The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-01

carried on by her during the last twenty
years, but more especially by the revived
military activity Of continental nations
We may cOnccde that this state OF things Is,
to large extent, England's misfortune
that threatening attitude must needs be-
get posture Of defence. and that struc-
turc assumed for self-protectiOn, being
available for Offensive action, not unnatural
~ tends to initiate it. But we note the fact
because we would mark its bearings ON home
politics in the sweeping change which has
come over the spirit Of domestic legislation,
In the rcvcrsion toward the militant type in
British institutions generally, in the swift
extension Of centralized administration and
compulsory regulation.
The signs of change are conspicuous in all
directions. County governing bodies, for
instance, willing to shift part OF their bur
dens on the nation Mt large consent to yield
up part Of their powers. The Poor law adj
| ministration has grown more centralized,
local officers being more and more restrict
ed 10y Government Board. The general
sanitary dictation has eliminated in the
formation Of several hundred districts SUI
pcrviscd by medical men controlled by the
central authority. The Contagious Disease
act Overrdcs the constitutional guarantees
OF individual freedom, and II applied by n
central police not responsible 10 local CON
troll. The telegraph system. which was cro-
atcd by voluntary cooperation. has become
"A part of the State organization and there
is now an active advocacy Of state purchase
of railways. Instead Of maintaining the
principle proper to non-militant commu-
ptt -
remedies for injuries the contrary principle
IS gaining ground. Of preventing them by
Government inspection Adulteation of
food is 10 be checked not 10y quick aud Ger
tain penalties, but by public analyzers The
arrangements in mines, ships factories
lodging houses down even to the sanitary
appointments of private dwellings, are pre-
scribed by laws carried out by officials.
Along with the assumption peculiar to a
militant type Of society, that State authOri-
ty over citizens has no assignable limits
there Is growing up n blind faith in State
Judgment also peculiar Ia n military sys-
tenn. In n word. rs SPENCER has pointed
out, the compulsion once supposed to be JUS
titled in religious instruction by the infalli-
bic judgment of Pope. l. now supposed 10 bc
justified In secular instruction 10y the infalli-
bic judgment Of Parliament. At present
public opinion in England, instead Of pro-
testing with BESTnAM and MILL against
being governed too much, seems to applaud
every entertainment of legislation.
This revcrsion to the compulsory social
system which belongs to n militant nation
explains the change otherwise paradoxical
in the relative strength of the political
parties. In essence Toryism stands for the
power Of the State rersus the freedom of the
individual, and for the time being the ma
tional prestige and safety, a. in the ease Of
an army in the field. are believed to prescribe
cocrcive organization and the strengt hcning
Of the central power. So long as the mutual
threatenings Of European States continue
and the prospect Of fratcrnal relations Is
not encouraging, just 50 long Is the central
izing process likely to go on in England, and
its exponent, the Conservative party, to
keep its place mistaken.