Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Who does not discover the manifest inequality and injustice of such a system of representatives? An English Magazine has well remarked that "it is a scheme cunningly devised to defeat its apparent object." And yet the British people were gravely told that the Reform Bill had brought the representation of the empire into such a state, they would remain fully satisfied with it-it was so equal—so just so free from abuse of every description. What equality or justice can 27,000,000 of people see in a system that commits supreme control over the empire-to a government composed of a monarch who is taught from childhood, that kings rule by a divine right, and not by human suffrage—a House of Lords, whose power is independent of the people, and whose princely fortunes are augmented just in proportion as they oppress them-and a House of Commons, (the only branch of the government which the people can influence,) a majority of whom are elected by 164,810 voters, or only one hundred and sixty-fourth part of the entire nation? What assurance have they, that their rights will be regarded by a government thus constituted?

But still the nation looked for grand results from the Reform Bill, for it prostrated the Tory power for a while, and gave the Whigs complete controul over the popular branch of the legislature. Large hopes had been excited by the reformed cabinet. Earl Gray's majority in the House of Commons was 284, which gave the 8

VOL. I.

Whigs the power of carrying any measure of reform the ministry proposed. With a power no other cabinet had ever swayed before, or has ever controlled since, they had excited among the people the hope that the Reform Bill was only the commencement of that great change they intended finally to consummate, which would make justice accessible to the poor-encourage commerce, by removing those burdens that pressed upon the springs of industry-untax the poor man's bread -introduce economy into every branch of the public administration-cleanse the Church from her corruptions, to become a blessing and not a curse to the people-open a school for the poorest child in Britain-bring Ireland at last, after the deep eclipse of ages, forth into the sun-light of freedom. And finally, they were taught by their new rulers that it would not be many years before a final and complete emancipation would be achieved for a great empire.

Feeling confidence in the Reformed Parliament, the people rallied with enthusiasm and gratitude around the throne and the ministry. Reform could now have advanced from stage to stage with acclamation. But the ministry were sufficiently popular; the Whigs had worked themselves into power, and they complacently took possession of the spoils, supposing their old enemies the Tories had fallen never to rise. From that hour to their final downfall in 1841, (although they accomplished some things worthy of a Reformed Parlia

ment,) their legislation and policy, as a whole, were not only hostile to the interests of the people, but fatal to themselves. Their popularity and their power steadily declined, till at last, deserted by the people, taunted by the Tories, and despised by all, they have gone down into merited contempt -to atone to liberty for having deserted her in the hour of her trial.

WE WILL NOW GLANCE AT SOME OF THE ACTS OF THE REFORMED PARLIAMENT.-The first bill Earl Grey introduced into the House of Lords, authorized the Lord Lieutenant to proclaim MARTIAL LAW in any district of Ireland he considered in a disturbed state. Of course the Tories would feel no opposition to such a measure, unless it might be to harrass the Whigs, and all parties united "wi' right gude will" in passing the law. The first act of the Reform Parliament was an outrage upon liberty. And what excuse was pleaded in justification of such an act? Why, 9000 crimes had been committed in Ireland in one year, among a population of eight millions, "not more than a quarter of whom are destitute of all food, and nearly half of whom have a potatoe a day;" (Sidney Smith.) And yet Martial Law must be proclaimed in such a country, since one person in a thousand had perpetrated a crime once a year! Crime increased fast enough under Martial Law, one would.

think; for we find that in 1840 the number of criminal offences was 23,000, (or nearly three times as many as 1832,) more than a quarter of which were riots, breaches of the peace, and forcible rescues! But nothing is said by Whig or Tory, in these days, about proclaiming Martial Law. The most obtuse Englishman has at last discovered, that from the Irish heart bullets cannot eradicate that noble love of liberty which has ever dwelt in the green vallies of its land.

Ireland has experienced little relief from the Whigs. A grand reform, as it was pompously styled, was proposed by them, in the Church in Ireland. Of this grand reform, a London Review not long ago remarked: "A little finger was laid upon the Irish Church; but with a weight so gentle that the plethoric patient was scarcely conscious of the pressure, or the public of any relief from the burden it had endured. First-fruits were abolished, and the number of Irish bishops somewhat reduced." But what cares the Irishman whether his tithes are extorted from him by the proctor, or the landlord? It is as broad as it is long; with this exception—that now he is generally compelled to pay his tithe-money to the landlord before his pay-day for rent comes, whereas before he did not pay his tithe unto the priest, until the harvest was gathered. The "Reform" was a decided advantage to the priests, if it did no good to the people; for the "successors of the Apostles" are now humanely spared the trouble of selling every poor

man's tenth pig-of exploring the hen-roosts for every tenth chicken and egg-of pulling up every tenth cabbage from the widow's garden—and the very disagreeable, but apostolic job, of shooting widows' sons who take it into their insane heads to eat the egg, or chicken, or cabbage themselves. (See a History of the Rathcormac Slaughter.)

But we must hurry through the ten years of the Whigs. No sooner was Melbourne elevated to the head of the government, than his party disgraced themselves, by enacting one of the most oppressive laws ever framed-a law which taxed knowledge, and made it a crime worthy of the most severe punishment to be found diffusing light and intelligence among the people. One would suppose the lower classes of England sufficiently ignorant already, if we can believe what is said about them, by their friends as well as their enemies.

The Stamp Duty, which had so long existed, was felt to be a most severe and unjust tax, (English readers must excuse an American for saying a word against stamps; we have come honestly by our sensitiveness in this matter.) It imposed a tax upon an English newspaper, greater than the entire cost of the most expensive papers in New York. A laboring man could not purchase a newspaper in England after his work was over, without paying a larger sum for it than his wages often amounted to for the day's work; 3}d., or more than six cents, being required by the go

« AnteriorContinuar »