The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-10


tho hest In The book The author is careful to- |
\, Justice to the political capacity of John. who
"a 4, nleurdly underlined in the popular text
books. hut whom careful Observers are inclined
4, cali Tho nhlcst OF tho Angcvin soyereigns. II
H. uaf. ted out too. that the share " the Com
mons In political affairs VIVA. 50 to speak
+ rrcl upOn thcm 10y tho necessities ~ SIMON
d. N,atford. and that the duty " attendance
,,,4, Parliament was for many years studiously
snIrAcd hy the knights OF the shire. Tint
,'ar.., go pregnant Of results should be almost
.t.r.I, cly traccahle 10 the weakening " the
rns ,n harona4.c by the Norman kings IL one
.fu.., lucky a .cidnnts which have played 30
nr... , part in framing the English Constitu-
t.u Why the old Eng All wisc-npot grow into
,l,n Parliament. while the States Gen
rrd France disappeared. il a difficult qucs-
O. 40 Tor those who sock to explain historical
Phenomena 10y differences VI race. and what
t.ay 40 thc genius Of the people
81, il tho admission OF the Commons 10 Par
,n NJ WINS lucky accident. the use whicn
d., earned to make OF the privilege in the
most century ATHEISTS astonishing progress. We
fni the principle Of II responsible ministry.
,Ai,'l !. commonly credited to the revolution OF
3s repeatedly enforced during the weak
tlti. % ElAAsl II. and Richard H.. whil'
ey.i. % the bust manhood Of Edward Ill. the
uiA 20 the Commons over the purse seems 10
I,.,. r,on moro distinctly conceded than in the
,Hnr ef the first Stuarts. But OF course the
knights " the shire and the burgesscs OF
vn. stood for worry narrow consttu-
envy md Mr. Green dcvotcS nm interesting
cii,tf.r 70 tho growth Of fierce spirit "
.- .nro on the part OF the unrcprescnteA
tt-, ,fthe English nation. For the first time
Innf ,pulnr history we find careful attention
upd I'D the notable outcome of the general
suffering In the novel revolt against the whole
sy.t.in II social inequality which hnd passed
Nfrln. stoned a. the divine order Of the world.
pucp'Acc " Bretigny was hardly signed when
t'rly u the poor found uttcrancc in the words
ui john Ball. in whose sermons England first
listened to declaration OF the rights Of man.
"Go,l people" cried the preacher. whom the
couriy Frossart calls "a mad priest Of
k,ut"-" things will never be well in England
solons As goods be- not in common and 80 long
~ { ere be villcins and gentlemen by what
= sht are they whom we call lords greater folk
uhn we? II we all came oithe same father and
mother. OF Adam and Eve. how can they say or
prove that they IRE better than we. II 1t be not
thattncy make Us gain for them in our toll what
they spend in thciI prdep" But the darker and
srrunr aspects Of the time are most effectively
BROUGHT out in Mr.. Green's analysts Of William
Lluelnnd's pocm-the Paint OF Piers Plough
man Men took Tor mailman this moody clerk.
WI p-, bitter poverty made him 10th 10 bow 10 the
$3.50 rha,,, ,,nrlIt.ba
- 49,, -, 81. ,'.,,.. ~ ,,,.,,.
.., tis "a. -,
t..a,,,t't. t,srair ,,,,,.,iyo. IL, 4. d.
,, 80 ,,',,,',,. ,.,,t,,-s o., ,.,,i,,,
f.nr,- ~ tho hithe folk he mingled witt into
his pilgrim train. so this gaunt rliymer gathers
into % wide field his army Of traders and chat
irr.r- .nf hermIfs and solitarics. of lloughmcn
s ....',,i ~. ,,.....,.
-, -, ,,'.'.. -. a,,,
Lo,In., ,r.t+ ,I...t,,,.. - ,,, :,
C,n,or,,,rv hn, rr,| om1 tho,r
Guido ia ,o,,ror .l.~, mo- ,,ri..t h,,
p,,,rLin ,ho pio,,,,t,,o, ,',,, ,h., a,i
,Joughi,,, =, bfs ,,alI uts,,,l.,f, .,.,..
4, nnd In mic roI,o,yol ,..,,, ,h., ,.os,..i ~,
enuality hacked bv tho posn.l ~ lal.,r Tina
MIN Of the Plourbmsn ia to work and IN max,
e,yorld work with him Uo,varna ,bn l,hor.r
n. he wnrns the knight mud cnll. huncer cor.
instrument in bringing the idlcst to toll.
Emit he .iu-s rs "A man conscious Of his
lbuelinoss md without hone. amt tAero IL
n t,rribl. de.unir IN the .l.., of his poem.
II L. certain that more oppr,.sive LEGISLATION
thrn that demanded by the English Commons
a, tbs period was never prompted in the
interests of capital. No doubt the statutes Of
Ih,r.rs wore powerlcss 10 reduce the eetnal
,n,.. of wages or to restrict the mass Of holtin,
lnl,r within definite areas ~ embodiment bui
th,v proved effective ia sowing hatred between
EMPLOYER and employed The poorer viliem-
md the free laborcrs banded together in secret
CONSTITUENCIES. which tho wealtnicr yillcins sup
pheI with money. The craftsmen within hor-
ougls carried on the same strife against
master and craft guild. Tho return Of soldiers
from tho war threw over the land lost II