The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-30

ipi A'h w Nlt h'IulNlilpn vi StNtidl
thousands if this law is allowed to stand,
while others who united In the pool will
pocket their large shares IN barefaced
job, made successful by Addition, Division,
and Silence.
English Impressions of American Poli-
tics.
Mr.. r. W. DALE, who belongs, we believe,
Il, the school of English politicians known
as BIRMINGHAM Radicals, has of late had
good deal to say about American institu-
tions. He seems to have spent some time
in this country last autumn, anc mas lately
published n record Of his impressions u the
Nineteenth Century. His remarks on socia.
subjects are sensible enough, but it is the
shrewd and candid view OF American poll
tics which We think worthy Of special notice.
1t appears that not a few OF the Americans
with whom Mr. DALE came into contact
were so intensely conservative that did
they live in Englan they would regard the
democratic achievements OF Lord BEAcoNs
FIELD with dismay, and sigh over the dis
appearance Of genuine Tory statesman
ship. One gentleman, we are told, eA-
pressed hope that in fifty years
America HllkIl NtdSt W w "
republic. taking for granted an indissoluble
alliance between monarchy and conserva-
tism. But the English observer, with
knowledge of our history seldom acquired
by his countrymen, points out that these UNI
republican opinions are no new outgrowth
of special conditions but We're more
rife in the United States a hundred years
ago than they are now He recalls the fact
that the promoters OF American indepen-
dencc were for the most part old-fashioned
English Wings. not French Democrats, and
that JEFFERSON, almost alone, sympathized
with the Revolution Of 80 which the Fed
eralists regarded with a hatred we'll
nigh as intense as that which kindled
BURKE's invective. Now, at all events,
the mon who represent the hopes and con-
victons the instructive sympathies and
antipathics of a democratic land are in the
ascendcncy. whereas under the first three
! Administrations they had no chance what
ever OF controlling the Government.
BY way Of illustration, Mr. DALE cites
an incident we'll calculated TO aston
ish his English readers At a Cabinet
dinner about 1880, according to THOMAS
JEFFERsOS, curious conversation took
place touching the British Constitution as
it then was some forty years before the
first Reform bill =" Purge ii of its corrup-
ton" said Mr.. ADAMS, aud give to the
popular branch equality Of representation,
and it would be the most perfect system ever
devised by the art of man." To which HAM
I1ToN replied, "As it stands at present,
with its corruption and inequality and all
its supposed defects, it is the most perfect
| - hn axiltaI - In N,iaVv
of such facts, Mr.. DALE comedies that
American arstocrats need not De the
rank snobs which, at first sight,
they appear to English radicals, but
may in a good many cases have Inherit
ed "A conservative temper from the old Fed
cralist party. He notes another instance
Of survival in n kind of sentiment toward
the Queen and the members of her family
remarked IN the older States. and which it
was not easy To distinguish from loyalty.
The characteristic features Of our politi-
cal life have been seldom scanncdby visitors
50 discerning and uuprcjudiced as Is Mr.
DALE, Now and then he sees what seem to
him shortcomings in our institutions, yet
these he does not publish in tone OF
di-paragomcnt, but tries to account
for them on historical or local grounds
As regards the slur frequently heard
in England that Americans have nc
political earncstncss and neglect their civic
duties he points out that men cannot be ex
poctcd to take SO keen an interest in THEN
national Government when their state Leg
, i.aturoe absorb SO large share of power
/ our system of homo rule is an historical no
ccs-ity, and ahundantly indicated 10y it,
adaptation TO the necessities of the people
| But no doubt IT docs, as Mr. DALI
suggests divide political interest and de
, privo political life of the depth aud energy
! drawn from concentration OF our civil
3 service, and the system Of an elective judi
ciary, which most foreigners hastily con
denim on abstract principles, Mr. DALI
, speaks with insight and moderation
l lie is convinced, he says, that our ciyi
\ service, Notwithstanding the feature of 70
/ tatilu i'm office, is on the whole both homes
{ ond directive, the administration of the Pos
p Onco, in particular, being in his iudgmcn
S admirable, lie adds that our judiciary sys
Il tenn works much better than might hay
Il been expected. Now and then, in thinly
u settled districts, a man may be elected +
Il the bench who knows no more Of law than tn
G unpaid magistrates who administer juAic
o in English counties. But since the man VIII
r is 'rn' for a Judgcship is commonly $,
h lected hy the lawyers of his party, he is az
T. to bo, as Mr. DALE concodos, Il man of alb
e ity, and with Il competent knowledge Of lHy
o A. birmingham Radical and partisan
90 JoHN BRIGHT, Mr., DALE is, Of course, a fire.,
trader and he does not omit to signali2
II some facts which no thinks to /
to opposed to the American policy of pr,
Il f.arf