The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-14
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
xDIToRIAL oPIEIoNs OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT TOPICs-CoMPmRD EVERY
DAY FOR THK EVENING TELEGRAPH.
REFORM AND REVOLUTION IN GREAT
BRITAIN.

truly, is peculiar, we think uneHauPlSu;
great work of reform mas Oeeh soooIlPnieneu,
and the most aristocratio and exclusive OF
oovarnments has been compelled SO to extend
fba franchise privilege or right-it matters
i;,tIa wbiob we call it-that the British empire
has virtually become democracy. Another
GREAT work of reform has been undertaken.
ftbe Protestant Episcopal Church in Ireland
has for two and half centuries, at least, been
working mischief and breeding all kinds Of
misery. There has arisen class of statesmen
who have the hardihood to look evils in the
face. and who have besides the pluck and
daring to make an effort to remove them.
The disestablishment and disendowment OF
what is known as the Irish Church are settled
40 far as the House OF Commons is concerned.
The House of Lords, which is Tory to the
backbone, may kick against this measure, and
IL doubtless will kick; but the House Of Lords
is powerless to resist. In few weeks or
months the Irish Church bill will have passed
into law, and the greatest and most radical OF
Irish grievances will have ceased to exist.
The revolutionary spirit in Great Britain has
demanded and has obtained thus much; but
the revolutionarylspirit, which Is by no means
local, refuses yet to be satisfied. This is its
hour and power Of triumph, and 1t seems de-
termined to 20 on conquering and to conquer.
The late reform in the electoral franchise has
nightly increased the power Of the people
and the power Of the peoples House Of Parlia-
Lords as simple obstruction to be got out OF
the way as soon as possible. The Lords them
selves, feeling how weak and helpless and use
less they are, have begun to cry out for re-
form. They are not in harmony with-they
are not equal to-the times. With praise
worthy foresight they have set about improv-
ing their order. 1t is not easy to multiply the
titled aristocracy, for the titled aristocracy
must have wealth II not lands; but II men Of
property and large wealth cannot be found in
sufficient numbers, men of brains are surely
10 be had. The idea of life peerages has come
10 the rescue, and one OF the most aristocrstic
members of one Of the most aristocratio fami.
lies has successfully introduced bill into the
House Of Lords giving shape and character to
this idea. Democracy has thus forced its way
into the Holy of Holes Of the aristocracy OF
England: and when this bill is passed the
House of Lords will be an aristocratio assem-
bly, no longer. Some OF the old leaven
for q time will remain; but henceforth
the most exclusive of assemblies will be
reduced to the level OF the Senate OF
France or the Senate OF the United States
The people, the Lords no longer, will rule the
British empire. This, however, Is not all.
The spirit of revolution is Unsuitable. 1t is
not enough that the aristocracy are on their
knees and that they have given up so much.
The cry Is still for more, and more must be
conceded. 1t was Mr.. Gladstones hope that
ance would touch the Irish heart and call forth
Irish sympathies. Mr.. Gladstone's opponents
said that thus to yield to Irish demands would
only whet the Irish appetite and intensity
Irish hunger. The result has proved that Mr..
Gladstone's opponents were right, and that he
was wrong. The cry of hunger has become
louder and more desperate. Mayors of Irish
cities glory in disloyalty and make heroes Of
assassins. II was noble deed, they say, of
O'Fsrrel to shoot Prince Alfred. 1t will not
be wonderful if another O'Farrel, catching
inspiration from the Mayor of Cork, should
make an end Of Prince Arthur, now on tour
in the Emerald Isle. Agrarian violence has
burst out afresh, and Ireland to Judge from
all outward appearances, i5 at once more
discontented and more disloyal than ever.
Meanwhile the Government contemplates an
additional reform. Land tenure in Ireland is
said to be bigger grievance than the domi-
nant and favored Church. Land tenure, it is
said, is to command the immediate attention
of Parliament. Revolution and reform thus
60 hand in hand.
What we said at the outset we repeat-the
situation is peculiar and embarrassing. British
institutions are becoming more and more
Americanized; levelling principles are at
work; the people are rising above the oil
garohy; but the progress of reform does not
quiet, 1t rather encourages the spirit of revo-
luton. In view of important outstanding
questions, the situation in the British Isles Is
really serious. In the event OF a war with
this country Ireland to dead certainty would
be up in rebellion. The forces required in
Ireland would thus rob Great Britain Of much
of her offensive and defensive strength. A
war with any European power would beget
similar results. While this is true in regard
to Ireland's share in the great question: it
ought not to be forgotten that in the other
portions of the United Kingdom the crown
e. and the government have serious difficulties
to contend with. We have no desire to see
the world shaken by horrid war. We know
well that for all offensive and defensive pur-
poses Great Britain is yet mighty and danger
ous. A great foreign war might for a time
stife domestic discomfort and give to the dis
cordant elements temporary unity. Nothing,
however, can permanently check the progress
OF reform. The gulf that separates the people
from the aristocracy narrows day by day. The
late Reform bill was mighty leveller. The
Irish Church bill is-s step in the same direc.
tion. The Life PeeTages bill is a march to
quicker and more revolutionary music. I'm.
proVement of land tenure in Ireland will fol-
low. The game laws all over the three king
doms are doomed. The law of entail is not
perhaps, worth ten years. purchase. Fifty
years hence in England 'the claims of Ions
descent" may be of as little account as the
claims OF the latest parvenu. Meanwhile the
revolution goes on, and IL il for us, as specta
tors, to watch and note its progress.
THE QUAKERS AND THE INDIAN BUREAU
From the NJ Y. Tribune.
In the days of Puritan power in England
1t was enacted that no one should hold Office
unless he possessed 'real godliuess." The
ghost of Praise God Bsrebones' Parliament
has been terminating the political dry bones