The Press.
London, England, 1857-07-04 00:00:00

642

measure which never can become law until the
Radicals have more independent spirit, or
until the Conservatives have lost both their
social power and their public spirit, which at II
present save England from the infliction of a
measure suited possibly to the circumstances
of other countries and of other periods, but
whbli is entirely unreasonable in a people
where publicity is the social law paramount
in political affairs.
The cnly interesting circumstance in the
discussion on Tuesday was the striking con-
trast between the style of the speeches deli-
vered by Lord JOHN RUSSELL and by the
CHANCELLOR of the EX:HFQUER. The first
made an admirable speech—keen, close, and
practical in its views, and inspired by a manly
tone. It was fluent, forcible, and ready, and
was warmly cheered by the Conserva-
tives. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was
relieved of a powerful piece of prose on the
same side of the question. It was as pon-
derous as if intended for a cyclopedia, meant
to be sold, but not to be read ; and it was deli-
vered as solemnly as if the Right Honourable
Gentleman were speaking the funeral oration
of the Cabinet It was good matter spoiled
by a bad manner; a didactic literary exercita-
tion, not a persuasive political address. Its
stilted solemnity did not command the atten-
tion ; its valuable illustrations, and s•,me were
of high merit, were thrown away for want of
ease, variety, and graceful art on the part of
the ineffective speaker. Dissertation much
differs from debate.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER disclaimed
being influenced by popular objections to the
Ballot, " not because I think that voting by
" Ballot is un-English or unmanly, but
" because in one form it is utterly irreconcil-
" able with the habits of this country." But
surely that which is " utterly irreconcilable"
with English habits may fairly be called un-
English. " Habits," moreover, are of the
utmost importance. National character
is of more value than any positive institution
whatever. When some of the Whigs in 1809
praised the measures of NAPOLEON in Spain,
as tending to civilise that retrograde country,
a Conservative statesman indignantly told
them, " National feeling, iu every country that
" had n history and a name, was prior to and
" paramount, over all desire of political anie-
" lioration." So with secret suffrage in Eng-
land. It is not enough to see only what the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER perceives, that
the Ballot would not work practically with Eng-
lish habits. We should look further and
deeper. We should know that even if it, could
work for a season with English habits, it
would be at peril to their manners and that
traditional spirit which are the support of
this country's greatness. But English habits
would either destroy, or be destroyed, by secret
suffrage. Gentlemen of opposite sides, and
all persons of spirit, would wear rosettes, or
adopt some particular method of showing for
whom they polled. In that ease " Ballot"
would be an imposture. On the supposition
that its secrecy could be practicable, we must
first believe that English love of open dealing,
English dislike of underhand proceedings, and
English aversion to foreign customs, must all
be changed. That is to say, in order that
the Ballot should succeed, England must be
denationalised, lts partial application would
be a mere mockery; its positive success would
be a real revolution.

We cannot, however, blind our eyes to the
fact that there is a most un-English party in
this country. There are, unhappily, a large
nutnber of our countrymen who regard them•
selves as mcro citizens of the world. They
care nought or littlo for the inspiring recol-
lections, or the grand old institutions, which
have made England what it is.
Consistent patriots of tl,e world alone,
And friends of every country but their own.

This party, for such it is, looks to numbers,
platforms, and simulated public opinion for
overbearing the wisdom of tl►e Legislature.
Although they do not at present dominate in
affairs, they exercise a dangerous influence
visible in
naives for
[be;•alism,"
into dose

and the hyposwiy of the Whigs is v
• tbaJLastAksat thel• fly to the Cunserva
aid against this anti-English" Libi
while on some questions they enter