New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-11
THE PEOPLE AGAINST THE, Crown.

crown, and forms new element in the
movements of the British people tending
to the subversion of royalty with all its
costly paraphernalia. In the House of
Commons, on the evening of the twenty
eighth of last month, motion was SUBJ
mitted by Mr.. Cowper Temple, one of the
liberal members of that body, in favor of
the reservation of a part of Epping Forest
for public park. In this motion he was
supported by Mr.. Vernon Harcourt, an
other liberal member. 1t was opposed
by MIR. Gladstone and Mr. Lowe, who be-
longed to the ministry. They argued that
this property belonged to the crown, and
not to the public. 1t was a very impor-
tant question, and upon being submitted
to the House of Commons, that body, by
a majority of more than one hundred, de-
cided against the government, and in favor
of the people. This is one of the most
significant questions that has been brought
before the popular branch of the English
Parliament, in which the rights of the
people were involved as against the rights
or claims of the crown. In this instance
the latter has suffered an inglorious de-
feat. IN defending the rights of the
crown to the Epping Forest, or chase of
Epping, as it is sometimes called, the
leaders of the cabinet may be supposed
to have discharged sort of official duty
in an Indifferent way, and though the
vote may not be construed into no con-
fidence one, yet it has meaning which
BODIES no good to the reigning family or
to the continuance of monarchy in Eng
land.
To one familiar with English history as
connected with this great royal domain,
the Importance of the vote to which
reference has been made. will be readily
understood. 1t will be remembered that
William the Conqueror was passionately
fond of the chase, and to crafty that de-
sire destroyed thirty-six parishes, pulled
down thirty=six churches and dispeopled
the country for thirty miles around, in or
cessors, Norman, Plantagenet and Tudor,
all made unsparing use of the royal pre-
rogatiye of INDUCING in the pleasures of
the chase in these globes of the crown.
Down to George III. there was in the pos
session of the king sixty-eight forests,
eighteen chases and upward of seven
hundred and eighty parks. Among those
which board of commissioners appointed
in 1887 declared to be royal property was
the forest of Epping, or Waltham, the
subject of the motion and vote in the
House of Commons, to which reference
has been made. Even under its present
proportions, this ancient royal
pleasure ground is of noble dimensions.
1t is about ten miles long and about two
and half miles in width. 1t lies some
six miles to the north of London, and is
said, for many years, to be without those
beautiful animals that formerly roamed
through and inhabited that ancient and
historic forest. 1t was once the great
place of the English gypsies, and
many are the stories and romances founded
upon the acts of these wandering outlaws,
the scenes and incidents of which have
been laid there. From time to time con-
siderable portions of it have been placed
under cultivation, and, for many years, it
has been the favorite holiday resort of the
aboring classes of London. Doubtless.
the reason that induced this action on the
part of Mr. Cowper Temple was the fact of
The great necessity that, inasmuch as
-hese lands and this beautiful forest be-
onged to the people of the realm, it was
heir privilege to enjoy its beauties
md participate in its pleasures. He was
lware of the fact that for many years the
people had free access to the Epping re-
reat, and in that respect had enjoyed
What was really their own property. Before
his an attempt was made to obtain this
crest, and to cut it up into small holdings
or peasant farmers. This was done about |
wo years ago by an association of working
men, who declared themselves as oppon- |
nts of the English land-tenure system,
which prevails under the laws of that |
ountry. These were revolutionists, too |
adical to obtain much encouragement, |
nd were not sustained. The present |
novement, and the blow now aimed at |
English royalty, and at the influence of /
heir ministerial defenders, has been
truck by the cultured and reflective liber-
lism of the country.
Speaking upon this subject, it has been
emarked:
1t is difficult to suppose that the same
rinciple which the House of Commons ap-
lied to determine the proprietary right in
his case will not apply with equal force to
lany others. Royalty is, more than it ever
as, on it's trial in England The reverence
lat used to hedge around the throne has
IL but passed away, and questionable
rivileges will no longer be admitted, simply
ecause they are royal. The present is but
sample of the many which, in the present
,mper of the people, Mr.. Gladstone and
is colleagues will be called upon to defend.
heir danger consists in their followers be-
,Hing thus accustomed to detection which
i'll ripen into revolt The probable loss of
nominal proprietorship of Epping Forest
not of itself an appreciable misfortune to
lie Queen of England and her family, but
le trial of such immunities as are left to