The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29

who denounced the pride and selhshnr,s -
IN" higher orders, and demanded that tho
state, the Church and human society should do
Justice TO the poor man Reason and con-
incubus Of privilege and oppression which vas
polite. In this democratic spirit, which was
beginning 10 feel It's potency, there was m
earnest OF future amendment and of the u,U.
nafc reign of liberty. humanity and justice lor
all. although the path 10 its realization was
TO be a long and weary one.
We pass to some later Incidents In the reign n,
Edward III which bear on the oyoluicrol II.
English Constitution, After The Peace q,
Brctlgny. which VIZ concluded between Eno.
land and France in 1909. the incroasiur amog..
Of useful legislation bears witness 10 Tn gov.
ing power of the Commons, who became ovcr
more alert in their efforts 10 control the adj.
ministration Of King ard Council H. l2s,
a demand made successfully fer "a
removal of n grievance connected with tho
procedure OF the law courts l., significant Of ia
development Of the national So .rit 30 FAR "a
the letter Of u statute. not enforced Un,l
n Later epoch. Is concerned The official
language was stnl French, but French Lad
never been the mother tongue of ruci.-Amen.
and was becoming more md raor" Il iltlc r}i-
Of the Norman Conquest. IL is true thai liza
higher classes on both sides Of the tirm,l
still spoke the same language, hut Fa.l>h Iqa
asserted is vitality ~ the Ncird"uigr Of 3d..
masses and rs the medium OF the new n,era-
t,rr in which, through LanclarA and ,Lauo"r.
thCna;ional spirit WIS serkins - preston. Tic
Commons, therefore. r"ti'i1nrd 9ri Idvard
consented. that TRIMS IA court shu,ld he ne',,-
forth conducted IN English. II ia remarkable
that, nj o time when Edward was striving 10
conquer France. the rational spirlt Of his cvn
realm should have shown it~,li 50 anlacoui.'c
to the French conquest Of England. which had
bcon accomplished 100 lrars tefo'o. Nr.
Markinnon thinks that The feet should have
suNicnd ~ c%oryince him Of tho futility of sspE-
ing 10 unite the Crown ri England, IN which
the national spirit was hec' ming so a%esrriye,
with that of France. which was becoming equals
ly conscious % its nationality Grdfrd suGrud
SO much in sel'-drfercr. our HGihor Uoirls
ont that the victories won on French soil hv
English arms. although they cuickpnrd lhs
EAglish rational spirit, bad hosn, in reality,
SO many defeats, 50 fnr a. Edwards ultimate
purpose YVES affected. They only made
deeper and more irrcmediahle The separation
between the two peoples. If Norman-f rench
had been the language of the masses OF the
English population. history might have taken
another turn, though the example OF Scotland
was proving under Edwards eyes that even
identity of language can never make conquest
palatahle 20 q hiGh-splrited people.
In the later and tragical years of Edwards
life. one Of the most Noticeable phenomena
was the onpearopce of nm snti.clerical feeling
which showed itself not only In a determined
reaction against ,bo jurisdiction Of tho pone.
-. IT, ii -. IL -sI
the Church. and in no less determined attempts
to reform the practical abuses of an enete rells-
ious life. There were ample grounds for the
WIDESPREAD feeling Of Dissatisfaction. grounds
discovcrablc in the nnsceut English literature. 10
well a. in the official records Of the aee. The
clerical pretension TO the nioymen Of large dass
privileges in Difference 10 the raral DOGMA Of
the absolute independence. aud even surcrior-
ity, of the Church in relation to the state. the
spectacle Of n series Of worldly prelatcs en-
crossed in the pursuit of political functions 10
the neglect Of their episcopal duties: the detc-
rioration Of clerical morality: the rcmissnee- or
the ecclesiastical courts in calling offenders
to account; their obs,inacy in resisting
the efforts of the civil courts 10 DO
so. and, finally, the ,ovcrgrown wealth Il
thu clerical estates, were abuses which no
high-spirited nation could submit 10 without
protest and without efforts at reformation. In
the session of Parliament in 1871 the move-
mcnt against clerical politicians acquir cd TO
doubled force. The Lords and Commons
insisted that all offices of State should be hcrcc-
forth filed by laymen. the argument GGduord
in support of the demand being that clerical
officials were not amenable to the civil law
and could not be called 10 account for malad-
ministration. At first Edward seemed 10
rcg1rd the demand as an encroachment on his
prerogatives, and CURLY replied that he would
act in the matter as should seem best TO him
self with the advice OF his council. hut he sub
seGuently complied and substituted laymen
for ecclcsiastios in the offices Of Chancellor and
Treasurer. In the session Of 1872 the petitions
embodied a large scheme Of ecclesiastical re-
,or,, mo Co,,,ons o,u,Ioirod ~ ,bo ,,r.
INV" '"
uhued ulstraint OF Inc puOilc money TO boine;
- a.. xn.,I. - ~ -. .-A.,a