The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-24

| by tho various sorts OF worldly politicians
| whose places will be occupied by working-clnss
| members yet it will not rum short OF worthy
mon. able TO lead 1t forward in the path which
! it has thus far successfully followed.
| in connection with this topic Mr. HARDWOOD
protests against the common assumption that
"A democracy means the rule of II nero major
ity. and that therefore its decisions are de-
termincd simply by the counting Of heads.
What 1t really means is the ruie OF public
opinion in the formation of which the press is
exercising II constantly increasing influence.
TO Mr.. HARDWOOD it seems certain that English
ncwspap will more and more mould that
public opinion which Parliament is bound TO
obey. and thus, as in the recent past the chief
function of the House OF Lords has been con-
sidcred to be that of registering tho dccrces of
the Commons so in tho future 1T may happen
that tho chief function of the House Of Com
mons will DO that of creating n public opinion
formed by the press. This change will imply n
great loss Of power on the part OF the legsla-
ture. for whether it be true or not that he who
makes the songs of people is greater than lie
who makes their laws it is certain that he who
makes their opinions is greater than he who
oboys them.
Among the social consequences OF tho nccos-
sion to power OF democracy in England its
effect upon the land question is the most i'm
portant. We observe with some surprise that
Mr.. HARDWOOD believes that English working
men will ultimately incline to an application
of tho principles laid down by Mr.. Henry
George; he thinks that not only will all obs,a-
Giles to tho simple cheap. and certain transfer
of land be done away with. but that land will be
taxed not merely moro heavily than now. but
so much more as to establish a new principle
that. namely OF the ultimate State ownership
of the whole soil. In other words. the democ-
ra:y of England will not be disposed. If only
for tho sake of convenience. to refuse to recog-
nizc nodded power OF individual ownership OF
land but it will at the same time show itself firm
ly convinced that the land of a country belongs
to its whole people by a right which no legal
arrangements or historical sequences can ever
annul. This right will probably be asserted by
making the land Il source of national revenue
to much larger extent than it has ever been
before 1t is suggested that the taxation OF
land in England may be increased on three
distinct grounds. Firstly because il is now
too low even if land were merely like other
property. for the present taxation is no equiv
aent for the feuda burdens from which the
owners have been released; secondly. because
| land is not like other properly. but belongs to
the nation well as to the landlord; thirdly.
| because 1t ought to be put into tho category OF
articles of luxury which always bear extra tax
| ullOn. LOT as LII. JDnuSou SAUL Ilucu VI inc
benefit of n morning walk depends upon its
| being on ones own land.
In his chapter on the relation OF democracy
| to religion. Mir. Harwood sets forth the grounds
| for believing that the British workingman will
| feel the need Of a religion. and will accept
| Christianity as best meeting that need To the
question whether the organization OF religion
| will be framed in conformity with the secta-
rian or the national ideal. Mr.. Harwood. con-
| trary to the prevailing opinion. is inclined to
| think that the Established Church will survive
the transfer of political power from the middle
to the working classes. We find ourselves una
! BILE to accept his conclusions on this head.
which seem to us prompted by sympathy rather
! than by reason. The experience Of the United
States shows. we think. indsputably that the
| sectarian organization OF religion is most in
| harmony with democratic principles.
Some Excellent Work by n New Poet.
Among the young disciples of Mr.. A. C.
! Swinburne and Mr.. William Morris few have
evinced a greater mastery over the mechanism
and music of verse. or more fruitful devotion
| to art for arts sake than are evinced in a col
lection of songs by Mr.. KE!,NELL KopD pub
lished in this country by J. NJ. Stoddart 4 Co.
/ The technical merit OF the workmanship is
perhaps the quality which will first attract at
tention but 1t will be found that many of the
poems are fraught with strong imaginative
power and strike with no uncertain touch the
/ keyboard of the emotions. The authors cul-
ture is not only wide and accurate, but in
formed with something OF that intuitive com
prehension and sympathy which make the
| past to live again in the pages OF Landor: and
| his experience OF life is larger and deeper than
would be naturally looked for in the case of a
| youthful poet. But the poems will speak for
hon pl and " ~ shall mako rDniOnS Splpc-
tons from this attractive volume. confident
that our readers will share the surprise and
/ pleasure with which we have listened to the
words of writer heretofore unknown to us.
Here, for example. is ballad which is fairly
resonant with the tone and spirit OF the Sagas.
We have seen no more faithful and artistic re-
production Of the heroic mood of the Morse
rovers since William Morris gave us an epic
treatmcn: OF the Same theme in sigurd the
Volsung:"
TIE kISG's
High the wild border, the furthest downs to
Wv Tree grove on its crest
And heard The winds his story as they leapt up salt
And tore al the treakng branches that from the
Some SON Of ne oId.world vikings the wild
Who sailed in snake proved galley, with terror of
From the t6rl, the sunless winter, they
passed.
TIL they sped the inland waters and under the South
land skies
And stared the puny princes with their blue, vctori
And thry ,idl he old and royal and warrior all
lt- aaNe,
But ti III who had slain his brother lived yet in the
island ways
And lie zane hundred battles and died in his last
wild quest.
For he sad. Will have my vengeance. and then
viii take my rest"
lie had pissed lis honeward journey, and the king
Of The isles was dead,
lie had rnacn ne dgaasht Of triumph and his cup
che Isle King : head;
Aud he poke VI the song and feasng and the gadness
of inns L. De,
And brcc dGSs tile they rowed waveless
Til u small cloud rose To the shoreward, and gust
truLc out OF In. cloud,
And the spgay heat over the rowers aud the murmur OF
winds ). loud,
with the voice Of the faroH thunder, TIL the shuddcr
Ing an grew warm,
And DAY wa, dark ever and the wild god rode
the storm.
BUT the OH man laughed in the thunder he set his
Cus1Uc IN ils brow,
And hc MGfr bic sword in the ghinngs and chung TO
Che lni.,d PROV.
And tie r sOd's culver flashed out from
aGur. flashed skies.