The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19
Local Government for England.

The local government scheme, which is
about to be laid before the House Of Com
mons, ia interesting not only from its posi-
BILE effect on the fate Of Ministries and
parties, but also considered as q sign Of
violent reaction against local oligarchs on
the one hand and the centralizing tenden-
cies of recent legislation on the other.
Twenty years g Parliament would have
denied that any grievance Of the kind now
aimed at existed, while ten years ago the
grievance. If admitted, would have been
remedied In another way. As 1t Is, the
country Squire is to be shorn Of his tradi-
tional a%scendency over his immediate neigh
borhood. but the power withdrawn from him
is not to be relegated to q central board sit
ting in the metropolis.
1t Is expected that the bill will be submit
ted Immediately after the debate on the ad-
dress which Is now drawing to q close. In
credible as such agreement may appear, all
the details are said to have been agreed upon
by the Cabinet and the leaders Of the dissi-
dent Liberals. 30 far as tho features Of tho
measure have been made known, they in
clude three innovations OF capital impor-
lance. In the first place, the county boards
are to be chosen by the same body Of voters
who now possess the parliamentary suffrage.
This means that the agricultural laborer. on
franchised for the first time in 1886. as well
as tho artisan, factory hand, and petty
trader, will hereafter designate tho To-
cal authorities. It is In this provision
that the new boards shall DO elected
not by q restricted but a popular constitu-
~oo,, thai nv rao0uDtuo the Npnoaooinp pnah0
to Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN and other Radical
members of the anti-GLADsToNE coalition.
Lord SALIsBURY's influence must have been
severely taxed to persuade som of his COL
leagues to assent to q change which from the
point Of view of landowners involves Q social
revolution. For let the democratic principle
once be imbedded In the elective basis Of
county boards, and, no matter what lmlta-
ions on their sphere OF action may at the
outset be attempted, their total absorption
of control over local matters can only be q
question of a very short time.
OF the functions to be delegated to these
county boards only two have up to this time
been indicated on trustworthy authority
They are, it seems. to have the entire man.
egement Of the police forces within their ju'
risdictions. Evidently, then, the game Lawn
will nave to go. since they will never DO en-
forced by men who owe their Offices to CON
stituencies largely made up OF the social cat
egories from which poachers are recruited
This is only one Of many points In which
the old system of English country lfs
will be materially affected by the virtua
transfer OF police control from the land
ed to the landless class. But, how
ever unwelcome to the squirarchy may
be the knowledge that hereafter the inter
ests and sympathies of tho oonstabulary
will DO arrsyed against them, there Is nc
reason to apprehend an organized revolt
on the part Of country gentlemen against
the Tory Government. II there be, as Mr.
PARNELL has predicted, an element OF dan
ger in the Local Government bill, 1t must b,
sought for in another quarter, namely. In
tho clause authorizing the county boards
not only to issue and annul publicans' Ii
oenses, but. In some counties, to suppress
liquor selling altogether, by applying thu
!, principle Of local option. 1t y true that a