Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-01
tricts he viii choose either at the State
Convention or afterwards, as it may suit
his designs upon the boilers.
!. nanl,.nnwna and surrandere.

Tho attitude OF the SALISBURY toVeTn-
ment towards local government as dis
played in the Tory local government bill
has been frequently spoken OF as in
volying q backed and a surrender on
the part of the English Premier. I'm
questionably the bill contemplates q
progressive step, and is blow at hide
bound institutions and methods. But as
far az It's being breakdown and sur
render is concerned, it is also unques-
tionable that SALISBURY has precedents
for his courso--precedents set not only
by former Ministers, but by Kings. 1t
may be said that tho history Of English
legislation in the matter OF reforms and
the extension Of the rights and Liberties
OF the people shows a series of " back
downs and surrenders " at discretion on
the part OF rulers, commencing with
Runnymede. Magma Chdrfa was
"back down and a surrender" so
was tho renewal of that great
instrument, with some omissions, IN
the reign OF Henry III. The thirty
copfrmations of this last were " back
downs and surrenders," some of which
may have saved thrones il not heads.
In the same category-the category OF
"back-downs and surrenders must be
placed the Petition Of Right in the reign
Of CHARLES l., the babeas corpus act IN
the reign of CHARLES H., and last but
not least, the Declaration of Rights. 1t
is true that all or nearly all Of these
instruments or guarantees were violated,
but it is equally true that the great
principles they were designed to
pcrpetuate triumphed in the end.
The history of the TUDOR dynasty
is especially marked by instances
of sovereigns backing down from
positions they had taken. JAMES
ii. warred upon the habeas corpus act
only to find that the Tories were as much
attached to it as were the Wings, and
this war, together with other assaults
upon the constitutional constitution Of
precedents-w no unimportant instru-
mentality in bringing about his enforced
abdication and the re-establishment
Of constitutional government on frmer
basis than it had ever been before. 1t
has been over "back- downs and surren-
ders" that England has marched
in the direction of demonstrating
that the people are, after all, the
crown. And the story of English
charters, declarations of rights, the ha-
6eas corpus act, &c, finds something OF
parallel in the story Of reform bills,
franchise bills. &c. The reform move
ment as initiated by Lord JOIN RUssELL's
bill introduced into the House Of Com
mons in March, 1881, met with strong
opposition in the House Of Lords.
Several successive shared the same
fate, but in June, 1892, after popular
feeling in favor Of the movement be-
came so pronounced Us to produce rioting,
the peers "backed down and surren-
dered," and passed a reform bill. In
1867'6S DIsBAELI, than whom none
knew better the wisdom of yielding to
the public demand, carried through
conservative Parliament a new reform
bill, and though the Lords at first re-
sisted the franchise bill OF 18S4-'95
compromise was finally reached, which
was equivalent to another bsck-down
and surrender" on the pant Of the upper
house.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that
with these lights and these precedents
before him SALISBURY should favor
measure that appears to be a popular
one in England, and upon which it is
probable the opposition could come into
power. If he failed to read the signs of
the times he would damage his reputa-
ton both as a shrewd political leader
snd student of English history. His
present Touchdown and surrender
would seem to mean that he has wisely
placed himself on the sure foundation
of the popular will, from which coigne
OF vantage he can be in position to fight
successfully the Opposition upon other
questions.