Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-16
THE BRITISH DEMOCRACY.
What Radical Henry Babouchere, Ed
tor and Politician, has TO say OF the
situation.
irom z Landon TN.h

From the Tendon TtG'h
For my part, have always been sur
pnsed that the Conservatives ever as
sented to almost universal suffrage. If
understand our constitution correctly, it
was the equal representation of classes.
To sweep away this, and to substitute tor
it numerical representation, was to deal a
deathOl0W TO the scheme of government
which up to now has prevailed. The cen
tire of gravity has been shifted. 1t is now
on the side of the Demos, and this means
democracy. Our ancestors sought, by
checks and carefully adjusted balances,
to com bine aristOcratic with popular gov
eminent; later on, power was nOminally
in the hands of the middle classes, most of
whom had sneaking kindness for the
aristocracy and a bitter hatred OF those
below them. Now it belongs TO the peO-
pie. Is it not insanity to suppose that
the people will not use it? Show me one
case IN history where they have not,
when they could.
We Radicals snail, therefore, at very
distant date be masters Of the situation.
DO you, my respected Conservative
friends, suppose that we shall tolerate
hereditary legislators imposing veto on
our viii? Do you imagine that we shall
allow territorial maguates TO own COun-
ties! Do you think that we shall assent
to millions per annum being handed over
by Inc state to one religious sect? Is IL
probable that we shall submit 20 the exc
cutive being in the hands Of peers and
Plutocrats, who do all that they can to
render all our labors nugatOry? Can you
be 50 blind as not to see that we shall in
slst upon equality OF sacrifice as The basis
Of taxation, and on the Obligation To raiSe
the pubhc revenue from those best able 10
bear lt2 MODstrOus doctrines. you say.
You think so, but we do not; and the
practical question is not which Of us is
right, but which will prevail. You gave
us the victory when you aided us in es-
taOhshing universal suffrage and electO-
raj districts. The battle is already won
II you dOnot perceive this, | am sorry for
your intelligence You may. perhaps,
delay your walk between the Caudine
Forks, but you cannot escape it.
Your newspapers pirate about an ALI
ance between the Conservatives and the
moderate Liberals against us. How
many are there OF these moderate Lib
erals with us now? A few eX-leaders and
few arietocratic office seekers. Tneir
followers have joined you already. or
what avail was II TO you that this or that
great territorial magnate announced that
be left US? This did not give you the
counties 1t probably did not alter 100
votes IN the United Kingdom. If you
think that 1t would be OF any advantage
to you most willingly would we make
you present of the entire House OfLOrds
and OF the entire squirearchy.
tell you your fate because / have no
sort OF ill-feeling toward you. Yours is
one phase Of political thought, mine is
another. You may be right or | may be
right. Who knows? All / would re-
specially point out to you is that my
phase is the one which will recommend
itself TO the majority OF the electors.
Where an entire community has votes.
the interest-Or, it you ike 1t better, what
Is believed to be the interest-uf the COM
munity will prevail. SO long as few had
votes, and the powerful could know how
the weak voted, the interest of the few
prevailed. The wheel has gone round
You are now at the bottom, we are at the
top. Why, then, deny the inevitable
logic Of events or kick against the newt
able? You have had a long, and, as /
dare say you found it, very pleasant in
nings. 1t is our innings now.