Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-11-12
Lord Salisbury ON American Insti-
buttons.

Lord Salisbury's article entitled "Dls-
intergration' in The Quarterly Review
has produced a certain sensation both in
England and on the Continent, both on
account of its bitterness and the audacity
of its charges and suggestions. II appears
to have been written in one Of those moods
of irritated disgust which at times impel
public men to profess the abandonment of
hope for their country. Lord Salisbury
declares in effect that England is going
to 1.-THE demnition bow-wo-s;" that the
monarchy has become virtually suppressed
ed by the House of Commons; and that
the latter is by its folly about to precipi-
tate "disintergration," not only in poll
tics but in society. One is reminded by
the noble lords denunciations Of the kind
of talk which was held when Sir Leicester
Dedlock called family council at Ches-
ney Void to take measures for the saliva
ton Of the country.
But Lord Salisbury is not satisfied with
prophesying woe in this manner. In the
ierceness of his wrath he turns to the
United States, and regardless Of the impli-
cations OF his avowal, declares that the
great Republic possesses more stable
Government than that of England.
The Americans, he observes. no
doubt with lively sense of the growing
infirmities Of the House of Lords. have "A
real second chamber which dares to act.
They have also, he points out. President
who dares to veto, and a Supreme Court
which can arrest any Legislation iniring-
ing the obligation of a contract. In short,
Lord Salisbury is disposed to think that
the United States Government Is ''saier"
than that of England, ard that in many
respects it ID better system. What makes
this criticism peculiar is the fact that it is
the criticism of noble who can only be
supposed to detest the whole theory OF
democratic government. and who is rag
ing against his political opponents mainly
because he fears that the policy they are
pursuing will democratize England.
There is of course no safety for his order
in the idea of the American second cham
Der. 1t may be that England will some
day copy our Senate, but before that can
happen the doctrine of hereditary legis-
lators will have to be discarded, and of
course such step implies even more radi
cal "disintcgration" than Lord Salisbury
now apprehends. 1t is indeed curious that
his lordship's intense hatred of English
democracy should almost lead him to throw
himself into the arms of American de-
mocracy. For if he really believes that
American institutions are safer" than
that he ought to be found in the ranks of
the Radicals whom he assails, instead of
thus leading the torlorn hope of the To-
ries. 1t is to be hoped, however. that in
what he says of our Supreme Court there
is no intention to be ironical For while
1t is certainly true that the tribunal referred
to can "arrest any legislation infringing
the obligation of a contract the expert
ence of the past ten years seems to render
1t questionable whether the will of the
court in that direction is equal to its juris-
diction. Indeed a good many Americans
have latterly come to ask themselves
whether. in view of recent Supreme Court
decisions. there remain any contract obi
cations which any one is bound to respect.
Perhaps Lord Salisbury does not under
stand this, and is quite serious in what he
says. But in any case there is no justifca-
ton for the abuse levelled at him because
he has had the temerity to look abroad"
for examples. The Spectator, for instance.
observes that he is "by no means a typical
Englshman" because of this. 1t might
therefore be concluded that the typical
Englishman" neverventures to lift his gaze
from the Ark of his own political coven-
ant. Yet the English press is never weary
OF gibbing at the French conceit which
finds nothing deserving observation or
imitation outside France. and the same
English press has always manifested fiat
tered complacency when American speak
ers or writers have praised the institutions
of Great Britain.
But Lord Sslisbury's remarks upon the
United States may be recommended to
those Americans who think it an evidence
of superior sense to depreciate their own
country. 1t is not necessary that the alb
solute sincereity OF the remarks should
be postulated. So far as they are true.
the force Of the argument is not weakened
by any considerations of the inspiring mo-
tive. We have in fact an almost involun-
tary testimonial to the supposed wisdom
of our governmental system, in The Quar-
teriy article, and what makes it more in
teresting is that it is the expression of one
who is of necessity from his position and
education opposed to democracy in all its
forms.
Dear Friend-Try all the doctors and all
the patent medicines, and after that, il you
still live, and want to be cured, use JAD-
WINS TAR SYRUP. Ii never fails to cure
81 ~