The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-11-19
Representative Reform.


our republican example must inevitably change
every desrotic aud monarchieai form Of govern
n,eut la Europe. We have conntsd With great con-
fldence on France becoming Republic, notwith-
standing the frequent disappointments Of that be
nevolent anticipation. aud looked upon England
as inevitably destined TO follow in our wake snd
assume the externsls and insignia as weii as inc
substance o! freedom in very short Time ius'
example 10 producing a marked anu ''.s'ois
effect in both these countries il beyond oouot'
though not precisely in the direction winch n&'
? A..n .r,;c,n.tet In France, our newspapers are
n.rn,i,teI free access Lous Napoleon being Of
n,.lni,, cha, the sooouats with which they TEEN
Of Insecurity TO life and property IN this country
will, disgust the people with Republics, and
mako them content with that form Of government
which secures them In their persons and estates
whilst our political theories may wear an aspect
Of great enehsntment, It In clear that life aud
new are dearer 20 frenchmen, il not to mankind in
general, than the possession Of republican forms
when they seem unable to accomplish the great
ends Of all government. Frenehmen read in Anne
rican papers the horrible crimes and frauds In the
United States which 60 "uuwhipt Of Justice and
the MONDAY butcheries which are rather applaud
ell than punished. and tassht TO associate these
with our experiment at selfgovernmsnt. On the
NDoIo. InOuKu anu iHIo'
they prefer a staunchly built ship Of state with
Louis Napoleon at the helm, to one of the splendid
Republican clippers or steamers, so many of which
have sunk, carrying down vast amounts Of life and
specie.
But the influence of our republican progress
oi"n England 10 which is of more general in
terest in this country That the wise constitutions
Of our fathers and the personal character Of the
men by whom they werc framed gave a strong i'm
pstus to liberal principles abroad cannot be doubt
sd: but cur subsequent reforms" have alarmed
even the radicals OF Great Britain and brought to
q stand-stli those who, in that country, were the
stootest champions of progress The advocates Of
the British Reform Bill of 1882, express dissppon,
nent with the practical workings Of that measure,
one illustration OF which the National IntelligeD-
Ger adduces Ia its Intelligent London cOrrespon-
dent, who has expressed his surprise and regret
that, Though the right of suffrage in Great Britain
has OF late years been greatly extended, the char
aeter Of the personnel in the House of Commons has
seemed to undergo IA marked deterioration in point
OF talent. and respectatilty.
Another striking Sign of the times is found in
the last number Of thc Edinburgh Review the
well known and long established organ of liberal
opinions In Great Britain. The Review acknow-
lodges decided modification of opinions and dam
pening of arlor, brought auaut by the discussions
OF late years, and the experience OF recent cleo
tons. IT moreover says that the opinions Of more
Radical reforrners have alss been considerably mo-
dlhed especially on two points-the ballot and the
principle Of numerical representation. A unlveI-
sal extension q! the franchise Is new looked upon
by this leading exponent of liberal principles as
out of the question. ITO give the franchise to
every admit male" says the Review, ''would be to
NIL the virtual command M the
tati0n In the hands OF the lowest section of the
population. which is necessarily the most hume,
fous." Many Of the English politicians. toe, who
erobahly advocated universal suffrage. have disco
ssrel that they were the wrong seat, and have
taken the back track. Aud what is the cause Of
this remarkable reactionl We give il In the words
of the Review, that staunch and veteran friend OF
the Liberal cause; This revusion Of sentiment
and opinion Is in agreat measure, traceable To the
p@ctacle ot American Democracy. We owe deep
debt of gratitude to tho United States Tor tho
pregnant lessons they have taught us, and the
timely warnings they have given. This change OF
feeling is not confined to the European side OF tn.
Atlantic The real operation Of extreme repuhlL
can institutions 10 far better understood than it
was by the Americans rs well AS by ourselves
They used Ia boast somewhat ohtrusivcly of their
snexampled freedom and tho glorious success of
their great experiment; those tones of triumph
are heard no longer. Our Radicals used to hold
ND the example OF the States, in and out of
season, tor orr admiration and imitation, and
taupt Us with the slow aud tardy steps 18th which
We followed in their noble course Our souls are
~exed with few such pscans and exhortations now.
Late events have shown more clearly than of yore
whether the great Republic of the Vert 10 tend
Ing, and how serious are the dangers which wait
upon the career OF pure and uncontrolled democ-
racy and while the lovers OF trse liberty and gems
civilization there are lamenting the evils which
az cannot now arrest, and perhaps could not
ave prevented the same class of patrio h.re are
Become more than ever anxious tie profit by the
warning before it is too late. few years ago the
substantial, deep-seated long-descended fabric Of
English liberty was in danger from the blind but
honest enthusiasm Of the sincere friends of popu
lar institutions; Hoo, If umb to that peril,
we shall be wrecked with eyes open. The tide
has somewha ebbed and the rock is above water.
Let u. inquire a little more in detail what the
warnings that have come to us across the Allan.
tie are"
The Review then proceeds to notice the fire.
sueIcy Of elections in the United States, the low
sring and in most OF the States, the abolition of
the qualifications formerly demanded of voters.
and the injurious effect Of sHch a purely ariih
metioal democratic suffrage on all departments Of
government and on the press 1t adds:
81 But perhaps the most OMNIBUS indication and
Consequence of the progress of the democratic pir
il in the United States Is traceabIe in the position
If the judicial functionarcs If any officials ought
10 he exempted from too direct popular influence
IL IL these. lfany ongh to be too secure in their
seats aud salaries to tear or court the masses,
whom they have 10 judge and whose disputes they
have 10 decide, it is surely these. The ndepen
al Ran gh hQE n oil m m
been held 10 be the best security both for individ
ual freedom and for evenhanded Justice. The foup
ders of the American Commonwealth were no ex
ceptUns; and by the original form OF the Constitu
ton, all judges, both State and Federal, were ap
pointed by the Executive, for life and at h1ed
salaries All this Is now changed, and the change
has been aisrmingly rapid. In 1885, according TO
Judge Story Grs ont of twenty-five States ei,oted
thelr judges, and elected them only for a term
In 1874 according to Judge Kent, ttOcce States out
Of twenty nine had adopted this principle In 1853
tho judges were elective in ttcthyfre states out of
thirty one, and In tte1ty tDo OF these they ap
pointed FOR short periods only. In three States they
are elected annually. IL most, they are elected by
universal or quasi-uniy.rsal suffrage The judges
OF the Supreme Court OF the United states still
Tremoyablc, and exempt iruul The influence Of pop
ular election"
These views, coming from liberal English Jour
nal, cannot be without interest i'll this country
Most certainly, 1t was never the Intention of the
psmers OF the American government to establish
. democracy government by majority Of voters
ON the contrary, they multiplied bulwarks and
precautions both In the Federal and State Consti
tntions TO prevent such result. The Review 10
perfectly right when it declares that I" the wise
and noble founders Of the American polity foresaw
tie existing idisci-fs and dangers, and starting
as they could hot avoid doing, from the basis of
popular election, they yet endeavored to the ut
host OF their power 10 prevent this principle from
ssSeneratinG into the supremacy Of mere num-
bers." Their ingenious aud subtle precaution,
have been gradually undermined; the self-imposed
letters and limitations, one by one are being Gus,
en- 1t especially behooycs the South to exert