The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-19
AN ENGLISH VIEW OF OUR INsTI-
TUTIONS.

A recent issue Of the London Spectator
contains an interesting discussion of the
operations OF our governmental institu-
lions as Englishmen view them. The ar
ticle is called out by the constant refer.
ences made by the supporters Of the Home
Rule bill TO the admirable way Home
Rule works in the United States, In spite
of which. however, the Spectator mani
tests no sort OF disposition to change the
English constitution to conform to ours.
and 1t states its views in the following
paragraph:
Moreover, q federal constitution, what
shape soever 1t might assume, would be
distinctly inferior polity 10 that which
we now possess The British Constitution,
modhed and amended from time to time
In the light Of experience. has stood the
fsst of ages. II has given us freedom,
greatness, prosperity. The Constitution
of the United States, though admirable
An theory, has proved in practice a COM
parative failure Thanks TO their vast
and fertile territory, the continual inflow
of able-bodied immigrants their freedom
from foreign complications and their
own enterprise and industry Americans
have attained TO "A high degree of material
prosperity; but their Government is one
OF the most extravagant in existence,
corruption is rampant, laws are made
IN the interest OF rings, cliques and indi-
viduals. the boss regns supreme and
honest citizens will not touch politics lest
they should be dehled. Albeit the army
of the United States is limited TO 5000
men, and the national debt has been re-
duced to fi6O,OoOOOO sterling, the annual ex-
cf uan
in addition TO the expenditure OF individual
States. Upwards OF f20.O00000 are dis
bursed In pensions. partly as a pretext for
the maintenance OF highly protective
tariff, partly In order TO corrupt the cleo
torate In the interest of the Republican
party. The purchase Of $4,000 900 worth OF
silver per mensem at the bidding Of the
silver kings" which has landed the coun-
try on a financial crisis of the first mag
nitude. is as gross job as were the pur-
chase OF 100000 tons OF IRON to crafty
clique of ironmasters.
The State Legislatures, save in a few
instances. are VIGOROUSLY inefficient and
corrupt. Meeting for only few weeks
In the year" writes MIR. Bryce In his
American Commonwealth, they are
alarmingly active during those few weeks
and run measures through whose results
are not apprehended till months after
from the fear OF jobbery. that the meet
ing Of the Legislature is looked forward
20 with anxiety by the good citizens in
these circumstances and its departure
hailed as a deliverance" Writing OF the
legislative assemblies Of Pennsylvania and
New York. the same authority observes
that the election of members OF low
type has been followed by such a
Witches Sabbath OF jobbery. bribing,
thieving and prostitution OF legislative
power to private interests as the world
has seldom seen"
IL does not concern us In America very
much neither the British adopt our fcrm
Of government for themselves or whether
they do not. But II does concern us very
much to know whether the view this Eng
itsh journal takes OF the practical opera
items OF our institutions is just one or
net. Are we prosperous only on account
OF our vast AMI fertile territory, the
continual inflow Of able-bodied immi-
grants and ,ur freedom from foreign
complications. and are our institutions
DO wanting In inherent principles OF vi
tally that the evils In government so
graphically portrayed by the Spectator
are their natural and legitimate fruit. or
are they only abuses OF those institutions
the correction Of which they are entirely
capable OF supplying?
We cannot deny the statement that our
army contains $500 men only. that our
interest-bearing national debt s. reduced
70 x@.ooo.ooc and that our annual expenses
nevertheless are more than f75. Ooo, ooo--that
" sS's'V"'co. They are. In fact. more
"an sTO'"oooo. Nor can we deny that
the sessions OF our State Legislature.
' snort are aiarmingly active for
wv curing that short period, and that
We sessions OF many Of them ass ~