New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-24
THE CRISIS IN ENGLAND.

OF course, the most interesting feature Of the
news from Europe by the Atlantic must be the death
of the Car and the influence of that event on the
pending complications. But important as may be
the intelligence on this subject, or on other con-
tnental affairs in its interest for the Thoughtful
observer it can hardly surpass the gradual in1i-
cations and developments of that momentous po-
litcal crisis in which, without any will Of their
own, the British nation are now involved at home.
The last attempt to maintain that antiquated con-
promise called the British Constituton-a com
promise between the class that rule officially and
the class that rule non. ofically-has signally
failed. The coalition ministry, the most consti-
tutional of all, has not only broken down in Eng
laid butthe constitution itself has broken down in
detail at every point where it has been tested by
the war. Forty thousand British soldiers have
died on the shores Of the Black Sea, victims to
the British Constitution. Oficers staff, Commits
sariat, Medical Department, Transport Service
Admiralty, Horse Guards, Ordnance, Army and
Navy, all and every one have broken down, have
ruined themselves in the estimation of the world;
but all ard every one have failed with the salts.
faction of knowing that they had but done their
duty In the eyes of the British Constitution. The
London Times spoke more truly than it knew,
when it said, with respect to this universal fail
ure, that it was the British Constitution itself
which was on its trial.
1t has been tried and found guilty. This
British constitution, what 10 it but superannu-
ated compromise, By which the general govern
ipg power lie abandoned to some sections of the
middle class, on condition that the whole of the
real Government, the Executive in all its details,
even to the executive department of the legisla-
tive peweI-or that is the actual law making in
the two HOuses of Parliament-is secured to the
landed aristocracy! This aristocracy whi,h,
subject to general principles laid down By the
middle class, rules supreme in the Cabinet. the
Parliament, the Administration, the Army and
the Navy-this very important half of the British
constitution has now been obliged to sign its own
death-warrant. 1t has been compelled TO confess
its incspscity any longer to govern England.
Ministry after Ministry is formed only to dis
solve itself after few weeks reign. The crisis
spermarent; the Government is but provisional.
All political action is suspended; nobody profess
'es to do more than to keep the political machine
creased well enough to prevent it from stopping.
mat pride Of the constitutional Englishman, the
House OF Commons itself, 10 brought to dead
stand. 1t knows itself no longer since it is split
up in numberles' fractions, attempting all the
arithmetical combinations and variations, of which
given number of units Is capable. II can no
longer recognize itself in the various Cabinets
which it makes in its own image, for no other pur.
pose than to unmake them again. The bank
ruptcy is complete.
And not Only has the war had to DO carried on