New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-14
INVOKING THE CONSTITUTION

The great Reform demonstration at Birmingham
has created no little alarm among the Tories; and Tor
good and sufficient reasons With clearer vision
and better appreciation of the situation, than The
yer York Timss--who tells US that revolution in
England is moral impossibility-the English Tory
press is evidently soely dsquieted at the threatening
aspect Of affairs, and earnestly depreca'e' tne Ss"a
tom for impartial suffrage which has just been
inaugurated in the old country, as OF mani
testify revolutionary tendency. aud therefore
according to the ideas of the reactionary
party, at leas-dsngerous to the best interests OF
society. The Tories are accordingly urged to buckle
on their armor for the fight before them, to meet
agitation with agitation to take their stand upon the
Constitution and to make their appeal to the people,
urging upon them the sacred duty of ranying in
support of the time.honored institutions of the
country We have just been reading one journal
Of no mean repute that makes an almost frantic
appeal in this strain to the Constitutionalists:
"wl you still be apathetic ~ il asks. "Will you
still do nothing, either by press or PLATFORM to save
the country Will you still refuse to confront agta-
ton with agitationi VIII you insanely imagine,
with the courters Of Canute that the rising tide oil
rebellion can be checked and controlled by a smile of
IL
not long endure. If so, Republcanism of the worst
type will shortly replace o constitutional govern
ment" All very fine this; but it strikes US forcbly
that such mode of dealing with vitality important
question IL but resort to the old device which in
Justice and oppression have ever employed to hinder
the cause of truth and right Mr.. Bright and the
English Reformers are charged with appealing to
the passions and prejudices of the working
classes. To what, we ask, are appeals
of this kind addressed If not to the preju-
diccs and passons of the aristocracyl 1t looks
prudently conservative, and has the complexion of
patriotism about it, to invoke the Constitution; but
who does not sec that here ConstitutlonaliSm is
dragged in to Justify wrong in the unfolding of class
legislation IT, however the Tories are to go before the
English people with the Constitution in their hands
then II is safe to predict the speedy and utter defeat
Of the party The Constitution, in its essence and
fundamental principles recognizes no political class
distinctions. On the contrary it was framed, aud is
intended TO secure to every reputable and lawabdng
citizen his full political rights. Its broad Ggs covers
all 1t knows no exclusion, save that which the
wrong -doer himself creates by his own evil deeds.
That it has been perverted from its original purpose
to serve selfish and party ends is no why it
should continue to be abused but constitutes rather the
strongest possible argument in favor of radical reform.
BY all means let the English Tories go before the
people with the Constitution in their hands. They
will find it formidable weapon; only-it will be
turned against themselves with terrible effect.
But it is not in England only that what is called
Constitutionalism pleaded in defense of oppression
II is not in England only that it is wckedly sought to
to destroy liberty with weapons robbed from her own
armory In this country we hear good deal nova
days about the Constitution and the necessity Of pre-
serving it intact. From the depths of our hearts we
say let il be so preserved. But want the Consti
tuition in its integrity. We want TO see the COnstitu
ton on which our free Government is based operative
in all the amplitude, all the lotness of its original
sacred purpose. Il procaims, as its fundamental
axiom, that all men born free and equal II guar
antees to each of the States Republican form of
government IL deals with man as man, and it recog.
nizes no government that which is the creation
of ,he whole popular will. We too, then plead for
the Constitution but for the Constitution in its fulness
and its purity. And We have no misgivngs as to the
result of such course. Both here and in England
fair and dispassonate appeal to first principles in this
matter will be certain to seal the doom of the oppres
sor and to assure the complete triumph Of liberty.
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