The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-22
ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
We find in a.recent issue OF the Chi
cago Times Herald" an extraordinary
article which should be read by every
thoughtful man. 1t is as follows:
It is customary in contemporary po-
lltical discussion to speak of the identity
OF ideals. principles and beliefs between
Great Britain and the United States.
Anglo-Saxon civilization is-and rightly
supposed to be something radically
different from Teutonic or Gallo or Slav
civilization, and in the present struggle
between the world-powers the supremacy
OF the Anglo-SaNon branch. represented
by Great Britain and the United States,
is held to mean the triumph of liberal
ism, justice, individualism and human
freedom. In wide and genral sense
TINS is lndlsputably true, and because this
is true 1t is suggestive and interesting to
mark the dlsslmlarities between Eng
land and the United States in the narrow
domain OF politics and legislation For
there are important dissimilarities, and
certain pronounced tendencies in English
government appear little short OF amazing
to American eyes. 1t is to these atten-
ton is to be directed here.
Look at the legislative programme OF
the present British government, a pro-
gramme distinctly social and one
which, if proposed by the radical faction
of the liberals would doubtless be Sc
verely criticised as extreme and social
istic Apropos OF this governmental pro-
gramme the London independent papers
declare that the Tories are reverting to
their historic traditions and dropping the
opportunism which has long obscured the
real mission Of the party In defending
this programme Mr. Baliour reminded
parliament that the Tories and Conserv-
atives have ever had better means OF
knowing social grievances and more
practical experience in redressing them
by means of ameiorative legislation. 1t
is assumed that. notwithstanding the
cares Of empire and the exciting foreign
questions confronting England, the gov
eminent is about to undertake a num-
Der OF social and economic reforms. The
list OF measures already presented is
characterized by the Spectator as neither
sensational nor heroic, but none the less
useful and important The Improvement
OF secondary education need not detain
us, but two OF the measures will surprise
One provides for the purchase OF their
dwellings, by the poorer classes; that is,
it confers power on local authorities to
assist the poor occupiers in purchasing
their houses. Imagine congress or
state legislature in the United States
passing an act OF this character! Imagine
political party making it a plank in
its platform! Even the Populist would
shrink from it as too extreme They
have not gone beyond advocating state
and municipal ownership and operating
quasl-publIc industries, or so-called nat
ural monopolies. For this, specious rea-
sons may be given, but how can pro-
posal for state aid in enabling poor men
to purchase their dwellings be reasonably
defended in Anglo-Saxon principles Of
government? That it is desirable that
poor men shall own their dwellings may
be conceded, but in the United States
private enterprises attends to that The
cooperative building and loan associa-
tons do not depend on state aid, nor do
they need it, yet they operate on a plan
and scale large enough to necessitate
regulative legislation and official super
vision. How does it happen that in
Great Britain the government itself-and
a Tory government at Extraordinarily
undertakes work that even avowed pater-
nalists would regard as absurdly beyond
the sphere Of democratic and popular
rule? Are we justified in concluding that
the English are retrograding and re-
nouncing their traditions and ideals OF
self-help and individualism?
But a still more astonishing fact re-
mains to be mentioned. Mr.. Balfour
actually promised that the present SEES
sion of parliament should not end with
out the serious consideration Of the sub
ject of old-age pensions, with which a
government bill is to deal There has
been no great public demand for uni
versal old-age pensions, and it cannot be
said that the government is carrying out
a popular mandate The question has
been discussed in rather theoretical
manner in the press, but nothing prac-
teal has so far Aeen suggested. Why the
Tory party should treat it as practical
and urgent matter it is difficult to say.
Again, one is tempted to ask, Can it be
supposed that either of the great political
parties in the United States would make
old-age pensions for all poor people a
plank of its political platform? Would
not such plank be ridiculed out OF ex-
istence? It is true that New Zealand
that home of radical experiments, has
adopted an old-age pension law under
which every New Zeaander, man or
woman. who has reached the age of IS
is entitled to about 500 a year, provided
his or her income is below $I75 a year
But this law may be revised or repealed
after period Of three years. and it is not
certain that the colony will perpetuate
the scheme. 1t is not to New Zealand,
certainly. that England ought to look for
examples. The fact is that the British
Conservatives are more radical than the
American Populists. The causes Of the
difference are historical and cannot be
examined here But the subject is full
of interest and instruction.
Why should England be SO much more
progressive than the republic OF the
United States? England came up
through continuous and bloody wars;
every step was battle; every right was
wrested from the dominant c1,ec a.,,