New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-28
E u r O p E D..
Ry THE AMERICAS MAILS.
THE STATE or EUROPE.
nam Our Own Correspondent

eve Of a revolution in England. / do not mean
that we are to witness scenes of rebellion, riot
and battle, as In 1910, or in the different reyolu-
lions of France. Royalty has never been more
popular in England than now, and the Queen is
universally beloved, but the Government Of the
country cannot for any length Of time remain ia
the hands Of the oligarchy which now rules
through degraded Parliament. The feeling of
uneasiness is rapidly spreading and the com
munity will scarcely submit to be ruled in turn
by alternating oliearehical oliques, apparently
opposed 10 each other, but in fact representa-
tiyes Of the same principles of Capitalization
and patronage, shielding one another as often as
the indignation OF the people rises above a GER
tain point, disregarding the wishes and the in
terest of the nation, aud depriving the crown Of
its prerOgative and the people Of their right of
selfgovernment. Formerly we often heard dis
tinguished Englishmen say: awe are not dis
"posed to take any interest in politics, for our
"own immediate affairs engross all our time
4" and attention, and the course pursued by the
"public men in this country during the last few
"years has been so void Of principle that We
have become utterly disgusted, and have
"possible to be a public man and an honest
"man." They therefore let things take their
course; so much the worse, the bulk
OF the middle CLASSES were contented on
the whole and no sudden political crisis
could be feared. But are in
the midst of q crisis; the war with Russia,
undertaken in the expectation that 1T would
soon be terminated by diplomatic negotiations,
has assumed most serious aspect. No hope
remains for its speedy termination; one CAM
paicn has been lost already by want of capacity
in the field and in the Cabinet, and the second
can scarcely be saved The nation has to make
incessant sacrifices, and the conviction that
there are no right men in the right places gives
the certainty that all these sacrifices are in
vain, giving no efficiency to the war or firmness
to the negotiations. The feeling that both the
governing cques are unequal to the task, and
that Parliament has been emascuated under the
Administration OF Wings and Tories, that in fact
il does not represent the country, but only two po
]tica factions, is growing so strong that change
in the system ofGoyernment has become unayoid-
able. How it will be effected | cannot even
guess, but it will certainly not be by riots and
rebellion. The English mind is too practical
and too little ulpulsiye for revolutions in the old
fashioned, -honored continental way. They
know likewise that the extension of the franchise
would scarcely much improve Parliament, since
they see that the Reform bill of 1882 is COM
plete failure; but unless the signs of the times
are all delusye we cannot but believe that the
Government of England is soon to pass from
the two oligarchlcal factions of Parliament
into more vigorous though less expert
enced hands. The merchants and bankers
of the city, certainly most conservative
body, begin to take up the question, and the
Anti.Centra Legislative Union and the societies
of Sheffield and Newcastle for the reform OF the
Government are all working to the same end,
though they are not yet combined in their action.
The articles which appeared in The London
Times in January, Mr.. Layard's speeches, the
Indignation meetings in the provinces, and tho |
failure of Lord Palmerston, who was always be-
lieved by the great majority TO be the most en-
ergetic, able and liberal member of the arstoc-
racy, are all in turn signs of approaching events,
which everybody euesses but nobody has the
courage to call by their right name The pre-
sent Crisis brings nome 10 the ingllSn tne words
Of Demosthenes: sit is not fleets and armies,
I" it is not wealth and possessions that cOnsti-
'tute the strength of States, but it is ratch- |
I" fuiness."
While the bankers and Wholesale traders held |
their meeting at the London Tavern aud the |
Guildhall-snce the number of persons was too |
numerous to be accommodated in one locality |
and passed strong resolutions against the Gov |
eminent and claimed partnership in the ad- |
minstration of the country with the landed |
aristocracy, respectable retail dealers and radi-
cal politicians held another meeting, in which |
most important petition was drawn up which is
now widely circulated and numerousy signed. |
We extract few passages which show the
spirit of the meeting. The petitioners say in |
the preamble:
Gas loyal subjects we have bitterly regretted the
disasters visited upon this country since the commence
nent of the present war. This we do the more be-
cause these disasters have not arisen from the mis-
chances whereby the eounsels OF the wises may be
confounded but from the guilt and folly OF our rulers;
from the prostitution Of various offices of the State:
from the misapplcaton and waste of the resources of
the country; from the appointment of senty and in
capacity; irom vicious preference shown by certain
families 10 their kindred and supporters from the
ruption, extravaganza and Encouragement pervading
Government Departments and from the absence of
foreihought, economy and order in the conduct of
public service. And this respectfully submit TO
Your honorable House to be state of things demand
ing immediate and prompt legislation; lest the people,
tired of endurance and weary of emonstranee, botake
Themselves 10 camOr and whence and thereby rcYOu