The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-01-12

Hseue. anu Hreetel from MIN magma tHdTt0, theN
struck a deadly blow at the doctrine of the - di
vine right of Kings" and, illustrating the inmate
love of freedom OF the Anglo-Sax1n race, they
laid the foundation stone of equal human rights
Ever since, throughout the history of England
however dormant for q period, we find this same
principle of equal rights and stern opposition to
tyranny, always underlying the social surface oil
the British people. and occasionally arousing to
show its strength by decapitating or deposing a
wrong-headed King. Patient, loyal and orderly,
with a deep inbred respect for law and authority,
the AnglO-SaxOn race is nevertheless one that
never submits to tyranny or misrule. Trans
planted to America in search of a more perfect
liberty than they could enjoy in Europe, the
anglo-Saxons have become in truth, in these
days, the apostles Of the doctrine of equal human
rights. The influence that the United States Of
America wields to-day over the politics of the
countries OF Europe can scarcely be over-estimated.
had the Americans emerged from their late gigan-
tic civil war a disunited people, the case would
have been far different. The oppressed and the
unenfranchised masses of other lands looked on
In breathless suspense tyrants and titled aristo-
Gratis drew comfort from the prospect of the down.
fall of the Great Republic, whose prodigious
growth and prosperity was a standing menace to
their " divine right - to rule their fellow men
The cause of civil liberty stood trembling in the
balance. If
Freedom shrieked when Kosciosko fI,n
her dying groans would surely have gone up at
the final dismemberment of the American Union.
But an All-wise Providence had yet a great work
Tor that nation to perform, and to-day its infu-
ence among the peoples and governments of the
earth, cannot be overrated. \ republican form
OF g government, it will no more be declared, is an
unsettled experiment. The theory of a govern
ment by the people, strong enough and wise
enough to crush n gigantic rebellion at home and
ensure respect from abroad, is an established fact.
p0r PopuH, Uor Dei-the voice of the people is
the voice OF God-can no longer be quoted as the
windy nothing of a demagogue-it has n deeper
and truer meaning than ever before. And SO tie
hewers of wood and drawers of water-the tillers
Of the soil-the masses of Europe. LOOKING To-
America, the young giant of the people, thank
God and take courage.
Look in what direction we may, over the map
OF Europe, we will find that liberal ideas, or in
other words, the cause Of equal human rights, is
rapidly progressing. Whatever We may think of
bismarck or his master the King of Prussia, per-
sonaily, 1t must be conceded that a united Ger
many, once onsummated-a is now quite likely
will be in a great degree a guarantee of peace and
prosperity, and eventually of constitutional free
dom for the entire Faderland, because based on
the true idea of stability-equality of man.
Italy, too, is at last a united Italy, from the
Alps to the Adriatic. and perhaps ere this the
proud City of the Cesars'' has reverted to its
lawful owners, the Italian people. Liberal
ideas are progressing fast among the long down.
trodden and priest-ridden Italians. They have a
King who recognizes the source from which he
derives his authority. for he officially styles him
self, :" King, by the grace of God and the will of
the Italian people" The autocrat of all the
Russias and the astute Emperor of France are
neither OF them insensible of the cu-Ta6fof events
and are making concessions SO far as they dare
and trimming to sGit the times.
IurningISgSiin to England, the country nearest
allied to the United States by language, religion
and the ties of blood, we find that the nation is
agitated now as never before by the great ques-
tion OF suffrage reform. At the beginning of the
late American rebellion, Thomas CARLYLE, one of
the deepest thinkers as well as one of the most
extreme Tories of Great Britain, is said to have
made the remark that should the North be victo-
rious in the conflict, England would become re-
publican in less than twenty years. Be that as it
the subject Of reform has been revived
in England since the failure of the Amer
lean rebellion. The reform meetings in various
parts of the Kingdom have been of gigantic pro-
and marked by an enthusiasm and a de-
termination which will eventually accomplish the
object of extending the right of manhood suffrage
fo than Era III, Il IL - =
Great Britain, who are now denied all political
rights. The leaders in the movement are Glad
stone and Bright, and their platform is-the
right of all men unconvicted of crime and of
sound reason, to vote. One Of these immense de-
took place at Birmingham, on the
9TH August. Over a quarter ola million of peo
pie who have the privilege Of paying taxes but can
vote. were assembled on that occasion to give
to the popular demand. In the evening
/ meeting was held at the Town Hall. where
speeches were made by some of the leading advo-
,ates of reform, before an audience ofsix thnrs,6nd
the popular sentiments afl the speakers be-
ne echoed and applG1ded by more than twenty
Eonssnd people outside who were unable to obtain
access to the hall. a correspondent of the New
York Tribune gives the following interesting de-
cription of John Bright, NJ. p, the eminent re-
orm leader. and the effect of his speaking on this
occasion:
Then came John Bright. 7 have seen great
meetings. welcome great men in America. but never
Uch a welcome as Mr.. Bright received. The j
rose in n body. The cheering was as
as Niagara. and was rolled back into :
he ball in great waves Of sound by the 20. ZOO {
inside. Mr.. Lowe was right-these people are /
mpulsive, and their hearts heat with an emotion 7
lhich they We're quite unable to express. Alice '
admiration. gratitude, passionate enthusiasm I
Dward their great leader-all were there. Mr.. {
fright faced it with composure stood like granite |
mid a scene that made all other nerves go throb- I
ing and bounding with excitement. Stood about S
We feet ten, strongly built, upright, hands hanging :
not responding by any bow or other V