The Press. — London, England, 1857-04-04 00:00:00

- t - e ( tk, No. 205.—V0L. V. LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1857. STAMPED ....SIXPENCF. UNSTAI4PED-FIVEPENCE. 'ha U; They had made every pre paration for the Dissolution before it actually took place, and we believe that at no previous election has the Treasury influence been more unscrupulously used. The Conservative party has, nevertheless, maintained its ground,— what it loses numerically it will gain in unity and compactness. The loss of the Conservative party in the boroughs amounts to just four seats. This loss is purely accidental. The difference might have turned the other way. It cannot be accepted as any indication of public feeling. The Opposition have lost Fahnouth, with its 907 electors, of which the " Parliamentary Companion " records, " The Government of "the day has considerable influence in Fat " mouth," and they have gained Cambridge, with its 2,000 electors. They have lost Sand wich, with its 060 electors, of which we read, "The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and "the Government of the day divide the influ " ence here," and they have gained Maidstone, with its 1,750 electors. They have lost a seat at Andover, (registered electors 241), and they have gained a seat at Leeds (electors 6,406). They have lost seats in the small towns of Wareham, Ripon, Weymouth, Bridgewater, Bodnar', and Truro, and they have gained seats in the considerable towns of Blackburn, Carlisle, Portsmouth, Canterbury, Gloucester, Bolton, and Stafford. A fair examination of the Conservative losses and gains in the boroughs proves that, deducting the seats directly lost through Government influence, the Conservative party have positively im- LATEST EDITION. firmation of an opinion we have often ex pressed, that the two great parties which represent political opinion in this country, are far too rapidly rooted for any " independent sections," RS they are termed, to long maintain a footing in Parliament. ,oulit nave have proved an ugly customer to the exhibi tor. A Chinese Giant was luckily thought of, just at the moment when the fortunes of the booth seemed in danger, and Commissioner YEH was made up for the part with all the resources of theat►ical trickery. While he can be kept upon the stage to endure the Minis terial cuts and stabs the Cabinet is safe. _ :, **. The defeat of the Peelites and the Radicals is remarkable for another reason. On the ground of principle they had no cause for de siring the overthrow of Lord DERBY'S Admi. distration in 1832. It was by the junction of these sections that the Whigs obtained their majority. The Peelites received their reward in a short tenure of office. The Independent Liberals received for their share of the work only contempt and odium. They declined in reputation from that day. By the extinction of these sections the Go vernment will no doubt gain an accession of strength. It is unlikely that any purely ob structive party—a party eager to overthrow whatever Government may be in powcr with out a thought of the responsibility thereby in curred—will exist in the new Parliament. Such a floating element of disturbance must always be dangerous to the stability of Go vernment, and must be a source of continual confusion. With all respect for the talents of many of the gentlemen expelled, we are not sorry that they are thrown back into private life to meditate, with the aid of the practical lesson of experience they have received, on the true principles of Parliamentary Govern merit, and the responsibility that should attach to Parliamentary life. This system of politics is well typified by the part of the " Giant-Killer." But the Nit may be overacted, and, still worse, a rival mu appear. The city of London knows of another "Jack the Giant-Killer," who avers that he slew the giants culled " Test Act," " Rotten Borough," and delivered the fair sisters " Civil and Religious Liberty " from cruel oppression. Giant-world will be too narrow for such a couple of marvellous " Jacks." Irish wolf dogs have died out because there are no wolves to run down, and our "Jacks" will have to find game in themselves, and turn their clubs against each other, as more than once they have exchanged compliments in putting each other " out." ~. "~ e•••• l • ail . g)gt vttss. proved their position in the boroughs by this election. THE POLITICAL GIANT-KILLER. CARDINAL DE RETZ once said that his acquaint- It is otherwise with the counties, we frankly -- admit. The loss to the Opposition will pro , ance with the great Marquis of MONTROSE bably be from fifteen to twenty seats. The " made him ready to believe in the men of LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1857. reasons for this change lie on the surface. " PLUTARCH." Knowledge of the career of While the question of Protection was agitated, Lord PALMERSTON is enough to make men the Conservative party obtained several county put faith in the nursery legend of " Jack Or the 654 Members