Middletown transcript., 1868-04-11
DemoeracY Abroad.

1t is very plain that, no matter what
may be our experiences about universal
suffrage and political equality on this side
of the Atlantic, they are rapidly becoming
more popular and steadily gaining ground
on the other side. The passage Of the act
by the British Parliament at its last session
abolishing certain restrictions and estab-
Using household suffrage, was an immense
stride towards democracy and one too which
was all the more significant when we re-
fleet that the proposition was introduced
by the Tory party and carried by Tory
votes. 1t was sign of the times among
the higher classes, as the mob in the Park
was sign among the lower orders of the
people. In Parliament, which represents
the nobility, the gentry and the CONNER
cial wealth of the country, and not the
general community, the demand of the peo-
pie for larger participation in Legislation
was listened to and agreed to. In the city of
London the workmen, who claimed a right
with the wealthy to share the privileges of
the large city parks, marched against
Hyde Park when its gates were closed to
them, and tore down the ratings and gates
that obstructed their entrance. They
marched upon them to the tune of GO John
Browns SOULS marching on" which was
not only an extreme expression of their
republican sentiment but vulgar insult
to the Queen, whose favorite servant, it is
known, bears this name. .4.. by.
The debates on the Irish Church at pre-
sent exciting such deep interest in Eng
land are but further expressions of the
same tendency. The Irish Church as an
establishment is doomed, The religion of
the Irish people is Roman Catholic and in
the northeastern portion of that country
there are number of Presbyterians The
members of the Church of England are
comparatively few and it is one of Irelands
sorest grievances that its people should be
taxed to support religion which is not
their own. From this point of view the
abandonment of the Irish Church by the
Government would all be very we'll. But
this would be but a beginning-a beginning
of the end. The Scotch Establishment
would be the next to 60 and after that
the Church in Wales. After that would
come an attack on the Church of England,
and as the Scotch Irish Presbyterians,
uniting with the Roman Catholics, would
by means of their "more perfect union"
probably be in a decided majority, the
members of the Church of England would
find men returned to Parliament pledged to
religious as well as to political equality.
The war against the Established Church
will in all probability proceed very rapidly
The secularization of the Universities will
accompany it, and after the Church is set
tied the army will be attacked. The sys-
tenn of purchase in the army can hardly
last long in England. 1t is system which
kept the control of the army in the hands
of the upper classes. Once swept away,
military as well as political power passes
into the hadns of the people. We are not
discussing these institutions, neither up
holding nor condemning them. They are,
however, institutions which form an impor-
tant part of British monarchical govern
ment. We are merely pointing out dam
gers which threaten them as signs of the
times and showing how rapidly Great Brit
ain is becoming republicanized and how
surely the power is passing from the hands
of those who for centuries have welded it
by hereditary right.-Baltimore Ga=ette.