The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-27 00:00:00

the gradual character which their opposition
gave to our commercial changes prevented
much danger and saved large classes from
ruinous convulsions. Defeated. they accepted
their defeat and the policy established by it.
But the struggle had been too recent to permit
their acceptance, loyal and frank though it
was, to be accepted as genuine. They NSCFO
suspected by the Free-traders in 1852 as Sir
Ronnirr PEEL was by the Reformers in 1834;
and from the tone of the House and of the
press representing opinion out cf doors it was
evident that they were regarded with suspi-
cion and fear. That condition of things and
that state of feeling hits passed away com-
pletely. The position of Lord DERBY'S party
is clear and defined in the eyes of the country,
nor is there any ambiguity as to the tendency
of their general -policy. The majority of the
two Houses are satisfied, we fully believe, that
they are the best and the strongest Govern-
ment that the Crown and the Parliament at
this moment can present to the country. It
remains only for them so to administer affairs
as to justify Parliament and to secure the
affection and confidence of the People.
There remains the subject of open questions;
and on this point uo less than the other a com-
parison between them and their actual predeces-
sors or possible successors is clearly to the
advantage of the Derby Government. The
coalition of the leaders of distinct parties, as
in the case of Lord ABERDEEN'S Administra-
tion, and the combination, without fusion, of
individual politicians from every Parliamen-
tary section, as in the case of the Govern-
ment of Lord PALMERSTON, coupled with the in-
creased power which the circumstances of each '
Cabin( t since 1846 have thrown into the hands
of unattached bodies, have increased largely
of late years the practice of declaring ques-
tions to be "open"—that is, of laying the
measures concerning them before the House
as recommendations from the Primo Minister,
rather than as the result of a Cabinet policy
by which the Government stand pledged
unitedly to stand or fall. We do not conceal
from ourselves, nor are we disposed to deny,
the constitutional evils which may ultimately
ensue from an enlarged recognition of the
practice. Some open questions there must
always be, however strong or however com-
pletely organised a party may be ; nor is their
existence in moderstion undesirable. So long
as the Government of the day is united in the
general tendency and acknowledged object of
its measures, a certain amount of individuality
of action must, and ought to be, per-
mitted to its members. It is a question
not of principle, but of decree; and unques-
tionably upon this point the Government of
Lord DERBY may, as far as it can be done by
anticipation, challenge a comparison with their
predecessors. Lord PALMERSTON, from the
heterogeneous character of the elements which
he held in unaccustomed combination, was
compelled to make all domestic questions
open. It was the only way ill which the
members of his Government could be saved
alive from the wrath of their constituencies;
and he only prevented the evils which must
have arisen by the decision and sagacity with
which he reduced the members of his Go-
vernment to the position of Heads of Depart-
ments, and induced them to permit all great
measures of administration to receive their
character and colour from his single mind.
This is a hazardous course, and could not
have been successful in the hands of a less
able or less experienced statesman. It will
not be the course of practice in the Cabinet
of Lord DERBY. There a number of able,
highly informed men, independent in posi-
tion, and united as to their general view of
the position and wants of the country, will
co-operate with each other with independence
of spirit, but with homogeneity of views, not
only to administer carefully the business of
their departments, but to guide with prudence
the progressive policy of the country.