The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-17
yhe Britain Electlons.

She British Electisns.
The borough elections are over In England,
and Lord Palmerston is stronger by many votes;
the county elections have begun, and the tenden-
cy Of public opinion Is still in bis favor. The
news-to which we alluded in our last number
that the Emperor of China had ordered Yeh to
make peace, had endeavored to escape respond
bility for tie fighting at Canton, and had sought
to make the Governor and the other officials of
that province the scapegoats In the matter,
seems to be credited In many quarters in EGG
land and had doubtless exercised Its due effect
on the popular mind. Even the Chinese, say
some of the papers, are electioneering for the 60
vernment-
At any rate, it Is likely that Lord Palmers-
ton will open Parliament In May with MAORI
ty such as no Prime Minister has commanded
since the iron rule Of the Regency. Ninety was
the majority with which Sir Robert Peel COM
meroed public life; and this was thought enor-
nous; Lord Palmerston may have clear over
plus OF hundred and more.
At the same time, it must not be assumed that
the new Parliament Is likely TO share the un-
doubleday conservative tendencies OF the Prime
Minister. Nor must any inference be drawn
from the defeat of Golden, Bright and Gibson
except that they have become obsolete and; like
the various sets Of leaders Of the French revolu-
ton, have been overwhelmed and left behind by
the revolutionary tide on whose crest they once
rode. The new Parliament we are satisfied, will
be one Of the most revolutionary of the century
and will not improbably recall "Reminiscences Of
some of the famous old Pariiaments whose glo-
mcnt of America
A man who has watched British politics for
twenty-five or thirty years, can hardly believe
his eyes when he reads the newspapers and the
pamphlets and the books and the periodicals that
were Published during the reigus of Canning
and Castlereagh. Centuries divide that benight-
ed period from our own. The menarchs Of Aus
tia and Russia are not more despotic than the
English Of that day, while the modern English
man is democrat differing but little practi
cally from the average citizen Of The United
States. Public opinion has tfaversed millen-
niL gulf In the space Of generation. So far
as opinions are concerned, with the occasional
exception Of puff Of the aristocracy, or sheer
ut the slower classes' the Tines, which makes
public opinion In England, might almost be pub
lished In the United States And every day the
analogy Is growing closer.
Under this pressure, the British mind
has been gradually growing more demo-
cratic for tie last quarter Of o century and
the old party lines and party names have been
growing less and les accurate delneations of
the politicians who bear them. This election
forcibly illustrates thia The radicals have
issued addresses, which, while calling for
various inpracticable reforms present no new or
progressive feature, but harp, In the most tho
roughly conservative fashion, upon the old
weather beaten string. The government and
Lord Pslmcrston, are as cautious and non.com-
initial ~ possible; bat The supporters OF the 60
vernmcnt took occasion 10 advocate, each la his
own way, scmc new democratic measure. The
most progressive Of all partiee, however, judged
by their addresses, were the conservatives, who
really eeem 10 have changed places with the
radicals. Sir Henry Bulwer talks like q very
cbartst abvut the ballot, and universal suffrage;
and even Disrsoli IL ready TO extend education
and political rights 70 an exteut which, twenty
Eve years ego, would have hor-i6ed Henry
Brouehsm and Earl Grey. Other members of
the party, young Lord Stanley for instance, and
In general the sons Of the nobility, adopt equally
advanced views Finding conservatism OF the
old kind hopeless, and there being no good places
for them among he wings or liberals these young
politicians have acted wisely and, stepping oser
the liberal camp, have advanced 10 the other ex-
trcme and dispIaced Golden and Bright Tue
refo, mers Of this stamp who have been returned
10 Parliament are quite numerous They with
found on the day they are needed.
There have been two Parliamentary revOiu.
tions In England this century. The ars; was the
Reform act, or extension Of the franchise Which
wac accomplished under William w.: Lord Joho
Russell is almost the only surviving great leader
Of thai movement, who is still in active Life; he
has barely retained his seat Ia Parliament; his
power IL goUe. The second was the repeal Of
the corn laws, Of which the principal author was
Richard Golden; be has lost bis seat The third
lev oiu,lon viii be blow Ut the privileges Of the
uls,cuscy; II win be achieved, probably BY the
pressns Parliament; lis chiefs are not JET known.