Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-03-20
THE RUTLAND HERALD
aATURDAY. MARCH 10, 1878.
beauties of English Politics.

lioht We published, ue'y WI WV
ice r letter. which originally appeared
IN the Main State Press, purporting to
nave been written by an Englishman,
and depicting the scenes in a mock SEES
sion of the Maine Legislature, which,
whether written In good faith rs the ac-
tunl sentiments of an English observer,
describing what he supposed was
serious act in American politics, or in
tended az a jeli despTit, was capitally
done, and might well pass for either. In
describing the induction, inaugural adj
dress, etc, of new governor, he says
and here the Englishman shows itself
He, the governor, was especially in
dignant at an order that had passed the |
Legislature without his consent-an or
der changing his politics and declaring
him thenceforth Republican and not a
Democratic Governor. This seemed to |
his uncuhivated mind a gross usurpation.
Bat had ne possessed the smallest ac-
quaintance with English constitutional |
history he would have knswn that the
politics of our glorious sovereign IS
changed with every change of ministry
brought about by Parliamentary action.
When Gladstone is in the Queen is
Liberal, but when Disraeli takes his |
place she becomes forthwith high Tory
This actually shows the beauties of the
British constitution and the fine shades
of English politics Whatever the other
portions Of the letter alluded to may
have been, this part Is serious and not
burlesque. 1t is, also, these kind OF
customs that go to make up the con
stitution of that country, whose govern
ment some of our fellow citizens arc so
great admirers Of. We have had an in
stance of 1t this week Thursday, and
for days, months and years before, the
Queen and the government have been
liberal In every department. But be-
cause, Wednesday, twO members of the
House of Commons did not happen to
agree with Gladstone ON the Irish Uni
versity bill--to which we shall briefly.
refer anon--the whole aspect is changed.
A political revolution takes place almost
OF the instant, Gladstone and the Min
istry resign, their designations are ac-
cepted, and Disraeli has been summoned
T. Buckingham Palace to take the in
itiatory steps for forming new Minis
try. So In moment, In twinl<ling of
an eye, by majority of three votes, on
that which should be non-political
question, the politics of the Queen and
her government is changed from Lib
eral' to 'high Tory exactly as de-
scribed In the letter referred to. The
telegraph informs us that Mr.. Clipping
gave notice, Thursday, that he should
move the adoption of resolution to the
effect, that ''the vote Wednesday, on
the Irish University bill, was not and is
not intended to be declaration of an
expression of a want of confidence in
1he government, and the House takes the
slrliest opportunity of expressing its
confidence in the general policy of Her
Majesty's Ministers. The House of
Commons, however, having adjourned
until Monday, Gladstone having re-
signed and measures being already in
progress for the formation of new
Ministry, 1t will make no difference, as
Douglass would say, whether the resolu-
ton Is voted down or voted up. The
next step in the beautiful and simple
system remains to be taken. Parliament
must be dissolved and a new election or
dered This, indeed, would have been
The course pursued on the defeat of the
Ministry, even without their resigna-
ton. The British public must now
undergo the perils, difficulties, troubles
and turmoils of general parliamentary
election. These contests for supremacy
before the free voters of Briton are
arenas of strife, bribery, corruption and
disorder, rarely equaled and, certainly,
never surpassed in this country. The
scenes of the British hastings, as they
arc called, have often been depicted, and
we need only briefly refer to them here.
Tenantry brought up TO vote at the die
tatlon of their landlords, like sheep
brought to the shambles; hordes of de-
pendents recording themselves in favor
of this or that candidate at the beck of
the lord of the manor; open, unblushing
bribery, in the buying and selling of
votes open and free ale houses and gin
shops In the interest of a particular
candidacy; sometimes polling booths de-
stroyed by riotous crowds; threatening
demonstrations and actual bloodshed ;
and, sometimes, as finishing touch to
the peculiar beauty of the institution,
fir women, with kisses, buying support
for some favored aspirants. These are
not immaginstive or exceptional in
stances, but have been concomitants of
Parliamentary elections by free Britons
for scores of years. When all this is
over, and the new parliament Is elected
and convened, II may be found that,
after all. Gladstone Is sustained Then
we have still another change of politics.
Dlsraeli, If he now succeeds in forming
Ministry, will be compelled to retire
and, with him, the now Ministry. The
Queen ceases TO be Tory" and be.
comes Liberal again Gladstone
may not, necessarily, become Prime
Minister, but the government will be
formed In bis interest and In accordance
with his views In either event no new
election Of members of Parliament will
be necessary, as the one then just holden
will be satisfactory for the time being
But If, after period of few months,
the Ministry should be defeated upon
some question they had adopted as a
government measure the whole ma
chinery will have TO be gone through
with again. 1t makes no difference that
the people and Parliament are in sub
stantial accord with the Ministry on
ninety and nine questions, the hundreth
Is, sometimes, like the last straw that
breaks the csmel's back If 1t is voted