The New York herald., 1866-07-10
Political Condition OF England.

Political Condition OF England.
The disturbance caused in Europe by the
three States actually at war seems to be elec-
trical. Or, perhaps, 1t would be better to say,
that there is general and simultaneous cause
Of disturbance in the Old World, and that this
outbreak Of war with Austria, Prussia and
Italy is the first and natural development Of a
revolutionary upheavaL England, oonserva-
tive and cautious England, as well as the con-
tlncnt, feels the universal movement The Rus
sell ministry was forced by popular sentimen'
to take up the question of Parliamentary re-
form. The progress OF ideas and the spirit Of
the age had penetrated The working classes Of
England, and stimulated them to demand the
suffrage from which they are excluded. The
ministry took up the question under this pres
sure, TO prevent disturbances or revolutionary
movement but with the natural conservative
instinct which governs all parties in power
there, resolved to concede as little as possible
to the masses of the people. Hence oil the fuss
and noise we have heard about twenty-pound,
ten-pound and six-pound suffrage, and about
a suffrage based on rental or taxation. There
was no earnest wish to popularize the constitu-
encies, or to enlarge the democratic element OF
government in England. The question was
one simply Of expedency, and to be avoided
if possible. Earl Russell and his col
leagues, except perhaps, Mr.. Gladstone,
had no heart in it, consequently they fritterei
away their power and the whole question by
hair-splittng and cumbrous details. II became
impossible for this ministry to carry any mea-
sure of reform. The bill was defeated on a
vote in the House of Commons, and thereupon
the ministry resigned. The Queen finally ac-
cepted the resignation Of the Russell ministry
anxi usly awaiting the formation of new
one
No party, however, has positively declared
against reform. Neither Earl Derby. the leader
of the opposition, nor any Of his party, have
ventured to take such bold ground in defiance
of public sentiment The opposition has de-
teated the Russell ministry, first, because 1t
wanted the Offices, and next, because that min
istry had lost the sympathy Of the people
through its weak and temporizng course.
Should Earl Derby como into power, as he pro-
badly will, either with coalition ministry, or
one m ,de up purely from his own conservative
party, he may try to evade the question Of re-
form, but he will not be able to do so long.
He will either have to ignore his old tory prin-
ciples, and, like Sir Robert Peel with the Corn
laws, propose the very measure he has been
opposing, or his term Of Office will be short
The condition Of England is somowha. like
that o. France in 1877, when the liberal ideas
Of that country and Of Europe began to act
upon tho government of Louis XVI The
elements Of the kingdom, were arrayed against
the progressive ideas Of the age. The conflict was
intense; one ministry succeeded another rapidly;
but all were imbued with the spirit OF the past
None realized the extraordinary revolution
that had taken place in mems minds and that
was spreading at tho greatest rate. The King,
his court, and the old aristocracy thought they
could arrest the progress Of popular ideas by
resistance, or by such small concessions as
were altogether inadequate to the views and
expectations Of the people. They made fatal
mistake. After several changes OF ministry
and few years Of hopeless conflict, the mighty
revolution came like an avalanche and buried
both the monarchy and aristocracy in ruins.
The English monarchy and aristocracy are more
cautious and sagacious, and have the benefit OF
these historical facts to warn them against
danger. Tho people Of England, too, are not
SO impulsive as the French and are slower to
move. But excessive conservatism sapt to be
blind, and the privileged classes Of England
may resist popular rights too long and too per-
sistently. The revolutionary spirit Is abroad
1t is now upheaving society all over the conti-
nent; universal suffrage and popular rights are
the elements Of progress throughout the world.
England cannot escape the movement We
may expect to see great agitations and changes
Of government in that country. 1t viii depend
upon the wisdom and foresight Of her states
men as TO what may be her fate-whether shc
will pass through peaceful political changes,
agreeable to the demands Of the people and
the spirit Of the age or be involved in violent
revolutions, as France was The present, un-
doubtedly, isa critical period in her history.
A FUNNY REroRr-BoRNo ron Ou--A re-
port has been presented 10 tho Common Coun-