The Press.
London, England, 1858-12-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEUBER 25, 1858.

support. He had, however, seen Lard Palmerston's
Ministry showing symptoms of disruption. There
was much difference of opinion among the leaders,
and the work of its dissolution, if it had not been
accomplished at the time when it was, must have
followed. Looking now at the state of the country,
and believing that storms and darkness hung around,
both as to its social and inter:il. principles and also
in reference to our relations with foreign nations, he
felt bound to give Ins support to that Ministry who
should be likely to hold power with independence,
and for that reason he had severed himself fron► a
support of the late Administration, believing that
Lord Derby would resist the democratic efforts of
the advanced Liberals. He regarded the leader of
the advanced Liberal party as a stern, uncom-
promising, able, and designing man. He believed
hs was sincere in his belief, but his ideas, if they
could be worked out, would overwhelm the institu-
tions of the country. He considered that leader
talented and eloquent, but no statesman. The gallant
admiral then proceeded to draw a comparison
between the Governments of this country and
America, showing that the Republic which elected a
President for four years certain was more absolute
than our Monarchy, under which a Ministry, the
real governors of the country, was removable at any
moment. He mentioned that Lord W. Graham had
represented Grantham fir some years, and concluded
by lormally putting him in nomination.
Mr. R. F. Oeszow seconded the nomination.

The usual question was put, and no other candi •
date appearing, Lord W. Graham was daclared duly
elected amid loud cheers.
Lord W. GRAHAM then addressed the elector". After
thanking them for the honour which had been done
him, and expressing his concurrence in the expres-
sion of sympathy and regret which had fallen from the
High Sheriff with reference to the late Mr. B. Blake-
more, he said that, following in the wake of so able a
representative, be feared he should fill the vacant s.'at
in the representation with disadvantage. They had
seen by the address which he had issued that he was
in favour of Conservative progress and forwarding
all those social and political ameliorations which tend
to build up rather than to pull down our ancient
institutions. He was for such progress and such
reform as would not endanger the fabric of the Con-
stitution under which we lived, and under which
every man might do and say what he liked as long ns
he did not injure his neighbour; under which the
press was not gagged as they saw it in other countries;
and under which every one might indulge in his poli-
tical partialities without favour or affection. He
would not at that time enter into a discussion of
party distinctions. Old party opinions were now
moderated ; all parties appeared to have one object
in view, .and that was the w3lfare of our country.
Indeed, some old Radicals even now admitted that
good measures might possibly emanate from a Con-
servative Government. One thorough Radical whom
he had canvassed had told hire.—" I'd rather vote
for you than for a supporter of Lord Palmerston,"
and be must say that the Radicals in their vocation
did some good. They liked to pick holes in other
men's coats, they ferreted out abuses, they kept their
members up to their work, and were like a London
policeman, who was alwaj a telling the people to " move
on." Sometimes, however, they wanted us to move
on a little too quickly. Progress there must be ; but,
at the same time, it must be temperate. No one
could be said to represent the feeling of the country
who was not prepared to consider measures of sound
and progressive improvement. He agreed with Sir
Thomas Hastings that Lord Palmerston deserved
the gratitude of his country for the manner in which
the Crimean war had beer, conducted and concluded,
but his Administration fell to pieces, because he was
not prepared to bring forward measures of social
and political reform. No doubt the lust straw that
broke the camel's back was the policy which he pur-
sued towards France, and which excited the indigna-
tion of the people of this country, but if he bad been
prepared with measures of social and political reform
his downfall would not have been so sudden and
complete. Ha had so far lost the confidence of the
people and of Parliament that when he resigned
office nobody appeared to care twopenco about it,
no remonstrance was made, and no petition to the
Queen to restore the Into Ministers to the country ;
but they vanished " like the baseless fabric of a
vision, and left not a rack behind.' Under these
circumstances it was that Lord Derby took office, and
he had already done much to win public confidence.
He had vindicated the honour of the British nation ;
he had released the British engineers from the dun.
geone of Naples, and had kept us at peace with
France without our having to submit to any humi-
liating concessions. Lord Derby's foreign policy was
wise, firm, and conciliating, and he trusted that his
domestic policy would challenge the confidence of
the country, and that he would bring forward mea-
sures in accordance with the opinions of the great
mass of the nation, which were progressive without
being re%oltitionary. Among these measures, they
had been led to believe, would be one on the subject