The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-02-13
DEMOCRACY IN ENGLAND.
PROGRESS OF THE COUNTRY TOWARDS A RE-
PUBLIC.

ted States, are slowly bat surely undergoing
a process of radical transformation. New
issues are presenting themselves to the
electors; and statesmen of both parties are
anxiously awaiting their fuller development
more especially as the impetus arises this
time from the masses of the people them
selves. The ministry of William Ewari
Gladstone. now in its fifth year of Office
heaviest majority known in the history Of
English electoral contests; but the issues
upon which this result was brought about
are now settled in accordance with the popu.
lar wishes, and the liberal party must look
for anG adopt some new "cry" if it hopes to
retain the support of the great body of cleo
tors. Mr. Gladstone to-day is far from being
the popular minister of five years ago. He
has undoubtedly redeemed all his pledges
made at the period of his entry upon Office
notably. the separation of church and state
in Ireland, the radical reform of the Irish
land laws. national system of education,
and the adoption of the ballot-but the Eng
lish people, while sufficiently grateful fot the
passage of these measures are naturally de-
sirous that the future shall show as much
earnestness in the path of reform as the past.
Mr.. Gladstone, in the opinion of the opera
tive classes of the United Kingdom, and q
very considerable section OF the middle class,
seems to think he has reached that point
when the nation, as Earl Russell once put 1t +.
should {" rest and be thankful" But to this
the great body of the electors are in nowise
disposed to listen; and. moreover, they are
far from thinking favorably of many Of his
ir the ministry.
1t was serious blow to the English Pre-
mier when "the Tribune of the people,"
John Bright, retired from the Cabinet in con-
sequence of ill-health. There is probably no
living statesman in which the element of
caution is more largely. if 80 greatly, devel-
oped as in that gentleman and when his
loss of health compelled long retirement
from public life, Mr.. Gladstone's administra-
ton made blunder after blunder, until it lost
the support OF former well-wishers and ad-
ded member after member to the ranks of the
opposition at each successive local election.
Worse even than this, It's once overw hplming
majority in the House of Commons o. one hun-
bred and twenty votes has dwndled away
until, as frequently seen curing the last ses.
sion of Parliament, the government has
found itself in considerable minority, that
result being brought about By the active CO.
operation of it's erst radical supporters with
The conservatives under Mr.. Disraeli. Such
8 the condition Of Mr.. Gladstonc's Ministry
It the present moment, and that, too, within
short time of the reopening of Parliament.
II is we'll understood in English political
circles that the fir attack upon the admin
st-a alton when Parliament reassembles in
February, parliament opened last Wednes-
lay. Ed. will be in reference to the long
iscussed American question" The con-
'ervanves, the great body of the aristocracy,
the mercantile class with scarce an excep-
lion, and not few of the liberal members
themselves, are wroth at the result of the
Geneva aud Berlin arbitrations. and are re-
solved to charge Mr. Gladstone and his coad-
utators with having sacrificed the honor and
ntt rests of Great Britain lby consenting to
refer the Alabama and San Juan disputes to
other than It's own tribunals. The ruling
classes of Englishmen are bitterly mortified
at finding their pride and arrogance lowered
so abruptly; aud that, too, by republic
which. but few years ago, they fondly i'm
agined was irretr'evably "burst up" The
Gill is bitter one to swallow. Unlike the
book ain Revelations, it is "bltter to the
mouth" and far from being "sweet to the
belly"; and the more the QuidnuncS OF the
clubs and Podsnaps of Parliament think over
the matter, the less they like it. The situa-
ton, to say the least, is not pleasant one
tor them. England, "the mistress of the
seas" has been quietly framing what she
considers the Law of Nations, for any num-
Der of years past; having her own way with
European powers, whenever she thought it
necessary to "put her foot down." coercing
little governments, like those oil Portugal and
Greece, and quietly biding her time with the
greater ones until opportunity enabled her
to carry her point at last, when, presto, she
is brought up all standing by "those horrid
Yankees, E" induced to answer for her misdeeds
before two unbiased tribunals, and by them
decided to have been utterly wrong in both
instances. English pharisees cannot stand
this, and they naturally look for some victim
upon whom to inflct punishment. The
Peoples William" as Mr.. Gladstone is satir
ically called by them, is their only possible
object. and aristocratic spleen will vent IT.
self upon him and his administration as soon
as Parliament meets. The opposition will
show itself In the debate on the address to
the Throne in reply to the Queens speech at