The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-26 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

"of the Ministry;" awl to speak of them as her
Majesty's, when understood in this sense, is
confessedly an excellent joke. In point of
fact, however, there sever was a time when
the above detisitioh was literally accurate,
while eit the present dity it is more completely
erronehes thee ever, In olden times the
Ministers were the servants of the Crown,
and nnthing more, their duties being to carry
out the legislative measures devised by the
Sovereign in Council. After the Revolution
they possessed themeelves of the Royal Prero-
gative, and, though their relations to Parlia•
meat were of course in many respects materi-
ally altered, they still retained all reel power
in their own hands ; and the business of their
opponents was to keep up a constant resist-
ance to the despotism which they endeavoured
to exercise. This state of things has entirely
passed away. The country is governed, in the
largest sense of the word, neither by a king
nor by a party. but by the whole Parliament.
And the consequence is, that criticism of
Ministerial measures is almost the least im-
portant of those functions which the Opposi
tiou is called on to discharge.
What those functions are, will be apparent
to all who reflect on the present constitution
of the two Houses. The Ministry is a body
of gentlemen charged with the sole adminis-
tration of the Executive. Their number has
not been increased for many years, and the
business of the country has multiplied to an
enormous extent. Each is expected to possess
complete, minute, and well-digested informa-
tion of all that goes on in his own department,
and at the same time more knowledge than
common men of all that concerns his col-
leagues. If all this be satisfactorily achieved,
how much time will any middle-aged gentle
man of respectable abilities discover for read-
ing and reflection ? If, on the contrary, we
turn to the other side of the House, we shall
find a large section of members who not only
are free from the burden of these duties, but
whose popular task—the examination of Go-
vernment measures—has been greatly super-
seded by the activity and talent of the news-
papers. Under these circumstances, impartial
observers will at once recognise the true
theory of the Opposition. They should be
the thinking part of the political machine.
What is playfully termed by statesmen
" a large measure," whether of reform or any
thing else, when prepared by men whose
minds are distracted by business, and dulled
by routine, usually turns out a very little one,
if not an abortion ; while, on the other hand,
men in power acquire a natural affection for the
status quo, which unfits them for the appreciation
of necessary changes. We are too well disposed
towards the British Constitution to contem-
plate those defects without uneasiness. But
if a remedy is to be found, it is to be looked
for in a more correct estimation of their own
duties by her Mrkjesty's Opposition. It is
their business at the present day to regard
the legislative office as especially their own—
to consider that upon them devolves the in-
vestigation of general principles, and the
patient and thoughtful construction of really
great measures. They should remember, fur-
ther, that in so doing they are serving both
the country and themselves ; that the one can
only be benefited, in the long run, by mea-
sures of this description; and that they them-
selves can only secure the confidence of the
people by taking up special political, or social
problems, and working them to a solution
There is India; there is the education ques-
tion; there is the convict question ; there is
the Church-rate question ; there are dozens, in
fact, of such difficulties, which can be properly
treated by those only who have leisure fur
thought, study, and inquiry. Statesmen who
have matured measures of this nature, and
shown by their treatment of them in Parlia-
ment that they are fitted for a particular office,
will be gladly admitted to power. By this
course of conduct each leading member of
the party would acquire a knowledge of him-
self, and bring to light his special aptitudes.
And so, by degrees, as each man settled into
his proper place, a full-formed Ministry would
exist in the Opposition ranks ready to accept
the labours of office as soon as required to
do so.

