The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-10-15 00:00:00

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

LoRD ROBERT MONTAGU, M_P., ON GOVERNMENT
BT PARTY.—AI an agricultural meeting at St. Nerds,
last week, on his health being proposed, Lord R.
Montagu said this was the first time he had the plea-
sure of meeting the gentlemen then assembled, and he
rejoiced in the hearty welcome which he had received.
They had known that they would let no difference of
opinion, no party distinction, intervene between the
kind feeling which they entertained and the generous
expression of that feeling. He was mpially disposed to
set aside all party differences, all party feelings. Two
years ago, although he was then utterly unknown to
them —although they had never had the opportunity of
hearing the sentiments which he bad throughout his
life entertaioed—altbough they did not know that he
would labour to perform the work which they gave
him to do—they were pleased to place their confidence in
him. In so doing they placed in his hands a most Impor-
tant trust, sod imposed upon him • very heavy respon-
sibility. The reception which he had now experieneed
he believed was not an unmeaning form, an empty
compliment. (Cheers.) He, therefore, assumed that
they still reposed in him that confidence which they
had evinced when he was unknown to them. He be-
lieved they did not elect him merely to represent a
petty. They did not send him to Parliament to pro-
mote the interest of some, and thwart all the objects
and intentions of the rest. No; they sent him to
represent the interests of the whole county. He, there-
fore, fslt that he was bound in honour to look upon
them all as his friends—(cheers)—to get rid of all
party feeling and of all factious spirit. He was con-
vinced that party feeling and factious spirit was the
ruin of the country. It was the bane of the
members of the House of Commons, of the constitu-
encies, and of the nation at large. What was its effect
on the House of Commons? One party proposed a
measure. The other party opposed it, not because it
was a bad measure, but because they did not like the
other party to have the credit of proposing it. Then,
what did the first party do? They did not ray. "This
is right—this is °memory—this most be done." They
did not stand to their principles—M:7 did not stand
to their colours. They resorted to compromises—the
resource of all unsteady minds. (Hear, hear.) Every
party had dine wrong. There was n party that had
ever acted ii;litly. They were always doing some-
thing to gain power- something which ouuld not be jus-
fied—something which they dared not tell the country.
There were nt iny things kept Keret, because they
knew there was a strong sense of right and
wrong in Englishmen that would not justify any
Governm nt that acted in • dishonourable manner.
(Cheers.) B it what happened than ? Some one
found out some .-ecret 1-thasetion ; and what was
the course pursued? Party spirit, faction, divided 1
those who were striving after aomething good; but
faction also united 2eople when they were disposed to
do something evil. If something was found out which. I
was the duty of Englishmen to know and judge—if any
one person attempted to bring it before the House and
the country, and to appeal to his brother Englishmen, I
"is this right or wrong'" One party agreed with the
other that the country most know nothing of the
matter, bemuse such knowledge would weaken their
power, and they left the House to be wonted. (Hear,
hear.) That was the effect of party spirit in the House
of Commons. And what was the effect on consti-
tuencies? In certain conatitueneies there were partici
very tench animated by this perky spirit. They slurred I
over the falsehoods uttered by their party. They in- '
vented calumnies to blacken the opposite party.
(Hear, hear.) Did not such a course blind their sense
of what was right and wrong? With respect to con-
tested elections, it often happened that a friend turned
away from another with aversion men ly on account of
• party contest. Dr. Johnson once said—and very
truly—that party spirit never left a man haneat, how-
ever it might And him. (Cheers.) He observed a
motto in the room—" Union is strength." That motto
they had copied over and over again, until the word
hal almmt ceased to have any meaning in their minds.
We had read in history of one of the greatest cities of
ancient times for two years withstanding all the efforts
of the Roman legions, which could not be taken until
faction reigned within its walls—until fear of the enemy
was a loner thing than the hatred of the opposing
faction. Rome itself was mighty until 'battered by
party spirit, and then it sank under the sceptre of a
tyrant, and fell into the arms of the invader. (Hear,
hear.) Why not apply these things to our own case?
A great political writer once said that "party is the
madness of many for the gain of the few." The
people were nothing but the dupes of party. Faction
lived er.tirely upon hatred. It was the hatred of the
opposite party that kept its member, together. Govern-
ment by perky was • thing of modern days. It was an
innovation. It meant nothing but tyranny and
oligarchy. It was said that it was impossible to bays

politics without party. Now he denied that, and be-
lieved it impossible to have any true system of politics
whilst the passions of party intervened. What was
Eie case in England in former times—in the times of
our forefathers? It might be said they were rude, but
at least they were honest. What was the course par•
sued in those days? The King called to his counsels
every one who was known for his abilities and dia.
tinguislied for his integrity. At the Privy Council
the poor met the commoner and the merchant, and dis-
cussed affairs of State together. They all met in secret
council, and whatever their political biases they gars
their united counsel to the sovereign. The coarse
s hich they adopted was founded on the union of
every political creed, and could not become the war cry
of any party. Such days as these might perhaps n
occur again. But on such occasions as the present all
might be friends. They might set aside all party
rancour and live in hsrmor.y. llere