The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-12

and it is evident, therefore, that, to the we'll
being Of the State, the balance must be pre-
served; that but q certain amount of individual
liberty is possible, and that the realization of
the idea in this country con never lead to that
millennium of peace, prosperity, and progress,
the hopes of which so fondly cherished.
1t may well be doubted, therefore, whether
the wel-bcing Of England, even as to her lower
classes, is to be advanced by an extension Of
the elective franchise. That tends slowly, per-
haps, but surely, to the subversion Of existing
orders in that State 1t puts power in the
hands Of men who cannot full to use it. They
cannot ultimately spare orders and institutions
which are in the way; the achievement of the
one so-called reform is but the precursor of
another; with each they acquire thepower more
imperiously to demand it. Already, at each sue
ccssive surge, the Ministry has fallen; it will
surely fall now in the track of the present
movement. When another comes with still more
radical demands, another Ministry will as surely
fall before that Villanage has ceased. The
Commons class has bridged the chasm between
the peasant and the peer; hereditary power
already totters from repeated blows; reforms
but widen to democracy; democracy TO suhver-
sion of all forms of law restrictive Of volition;
and so it. is, therefore, that this movement in
England, which is commendable in process, may
be fatal in result; that while it widens lib
erty it encroaches upon the government, that
while it advances q part, it breaks the whole,
and that the people to be blessed will come to
their estate in the ruins of a system in con-
| Sic ,,bS oil, -, had a. -
enjoyed.
Perhaps it is not to be averted. In the na-
ture of things, perhaps, there is q necessary
tendency of the masses, unchecked by dcspot-
ism, to encroach upon the organic structure of
the State, and ultimately to put it under. Such
tendency has been exhibited for many years
in English history; it exists here; it existed in
Greece and Rome; in all countries in fact,
where there have been developed constitutions.
When met by despotism it does not become
apparent, but when States to any extent nre
representative, representation naturally widens;
with all the earlier steps there is progress and
improvement; the State requires, at every move,
the greater forces of individual intellect and
character; but US momentum is acquired ms the
tion sinks it to the more and more Of lower ele-
ments it takes the prejudices and passions, and
ultimately the interests, of lower strata. Gov
ernment comes from the heels rather than the
head Of the society, and the necessary result of
such process indefinitely continued is kakis-
tocracy conferred. Nor once started, is it appar-
ent where it may be stopped. The intelligence of
the higher Glasses gives no limits, for they be-
come superseded. The instincts of the lower
classes gives no limits, for it is not to be sup
posed they can be perceptive of the evil. The
system cannot right itself 1t is possible, there
fore, that England can of herself offer ef-
fectual resistance TO the progress of this disor-
der, and must ultimately become the victim.
But the subsection of that great State to such a
fate is hardly sufficient to inspire us with feel
ings of lively satisfaction, and juster feeling,
therefore, would oppose further progress to
such questionable ends