New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-05

steadily on the increase. Professor Hosmer makes
an ingenious argument to show that subsequently
America came to the help OF England; that the
reimbursement of the colonies was really the
Of English freedom. which, had George
the Third succeeded in subduing the evolted
would have fallen before the EN-
boldehed assaults Of the Hanoverian Cndoupt-
edly there is chain of connection between the
successive advances of freedom in widely separated
lands, and it is equally certain that the winning
of American independence DISCOURAGED all anu
measures and movements in England. and,
but for the excuses Of the French Revoluuon'
which wrought a strong though temporary re-
action. would have made Parliamentary reform
possible generation earlier than it was actually
achieved. 1t is not less true. Professor Hosmer
points out. that 1t is historical error to accuse
the English people Of having been hostile to the
colonies Nothing can be clearer than that the
war was the work of the Parliamentary majority
and the King, and that Parliament did not al tne
time represcnt the English people. Patriotic senu-
ment was expressed by Pitt, Burke ana ther
friends. and these strongly denounced the govern
mental measures which occasioned Inc reVoio'
The masses had no voice, but inasmuch as their
6obt was in all essentials identical with that Oh
tho colonists it is not reasonable to assume their
hostility 10 the latter
Taxation without representation was quiVe as
much an English as an American complaint anu
the English suffered more and longer from the
wrong than their kin across the sea. but .he
colonsts had preserved their free institutions 'ne
best and therefore they were not only mos' sen
sitiye to oppressive attempts, but they were oeV-
ter prepared to resent and oppose them. Inc
American township had reproduced the early
Anplo-Saxon institutions in greater purity anu
vigor than they possessed in the mother country
nj the period of the emigration; and being Tree
IN nreserye and cherish the means Of politcai
education. the colonists, and especially those Oh
New England. had developed general capacity
for self-government, an independence, sen-ie
lance and knowledge Of administrative ana eN-
ecutive work. which made them invincine OPP
moments in the circumstances about to De eVoi'eo'
Thus it was that the settlement of the Ihlroeeh
Colonies conduced to the preservation OF Aheio-
Saxon freedom, and led to the establishment III
the New World of republic much nearer III l'S
institutions and principles to the original system
than the state of things which mad grown up III
the mother country. So the success OF the A'neri-
can Revolution necessitated Parliamentary IT.
form In England and at the same ume ceaieu
the wav for it, But it must be admitted that
satisfactory settlement, and the strength OF the
influences opposed to reform have since been
shown by the length and obstinacy of the strus-
giles which have preceded each new ao'"h0c Al
the line of popular representation.
Professor Hosrner has an interesting chapter on
tho Constitution of the United States, showing
the extent to which the makers of that lhstru-
ment drew from old English. law and custom.
" The claim made by Sir Henry Maine, ne says,
" is not at all extravagant, that the Constitution
of the United States is cOlored throughout py
ideas of British origin; is, in fact, version Oh
the British Constitution as it must have pre-
sented itself to an observer in the second nail
of the last century," He further quotes the op-
seryation of Bryce that all sorts OF Old Engiish
institutions have been transferred bodily, ana
sometimes look as odd in the midst OF theE new
surroundings az the quaint gables of seventeenth
century house among the terraces OF growing
London suburb" Much no doubt was lett OUT III
the process of Encouragement, but what was eA
cluded. in fact was that in the English poiity
which made against the AnglO-Saxon freedom, the
obsolutism and privilege which had come to pass
in later times because the powerful were de-
termined to encroach, and the people were negh-
cont in maintaining their birthright. When all
was done. and the great growing nation had mad
time 10 accommodate itself to its political garment,
il WAS found that it was government or, py ana
for the people which had been provided 1or.
Though nothing important either In olate VI
Federal Constitution was new or un-Engnsh,
something important had been sloughed on
Taught by bitter experience the English UoV-
eminent changed its system in treating the new
and great colonial empire which sprung up wi'nih
generation of the loss of the American Coiohles'
Not that experience alone Is responsible 1or ohe
change. for Tories seldom profit by IL. In 'hiS
case it was largely brought about by the lhtro-
duction of new blood to Parliament; by The re-
forms in representation which for the nrst ,ilic
in centuries enabled part at least OF the pain
English people to influence public policy. Inc
direct result however, was to estapiish new
centres of AngloSaxon freedom all over the world
and then to broaden the foundations upon whlcp
the homes of mankind for the future principally
rest.
Professor Hosmer Is no pessimist. fuliy anu
frankly recognizing all the difficulties and dangers
which have arisen, all the pressing propiems
which remain after a century OF republican gov
crnment in the United States he agrees with Z ree
man. Bryce. Maine, and other English observers
and thinkers. that there is no good GROUND ioi
gloomy authorizations as to the future The rapid
and enormous increase Of population has lnoeed'
by creating huge cities raised one OF the most
perplexing of modern problems-that, namely, OF
municipal government. The carelessnesS WIN
which inexperienced foreign elements have been
admitted has increased the difficulty of securing
good government in great cities; and the pollti-
cal methods employed in these centres of popula-
ton have tended to put the bulk of their in
habitants out of touch with free institutions
The township system seems to wither and perish
under the new conditians. and the people cease
to obtain practical training in self-government
The town-mecting-the continuation of the folk
moot-survives only in the rural districts. and in
the Western States Here, however. it is strong
enough to hold its own and to furnish that precious
school of democracy which is its most important
function At present, it is true, no remedy has
been found for city misrule, but encouragement
NAV be found in the fact that the evil is gen.
orally perceived, and that agitation looking to
reform is constant and energetic After all, Pro-