The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-01-30
NEMPHIS APPEAL
SATURDAY. y.NUiRY 80, 1880
ENGLISH On NGTRsArT7y-
WING AMJI19AA
Tu9m, n

lily xfv oerica became a nation.
Gin 4out a king or a nozzle, and
sbe intention OF having neither,
lie aristocratic and monaTcbicsl coun-
tries Of Europe believed that a system
of government "without a head" was
too loose and disjointed to exist for
any length Ct time. Some successful
demagogues, they YER sure, would
usurp sovereign power, or a state Of
anarchy would ensue that would
make necessary the adoption OF q
monarchy. The English, especially,
could not believe that the American
experiment" could do sught but fail.
To-day opinion is changed 80 far that
our system is becoming admired by
them, as in many reepecta more con-
sentative and sound at the basis than
their own. We have q fixed national
oongtintion that regulates the action
OF the Legislature, the judiciary and
tho executive. 1.-THE English consti.
tuition" has often been boosted
o., but England has no con-
sttuuon. As q settled commu.
nifty there are necessarily laws
and customs bearing uIon constitu-
tionai matters, but that is not the
same thing as a formal constitution,
clear and defined, which indisputably
establishes the fundamental principles
in accordance with which the legisla-
tive, Judicial and executive functions
mutt be performed. No such advRnt-
sges exist In the English syatem. At
shis very time, when the relative pc.
sitions OF England and Ireland are
under discussion with a view to
amendment, there Is no fixed consti-
rational instrument to which can be
referred the points about which the
most oonbary views are expressed, for
the union Of tae two countries rests
simply upsn an act Of Parliament
which Parliamentary legislation can
repeal at any session. The Queen de-
Sared. in her recent speech, what she
termed "my unaltersble resolution"
upon the subject, but II Parliament
should choose TO repeal It's former act,
what would the Queen do? There Ia
NO constitutional provision out Of the
reseh OF Parliament 10 authorize her
70 Withstand the legislation. She
has veto, IL 10 true, but
che cannot use II unless she
con hhd a ministry that win take
the responsibility Of such q proceed
ing, and she cannot have a minister
other than such as Parliament chooses
10 support. Such loose and III ar
ranged conditions pervade generally
the English system. 1t iH no wonder,
then, that We find Prof. Dicey Of Ok
ford, writing upon our syttsm of gov
eminent, lie found saying; "The insti-
tutions Of the Union now excite some
thing like hopeless admiration on the
part Of thoughtful conservatives.
The plain truth ia tba. edu-
Gated Englishmen are slowly learning
that the American republic affords the
best example OF a conservi tive democ-
racy and now that England ia becom-
ing democratic, respectable English
men are beginning to consider whoth-
err the constitution OF the United
States may not afford means by which,
under new democratic forms, 4nsy be
preserved lhe political conservatism
dear and habitual TO the governing
classes Of Epgland,'' Coming from
40 eminent Oxford prcl9ssor-- aud Ok.
ford IL q very fortress Of English CON
servatism-shis statement shows how
England Of to-day differs in opinion
respecting tho American republican,
biugless system, from the England Of
George HIS time. Such q change is
a triumph We may well be proud OF.
How many hesIt.bunings, now much
ansrchiesl spirit we are free from Ii It
is { oubl,uc England to lie center. In
the words Of the Bolton AdreriiSsr, in
Eos'and, through the lower strata Of
society, the spirit of restless longing
for something batter aud ireer long
ago spread lis Influence, and the day
has como when the spirit finds ex-
preston net in lawless assaults on
public order, but in ways which can
not be checked by military force" Tho
wsnt & q fixed, definite constitution
which is the most conservative al pow
era and irdGenues-leave ENGLAND
open 70 anarchioaN tTdrts that il would
be vsiu to make here. Let Socialists
and taeir Ike Get a Parliamentary ma.
jodty, AID what wonld be sa,e from
destructive legislation? With us leg.
10 a Ice action is subject Z, judicial
sction, and the Suprems Court can
render these aot' nugatory If they are
Inconsistent with tae constitution.
+" The ttu,h is" The Adasytisar well re-
marie "EnSland has nothing between
itself and ansrchy bu. the gooJ lcnso
Of the people" II soc aiem and Wild
radiealism sSould rush like q tide
fmong the psople, common sense, ike
the rest, would be hurled away. II is
strange, but American co~nseryatsm Is
the admiration Of English
conservatives, those eupport,rs ii
moaarchy, arisiocTacyan and church and
sE8RsIA AND THE PRESEDfNF.
The editor OF Chs Washington ,GaJ
addressed a circular to mem.
~ a.. ns H-...s..