POSSIBILITIES OF AN ENGLISH REVOLUTION

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 30, 25 December 1878, Page 3

POSSIBILITIES OF AN ENGLISH REVOLUTION

Mr John Morlcy, the editor of the Fortnightly Review, forsees danger, and cries aloud against the evil tendencies of tl»e times. lie quotes the language of Sir Robert Walpole, and says :—“ They are ringing the bells now, they will be ringing their hands soon.’’ His thoughts have been turned iu that direction by the discovery that every nation has undergone a revolution save ours. France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Papacy have all passed through the fire, and had to adapt themselves to the change. England alone has escaped, but Mr Morley thinks the new policy in the East is likely to bring about her hour of trial. Ilis reasons for mo thinking may be put into rvllogi*ms. Democracies are unfitted for a long series of foreign ambitions and break in upon a great war. England is now a democracy. She is, therefore, unfitted for the policy proposed by the Premier and in cane of war would necessarily have to suffer either revolution or defeat. The incessant changes of popular feeling, the swaying from side to side which made the English first hate the Turk and then the Rush*—first favor Mr Gladstone and then acquiesee in the resignation of Lord Derby, will make it impossible to carry on with Parliamentary government and f«»r any long p-riod a policy which involves us in constant crises. Righteousness and violence, justice and insolence will certainly alternate until the end comes. This is a warning worth attending to. If there is one thing proved by recent events it is that the pendulum does swing to and fro, only it does not keep time.