Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-09-29
THE ELECTORS VOICE III ENGLAND
AND AMERICA.

Mr.. D.cey, in the Nortd american Re
gisa0, claims, and with ample reason, that
in England the people are sovereign, for
any change which majority of that nation
has at heart, is certain to be effected, and
by legal means and speedily. So when,
say, two-thirds Of the English people are
convinced that the abolition of the crown,
the peerage, the ecclesiastical system, or
even the House of Commons is desirable,
they will vanish by legal processes. But
we doubt very much if such extreme
measures as these or any one of them coald
be accomplished in England by peaceable
revolution. Minerities do not submit so
readily even to overwhelming majorities.
But that the final accomplishment of the
will of the people would be brought about
in England is certain. The only basis any
political party can have is the will of the
people Of the country, and it can exist
only go long as that will is reflected in the
principles OF the party. Mr.. Dicey counts
altogether too much upon the fact that
popular violence is unknown in England.
IF crowds do not now fight in the streets
for what they cannot obtain at the ballot
box, it does not follow that such will al.
ways be the case, or that when the fran
chise is extended, the same elements that
contribute to violence in other civilized
countries, will not make themselves dis.
agreeably manifest in England. But we are
free to confess that there will, in all prob
ability, be less liability to violence when
revolution comes In England, than there
would be in perhaps any other country on
the face of the globe, since the constituent
elements of English character are all an
tagonistic to social disorder. As Mr..
Dicey we'll remarks, all classes recognize in
England a new sovereign, and will WELD
to that power, for the sovereignty of the
people mas become in practice funda-
rental dogma of English constitutional
ism"
But having said this much, the essayist
holds that though English democracy has
entered upon its reign, it will probably
never govern. There are less than 4, 000,-
600 electors out of 80, 900, 900 of people in
the United Kingdom. The limit OF the
franchise, the difference between the bor-
ough and the country franchise, the distri-
button of Parliamentary seats, the exist
ence of the House of Lords, and hun
bred other constitutional checks, he thinks
neutralizs the theoretical supremacy of the
constituencies. The noble and wealthy
classes rule, and that rich manufacturer
has been admitted to the Cabinet who
commands wide influence, which is ex-
citing alarm in England, goes to prove that
if it has democratic Constitution, it is
not yet democratic country. He adds {:
g The mass Of the electors like to be led
by rich men and Lords" But to measure
the political possibilities in England by
such standard is an evidence of short
sightedness and unfamiliarity with the
events and thoughts of the age on the part
of the esssyist that demands no further
comment. Democracy in England is an
enigma, says the writer, and because it is
not understood by either its leaders or
itself, is an evidence that its supremacy is
very remote, if ever to be attained. This
is because they have not the means in En-.
gland of sscertaining the genuine opinion
of the nation, and the unsettled differences
between the statesmen of the country as
to policies certainly give support to this as
sertion. No one dare attempt to outline
even the true sentiment of the people
a4Don the Church question, the Irish
question, OF the foreign policy, The most