SATURDAY,

Law Reform and Colonial Reform, the
Emancipation of Roman Catholics, the Aboli-
tion of Slavery, and the Repeal of the Corn
Laws, were all thus utatured by ex-official
Benius ; find it wos thus that such men as
ROUaHAL MOLgSWORTH4 and BULLER estab-
lishod 14ir fitness iirr t posts which they
afteywartio filled.
Wo can scarcely toogin. it to be urged arson
argittoent Against us thaj inembers so working
are ihtblo to be 50141041 of their hard-earned
laurels by Ministerial adroitness. We are not
obliged to call the objection unpatriotic; be-
cause, what is more to the purpose, it is untrue.
Ministers could not do this. In the first place,
there are few men, if any, who can make other
people's plans their own. If they attempt to
do so, they usually spoil them , and in trying
to steal a march upon their rivals, lose
themselves. But if, in the second place, a
Minister should choose to take another man's
scheme ready-made, and adopt it in its in-
tegrity, two results follow, both sufficiently
satisfactory to the original inventor—the Minis-
ter has all the odium, and the inventor has all
the honour. On the subject of Catholic Eman-
cipation many men blame Sir ROBERT PEEL,
and many men admire Sir FRANCIS BURDETT ;
but nobody blames Sir FRANCIS, and nobody
honours Sir ROBERT. The latter gentleman
was certainly as much hated as Mr. COBDEN
was esteemed for the repeal .of the Corn Laws ;
and in both instances he was punished by
the loss of his place and the wreck of his
party.
We would emphatically impress upon the
Conservative party the necessity of being
guided by these considerations. If Parlimuneut
would reassert its dignity, and maintain its
usefulness, some such division of labour is
wholly indispensable. Thera are in the Con-
servative ranks men thoroughly competent to
respond to this appeal; and we sincerely
trust, for the sake of England, the House of
Commons, and themselves, it may not be ne-
glected.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY ELECTION.
THERE is nothing more disgraceful in war than
to be entrapped by an adversary ; and what-
ever party in electioneering is outwitted by its
opponents, is sure to be laughed at in all
directions. The Whigs down at Cambridge,
urged on by certain persons at the Reform
Club, have thought that they could catch th
Conservatives in the trance of over-confidence.
They have set up Mr. GEORGE DENMAN as a
candidate ; and his address is studiously cal-
culated to entrap nondescript politicians. He
has an ardent though limited body of Whig
supporters, but his friends calculate most on
the support of the wavering interest. They also
reckon largely upon the too great security of
the Conservative constituency. By a mixture
of stratagem and " dash," they hope to curry
the contest.

The Conservative constituency of Cambridge
University must therefore be careful not to be
taken unawares. The present election is no
nominal contest—it is a real struggle; and
though we are sure of a majority if our friends
be on the alert, we may possibly be on the
losing side if they are inactive. The Whigs are
working night and day ; they are putting into
employment all the means at their disposal.
We are bound to show them that they have
counted quite idly upon the secure apathy of
the Conservative party.
We know well that country gentlemen,
rectors, and the various members of the pro-
fessional classes may be much indisposed to
going to Cambridge at this season of the year.
For our own parts, we confess to a strong
liking for a University election. There is
always pleasure in visiting the scenes endeared
by youthful recollections, and comparing notes
i
with the friends of our earlier years. It s
only at a University election that we can meet
collectively the old college companions who
have since graduated in the Church, the
Senate, and the Bar. Old days come back
again. We seo the familiar faces ; wd saunter

I

AR

JANUARY 26, 1856.

again through the same venerable squares.
The chimes pealing from the towering steeples
vibrate with the sweetness of a forgotten
melody. Old times, old friends, thoughts of
the lost and gone, the vicissitudes of life, its
joys, glories, and struggles, all throng into the
heart as we pace the cloisters over again where
we mused together in early life. The
Johnians and the Trinity men, the " Calves'-
head Club " and the debates at the " Union,"
all come back upon the memory, and we can
scarcely walk to record our votes without
moralising as we go. Who will say that there
is no charm in such associations ? What
Cambridge man vi ill confess to indifference to
such feelings?
But, apart from sentimental recollections,
we are all bound as Conservatives to stand by
our cause at the present eventful crisis. On
no account must it be said that a large element
of the constituency of Cambridge University
are waverers. At such a time " waverers " are
as bad as Whigs, and some would say they are
even worse.

Let the Conservative electors mark the dif-
ference between the candidates. Mr. WALPOLE
is tried in every sense. He rose at the Bar;
he rose in the Senate ; ho rose in office. What
has Mr. GEORGE DENMAN done? We admit
his personal respectability; but his address
painfully recals the memory of his father.
Lord DENMAN was open, frank, and uncom-
promising. His son is an anythingarian, to
judge by his address. He states that he is
" a sincere member of the Church of England."
The same qualification is possessed by millions.
Then, again, he declares that " he is free from
" all ties of party, and from party views."
Now, one would suppose that Mr. GEORGE
DENMAN would feel some graceful deference to
the " party " which promoted his respected
father from being Common Sergeant of London
to the Attorney-Generalship of England, and
thence to the Chief Justiceship and a Peerage.
There are Conservatives who will not think
much the better of Mr. GEORGE DENMAN for
such a declaration. For our own parts, we
see in such a statement a mere artifice of
electioneering, unworthy of one with the name
of Denman.

