The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-27
The Coming Crisis in England,

- -as~sss 49, - ~ - 81 Ns
The Coming Crisis in England.
wE ELE NgN ~. @9
Al ftlnusfSb be evident to those who have care
fully studied the history Of the country and
the character Of the people that England i
now passing through What may be termed
transition state which is likely TO end in q
total or partial revolution Of ier political and
social system. We do not believe this revo-
luton viii come speedily, for iii that ancient
empire where all Institutions Of church and
state are hedged about by the growth Of CEN
turtles; swhere musty preeedents. immelno.
rial privileges, and hard-headed prejudices
have moulded themselves into an unwlitten
law, stout enough to resist almost any as
sault; and whereth eitemper,tment Of q some
what phlegmatic race naturally prefers deal
Of patient endurance rather than take the
chances Of an organic change, it is not to be
anticipated that events will culiniliate as rap
idly as in new communities or among more
excitable population. But that the crisis,
benefcient or disastrous in its results, is APP
preaching, and 1t no rapid pace, seems to US
as certain as anything in the future of such 9
nature can be. The Angto-Saxon blood is
slow, but when once thoroughly reused it
burns steadily, and never yet has failed to
triumph over al opp sition. The student
who has examined intelligently and impair
tally the earlier annals of England, finds
that while, the people wore with Indifferent
grace for generations the yoke of the Plantia-
.genets.afhe Tad6rs and the Stuarts. there
could be heard from time to time significant
mutterings beneath the surface. which beto-
kened the gradual awakening OF the masses,
: and the erystallization.0ft these hidden forces
which when once combined and set in mo-
ton are omnipotent. Small attention was
, paid to these by Elizabeth or James /, but
when the illfated Charles attempted to assert
the same 'kingly prerogative which had been
conceded TO his predecessors, he was con-
fronted and conquered by a united people, Of
whose wisdom and determination he knew
nothing until they had crushed him. The
excuses, and more particularly the religious
sfanatfcisrn of the Commonwealth. induced
the nation to accept Charles IL, his follies
and vices, and bear with hind and them to the
end: but when James II sought to play the
tyrant, himself and his dynasty were driven
into perpetual exile The impetus given by
the revolutions OF 1913 and 1858 has not been
losta Tllechangesfa and reforms effected hare
been SO small comparatively, and scattered
through so many years, that when viewed
sSsir,gly theysattract little attention; but when
we look at them in the aggregate the adj
vance has been enormous. From the begin
ninesof the fefg III III the iirst George until
now. is but a little more than a century and
halt; yet what adherence there is between
the England of TIA and the England of 1871!
The machinery Of government has UNDER
gone nearly complete reorganization, and
the principles which now control the action
ofthe Crown and ministry, are rs wide apart
from the principles which prevailed then as
can be wellimagiifed. But as we ap-
proaeh the present era, il will be observed
that the progress has been vastly accelerated,
and the, phases Of political development have
succeedei each other far more rapidly than
ever before. The horrors Of the French Re-
yolution Of 1889 retarded the growth Of lib
eral ideas, but since then they have marcisd
forward at a rate which has more than COM
reasated for that delay. The number and
variety of abnse swept away since 1929, isIan
evidence that England has kePt las nearly
abreast Of the instincts OF the aye as her
system of government will allow her to do;
hut ii is also an evidence that she has about
reached point where further rsgress.is i'm
possible unlessthis system isremodeled. And
herein lies the plainest proof of the impend-
ing crisis, Ip spite of the improvements in
their social condition-in spite Of the in
creaging liberality of the aristocratic classes
jim spite Of the promptness with which the
Queen seconds every project tending to bene-
fit her subjects. and inlspiteot the difference
paid to the rights and privileges of the conn
monalty by every parliament, IT is apparent
rs the most careless eye, That the people of
England, taken ais whole, are tar from sat
tailed. and bent upon demanding more than
any monarchial government can give. That
the rulers feel and fear this dissatisfaction Of
the populace, Is plain. Twenty years ago
tile workingneils meetings which lately met
In HYDE Park to indorse the Partisan Com
n,t,ne. would have been dispersed hy the po-
lice, and III necessary, charged by her
majesty guards. But to-day they are allowed ae
10 assemble their thousands in the heart Of
London, and pass resolutions OF the most
incenaiary character, without molestation.
Neither Queen nor Ministers dare interfere
with these Representatives Of an clement
which is no longer = faction, but great and
growing party. The exact creed q tins PAT
III cannot perhaps be accurately ;taccrfained
but here are one ortwo pregnant facts Nii:eil
underlie it.
me population Of England At the time Of
the Norman conquest i estimated 81
about 800, 600, and Of these there were 4o'-
7O6 land owners. Now there Is q population
If 2o,00o 900, and only 10000 landowners.
Ths landed propristors ere fewer " some