South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2874, 10 June 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1882.

It is astonishing how little we estimate the progress we have made up to the time. We occupy ourselves with lamenting the darkness of the past and anticipating the brightness of the future. Yet the present state of humanity, socially : and politically, is worthy of observation; and anything like close observation discloses to ns some very surprising matter. Oar advance, in a political sense, is a wonderful phenomenon. Subjects of the British Crown are not always 1 mindful of the growth of freedom as part and parcel of the Constitution.. The growth, in’poWer and purity, of representative institutions is the best criterion of progress. The true ideal of government, is authority constituted by the people themselves, and submitted. to by . common con .cut. * E ven in Mays of semi-barbar -m, the most advanced thinkers looked forward to that ideal. ■ But only 1 -a dew persons possessed this superior intelligence; the masses were swayed hither and thither by mere outward show, and the trappings and ensigns of power, of individual rindependen'’)s; r > there was scarcely any. The King and his Council made and adtmnistsred such laws as they deemed fitting. And, in that early age it Was as well they should, for they possessed a monopoly of intelligence to devise and power to execute them. Had there been no tyranny, there would not have been even a semblance of order or security. Knowledge, however, is not repressible, nor can it be limited to a favored few. The tree of knowledge stood in the midst of the garden—only the privileged few stood beneath its shelter, and plucked some of its fruit. But' its fragrance was borne on the breeze all round, to the masses who stood without, and stimulated them to a closer acquaintance. It was not long after a real government was established in England, that it began 1 to be evident that the welfare of the great masses could not be duly cared for, or properly attended to. unless they were themselves consulted as to the mode of government most generally suitable. Further, it began to be seen that among the masses there was manifesting itself a spirit of enquiry, of emulation, and independence, and that if that growing power were,not harnessed to the State chariot, it would turn and wreck the State. Kept off certain privileged walks of life, sternly repelled from fellowship with the aristocracy, the most intelligent of the people sought to win, if not renown, at least* comfort, and to elevate themselves by means of their own exertions. Some among the hewers of wood and i drawers of water cast their eyes, in discontent, upon other pursuits. Commerce invited them. In the purse, they half perceived a power that might be theirs, a power which, in * comparison with the power of birth and place should be as Jove’s thunderbolts to. a blacksmith’s hammer, a power before which class caste pride of place, would bow in humble deference. That power they devoted themselves to cultivate, with indescribable ardour. In the course of a few years the relative aspect of the various sections of the people was entirely changed. The two considerations we have specified, -had forced themselves oh the attention of those in power, and they called in to their aid the representatives of the people. These were bift half representative, however. It had not yet come about that the will of the people should be consulted. Their mo;; prominent men were nominated or called forward. But that infusion of the popular element into the Councils of the land had this double effectit secured modified legislation, and it gave the people a recognised status. The power of the purse began to manifest itself it, and needy aristocrats were glad to repair to rich commoners for pecuniary aid. For every mark the rich burghers lent, they exacted a measure of justice for their order, and gained a step in the march towards popular freedom. By and by came the representatives, duly elected of the people —the House of Commons. These men represented the wealth and sinews of the nation, and formed a firm phalanx against tyranny, rapacity, and injustice. To them it was given to vote supplies. The reins were in tleir hands, and royal dignity, aristocratic splendour, military display, were all at their mercy. The very King himself, if he stood in need of supplies found it necessary to speak civilly, and though he wore his crown and carried his head high, it was even in those early days understood perfectly well by these wealthy old citizens to be a fiction. He wanted money. They wanted freedom for their order. There was no difficulty. Every promissory note that the King signed was a new charter of liberty. Thus, step by step, the liberties of England were won. But it required many weary ages, many desperate struggles, many deeds of heroism and devotion ; it required a succession of noble lives, from Wat Tyler to Hampden, to make liberty an accomplished fact. From the time of the Stuarts the’ course of popular liberty could not be restrained. All that remained afterwards was rather a social than a political struggle. And the winners in this contention were those who displayed the most earnestness and single-mindedness; those who looked higher, and set before themselves a worthy object. This the common people of England did. Little by little, they produced learning, talent, effort ; while those in the ranks above them, content to

repose., on - their laurels, 1 and'; their prestige of birth, remained immovably; dignified. The aristocracy; as temporal power fell gradually away from them, still hold a great status. The past' overshadowed them, And in its shadow they still had sanctuary. The popular party, the party of progress, 'conceded precedence to them'ih many’ affairs, and.perraitted them to;r|main in the lofty place to which their ancestry and cultureeeemed'to entitle them." And it was well for the nation that they did so, for the aristocracy, proud of their history, and always inclined rather to look backwards upon fading splendor than to look forward to a' future that offered no bright prospect/ remained ever a rallying point and a : corrective. Their calm dignity and conservatism divided public attention with Visions of liberty, fraternity, and; equality, and. preserved people from': blindly following the revolutionist and 1 the image-breaker. Thus the struggle; for freedom was bloodless, patient, and successful. The popular victories in; England were won by the feeling which the people created in their own favour by sheer force of merit. Every now and then a genius flashed forth from the dense ranks of the common people, and caused all other lights, whether of birth, or wealth, or place, to grow pale and dim; The ranks sent forth men to lead and command, in every domain of human effort. How then could the. ranks be longer denied their birthright of freedom? To-day there is, virtually, full -freedom for all in England. Political barriers exist no longer, social barriers are fast falling. In the colonies there is a new order of things ; freedom breathes a purer air ; and it lies with the people themselves to maintain their superiority. In the Great Republic 1 there were for years the and the egotism of suddeft emancipation from material control. Yet, even there the lessons of the past have' done their work. Anarchy is gradually, but surely, dying out before' the advancc-bf intelligence. Such is the state of America, England, and -her colonies, to-day. The people are masters of the situation. Are there ho lessons to be gained from this 7 . The working man can have no better study, next:to that of his trade, than to note the various stages of the advance 'of popular liberty. Such a study will fill him with pride in his countrymen and a sense of the responsibility resting on himself. He is the fortunate inheritor of a glorious legacy of liberty that has been gained for him by ages of effort, by heroic lives, by grand self-sacrifice. Should he not prove himself worthy of so rich an inheritance ? He has his franchise. No greater political possession could he have ; and it lies with him to use it aright, to exercise it in favor of those who, it is plain, have the people’s welfare at heart. It is a glorious privilege, but still a heavy responsibility to be the heir to so much that has been so nobly won. In England the results have been achieved with comparatively little bloodshed ; in France, the peace now enjoyed has come like a cairn after terrible storms. Whirlwinds of calamity have swept over France. Her streets have run with blood. It was not until the most furious passions had ■ had their way unchecked that reason and moderation asserted themselves. When we observe the terrible price that has been paid for popular liberty we may well be proud of it and cherish it, and strive to act as though we were at least somewhat worthy of the great inheritance.