The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-07 00:00:00

tacle of an exclusive ing on offices whose duties they are wholly in competent to fulfil: and when Lord JOHN RUSSELL resumes his natural place in the Le gislature as the head of the party of move ment, he will find that the mismanagement of the Ministries in which he has borne part has paved the way for even greater changes than he has yet contemplated. For this reason we deeply regret the exclu sion of the Conservative party from power. A Government composed from its ranks would at least be free from the odium which must inevitably attach to a Ministry of connection; it would represent a party, not a clique ; its aims and sympathies would be national, and, by a vigorous exertion of the powers of the Executive, it might show that our constitu tional system is still, as it has been proved to be in times past, the form of govern ment best adapted for concentrating the national energies at home, and for efficiently directing them abroad. But now, unfortu nately, there is added to all other elements of change previously existing, a deeply.rooted feeling of discontent from a conviction, surely not unfounded, that our system of govern ment has proved unequal to the wants of the nation and the emergencies of the time. It is useless to disguise the fact. It is the ma chinery of the State that has proved defective, as one Ministry dismissed for incapacity has been succeeded by another more incapable still. The Democratic party in the Legislature chooses and supports an aristocratic clique, waverers who would make use of it: only, for political purposes. That healthy feeling we desire to cultivate must not lean on Mr. GLAD STONE or Mr. HERBERT; it must be independent even of Lord DERBY and Mr. DISRAELI—it must he self-relying—powerful enough to dic tate a policy, and to protest itself from the humiliation of being secretly betrayed or openly sold. We are satisfied that the Conservative spirit is sound—we are satisfied that it is powerful— but it slumbers. It requires the activity and organisation by which alone it can hope to take a lead in the country, to gain its confi dence and direct its mind. At present the Party is sufficiently strong to rouse the jealousy and dislike of its political opponents, but not to escape injury and even insult. The increase of the malt tax last year was not a fiscal measure, but an act of defiance. It was foreseen that it must fail in its professed object—it was evident that it proceeded in opposition to every principle of enlightened finance ; but it was persisted in that the landed interest might be forced to a perception of its weakness; and though consumption has fallen off to such an extent that the increased tax produces scarcely one-third of the amount estimated, the impost will probably be per sisted in from the motive which originated it. This single illustration of the powerlessness of the Conservative party may serve to con vince it of the necessity of exertion. We do not for a moment connect the principles of the party with any particular financial mea sures or material interests ; but it is obvious that the hostility which leads to fiscal in justice at one time may lead to confiscation at another. The principles we advocate are independent of names. In one form or other the elements cach heigh!,s, 04 Inkermann ; whether .10,000 dr paring to invest Eupatoria ; and. whet*? 100,000 more are concentrating in Southern Russia, to drive us,..by dint of numbers, into the sea ;—we are in the happiest ignorance, In this country an opinion prevails that Sebas topol is too strong to be taken by stone, and that the only practicable course is to raise the siege, to defeat the enemy, to form a junotiou with the Turks, and finally to invest the place at our leisure. But such a scheme does not appear to be entertained by the allied Generals. They are intent on new batteries, extended earthworks, conveyance of shot and shell to the front, and every operation that can lead us to conclude that they are about to stake everything on the capture of the southern fortress. On the wisdom of this policy we do not offer a conjecture. Our business is with other considerations, which concern more nearly the home administration of affairs. Is our force sufficient? The French army has been largely reinforced, and still continues to be augmented. France contributes nobly her contingent towards the war. But we are deficient. Our army is improving both in health and numbers. A gleam of sunshine has broken out, the sick are recovering, the sanitary condition of the camp is visibly ameliorated, cheerfulness is returning, races and games are taking place, and the whole force is eager for a brush with the enemy. Ardour is at its highest pitch; numerical strength alone is wanting. Is a proof re quired ? We all know that the assault of Sebastopol was to have taken place on the sth of November, and was only prevented by the battle of Inkermann. Every one congratulated himself that we had been anticipated by , the Russians. And why ? Because it was felt ~. . _ . ...... . . _. • es ry (r v ‘ ,/ I f rti e. &:1 1 I . ..1 4. 