New-York tribune., 1886-02-12

eraliZatlOn, or rapidly framing RtherH ioi'n"
clothed in striking language but unverihed and
perhaps incapable OF verifcaton. "On
pure democracy tins class of general formulas
has a prodigious effect . and thus there is
formed a sort of sham and pretence OF current
opinion" This levity of assent" is an enervatihg
habit which has seriously enfeebled the French
intellect. and has most injurousy affected the
mind of England. 1t is true that American eN-
perlence shows how democracy may be made toer-
able by wise constitutional provisions Thoroughly
thought out beforehand, carefully defining the
public powers, and taking the amDlest securities
against the alteration of constitutional arrange
Dents without every guarantee OF caution anu oo
liberation. Sir Henry finishes the essay with
review of the grave changes proposed III the BRUSH
Constitution, apropOs especially of the recent as
ousson of the powers and usefulness of the House
of Lords. and contrasts the hasty methods OF
English Radicalism with the elaborate precautions
which surround the enactment OF CONSTITUTIONAL
amendments in the United States
In the third essay "The Age OF Progress ho
argues that the perpetual change whlch democracy
appears to demand is not III harmony Win the
normal forces ruling human nature, ana Is apt'
therefore to lead to cruel disappointment or serious
disasterD The passion for change in political nsti-
tutions reminds us of movements for change III
religion Projects for q real or supposed reform are
uninteiligent and disorderly crowd who desire
change only for its own sake. and still larger
crowd who merely acquiesce in what the others are
doing But these manifestations, which are 30
common in politics. are not the universal aho per
manent phenomena of human nature. On INC
contrary, Sir Henry argues with great deal "
ingenuity that by far the larger part Oh MANKIND
are intensely conservatives and he illustrates our
ntoerpce of change outside the sphere of politics,
To thnE pln
habits or those modes of conduct and behavior
which we follow either quito unconscousy or with
no better reason to assign for them than that we
have always followed them; and OF fashions
which, far from being caprclous aud mntahle' are
always repeating themselves with little suOsCahtia
variation. Sir Henry makes the striking declara-
ton that the most terrible calamity winch can he
conceived of rs Detailing great populations Is"
rev Dlution in fashion under which women shonid
dress as men practically do in one material oil one
color There are many honrishing and opulent
cities in Europe aud America which would be con
demned by it TO bankruptcy or starvation. and 1t
vould be worse than famine or a postilence IN
China India, and Japan" Why then is there SD
much apparent enthusiasm for innovation Ill pol
iticsl The principal reason is given by Sir Henry
Name IN the following words:
Ieqislation is one of the activities of popnar gov
ernmcnt and the keenest interest III these actiV-
Is
tiles Ii is one great advantage OF popular govern
ment over government OF the older Npe' thdt ~ -
SO intensely interesting FOR twenty years we Law
close to our shores striking example Ol TINS punt
of inferiority in absolute mOnarchles during the
continuance of the Second Bonapartlst Emplre III
France. 1t never Overcane the disadvantage u
suffered through the duncss of lis home poiitlcs
The scandal, the personalities, the gossip ana the
tritling which occupied its newspapers proved no
substitute for the political discussions " which had
filled them while the Republic aud the consul
tutiOnal Monarchy lasted. Inc men VINO ruie9 II
..t fIta fnn 4
this decline of excitement and amusement suitable
to cultivated and masculine MINDS; ana thelr
efforts to meet it led directly to Their overthrow, ny
tempting them To provide the French pnbhc with
distractions OF n higher order, through adventurous
diplomacy and war. here are again, good obscrv-
ers who trace the political insecurity OF Russia, the
aggressiveness of her government abroad, ana the
wild attempts on II at home, 10 Tue genelai "uh'ss
OF Russian life during peace. EngIlshhlch Nouiu
lind lt almost impossible 10 CONCEIVE what WOMB
compensate them for the withdrawal oi the
enthralling drama which is enacted leiOre them
every morning and evening. a ceaseioss no" OF
public discussion, thrOng OF pubic events crown
of public men. make up the spectacle. NcYcrthc-
less in our country at all events, ovcrndu gence
IN what mas no doubt become aApasslOn with
elevated minds is growing to he dangerous. fOT
the plot of the performance which attracts sCch
mnlttudes turns. nowadays. almost always ON t"H
fortunes OF some legislative measure. - fhell,h
Parliament as has been SAID legislJted very little
until fifty years since, when 1t fell under tue lhl-
ence of i}entham and his disciples Ever since tho
hrst Reform Act, however, the Volume oi lcgisatioh
has been increasing. and this has been very hinch
the unloOked-iOf operation Ol Il Ntli,ldolo
constitutional form. the Royal Speech at the begin
| unu of each session. Once 1t was the hng VINO
| spoke now il is the Cabinet as the organ Ot the
! party who supports II and 1t is rapidly Incoming
The practice for parties to ontbd one another ~ the
length of the tale of legislation 10 which they pledge
| themselves in succ sivc Royal Speeches
further.reas n for 1.-THE popular impression that
incessant legislative change is the proper
characteristic of the Age-of Progress, is found III
the survival of group .of words. phrases, maNinN
and general propositions, derived largely from the
discreditable theories of Rousseau aud the doubtful
doctrines of Jeremy Bentham and accepted without
inquiry as convenient political cOmmOnplaces III
these considerations Sir Henry finds the suggestion
of some very simple and obvoGs inferences:
1t modern society DC not essentially and normally
| through the unusual and exceptional process OF
change is not easy but extremely dililcult nat Is
| easy to q man is that which has come 10 MN
| through q lOnglnhcrtcd experience, IKE walklhg
or using his fingers; what is difficult TO him IS that
! in which such experience gives him little guidance
| or none at all like riding or skating. IL IL eX-
tremely probable that the l,arwiuidn rule, small
! changes benefit the organism" holds go0d OF com
munities of men, but sudden sweeping political
| reform constantly places the community IN the
| position OF an individual who should mount horse
solely on the strength OF his studies III work Oh
| hOTsemanship.
Applying this corrected estimate Of the Age of
| Progress to the problems of British politics. the
author makes earnest argument against all
sudden aud radical changes, and IN particular
against the proposed abolition OF n second chamber
and finally as If foreseeing that great changes must
come and that the part of craftsmanship is to
| look for guidance toward that country whose
material and political success has done most to
maintain the credit of popular institutions. Ills
fourth essay accordingly is devoted to an analysis
| of the Constitution of the United States which he
regards with very high admiration. 1t belongs TO
the class of historically developed constitutions,
which experience has shown to be the only class
! destined to q long life 1t was derived naturally
| from the British Constitution, and its excellence
| lies 1" in the skill with which sagacous men,
conscious that Ger ain weaknesses which it inherited
i .iI