The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-06


result it win expose him to the odium OF
allowing blood to be unnecessarily shed in his
behalf
The Revolutionary Movement in Great
Britain-John Brisht's Warming.
When John Bright said in his speech at
81. 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 the 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 significant purpose. and
in all probability will develop itself into total
overthrow OF monarchical and aristocratic rule
in Great Britain. Occurring at the time when
the people of Ireland are on the eve of assert
ing the right Of that portion of the British
empire to an independent republican govern
ment, the cause Of the two peoples becomes in
measure identical. The same system OF
landocracy, the supremacy Of Church es-
tablshed by law, and Misrepresentation II
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 centuries,
from the sapling to the towering tree whose
roots are in the soil Of Ireland but whose
branches are spread over every land, from
Australia to the furthermost point of British
North America. 1t has but assumed new shape
in our time, and taken the form of military
organization, which owes its power in great
measure to our recent war, where its leaders
were trained on the field, fighting for republi-
can Institutions In America. The contagion Of
republicanism, If we may call it 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 prosper
ity acquired under system of self govern
ment like ours the vindication of free manhood
brought out under that system-all these in
fuences have been at work in Great Britain
and all over Europe. Inasmuch as the seeds
have evidently not fallen upon rock, we can
not be surprised to see the plants growing
fourishingly and tho fruit ripening
The reform movement means something
more than the redress Of few grievances or
the accomplishment of universal suffrage.
There is general discomfort underlying the
agitation which has already assumed . most
menacing character and may involve the
whole aristocracy in ruin, if that class persists
in Its stif-necked opposition to the popular
will. John Bright's language at the London
meeting was threat, and that, too, backed by
the whole masses Of the English people and
echoed by the murmurs of incipient insurrec-
ton In Ireland. 1t can hardly be supposed
that while the Fenians are demanding an indie
pendent Irish republic they would object to
united republic of Great Britain and Ireland,
because the evils Of which they complain
namely, the ascendancy Of the aristocratio
land owners, the Established Church, which has
to be supported by people who reject It's
doctrines, and the supremacy Of the British
crown, to which they have mover voluntarily
submitted-would all be removed II the revo-
lutionary reform movement in England were to
eliminate in the overthrow Of monarchical
power. In view OF those facts we can hardly
separate the interests Of Bright's agitation and
the Fenian movement in Ireland. There Is q
joint sgnidcancy in them which cannot be mis-
taken. The American flag, carried by Brighrs
reformers at the great procession on Monday,
was the type Of republicanism; 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
danger to aristocratic rule in Great Britain in
John BrighPs warning.