It is still worse as the address proceeds.
" My opinions generally are Liberal, but Con-
" servative," or, in other words, the cant of
Coalition is still parrotted by Mr. DENMAN.
After saying that his principles are " Conser-
vative," the candidate then praises the present
Government, to whom he does not venture to
commit himself. He only says that the merits
of Ministers " would render me desirous to
" give them my support." Then on the ques-
tion of the war this wavering gentleman says,
" It would be impossible for him to express any
" opinion which the events of the next few
" weeks might not modify."
Just so. That word " modify" is always can
the lips of a waverer, who wishes to see legis
lotion proceed on the principle of " Take a
" little of this, and add to it some of that ;
" then mix the two together; and if the thing
" will not answer, modify again." Alt! Mr.
GEORGE DENMAN, it was not in that faint-
hearted, ambiguous style that your manly-
hearted father won the respect of his political
adversaries, and the regard of all his friends.
The constituency of Cambridge University
will have, indeed, greatly " modified " their
character, if such a style of politician as Mr.
GEORGE DENMAN be accepted by them.
Sound Conservatives must, therefore, take
care not to allow the wavering interest to have
even a show of vigour at such a crisis. In
Mr. WALPOLE an admirable candidate stands
upon our side. Mr. DENMAN has not been
exercised in a profession; Mr. NVALPOLE was
in the great rank of the Chancery Bar. In
Mr. DENMAN the University would have a
representative without experience ; in Mr.
WALPOLE a politician of official knowledge,
and eminent rank in his party, is presented.
The talents of Mr. DENMAN as a speaker are
not proved—for aught we know, he may inherit
no more of the eloquence than of the political
frankness of his father ; Mr. WALPOLE, on the
other hand, has been decidedly successful in
debate.

We must, therefore, with such candidates
before us, call upon Conservatives to mark
their appreciation of p►inciple, as opposed to

•
JANUARY 26, 185(
again through the same v
The chimes pealing from the
vibrate with the sweetness
melody. Old times, old frig
the lost and gone, the Niels:
joys, glories, and struggles, t
heart as we pace the cloister
we mused together in
Johnians and the Trinity n
head Club " and the debate
all come back upon the mer
scarcely walk to record of
moralising as we go. Who
is no charm in such ass(
Cambridge man Kill confess
such feelings?
But, apart from sentime
we are all bound as Consery
our cause at the present ev
no account must it be said tl
of the constituency of Cam
are teaverers. At such a tin
as bad as Whigs, and some
even worse.
Let the Conservative elec
ference between the candida
is tried in every sense. He
he rose in the Senate ; ho r(
has Mr. GEORGE DENMAN i
his personal respectability;
painfully recals the memo
Lord DENMAN was open, f
promising. His son is an
judge by his address. He
" a sincere member of the CI
The same qualification is pos
Then, again, he declares the
" all ties of party, and from
Now, one would suppose
DENMAN would feel some gr(
the " party " which promo,
father from being Common S
to the Attorney7Generalshil
thence to the Chief Justices,
There are Conservatives wl
much the better of Mr. GI
such a declaration. For o
see in such a statement a
electioneering, unworthy of I
of Denman.
It is still worse as the
" My opinions generally are
" servative," or, in other w
Coalition is still parrotted
After saying that his princ.
votive," the candidate then p
Government, to whom he (I,
commit himself. He only se
of Ministers " would rende
" give them my support."
tine of the war this waverin,
" It would be impossible for l
" Opinion which the event:
" weeks might not modify."
Just so. That word "me
the lips of a waverer, who
lation proceed on the prin
" little of this, and add tc
" then mix the two together
" will not answer, modify
GEORGE DENMAN, it was
hearted, ambiguous style
hearted father won the resp
adversaries, and the regard
The constituency of Cam
will have, indeed, greatly
character, if such a style o
GEORGE DENMAN be accepte
Sound Conservatives mu
care not to allow the waveri
even a show of vigour at:
Mr. WALPOLE an admirable
upon our side. Mr. DEN:
exercised in a profession ;
in the great rank of the
Mr. DENMAN the Univers
representative without ex
WALPOLE a politician of
and eminent rank in his p
The talents of Mr. DENM4
not proved—for aught we kr
no more of the eloquence t
frankness of his father ; M
other hand, has been deci
debate.
We must, therefore, wit
before us, call upon Con,
their appreciation of princi
c.
'7