New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-23
4 REVOLT OF NOyCOYrOEuTSTs.

It must be admitted that the British Gov
ernment enters upon the present Parliament
airy campaign with signs of reaction in the
Kingdom. While radical sentiments are
stronger than when Parliament separated, it
is no less certain that the forces of reaction
are likewise greater; and this reaction has, in
no uncomfortable degree, been influenced by
the very fact that radicalism is growing
stronger. Smarting under the influence of the
rejection. by the House of Lords, of the
Ballot bill and the reforms which were
deemed essential in the organization of
the army, and animated by an ap-
parent victory over that body through
the abolition by Royal Warrant of the
system of Purchase, the Government encOur
aged tho spirit of radicaism, which OF once
received q remarkable impetus. The question
of Reform of the House of Lords was dis
cussed with tho sanction of the Government
and tho sympathetic appreciation of the
Liberal constituents. Naturally the more
radical public speakers proposed the question
whether it was not advisable to wholly abolish
o House WHICH wGGs obstructive to the enact
ment of beneficial legislative measures.
All this was clearly a reflection through pub
lie men of popular opinion, and, in addition,
an ill-defined resentment against the royal
family was manifested. The seclusiOn of the
Queen was suggestive Of the misapplicatiOn of
tho funds voted for maintaining royalty, which,
in England, is nearly synonymous with pa
gcantry. Nor could the prOfusion of the
Prince of Wales cOndone for the reflection that
his life was spent in profligacy. But,
under this, were the relics Of the firmly
rooted loyalty of England to an ideal sove-
reign, the tradition of many ages and
it was with some establishment that the people
listened to the expression of their own senti-
ments in the extreme form of an attack, by
an ayowed republican, Sir Charles Dixie, upon
the Grown as n useless burden upon the pub
lie treasury. 1t was at this point that the first
indications of reaction began to appear and
more consistency was given to it by the ex-
cuse afforded by the temporary Illness of the
Queen for her virtual retirement from public
life At this distance from the scenes which
influence the minds Of the great mass of En-
glish people, it is difficult to form
q correct estimate of the specific attributes of
divinity which are attached to the British
Sovereign; and something like amusement was
felt by Americans when they pictured the
English people resenting with incredulity
the report. which recently found currency, that
Queen Victoria was not in her right mind.
Yet the loyalty which was awakened
in England by the idea of a suffering
sovereign was sufficient to strengthen the
reaction against the increasing radical ten
denotes of the period. But IN exaggerated
expression of this loyalty was given by
the press of England, through their announce
ments Of the effect produced by the illness of
the Prince of Wales. These representations,
aided by the belief that the illness of the
Prince was mortal could not fail, in some de-
gree, to create in the public mind a feeling
to that which the press pre-
tended to portray, and thus a Fictitious senti-
ment has been produced which must affect, to
some extent, the legislation of the present par
liamcntary session.
No doubt u large majority of Englishmen
are liberal in their sentiments, but their Lib
eral tendencies are modified by a tinge of
Conservatism. They are willing to admit the