New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-23
"THE ENGLAND OF TODAY"
LECTURE BY EDWARD JENKINS.

THE DOMINATION OF VESTED INTERESTs-REVIEW
or THE LOCAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DUTY OF
THE cITIZEN-A GLANCE AT THE LOWER WORK
ING LIFE lt
Edward Jenkins Of England, who is better known
in America as the author Of Ginxs Baby" delivered
the first lecture of the Redpath Series at Steinway
Hall last evening on " The England of To-Day" to
an audience which, though not encouraging in num-
beers, was appreciatve aud ready with applause.
Mr.. Jenkins, in personal appearance, manner, and
delivery is thoroughly English. is polite and candid,
a rapid speaker, owing to close attention 10 his
manuscript, fertile in illustration and simile, and
content with effective verbal expression without the
emphasis of gesture. His lecture is reproduced be-
low, the Introductory part being shortened some
what:
THE LsCTURE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: or the crowds OF Americana
who land az Liverpool ana oyerrun the little island
which they threaten day 10 annex. few however
observant curious they may be- say In the sense
In which the term that they have seen the England
OF to-day. CHANGING from carriage window, they see
a splendid country and many phases OF country NE
and travelling through the city they see great deal 70
interest them. But II not upon such scenes that
wish TO address you. know something Of the England
OF to-day The travellers may the religious and
phanthropic institutions OF England, but the
travellers also get glimpses OF other things
They observe in rural districts groups OF
handsome buildings, or walking IN London some
evening great Institution, at the door OF which
linger shivering and women and little children,
and told that these the palaces OF the poor the
poorhouse OF wealthy and too widespread national
bounty man seeing this shakes his head, when he
in twenty receiving gratuitous relief At ths
expense OF the remainder But little can be understood
In reference 10 that question: or now s roots run
into every other social and political condition nave
not come here simply 60 amuse you. What 1 am
anxious TO do is 10 give 20 Americans an idea OF
the hidden meaning OF all those things Of which they
have superficial knowledge. should have but litts
in cominhere to recount things familiar 10 you
would try to make you know OF the material Of
English society the composition OF it's warp and wool
Ho imperative 1t is that In these inner matters OF ma
tiona life England should be understood OF America and
America should be known OF England. The world is
daily becoming more international The problems OF
humanity themselves In every nation, and the
motives OF nations life among the most precious
thugs which it could offer TO the Of curoua world
Like child at panorama. traveller may have locked
hidden SCREEN where the shadows cast by the lghs
behind are thrown. How much yOn Americans have
suffered the hands Off roaming Englshmen blush TO
confess but at the best it not without compromising
injuries claim the right TO speak frankly in America,
because I partly an American. nuch of my educa'
ton was received here and therefore feel here az
home, speaking 10 those who In some sense are my
countrymen DO not think that come before an Amer
lean audience recall memories which trite or 10
talk OF our common race, our common origin. oar com
mon Shakespeare, cur common Holloway's pills on
ssrsaparila To any criticisms, which will be in per
feet csndldness you will listen to me with justice and
fairness. so when American passes criticisms upon
us shall have jealousy and regret Who have done
the most for America De TocQueve was one OF those
who made American institutions besknown 10 America
IL il upon such basis this that may establish
proper unity of interest As IL is, relationship IL
nv
man who had come into good society A man said TO
him. Is not that fellow at Ballymena your fatherr
Well yes" was the answer, to a certain extent"
VESTED INTERESTS IN ENGLAND.
7 am puzzled to know where TO begin a subject OF 80
vast q range. Here you have, II is true, many prob
lens there you have hundreds. Here politics are some
what mixed; there politics are tangled in innumerabls
skeins Sociology is here beginning TO be well OF pro
found depth there it Is bottomless whirlpool Instt
ttions here are many and their relations vast there
they have multiplied through centuries, consist OF the
accretons OF ages, and built into the very frame
work OF society. Institutions like these you touch az
your peril they have and suckers as power
full as those of the devilfsh. Here then is sur
eested our first topic prominent thing which stands
cut in the condition Of the England OF to-day Is the
number and power Of its vested interests. The Crown
has vested interests the artocray has vested interests
the Church, the college, the liquor seller, the army
ana navy the Bench and the Bar the officials OF Court
W,
turnpikes municipal corporations, lords, dukes, and
ebanceors have all vested interests. Hence reform 10
England and the United States, however similar 10
principle is in development different thing In the
one case it is going up hall IN heavy
stagecoach with very Old horses; in the other
Gaze it is driving 24O team over a mscadamized
road where the drivers sometimes lose their hats.
IApplausel Great is the potency OF vested
interests! It is a solid body cOncreted into the
wall Of society, and you can only remove 10 by
breaking down that which it is stayed IL cannot DO
abated without noise, and labor, and money, which
solvent people least and last willing to apply Its
claims are eIorbtant obstnacy intractabe. In
portion TO the number of vested interests in country,
with their prominent establishments and rights, is thas
country fetered and locked up from freedom OF action.
A vested interest is milestone hung about the neck
Of society. II mpedes acton The aim Of wise states
men and wise people will be TO reduce these
10 the smallest number and the lowest power.
Laws which encourage their creation. laws
which exaggerate their power are criminal.
Referring to vested interests, let me say that their
potency is astoundngy great in England in proportion
10 their number IL impossible 10 enumerate the vest
ed interests with which the English refomer finds him
self obliged TO contend. II he wished in Parliament
carry OF reform he is not altogether free from
opposition When the Church fIreland sought be-
disestablshed the bishops and large number OF young
eergynen opposed the and thus sought keep
20 themselves the plumber heretofore given them by
the e-s45oOOOOO The Established Church also had
it's bishops the House of Peers aud its clergy scatter
ed through the country punderng also 10 considerable
extent, holding town ofiees-goyernors, and regis
trars Of marriages They also controlled
the burial grounds OF the parish and the schools and all
mediums Of education in England or less under
their control The Established Church altogether was
mighty institution holding in It's hands at the same
time the keys of earth and hell; and can compare 10
only TO the victualers Licensed Association aughier