Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-07-23

JOHN LUTz, BEDFoR5, Pa.
:.
right Of kings, apd asserting the fundanen-
tal idea If free INSTITUTIONS. We have
heard il proaouacc the abolition Of Slave
ry. We hase heard Il pronounce the
right Of all men te worship God according
to the dictates Of their owa eOnscienoes.
Verify, these are great things. and new
times, in old Spain
| These are the germs of free institution,
and viii, in the progress Of years. grow into
a Republican Government.
Cuba, the Queen Of the Antilies, richest
gem in the Spanish Crown, the most fertile
ofi-laBd-. r;ch beyond description in the
fruits aud productions Of tropical climes.
aud from which the Spanish treasury has
50 long been supplied, Is making bold,
vigorous, and, As we trust. successful ei-
fort 70 throw off the Spanish yoke and es-
tablizh her independence
The native Cuhang, inspired By the spirit
q liberty, have proclaimed freedom 10 the
slaves, freedom Of religious opinion, and
that Governments exist only by consent Of
the governed. Cuba belongs TO the Ameri-
can systen, aai the question Of her fate is
essentially AEiericsn. We cannot be indif.
fc:eUt e. thr struggle, aud trllst and believe
/ that our Government staGds rea Il 10 ae-
knowledge her Independence at the earliest
moment that win be justified BY the laws
and usaees Of nations.
Though We cannot RI gAtfuly iu.erye.c be-
tween Spain ard her Colony which she has
50 lnrs oppressed and Impoverished, our
smra.h;-s are with the Cubans, and we
cannot regret sng aid they may receive,
which does not involve breach of the in
/ tarnafiena! duty of our Government.
While the grand revolution in Spain Is
proceeding 50 peacefully and successfully;
while the Spanish people are asserting their
liberties. and 10 t.fYing thom by Canstitu-
tioral bulwaEks, it IS 30 be deeply regretted
that they are denying to Cuba what they
( claim for themselves
/ The American Revelation was also an
English revolution. The struggle for Ill er-
~ here reacted upon England, las gone for
ward there continually, aud Is stronger tc-
day thaa ever, One reform has succeeded
/ another. The basis Of suffrage has been
widened from time to time; and has always
been followed hy an extension Of the rights,
/ privileges, and prosperity of the people.
The IN 5tiiutioas If England have become
mlge liberal, just, aud benefcant as the
4 right Of Suffrage has been extended, and
arger number of men admitted to voice
in the Government. Recently We have seen
a new extension of the franchise, followed
almost immediately by a movement for the
discstablishment Of the Irish Church. The
Irish Church establishment, though pro-
fessedly in the interests Of Professionalism, is
not sustained or justified BY the Protestant
world, and the Protestant masses of EGG
land are demanding its repeal. The Discs
Enlistment biii has passed the House of
Commons, bu the Lords threaten To reject
tor dest7oy il ly notifications. Ii may
sacrifice itself. bnt il cannot thereby pre-
/ serve the Irish establishment. The House
Of Lords is tolerated only upon the eondi-
ton that it viii ratify the action of the
Commons, and viii give its formal assent to
all popular movements. 1t possesses 70
real political power, aud will not be permit
ted to obsa,uct the wishes of the people.
Should it be rash enough to reject the Dis
establishment bill, it viii at once inaugurate
a movement for its own reorganization, and
the destruction of hereditary privilege.
Such movement cannot, perhaps, be
long deferred anyhow. Another reform bin
will soon be demanded, making suffrage
universal, or nearly so. to be followed BY
the diseetabhshmcnt of the English Church,
the abolition Of the laws Of primogcniturc,
and the final destruction of the kingly Of
fee. The mass of the English people are
substantially, though not professedly, re-
publican in sentiment They accept the
/ great doctrine of human rights upon which
our Government is founded and, while
they yet retain the throne and the House
of Lords, any attempt on the part of either
to exercise positive power, or resist the
popular viii, would be instantly met by
threats ofresistance, and, if not abandoned,
BY revolution The throne and the Upper
House remain much like the Federal castles
that yet distinguish the English landscape,
enlblems Of departed power, curious to the
view, full Of historic interest but no longer
dangerous to the peace of the surrounding
country. English reforms, heretofore slow,
are becoming more rapid and the English
people are marching with accelerated speed
to republican government. Universal
suffrage and hereditary privilege cannot
exist long together They are essentially
hostile elements The progress of suffrage
in England has been resisted at every step
BY the anStocratie classes; but after many
years of struggle it has arrived at that point
where its further progress cannot be long
delayed Universal suffrage lies at the very
summit Of the Bill Of Difficulty, the ascent
Of which IS rugged. slow, and toilsome, but
when achieved the people viii be masters
Of the situation. America Is avenging her
self upon Ens'aod by gradually but surely
overlurning her 2Tisiocratic and hierarchic
institutions blythe force o. her teachings and
ex,mple- The principles of civil an 1 elig-
ious liberty, eru le end imperfect when first
brought from Eugland to America, having
bsen refined, illustrated, and EXTENDED, we
return them to tie mother county for her
adoption, laden with rich and glorious re-
suits. The spirit Of American liberty is
abroad in Eagland Her Brights, Glad
store;, Feys'ers, and her Whole host Of lib
eral stasesules,, are pFociainiing The doctrines
OF tie D elaration Of Independence, and
yerii5 ing tie saying Of celebrated English
man, that the American Revelation guar
sntead the tree institutions of England.