The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-13

nally failed in oil the duties of his high Office.
Mr.. Lincoln has through four years, more
over, been President of the United States-or
such is the theory upon which be wages
war. He does not admit that the Southern
States have ceased to be part of the Union.
He claims that they are integral parts of this
Union, and the war he carries on is to put
down instruction. But, though President Of
the United States, he has been bad one an
entirely incapable one "a President who has
misdrected the operations Of every depart
ment of the government, and prolonged this
war to the infinite loss of the country, in men
and money.
The Political and Social Condition Of
England. ef
England is upon the eve Of recurrence Of
such events as brought about the downfall and
rule of Cromwell. Imbued with ideas which
must be styled despo!ic, Charles governed the
people of England as he saw those of France
and Spain ruled The King called no Parlia-
ment for eleven years. He was absolute. His
lords arrogated to themselves rights which
menaced those Of the people, and the result
was that the Scotch-cvcr sturdy and obstinate
where their prejudices or privileges are con-
cerned-rebelled, a war ensued, and the King
was forced to call Parliament. 1t lasted but
few months, being tyrannically dissolved by
order of the King. Six months later Charles
was forced to call together the Parliament
famous in history as the Long Parliament.
I,,o 10 xhot
should not be dissolved save by its own con-
sent, and then it proceeded to divest Charles
of much of his power. The members of this
legislative assembly were not all lords; they
were landowners, squires-men ayerse to the
grasping and ambitious propensities of the
nobilisy-and they went even beyond the
limits Of the constitution In order to save it.
The teachings Of these men resulted in the
still more daring act of setting asidea dynasty
in 1888, that the constitution might be saved.
These things took place because the people
Of England were determined that the nobility
should not rule absolutely; that all power
should not be vested in the few. Cromwell,
who was powerful ruler, made the mistake
Of going from one extreme to the other. Hence
his puritanical government became offensive,
and paved the way for the restoration Of
Charles the Second and the subsequent
of power by the aristocracy.
Their laws Of entail in the course or
time centred in the possession Of few
the landed interest, and the yeomanry, the
squires, the men of small properties, were
gradually set aside, until, at the present day
some forty-three thousand landowners have
In their possession that which, in 1858, was in
the hands of six hundred thousand. Thus we
find the same state Of affairs recurring-the
power in the hands Of the few, to the detri-
ment Of the rights and liberties Of the masses.
40 Lrfure, the people are fully alive to this;
and as since the days Of Cromwell the intelli-
gence Of the people has vastly increased, it isa
natural result that they should rebel against
state Of affairs inimical to their interests, and
seek, by force il necessary, to obtain redress.
In this wise has the reform movement taken
its start. For the purpose Of redressing the
wrongs of the people is a more extended fran
chise demanded by their advocates, Bright,
and lastly Gladstone, q member OF the Queens
Cabinet, and one Of the most able and inluen-
tai men in England.
The people Of England are now arrayed
against usurping aristocracy, which would
keep them down if possible. It is easy to see,
however, that nought save despotic govern
ment could accomplish this; and at the
present day such government is not pos
sible in England. The aris.ocracy may
strive and struggle for while against
the increasing power of the people; but they
will have to succumb to it at last, and grant
those reforms which the masses demand. Led
by such men as Gladstone and Bright the
people of England are all powerful and the
government, to preserve semblance Of au-
thority, must give way to the pressure OF the
masses If not revolution will take place,
and those opposing it be crushed. The fact
that in the hands of a few noble families are
the lands and the government of England is one
patent to the people, whom these aristocrats
seek to ignore; and they prove by their agta-
tons and reform meetings that such a state OF
affairs cannot last Reforms must be granted,
the rights Of the people secured by an extended
franchise, or the destruction of those who stand
between the people and their prosperity and ad-
vancement must ensue. In that position do we
find the kingdom of Great Britain at this day.
If Queen Victoria and her lords do not, under
similar circumstances, display more intelligence
than did Charles the First and his followers,
the parallel may be carried out still further by
the irritated people. 1t is the knowledge Of
this dangerous state Of affairs doubtless, which
has caused England to become so supine in her
relations towards Europe The government
should grant reforms, please the people, and
become once more powerful. 1t might then,
as Of yore, bully the nations which now treat
Old England as though her day OF rule had
gone by.