The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-06 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MARCH 6, 1858.

take office unless his Lordship had grounds
for believing that his Cabinet could last at that
critical time. Lord Jolt:4 ItussELL had not
then compromised himself at Vienna, and
Lord PALMERSTON was greedy of office. If
Lord DERBY had then accepted the Premier-
ship, there was only too much reason to fear
that faction would have combined against
him and not given him a fair trial.
Circumstances now have entirely altered,
and, with rapid retribution, the House of
Commons has revolted against the insulting
dictatorship of Lord PALMERSTON. His boasted
majority has crumbled under the versatile
Viscount, and his reputation for firmness and
proud bearing to au adversary has entirely
departed. The Liberal party will not give
him a Parliamentary confidence, and his diplo-
matic reputation has been lost. Lord PAL-
MERSTON'S Cabinet has followed the fate of the
shortlived Coalition of Lord ABERDEEN, and it
is under such circumstances that Lord DERBY
enters upon power. Lord DERBY has now the
largest following in both Houses. No two
statesmen of the Liberal connection have so
many supporters as Lord DERBY, and the crisis
is one for which the character and resources
of Lord DERBY are peculiarly calculated.

The national feeling desires to be rightly
represented with dignity a.id firmness. Eng-
land wishes that her intercourse with foreign
countries should be regulated by the mingled
firmness and suavity that mark the manners
of Englishmen themselves. Truckling on one
hand, and bluster at the other, should equally
be avoided. Englishmen dislike sneaks and
browbeaters. If the deportment of the one
be degrading, that of the other class is dis-
gusting. Tile hectoring arrogance with which
Lord PALMERSTON dictated to petty States con-
trasts most ignominiously with the fluttered
manner and faltering demeanour exhibited
towards Count WALEWSKI. That peculiar
creature " the British Lion " has often been
made to perform a strange part by rhetori-
cians, and metaphorical liberties have re-
peatedly been taken with it ; but no flounder-
ing declaimer ever put it in such a fantastic
position as it has been placed by Lord
PALMERSTON. The subject, however, is
too serious for mirth, and the con-
duct of the late Cabinet was really too mis-
chievous for being subjected to mere ridicule.
Their wrongdoings will be, however, repaired
by Lord DERBY and Lord MALMESBURY, and
without any derogation from the national dig-
nity. Lord DERBY and Lord MALMESBURY are
admirably calculated to adjust the misunder-
standings between the two greatest countries
in the world. High personal spirit has always
been prominent in Lord DERBY'S career. It
could not be said of the Noble Earl that his
Lordship served under ten Prime Ministers,
and that he always adhered to office. From
1807 to 1858 Lord PALMERSTON was for about
six years out of place !
On social progress Lord DERBY has given
proofs of his sincerity in the construction of
his present Cabinet, as well as in former pas-
sages of his distinguished career. No living
statesman (after Lord BROUGHAM) has done
more to serve the cause of education than Lord
DERBY, whose labours on that subject, in try-
ing times, have left a lasting memorial in the
National system existing in Ireland. The
great part which the Noble Earl has played in
the eventful history of the last quarter of a
century is ample guarantee for the energy with
which social progress will be aided and sup-
ported. " STANLEY (Lord Derby) and MA-
" CAULAY will be the two men of the next gene-
" ration," wrote Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH in 1832 ;
and in literature Lord MACAULAY has, perhaps,
realised the anticipation of MACKINTOSH, while
in politics no statesman or politician now
living has so often governed political events
or headed so great a connection as Lord
DERBY.

Independently of the brilliant personal
claims of Lord DERBY, it must be remembered
that tho great party of which ho is the chief is
entitled to much consideration from the
country at large. England never would de-
sire to see an ascendancy of Liberalism in-
stalled in office, and her affairs intrusted only
to one class of politicians. Monopoly of office
by one connection alone would be a curse to
the country. In order to keep up the public

219

spirit it is absolutely necessary that the great
social law of change and variety should ope-
rate upon official life, else stagnation would
be the consequence. For twelve years, under
one form or the other, the Liberals have held
office, and their unstable combinations have
broken down. Even the popular classes out
of doors would not wish to see ostracism in-
flicted on any class of English public men.
" Turn about is fair play" is a maxim that
holds good in political as well as social life,
and it is for the public advantage that new
parties from time to time should enter Down-
ing-street. These changes and rivalries in
power promote progress, call forth new talents,
and give legitimate opportunities of intro-
ducing fresh aspirants into the service of the
country. By such means new " men" are
brought on the political stage, and good" mea-
sures " matured for Parliamentary consider-
ation.