Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-08
The Revolutionary Movement in
GreRt BrItaIn - John DrIght's
Warmlmg. M

The Revolutionary Movement in
GreRt BrItaIn - John DrIght's
al WarnIng.
When John Bright said In his speech at
st. James Hall In London, on Tuesday, that
II Parliament resisted the rights Of the
people, the movement which is now only
an expression of opinion, would become a
great exhibition of power, he spoke tho last
word before the blow That expression
was probably the final warning which the
British aristOcracy will receive from that
influential quarter. The movement OF
which John Bright Is the leader, although,
ostensibly for Parliamentary reform, has
deeper and more signihcant purposes and
in all probability will develop itself into a
total overthrow OF monarchical and aristo-
cratic rule in Great Britain. Occurring at
the time when the people of Ireland are on
the eve Of asserting the right of thatpor-
tiOn Of the British empire 10 an independ-
ent republican government the cause OF
the two peoples becomes in a measure
identical. The same system of landocracy,
the supremacy Of a church established by
law, aud misrepresentation In Parliament
which inspires one movement gives
strength, to the other. The, reform
question in England is not a new one,
Fenianism in Ireland Is not the growth OF
to-day. 1t has lived and grown for Gems
turies from the sapling TO the towering tree
whose roots arc In the soil Of Ireland but
whose branches are spread over every land,
from Australia to the iurthermost point of
British North America. 1t has but assum-
ed new shape in our time, and taken the
form OF a military organization, which
owes Its power In great measure to our
recent war, where It's leaders were trained
on the field, fighting for republican instl-
tutions in America. The cOntaglon Of re-
publicanism, If we may call 1t SO, has been
spreading for years to Ireland by agencies
which it is unnecessary to recall to mind.
The interchange of thought; the stories of
prosperity acquired under system of self
government like ours; the vindication OF
free manhood brought out under thatsys-
tem-all these Influences have been at work
In Great Britain and all oyer Europe In
asmuch as the seeds have evidently not
fallen upon rock, we cannot be surprised
tosee the plants growing flourlshingly and
the fruit ripening. \, u. ..fi,, I'D, o,..i.,lf
The reform movement means something
more than the redress of afew grievances or
the accomplishment OF universal suffrage,
There is general discomfort underlying
the agitation which has already assumed a
most menacing character and may involve
the whole aristocracy in ruin, If that class
persists 10 its stiff. necked opposition TO the
popular will. John Bright's language at the
London meeting was a threat, and that, too,
backed by the whole masses OF the English
people and echoed by the murmurs of in
cipient insurrection in Ireland. 1t can
hardly be supposed that while the Fenians
are demanding ganindependent Irish repub-
lie they would object to a united republic
of Great Britain and ireland, because
the evils of which they mplain-name-
ly, the ascendaRcy Of the aristocratlc land
owners, the Established Church, which has
to be supported by a people who reject its
doctrines, and the supremacy of the British
crown, to which they have never vOlun-
tafily submitted-would all be removed If
the revolutionary reform movement in
England were to culminate in the over
throw of monarchical power. In view Of
these facts we can hardly separate the in-
terests of Bright's agitation and the Fenian
movement in Ireland. There is a joint
signi6cancy in them which cannot be mis-
taken. The American flag, carried by
Bright's reformers at the great procession
on Monday, was the type of republican
ism; the music of the wearing of the
Green" to which they marched was the
representative OF the Fenian sentiment In
the gathering. We take all these signs and
demonstrations to mean that there is, dan
ger to aristocratic rule IN Great Britain in
John Bright's warning.-N. Y. Herald.