The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23

Day, like his friend, Erasmus Darwin. was a
reformer in politics. He was strongly on the side
of America when the colonies revolted from the
mother country. He advocated an enlargement of
the basis Of Parliamentary representation.
There is no doubt, indeed. that, before the out
break Of the French Revolution, there had been
in English politics a considerable popular agita-
ton which connected itself with American indie
pendcnce and with tho affair of Wilkes. The
author of these lectures does not fail to recog-
nize the vigor and effect with which democratic
teaching was undertaken by Paine, whose
Common SENSE" Q776) had n large circula-
ton In England as well as in America. Starting
from the doctrine that, the more simple anything
Is, the less likely 1t is to be disordercd, Paine
violently attacked the English Constitution as
q complex system compounded with some new
republican materials from two ancient tyran-
MES, the remains of monarchical tyranny in
the person OF the King and the remains
of aristocratical tyranny in the persons OF
the peers. I'm England" according to Paine's
Common Sense "thc King has little more to
do than to make war and give away places,
which. in plain terms, is TO impoverish the peo-
pie and set it together by the ears. \ pretty
business, indeed, for a man to be allowed $780,
600 for and worshipped into the bargain. OF
more worth is one honest man TO society and in
the sight Of God than all the crowned rufiians
that ever lived" No effort is made by Prof.
Dowden, because 1t would lead him away from
literature, to trace the attempts made by Cart
wright and others on behalf of parliamentary re-
form, annual Parliaments. the ballot, universal
suffrage. or to bring under review the various
democratic ASSOCIATIONS which rose and fell
and rose again. Naturally, dissenters who
had suffered from religious disabilities,
and who hated the 1.-THE system, consti.
tuted n large proportion of the reforming
body. Especially conspicuous in this direction
were the Unitarians. DIR. Pricstlcy was pre-
pared to sympathize with the forward move
ment on politics. alike through his scientific
pursuits. his confidence in intellectual progress,
his eminent position among Unitarians. and his
connection with the centre OF manufacturing in
dustries. To the same religious persuasion be-
longcd DR.. Price. whose sermon before the Reyo-
luton Society gave occasion to Burke's "Reflcc-
tions on the French Revolution" Jebb. who
worked with Cartwright, was in holy orders,
but he resigned his preferments and passed over
to the theological position of Priestley. Thomas
Christie, who was employed by the Assembly on
the polyglot edition of the new Constitution.
was tho nephew Of u Presbyterian minister who
withdrew from the communion of his fathers,
preached to the first Unitarian congregation
established in Scotland. and followed Priestley
to America. William Friend of Jesus College,
whose influence on Coleridgo when a student
at Cambridge was considerable. who took a
jealous part in reform, both political and eccle-
s~iastical, became. In 1857. a convert to Uni
tarianisn. Six years later he was banished
from the university. The same temper of mind
that led to free speculation in religion showed
itself in political speculations. which sought to
replace tradition by ideas OF tho reason. Unsuc-
cessful Attempts wero made on the eve of the
French revolution to obtain a repeal of the Test
and Corporation acts.