacea
tor all popular complaints has long been pro.
u
melirg the exercise of the constitution, in its
practical influence on the affairs of the English
nation, it has proved mere deusion. 1t is
found, in short, that the old laundering ma
chinery which let slip from it's grasp the Amer.
lean colonies, which interfered with France,
and only triumphed over its innumerable
mistakes by the aid Of the mountains
of gold which it sunk in the swamps and mo-
rasses of European diplomacy, subsidising gov
ernments, suborning traitors and saddling Tor
ever milestone OF debt on the back of the peo-
pie of England is precisely what it was in the
worst years of George the Third; and that, in
the face of Europe, advanced as it is in enlight-
elment, and Of America, grown as it is in poll
teal influence to proportions that already over
shadow it, it is about to repeat the same mad
cycle Of waste, confusion and paralytic inanity
which signalized it two-thirds of century ago.
Although there are many considerations
which render the English aristocracy less per-
sonally odious to the masses than the fatal re-
suits Of their past policy and administration
are calculated to make them, it is clear that
the English people can no longer submit to a
state of things like this. The Russian war has
demonstrated what was before a matter Of
speculation, that between an independent ma
tionsl existence and the abolition of the exclu-
sive privileges enjoyed by the aristocracy there
is no alternative left. This conviction has forced
itself reluctantly upon the English mind; but
it cannot be denied that it is now ell pervading
and general. The truth can no longer be con-
cealed, that in the struggle in which England
is engaged abroad any overweening delcacy
exercised towards the aristocracy would only
jeopardize the country, and bury both high
and low in one common ruin. When education
was principally confined to this class, it was all
very well to leave to it the duties and respon-
sibilities of government. But the whole world
has been gallcping apace this last century; and
although it cannot be denied that the moral
character of the English aristocracy is re-
spectacle, its business character has sunk below
zero, and just now this is the very thing that
is most wanted. Blood and treasure are being
poured forth like water from thousand foun-
tans; the aristocracy unlock the foodgates,
but are powerless to direct the current. Eng
land itself, proud Of its ancient renowu-
its giant struggles at Cressy, at Agin-
court, at Blepheim, and at Waterloo-is
seen skulking at the heels of France,
its former rival, but now honored pro
tector 1t beholds the French empire cutched
in the grasp of one man, on whose faith
and life this alliance rests, and it knows that
but a few weeks since the assassn's bullet had
nearly cut away from it this frail dependence.
The whole struggle may any day be left upon
its own hands; what was attempted on the 10th
of April may be again repeated with success.
The barricades Of Paris would then sound the
knell of the English alliance, and a revolu-
tionary army would probably again unfurl the
standard of invasion at Boloene. Isit to be won
dered at that, with such dangers staring them
in the face, the English people should be aroused
Fl ON their supineness and insist upon being ad-
mitted 70 an equal share in the administration of
their own affairs? whilst we disclaim," says
one of the resolutions passed at the London
meeting, "every desire Of excluding the aris-
tocratic classes from participation in the coun-
ellis of the Crown, we feel it our duty to protest
against the pretensions of any section Of the
con muniiy to monopolize the functions of ad-
ministration."
Should the Epelish aristocracy be insensate
enough to turn n deaf ear to this demand,
modest az it is under the grave circumstances
in which England is placed their doom as
class is sealed. Seldom has it happened 10 the
history Of the world that people, compelled
10 lake the management of their affairs into
their own hands, have known where to stop
short. Let the English aristocracy take warn
ing from the fatal lesson set them by the mis-
takes Of the old French noLiesse, aud yield in
time what IL would be destruction to further
withhold.