of the House of Corn- scats which naturally belonged to the Liberal mons, upwards of 500 have already been connection. Local influences now resume the Giant-Killer." Since the days of the returned. In the elections yet to be decided, their legitimate sway. This change is not late Mr. RICHARDSON, of Greenwich - booth ..: surprising. It is hardly to be regretted. In celebrity, no man ever had such a stock the changes ar3 not likely to be so numerous the absence of any political question to of giants on hand as the Prime Minister. as to affect the general result ; and we may strongly excite the mind of county electors, What is most extraordinary is the skill with now, therefore, speculate with some certainty we must expect the representation to be more i. equally divided than it has been fOr some time which he dresses up mere dwarfs, and inspires on the constitution of the new Parliament, and past. But we may reasonably hope that a belief that they are real flesh-and-blood I the effects which the " Penal Dissolution" has though Some county votes may be lost—for a giants. He places them on high heels, puts produced. time at least—to the Conservative party, they tremendous helmets with nodding plumes on i There is one fact which must strike every will not be really lost to Conservative prin- . plumes their heads, keeps them a good way from the one. It is, that not a single prominent mem- ciples. spectators, and stuns the ears of the gaping In remarkable contrast to the position . beg of the Conservative Opposition has either sight-seers with a voluble account of them. maintained by the Constitutional Onnosition resigned his seat or been defeated. Some • ,_ •• • the ' Just at the point of being detected, down goes is utter rout of other sections of excellent members, whose faces we were accus- the the curtain, a new wonder is proclaimed, and , . toured to see on the Opposition side in the House. , the Patagonian Donkey with seven legs, or the . The I eelites are completely extinguished. late Parliament, will be missing in the one Ummerapoonah Elephant with a horse's head, about to assemble, but the staff of the party Mr. CARDWELL, Mr. MASTERMAN, Sir JAMES is offered to be shown, and amidst a loud HOGG, Lord ALFRED HERVEY, Mr. J. M. SUTTON, Will be intact. Not a member of it will be t h e flourish of trumpets and the praise of dis- two PitiLLimoaus, Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER, missing.gused confederates, the show is declared to Captain LAFFAN, and some others have either So much cannot be said of the Ministerial be r thstest at the fair. resigned their seats, or been defeated in the , staff, in spite of the most lavish. ozonise of The Noble Viscount had his Spanish tfrinifik ai i „,,,' , .. - Treasury influence Four members of the attempt t ' ll lretiin'then/. It rotiffid and stamped about, until - le •./.'!'-•-.' .. 7 . vn The rout of the League party and of the Government bike been expelled from their squeaking voice and shaking legs, and ' ' • Administrative Reformers has not been less seats by popular constituencies Lord Mosex , r," ~,- .., ~,- ~-,- then sent- eff, along with its. Portuguese 7 ' • •, signal. Mr . vOIIDEN, mr..§.-JRIGHT, : fir. raILNER Was defeated at Portsmouth, Admiral BERKE- , vnion, whipwas too weak for lebgthened . ei . Gies" Sir J. WALMSI.EY, Mr. LAYARD. Mr. '", -,,.. LEY at Gloucester, and Mr. FREDERICK PEEL;ion. Then there win* an •Oregon Giant; ih • : t NIIALL, Mr. W . J. Fox, Mr. LAING, Mr. ArsLey at Bury; while Mr. BALL, the Under-Secretary the importation of which` there was a great for Ireland, tied from,Carlow, and has resigned PaLLArr, and Sir W . CLAY ; will have no seats in difficulty with an " AVnericaa party." Next, • .. the next Parliament. We were not prepared for all hope of getting returned by an Irish con we had a Greek Giant, introduced to the public the signal dispersion of this party; it has taken • htituency. it Dun PACIFICO in 1850 We had the Bombs .- us by surprise. As the representatives of dis- The Dissolution took place under circum- Giant from Naples, and the Russian Giant. tinctive opinions, and as speakers of dis- stances most unfavourable to the Opposition. When the last was disposed of, invention was tin,guished ability, some of these Their defeat is a gentlemen T will be missed. he Government chose their own time and signal con- racked to find another. i A German Giant s their own issue. They had made every pre- would have been a great success, but might . nn rn 1 ;nr‘ fel. •INe. TN:e.e,eslss•:esss 1-sese....es :...ses•ss..lls. i figuration of an opinion we have often ex- 6...... v-ss• lef VI SIMI, A 11..^111101 0 *II 4110 1 , 11 . 11111; • , . PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. It is reported that the question pf ) being debated in the Cabinet. Li, MERSTON'S " appendages " press attention. They say that, unless. ii 4t mi or, ment is prepared to support so - . Parliamentary Reform, its positiois.l ble, and they point to the electir - ANN