National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-03-14

Tho English have long claimed that thelr
Government Is more truly popular than our
own since with US public opinion can only
operate completely after q considerable In
tervnl, while with them lts action Is almost
instantaneous. We walt four years and elect
O new Administration; they defeat in Parlla-
ment some measure to which the Government
ia committed, and Immediately there Is on end
Of the ministry Such an event as this 10 really
one Of the most solemn expires ions Of great
peoplo's will which our modern forms OF
rolity permit. Gladstone goes out aud Dis
rcall goes In, lu obedience TO tho Silent fat Of
custom, tho client verdict Of generations Of
law.abillng Euglishmcn, living and dead.
No Imperial rcscrlpt commands It, no written
statute dcducs IT, but the deep, changeless
voice Of the British nation declares that II Is
meet and lust.
In this special instance the proximatc cause
appears TO have been the conflict over Glao-
stones educational system, rs oKcmpliHed In
the Irish University bill. But the real slg-
nldclncc Of the news lies far deeper than
that. 1t Is not merely change Of official
iucumbcnts which has occurred; II Is the sub
stltuuOn Of the rule Of one political party for
that Of another; II Is the restoration Of the
old tories or conservatives to power. 1t Is
true, as yet, the accession Of .Dlsraeh Is not
positively assured; but the mere fact that he
Is prominently spoken Of in connection with
tho premiership tullclently indicates the prob
able complexion Of the new regime.
Dlsraeli Is an aristocrat Of aristocrats. His
works tcem With abundant laudatlons OF the
privileged classes. An intense admiration OF
richness Of apparel, elegance Of manner, and
nobility Of lineage runs like an evcr.recurring
refrain through all his published uttcranccs
aud In all his life there "a nothing which /,
inconsistent with them. lie has no coucep
ton Of the possibility Of accomplishing any
thing whatever except through the medium
and under the guidance Of the born lords oi
ths realm 10 word, he Is the most un'
cquivocil rctroTC5slonist in Great Britain
Yet the majority Of the representatives oi
that great realm have just pronounced fol
his views and against those of Liberal lik'
Gladstone.
This ovent derives additional lmporlauc,
from tho fact that Ii Is but one Of n chain
embracing all Western Europe. "Reyolu
tions,' some one says, never g
backward Possibly; but almost every 20
litlcal movement which passes for revolu
tiou "gocs backward, sooner or later.
spring driven down by sudden pressure vii
bound back as suddenly. Not long ago re
publleaulsm seemed to bo making giganu
strides on tho other sldo OF the Atlantic. 81
Charles Dixie, Bradlaugh and others har
kindlcd most promising Gamci France Ia,
BlOughed OF Its emperor and blossomed Cnom
lually at leas) into a full-blown republican
commonwealth, and finally even spaln-tha
most conservative OF uatlons-had iolnc,
the republican ranks.
But already tho rovulsiou has set In. Th
Comic dc Chlmbord and the younger branchC
Of the roy. =, unlly Hlunt tho lilies Of s.
Louis almost IN tho very face Of the redoub
able Thiers. Let that watchfRl shepherd pas
from the scene and they will swoop down lIk
eagles upon the prey. Don Carlos alrcad
controls u large area Of Spanish territory
and will, very probably, soon regain hI
crown. Aud now even England deliberatcl
turns from those who have been guiding he
In the paths Of progress to intrust her de,
tlnles 10 the partisins Of arlstocracy and col
soryatism. Assuredly there Is nothing &C.
tain In politics. All that transplres througl
out tho world teaches that party In powe
however strong, has need to strengthen /
position Ia the eyes Of tho people by provin
that 1t has not in any particular ceased to d
serve their confidence.