The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-08

| plish vast social changes and enforce them in
every corner of the land. But If such legis-
lation were cOnfded to local governments,
while there would be parts of the country
those In which the manufacturing interests
are strongest-in which these reforms would
become at once possible, there would also
be other sections almost purely agri-
cultural, in which o reaction to the old
regime of privilege aud feudalism would also
Immediately take place. The land question,
for example, which Mr.. Mill is now pushing
forward so earnestly, could not then be won
by simultaneous effort for the whole country.
In the southeastern part of England, where
the population is very dense, the right of pro-
prietorship in land would perhaps be wholly
abolished; but in Scotland, where the biggest
estates are, the old law would remain un-
shaken. 1t Is clear. therefore, that the repub-
lican party in England, ardently as they
defend the Commune, which fought so
desperately for this very principle of
local self-government, have no very strong
desire to introduce it into England until their
thousand and one crotchets have been made
the uniform law of the land.
But, however il may be secured, we should
heartily rejoice in the re-establshment of an
Irish Legislature. Not that we think such
body would distinguish itself by very great
wisdom or patriotism. Judging from Fenian
councils, it would probably be as venal and
disorderly as that miserable Irish Par
Lament which signed its own death
warrant at the end of the last
century. But the Irish people, If they were
thus allowed to govern themselves, would
come to see that their true interest binds
them politically to the neighboring isle of Great
Britain. national separation Of these two
countries would make both the prey of some
selfish European despotism; and the Franco
Prussian war has shown us that there are
more exacting and cruel tyrants and oppressors
even than the British government. Let the
dream of an Independent republic fade for
ever from the minds of Irishmen; but, at the
same time, let the indignity of English domi-
nation" be also abolished. The union between
Great Britain and Ireland ought to be merely
a compact of mutual alliance, free from every
faint of dishonor on the one side or the other.
And what glorious triumph of Christian
civilization COMMENTED Ireland" would bel
We should then, indeed, be able to believe in
the still more glorious dream of ''the parlia-
ment of man, the federation of the world"
when wars shall be no more and human in
dustry shall be free to give it's undivided at
tention to the arts of peace. Nor are these
things mere Utopian follies. The United
States has just emerged successfully from the
greatest struggle for human liberty that the
world has ever seen; and Great Britain, by
her internal reforms and by adhering in her
policy toward her colonies to the most rigid
principles of justice, at least in her general
conduct if not in every detail, is wheeling
into the line of nineteenth century progress.
The sky is bright before us, and we need not
yet abandon our belief in the indefinite per-
fectibility of human society.