Boise news. (Bannock City, I.T. [Idaho City, Idaho]) 1863-1864, 1863-11-10
J. A. POINDEXTER.

anu lSllOW CItlZ9n,
J. A. POINDEXTER.
.sThe Social Condition of the English
People,
The Harpers have just published very re-
markahle book with this title. 1t is not only
remarkable. but its appearance is most time
y. For at a time when our whole system is
undergoing the most fiery trial, and when.
consequently, many a man is inclined to look
elsewhere, and especially to England, as to a
sure and steadfast form of society, whoever
shows that England has reached her present
condition, which seems to him so enviable,
through the stern manipulation of civil war,
helps the doubtful and timid to iuster iudg-
ment. But whoever shows that the present
condition of England, which seems SO envia-
BILE specifically, is but a veneer of prosperity
over the most radical ignorance, vice and dis
content, teaches the hesitating mind that,
with all its faults, our own system is rooted in
the only philosophy from which enduring IA
tional peace can spring.
The gentleman who, after large personal
observation in England, ard much cogent re-
Election, has edited this English book, has
therefore performed great public service.
His preface, which is brief and pointed, in
forms us that he abandoned his project of an
original work upon the practical working Of
the British internal policy for the last twenty
years, because the present embittered feeling
between the two countries would inevitably
expose such work to the charge and suspi-
cion of prejudice. He has, therefore, select
ed an English work, published in the year
1850, by Joseph Kay, who was commissioned
by the British University of Cambridge to in
vestigate the comparative social condition of
the poorer classes in the countries Of western
Europe, and from this work he has caused to
be reprinted the chapters that describe the
social condition of England. He says "No
stone has been left unturned by the ruling
classes OF England, duling the last two years,
to degrade the people of America il the esti-
nation of European populations and to Sc
cure the failure of our form of representative
Government. have an object in reprinting
Mir. Hays chapters. | believe he describes |
the results of form of government directly
opposed to the principles of cur own.
hope these results will iIluce my countrymen
to, value our institutions, and persuade all
men among US to perform their part in sus-
tanning them in their integrity, until the IA
vorable moment arrives for such changes as
it may be desirable to make"
The astounding facts follow. Mr.. Kay,
from personal research, and from all the au-
thentic official statements, lays bare the hide
Gus and appalling truth of English society.
In that England which seems to so many
and impatient Americans enviable
and splendid, one person out of every eight
was pauper in 1913; and, as the American
editor informs us, in 1861, before the cotton
famine began, and with no war on their
hands, England's and Ireland's paupers had
about five per cent yearly since
1851 with three millions more population,
less land was under cultivation than in 1851,
and one-third of her people were fed from
foreign sources. The details of the facts are
tragical The problem they offer seems al
most hopeless. But they explain the uni
versa British jealousy of our success and its
naughty delight in the prospect of our ruin.
For if once our system should be proved to
be as flexible and strong as it is humane and
alluring, and it will be so proved by our sue
cess in defeating the rebellion. the condition
Of England will be as desperate as 1t is al
ready tragical. No wonder that John Bull
looses pirates against our commerce, and
sends iron ships to threaten our coasts. No
wonder that his rage and fear rend his mask
of neutrality. No wonder his chief journal
darkens the air with falsehood at home, and
sends a tool to sharpen ISLANDERS from this
country. He must man every battery foul
and fair. His trial hour has come like a thief
in the night. His fate hangs upon tribunal
in which he cannot bride the judges. The
American Government fights the battle of
liberty and equal rights for every people. 1t
is knowledge of that fact which inspires hope
in the laboring class, and hate in the govern
ing class of England This remarkable book
shows exactly why England may readily
choose open war with us, rather than consent
to our triumph. It is because, in the last
words of MIR. Kay's book, and the climax of
his terrible summary: "The poor of Eng
land are mors depressed, more pauperized,
mere numerous, in comparison with the other
classes, more irreligious, and very much worse
thaa the poor of any other Euro /,
pean nation, solely excepting Russia, Turkey.