Modern Constitutional Conditions, 469 from a want of the element of antiquity, which lends much of its charm to what is usually known as historical research, and of the dramatic element, which rouses zeal and curiosity in the observer of the incidents of mere political change. Constitutional life is longer than political life, but shorter than historical life. There are many readers who can stand the strain of a lengthened antiquarian investigation, and there are many who can eagerly devour the recent anecdotes of political vicissitude. But it is only a limited class of students who can find mental sustenance and moral stimulus in tracking out the slow, patient, oscillating story of constitutional change. The story is perhaps rather less than more attractive when it is the story of modern life, and therefore implicated in the often repulsive annals of party discord, and in the biographies of persons only too familiarly known in their private capacities. Nevertheless, this detailed and modern history of the Government in relation to the people and the people in relation to the Government, when deeply studied and accurately scrutinised, presents the truest of all aspects of the national life and character. It is not in the individual life, or even in the family or social life, that the last and most precious products of character are elicited or can be exhibited. Nor, again, is it either in the mere sufferance of political wrong, or the noble reaction against such wrong, that the whole temperament and real proclivities of a people can be manifested. The people can be best studied in their attitude towards what may be called the chronic and necessary conditions of national existence. These conditions, which are, in fact, the essential or juridical elements of the Constitution,-are not in themselves of a kind to attract attention by their singularity, their majesty, or their scenic portentousness. They are, indeed, often commonplace in their nature; and, as civilisation improves, they tend to identity in all nations. But the conduct of the people in view of constitutional requirements, or anticipated constitutional change, may present the utmost diversity from country to country, and from age to age. It is here that supreme and unselfish conscientiousness, in the absence of all mere excitement, is truly tested. It is here that the value placed by a people on liberty, and on the opportunity of a free moral life for all, is put to the proof. It is here, and here alone, that a people can show whether they know what is the worth of that which they have inherited, what are its shortcomings, what is the cost of handing on to their successors the good things they have, and whether they are willing to endure the silent but stern sacrifices which may be required to defray it. INDEX. Appropriation Act, the, 97, 98 vigilance as to, 391, 392 Asia Minor, obligations under- Authority, the supreme, where Mr. Lowe on the supreme, in B BADEN POWELL, MR. G., on the BAGEHOT, MR. WALTER, work of, on the consequences of the - on the extent of the Royal Ballot Act of 1872, 37-43 Bank Act of 1833 (Lord Al- Bank Charter Act of 1844, 123- Bank of England, constitution of Banks, legislation with regard to, Bankruptcy and insolvency laws, reform of, 136; 455 BEACONSFIELD, LORD, criticism - on the finality of decisions of on the Committee of Foreign on the pre-eminent importance speech of, on the Royal Titles view of the Bedchamber ques- criticism of, on the Prince - motion of, in May 1855, in correspondence of, with Lord BEACONSFIELD, LORD, comments on the dependence of Parlia- - novel relations between the Bedchamber Question, the, 233, Belligerents, shipbuilding for, 207, BENTHAM, influence of, on Crim- - opposition of, to the Russian opinion of, on the testamentary - provisions of, with regard to a - popular reference to, as a Bills. See Money Bills, Private - Index. BIRKBECK, PROF., on the Russian BOUVERIE, MR., comment of, on BOWEN, SIR G. F., on the Victorian BRAND, MR., Speaker of the House BRIGHT, MR., part taken by, in British Columbia Government Act, BROUGHAM, LORD, dispute of, opposition of, to the settlement 473 Ministry, - the, an outgrowth of the Privy - Council, origin of the term, -- - the first Whig, 270, 271 Sir G. C. Lewis on the legal Sir G. C. Lewis on the unity - Mr. Gladstone on the internal Earl Grey on the internal - secresy of Members of the, as relation of the Sovereign to the, relations of the, with Parlia- - possible influences at work in - doctrine of the omnipotence of - letter of the Lord Chief Baron admission of Hudson's Bay into CANNING, definition of a patriot, |