The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-23
The Coming Revolution in England.

The Coming Revolution ia England.
1t does not require much sagacity to enable
one to appreciate the fact that England is on
the eve of great political convulsion. There
Is no installing the gravity OF such speeches
as those delivered by John Bright at Manches-
ter and Leeds. The first was warning, the
second is declaration of war. From the day
Of the delivery of the latter dates the. CON-
mencement OF struggle which has had no
parallel in English history since that in which
Charles the First expiated his crimes against
his people on the scaffold.
When we look at the character Of the men
who commenced this conflict, and the direct
influence of their teachings on the masses, we
cannot doubt Its seriousness. II originated Ia
no motives of political selfshness, and has
found no support from party influences. 1t is
a movement purely of the masses. conducted by
leaders whose characters and conduct are
above suspicion. Golden was the first to give
impulse to it by the enunciation and partial
demonstration Of the principles which consd-
tute sound popular government. He died in
the effort to perfect the great work to which
progress. His colaborer, John Bright, took
up the task where he left it, and is conducting
it to noble contamination. Golden and
Bright may he styled the Gracchi of modern
English history. What Tiberius Gracious ac-
complished in the Improvement of the condi-
ton of the lower orders and in the renewal of
the Agrarian law Golden equally aimed at.
The shortening of the hours OF labor among
factory operatives and the repeal Of the
corn laws were among the principal fruits Of
his lab0rs. Like the younger Gracious, John
Bright has struggled to carry out and enlarge
upon the work of his brother reformer. The
extension of the franchise to all capable of
exercising it has been, as with the Roman
tribune, one Of the grand objects of his exer-
tons, and in his efforts to accomplish 1t he
bids fair to excite against himself the same
degree Of personal animosity that cost the
younger Gracious his life.
No English reformer before Bright has ever
vcntured to proceed to the lengths that he did
in his recent speech at Leeds. He goes back
eight hundred years to assail the foundation Of
English arstocracy, and satirically asks what
the English mobiles have ever done to entitle
them to distinction, except indeed it be {. their
coming in with William the Copqueror" He
then proceeds to demand why a class like this
should be allowed to denyto the people their
natural rights-rights confirmed by the consti-
tuition. and which have popular representation
as their basis. There is no mistaking the effect
Of such language 1t speaks trumpet tongued
to the hearts of a population ground down by
taxation and reduced to condition bordering
on pauperism. 1t was words Of such import,
spoken by demagogues like Mirabeau and
Dantop, that drove the French into the vortex
Of the first revolution; Uttered in our 9ycs
day, by man whose aniecedenis are unsul-
lied and whose patriotism is beyond question,
it is not the less pregnant with terrible sig
pifcance. .~
We have been among the few who have long
foreseen this elimination Of the political diff
culties of England. We have constantly
warned the British aristocracy that the selfish
ness and arrogance of their foreign policy
would 80 weaken them at home that it would
one day or other place them at the mercy of
the popular leaders The time has arrived
when this prediction seems about TO be ver-
fed. The patience of the masses has become
exhausted, and there ID no longer any faith in
the palliations which wings and tories alike
relied upon to stay political agitation Tue
ruling classes in England will now have to
meet fairly and squarely the demands OF the
masses. All side issues, whether of church re-
form, Fenianism or colonial defence, will be
absorbed in this one great question Of
manhood suffrage. Let them struggle against
IL as they will they cannot conceal from them
selves the conviction that events are precipi-
tating them into great revolution. Whether
1t Ia to be peaceful or sanguinary one viii
depend on their good sense and not on their
power Of resistance.
GOVERNOR SEYMOUR AND THE DEMOCRACY.