The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-23
The Revolution In British POllcy-A Starting
Point for the New Era In Europe.

The recent debate in the British Parliament,
and its result in the overthrow of the Derby
Ministry is the most important tina has occu red
in that representative body during the last hun
dred years. 1t proves that a complete revolu-
ton has taken place in the foreign and do aes
policy of tn English government, an thai tte
old tory party has gone to that bourne from
which there is no return.
That party was organized and shapel in its
last active phase by George the Third, as the
great antagonist of the new principles which
sprapg out of our own and the first French re
volution. Clinging to ideas and system that
belonged to an epoch two hundred ears before
his own times, he endeavored to restore forms
which Europe was already beginning TO consider
as incompatible with the intelligence of the age
and the rights Of man. Under his obstinate
direction the tory party of England became the
great begetter and leader of the coalitions
against the first Napoleon, who was looked upon
as the great innovstor-as, in fact, the tesla
mentary executor of the French revolution.
But the ideas and principles against which the
English tories fought had begun their work long
before the times of George the Third. The Refor-
nation was a political more than religious
movement, and it aIrayed the northern nations
of Europe-England, Holland, Sweden, Norway.
Denmark and northern Germany-against the
southern or Catholic nations of France, Spain,
and Italy. For two centuries these hammered each
other with varying success, carrying forward
always, however, the progressive and regenerat.
ing ideas AT last they took hold, in modified
form, of the Catholic nations themselves, and
France, Spain and Italy became the centres Of
their agitation. The press born almost with the
Reformation, grew with and fastened it onward
This awakened the dynastic fears of George the
Third, and shook the foundations of the priv.
legged classes to such degree that they rallied
in opposition, and for time seemed to hold the
political ameloration of the world in check
For a long time they prevented the represen-
tative men among their antagonists from climb
ing to the pinnacles of power; but, one by one
scattered here and there, at fretful intervals
they rose, till at last the tories themselves have
combatted. Lord Derby brings in reform bill
to Parliament, and Mr.. Disraeli, in his last
speech, kicks himself and party clear of the old
tory traces He boldly announces that reform
is not question belonging exclusively to the
liberals, claims for himself and friends the right
the past, and acknowledges that the area of Sc
lection for the public service must be enlarged
He does more than this, for he proves that the
present tory party of England is not fedora.
ton of great families, and that under the ad-
ministration Of Lord Derby ability in every
quarter was recognized and admitted to official
position. Such has not been the practice of that
close corporation, the wing clique in England;
but it looks at the present moment as though
those lip liberals Palmerston, Russell Co,
have learnt wisdom in adversely, and consented
to admit the true liberals to ssat on the gov
eminent benches with themselves.
This revolution in parties will have an i'm
portant influence on the affairs of England and
of the whole Of Europe. The vast weight of
British influence will 60 no more to impede re-
form, but will be thrown on the side of moderate
and healthy progress Instead of opposing the
testamentary execution of the French revOlu-
ton, she will now side with France in
that work. Taking Louis Napoleon at his word,
she will hold him to his promise not to extend
the present war beyond the limits of Italy
Prussia will receive new courage and strength in
her opposition to the retograde ideas of Austria
and southern Germany, and should any one of
them endeavor to stop her influence in the march
of progress, she will be able to lay heavy hand
upon them. Austria, which cannot claim to be
a nation, but which has grown up, like vast fun.
gus, over several nationalities must give up her
designs on Italy, shrink away from her pernicious
advances in Germany, and restore to the other
components of her empire their robbed nation
atty, unless, indeed, she too admits the princi-
pies Of REFORM and essays reconstruction in &C
cordance with them.
All of this, and much more is involved in the
recent debate in the British Parliament and in
the fact that the British nation unanimously and
without distinction Of party, refuses to restore
the old tory policy Of George the Third, and
disclaims any sympathy with it. Time will be
required to develope all the results of this mo-
mentous step, but not by any means in such
long periods as have marked the changes
in the past One of the greatest, if not the great.
est instrument in producing this revolution is
the press. This mighty lever in society has gone
on increasing in power much faster than has the
process of decay in the old influences on men.
Not only has it seized on the best physical and
mental energies of man, but the mechanic arts
themselves have come to help it to penetrate all
classes OF society. The rapid railroad and the
electric telegraph enable it to give order and
unity Of action to the intellectual operations OF
society, and rulers and statesmen everywhere
confess that public opinion has become power
that can neither be ignored nor avoided. This