Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-20
GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED
STATES.-THET TWO SYSTEMS.

/ The recent sudden and unexpected change
in the British ministry, illustrates the mode in
which political changes are brought about in
that country, and the difference between that
| government and our own. afa
| Here no political change can be effected in
the administration, except at stated periods of
four years, no matter how unpopular that sd-
ministration may be, or how little confidence
the people have in il, and even then only
through great exertions, large expenditures Of
money, the scattering broadcast over the whole
Union Of documents and speeches, lies and
lampoons, and the enlisting Of armies Of
"stump-spealScrs" and perapatetic orators fred
with patriotism, trimful of birthstone, and sur
charged with virtuous indignation, whose spe-
cial and disinterested duty it is to enlighten
81 the most enlightened people on earth" in re-
gard to public affairs--all Of which has been
and ninety four times (the number Of Senators
and Representatives in Congress) every year
for four years at least--and to inform the peo-
pie that they are now passing through "a
great crisis-perhaps the most important
that ever arose in this Republic, and that fthey
would preserve and perpetuate the sacred le-
gacy Of liberty which their fathers LEFT them,
they must bcstir themselves, put on their ar
NOR, take the field, perform wonders, and
pote right"
Well, after two OF three great national con-
ventions have been held, ms many Platforms"
manufactured which are TO o, erride the consti.
tuition, the presidential candidates have all
been nominated and placed on their respective
platforms, (" and some Of them have even dis
appeared in IL; and after the respective armies
Of "stump orators" have perambulated the
country like wandering Jews, and stirred up
the people TO fever-beat by infusing into their
bosoms their own patriotic fervor, ard after
tons Of paper and hogsheads ofink have been
expended to enlighten, as VIC said, "this most
wonderfully enlightened people," then comes
the voting, which finishes the battle. And,
then, perhaps, there has been cbange Of men
and a change Of policy effected, perhaps not
rather oftener not.
Thisis the way do things; now let us see
how they are done in England; how they were
lately done there An administration, or, MS
they call II, the Ministry, conduct the govern
ment and are responiblct to the country, or the
country's representatives, the House Of Com
mons. If they adopt any measure which the
majority Of the House Of Commons disapprove,
IL an important and ministerial one, or IL they
fail in the opinion Of majority Of that body
to maintain and uphold the honor, interests,
and dignity Of the nation, either in war or
peace, and the House of Commons so expresses
its judgment Of Ministers, the latter at once
resign their official stations, and allow the So
vcreign TO send for some person, usually the
great leader Of the party that found itselfin
majority in the House, and he.is requested 70
form new Ministry, of which he, Of course, is
| 10 be premier, or the head. - assas y st,l
All this may be effected, and often is, With
out dozen speeches being made; certainly
with less than sthousandth part Of the oratory
chat has been called forth by the Kansas qoes.
ton, without any corresponding result -
Now, we presume that no man, no citizen Of
this country, will deny that our system Of do
ing things is vastly the best because things
are more permanent and stable here. The
! - Nou~ro.a ,,.o.r lotl< 49,. lox,n,, al