, 1877-01-13
Examine from, Abroaa.

among the leaders of the dominant
partv in the United States. Yet upon
the very point which occupied such
prominence among the grievances
which led our foretalheTs 10 the dee
iqration Of American independence,
the interference of The military in the
government of free States, the English
government is far in advance OF the
present administration. 4 single IN
stance, recounted by an editorial writer
in the Springfield luass,l Republican,
who was present At debate III the
house Of commons wien Lord Palmer
urine minister Of England,
his power and pop
>trate the subj CT.
an election that day
Parliament in the
bore, one of the old
rar;,be, don, in which Palmer
,ron was resident voter. 1t was just
At this time when me ri1le company
craze was at lis hright,in England, IN
A,ril, 1861, and one OF the London
rifle companies had solicited the honor
Of accompanying the premier TO
the voting place. Their escort was
coarteousIy accepted by ihe great man
and his carriage WAS accordingly pre-
ceded from his house TO the polling
place By this volunteer rifle company
with their accoUlrements Oh and then
Iilles in their hands.
Now although this was not a stand~
ing army demonstration, and was III
fact a mere persona! compliment Of a
militia company, PalmcrstoD was at
once taken to task about it by Gen.
Peel (brolher Of Sir Robert Peel }
who, shortly after the Commons as
sembIci, asked Of the government
benches whether it were in acoor
dance with the plecedentS and with
the spirit of English liberty to have
armed men at or near The PAGES where
the people exercised the elective fran,
chiSr? Lord PaimaSton began his re.
ply, as he usually did, jncusely. He
said the men who came beforehand TO
offer the escort OF Tie corps where fine
looking fellows, and he hated to say 10
to such a polite request ; and then, 1t
was qaire gratifying TO his pride a. a
British subject to see walking before
his carriage long line Dt well dressed
men, all III honor OF the British priv
lege of choosing representatives 10
Parliament, he liked good company,
he felt very safe with those men ahead
OF him. and besides he thought We'll Of
encouraging the zeal Of The citizen sol
diery-cllizeu soldiers had done great
things for England il the olden time,
aud so on.
Growing serious as he proceeded,
the tone soon became apo!o9elic. The
men were not allowed to enter the
precinct in which the "otiDg was ac-
tually taking place. That would have
been a grea; Infringement Of the pTiu-
ciples of British liberty. They stop
ped some distance short, and allowed
him to drive or. After he had given
his vote and returned 10 his carriage
they formed again and escorted him
back TO his house. But there was en-
objection to the whole thing, after all.
On reflection be himself did not ike
the looks of il. lie thanked his friend,
Gen. Peel, for calling the attention of
:he House and the country to the cir
camsIance, slight as it was. He
would acknowledge that it was entire
ly contrary TO the traditions Of British
elections To have men with arms in
their hands at or anywhere near the
yoting.placeS. Il il were 10 do over
again he would not personally consent
that it should be done, and that in the
interest OF elections, not only free, but
i'll every respect above suspicion. In,
deed, the government would at once
give orders at the war Office iha. moth
irg Of that sort should happen in the
future.
What an amazing contrast 10 the
practice of this American admluistra
lion. Palmeston sat down amid the
cheers from every part Of the house
opposition branches and aii-aud the
American spectator concluded that, III
the opinion OF the British Legislature
and ministry, there is an iucongrmly
in the proximity Of organized armed
men to the place where peaceful peo-
pie deposit their votes.
The Republican, ventures TO suggest
the question whether the American
people have reflected sufficiently Oh
this incongruily, and whether there
has not been, on the whole, and is not
now rather too much United States in
some of the States of his Union.
4 SETTLED QUEsTioN.-The question
is asked the writer aIrnos, every day.
+" Who will be inaugura,ed next
President ~ II seems rather strange
,bot Suck q oreSfinr sbDuld ha astol