New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-10
BFYOLUTION AND REFORM.

REVOL UTION AND REFORM.
The dimensions to which the Reform movement in
England is growing cannot fail to arrest attention on
this side of the Atlantic and the progress OF the
widespread and daily intensifyng agitation VIII DC
watched with deep and sympathetic interest Dy all
Americans loyal to the principles of human freedom
and politcaequaty There is portion of the Anerl-
can press, however from which we can hardly expect
any sign tending to encourage the English people IN
their present struggle for equal rights They WHO ue'
Tended negro slavery to the utmost Of their aniity'
and to the last moment of its existence In America
and who are doing all in their power to prevent our
freedmen from obtaining possession OF the complement
of their personal liberties cannot be expected to nave
either good wish good word for cause such as that
which is now engaging the energies of the Rei@mers
of the old country; while there are some who hodng
to sort Of bastard conservatism, seem to consider
that they are bound in consistency to bette as much
as they can the significance Of the Reform move
ment, and to express grave doubts OF It's
success Thus, we are told that John Bright is ruin
ing the cause be has taken in handhat his speeches
arc too ntemperate-that his denunciations Of OPP
preston are too v0lent-that the measures be pro-
poses are too sweepiugtha his proceedings are alto
tether too revolutionary All this is but the echo OF
the oburgatons of the Tory press of England against
the great popular leader-the stale reproduction, IN
deed Of the sentiments which in substance reaction
lists in all ages held respecting men laborng to ac-
compsh great reforms in the interests Of liberty and
human happiness. But such sentiments carry no
weight with them and are powerless to resist the on
&c tho Tbarp orpQ conceivable
dtons Of society under which Of zeal in the
cause of Reform might defeat the purposes is in
tended to serve; but there are periods when what
trimmers would call violence is the only means OF
ensuring success In the case under consideration,
we are persuaded that it is only by striking hard and
heavy blows that the end in view can be gained.
But we are told that there is little hope for the ul
innate success Of the movement owing TO the mortal
aversion of the English people TO anything revolution
airy in character. They have "a horror of revolu-
tion it is asserted, by the unympathetc prophets in
question. 1t is quite new light to US on the
national character to be told that rather
than disturb the existing order Of things the
English people are willing to submit to oppression
and wrong. We admit that the English are diff
ficult to be moved to decisive action in where
IdulCd CuhIEth hIt lhfNiNfh hHA hfNAN' ." AAi'''t
hastily into violent extremes; nor do we deny that
the temper of the national mind is more conservative
than radicals but We have yet TO be convinced
that the English have "a horror Of revolution
The fact If, Revolution plays no inconsderablo figure
in their history What, we ask, gave them
the liberties they at present enjoy and which dstn-
guish them so notably from the Kingrdden peoples
Of continental Europei Why, Revolution. What was
the movement that brought Charles the First 70 the
block Most assuredy revolutionary one. What was
the abdication and flight from England Of james H.
and the final overthrow Of the Stuart dynasty
revolution. And what the character Of the move
ment that wrung from an unwilling olifarchy
the Reform Bill Of 1897 Decidedly revolution
ary. IL is a common remark, are aware. thai
the Anglo Saxon race is anti-reyoutonary by nature
And yet the history Of the presents many noble
struggle, fought ont to " the bitter end" for liberty
and right Indeed we doubt whether there is any
race more revolutionary by nature than another
Revolution is a law of human society. 1t is the in.
eytable struggle of right against might. II Is the
expression of the infinite and irrepressible yeaning
of man after perfect freedom and complete political
equality. When the millennium, for which human
nature looks and longs, shall have arrived, there will
be no reyolutions;-but not before.
Small consolation, then. may reactionsts draw from
the argument-if argument it may be called-that the
English have ucb horror Of revolution that theprob
abilities are all against the success Of the present
movement in favor Of equal rights; and smaller still
from the alleged lack Of sympathy with the movement
on the part of the middle classes in England. Tie
great Reform banquet lately given in Manchester to
tho liberal members Of Parliament furnishes a direct
contradiction 10 the assertion, that this agitation is
regarded with cold Indifference, if not positive disap
prevail by the great English middle class. And the
remarks addressed to the class by Mr. Bright in his
speech on that occasion show that they have vital
interest in the issues at stake in this question.
More than this:-eyen if unfHendly, they could no
more resist the mighty advancing tide than can
the stold and logged Tories. II is earnestly to be
hoped that the necessity will not arise for giving effect
to the threat held out by Mr.. Bright in his recent
London speech but he must be altogether blind to
the signs of the times, wofully ignorant of the
teachings of history who fails TO see in the present
temper of the masses in England the strongest pos
sbe indications Of coming radical change in the po
lcal condition Of that country whose direct and in
evitable effect will be to destroy root and branch,
the pernicious system of class legislation which has
for so long a period disturbed the harmony and
detracted from the excellence Of British institutions.
LEGS. ARMS AND MONUMENTS.
MI =. a. IL "a, tha