4.1!, J. ' - t, , ~.,.. - • • • - 1 ,.. : ' ,4' 04 " ____------:::--=•_- ----- 7 . • - • - r 4 7 4- ! — !! . .l_ - =•-• :- ... 4 , 44 ., -- . ---- 4 - s,•! -- ".- - ..r.r,::.. ; :t.r.., -i--.....--- 7 :-z.- . ..-..-7 1 -.1-r , - . --;, ,, t 4; , --,......». - :: - .• - : ' . ' ,, -.-H •* . ''-'''' ......._—.— ~ .I' * .41 J r ' ;.'A ,; 6 tc '. 1 1 r t !• 1 •' i •',• ••• * / t 4.1 ‘ .• ( 4.' 1 41 * ' V • - ‘• k . . . ;. ~..4, I r'. t''s 't . 4 t i f , , '.• i ; ' ,'-‘ '' - f • •.• .... , , 1 a,'.• • a . - ') 1:4 • . 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P 10.0........ ? with selfish aims and narrow' views. that the l• of Con servatism amlofitnt .Y 1 -.- irdl)£ Vrtss. • , agitation for change may be irresistible, w k erail, in evi'ry tree conuttry laiot„ thy Ai • - when the .proper time arrives frig urging it 0 0 4' of the latfor , has . ii ty itrose t l . ~ • , • -. 3 "";., '.l‘.: • . ,and f`' tan.„Witl l i 'alit.. • 4 tit; il .. I ' " .-% f .;. 4 ,4"1"" -- 7* , The danger is not imaginawy—it is certain, Pori' w e ai . 9 - HOW t41va45e 41 . - A-PfsrtY tO°• l 9 '' : • . LONDON, SATiIi2DAY, APRIL 7; 1855. and it is near. On Lord JOHN RussEfi.'s excluded from. power i$ in - danger i of ,106 . 4 . . • return, he will be virtually the head of the hag through *au.; * 1- Pty ; •.' " :" '•,' - li t , Government ; and he is too sagacious not to If the Conservanyes of the • 0P14, 1 47 tte - slie,, t • : . , know that lie can only retain his place as possess any real t infiuerme tsi its government. IT is desirable that the Conatiietiare party Leader of the Liberal party - in-Parliament and it they would : oyes/ save ,t,Wmselves:fronCtlk slhould distinctly understand the Poisititin in the country by fulfilling his pledge to remodel mortification of. foibiin t itkng. to measures, ex, -, ine3 oust sektis ; lo. the.: iltafiooklitlertiols , of, system.. . p , „ p re ti . sly designed, to aisnahltato, theiniuWer— our . representative These passionate • which the country is at this triPme4-p i laced. Cries which from -time. to time break forth We may with an incapable Ministry,centintie . against. ari • stocratic influence, show the fed- their prineiplee m .s.rid by snitive orgiaineation, to. the struggle in which we :are .engaged , with a ' ings which are fermenting in the popular increa s e • tinnr . Parlistnet - strength, and prospect of being forced to excite a '*Feat con . mind. . . . . thus - possess .in their ow l ia li lands, . as. a great. vulsion'in Furope, and to engage the•revolu- It is for the Conservative people of the national party, the means of infatiipg vigour' into the Government, *NI ,of .Apisettltngeiir. • 4p}vn our side; country to decide whether they will give free P rotestant • tionaNy party on thesCit , CO4sOtistiOSP tI • ' • , I or we m ey, 4 4 3 44poile t lipl4 . *tiii,uty of the way to the next agitation which may arise, .. however wild its objects, or resolve to he in a I .: , i .. settlement bainfp ilainefiatellijolitewed by a 4 . . position to meet it, while there is yet time for > • , :•• , . ..- ,4 • : *, 1 -.--,. • forte .agitation fate total clacangbein mar Con- • TRH ICIVIIKEA. • :' ' ••-•• , . the work of preparation. A virriety of eirenni- stifultiOn. , ..., • . ' stances have combined to divide their real his akwa in di f f i cult to form a judgment i , .. . 1 .1 strength, and among these circumstances is . From one point of view Lertfi Pl.).l&llBltuN'a upon mititary operations that are still in pro- - ' the importance which has been - attached to Administration is the most dangevouSthathas particular names. It is a great mistake when : press, even wing!, we have good information ever existed in this country. It is doing its principles are suppoSed to •be lost because respecting the numbers and the resources of utmost to prepare the mind of the people for men are inconstant, or whe,a national interests' the combatants •But in the ptesont Canti4gp that " large measure" of reform whieli mos t arc to - osely identified ielth names, however ' ki!..iiiffieglii illai ille..k4d.Sed by the ahageee of ''' • a cm . •- We desire to mass the Conservativeof the force .. , • ~ members of the Ministry ain pledged to pro - 4.1 a: We can fostu . some *law -• • arlaar party to a sense of its danger, but to a sante' '• .. • mote. It is practically demonstrating the also of its essential strength, and of the seen• which the Emperor of the FRETIOVT can despatch necessity for change by exposing the existing city which it possesses within itself for the to the East, and we tiro painfully conscious of system of government to contempt. The de- maintenance of all that it prizes most highly thetinilillnese of(iitr own addition. 'But of the of thein po li t i ca l const i tut i o n t h e country. mocratic sentiment is nourished by the spec-Ilussishit 'we . know n9t4ing i Whether 20,000 Conservative principle is independent of those ...,, , . tacle of an exclusive Wh i g connection fasten- . waverers who would make use of it only . for :or 40,000 are ,within yelsoh ; of ,444,4013148,1•4