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

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• 'No. 101.—NoL. 111. - LONDaN, SATURDAY, APRIL 7 185.5. ' Pit -.. is :._
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with selfish aims and narrow' views. that the l• of Con servatism amlofitnt .Y 1 -.-
irdl)£ Vrtss. • , agitation for change may be irresistible, wkerail, in evi'ry tree conuttry laiot„ thy Ai • -
when the .proper time arrives frig urging it 004' of the latfor, has. ii ty itrosetl
. ~
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,and f`' tan.„Witlli 'alit..
•
4 tit; il .. I ' " .-% f .;. 4 ,4"1""--7* , The danger is not imaginawy—it is certain, Pori' we ai.9- HOW t41va45e41. - A-PfsrtY tO°•l9
'' : • . LONDON, SATiIi2DAY, APRIL 7; 1855. and it is near. On Lord JOHN RussEfi.'s excluded from. power i$ in- dangeri of
,106.4 . . •
return, he will be virtually the head of the hag through *au.; *1- Pty ; •.' " :" '•,' -
lit ,
Government ; and he is too sagacious not to If the Conservanyes of the • 0P14,147 tte-slie,, t •
: . , know that lie can only retain his place as possess any realtinfiuerme 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. foibiintitkng. 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-pilaced.
Cries which from -time. to time break forth
We may with an incapable Ministry,centintie .
against. ari • stocratic influence, show the fed- their prineipleem.s.rid by snitive orgiaineation, to.
the struggle in which we :are .engaged, with a ' ings which are fermenting in the popular increase •tinnr. Parlistnet -strength, and
prospect of being forced to excite a '*Feat con . mind. .
. . . thus - possess .in their owlialilands, . 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 Protestant •
tionaNy party on thesCit, CO4sOtistiOSP tI • ' • , I
or we mey,44344poiletlipl4.*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 akwain difficult 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 most 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 political constitution the country.
mocratic sentiment is nourished by the spec-Ilussishit 'we. know n9t4ingi Whether 20,000
Conservative principle is independent of those ...,, , .
tacle of an exclusive Whig connection fasten- . waverers who would make use of it only. for :or 40,000 are ,within yelsoh; of ,444,4013148,1•4