The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-05 00:00:00

(Stamped, Id. Additional.)

LORD ROBERT MONTAGU, lf.P., OY
GOVERNMENT BY PARTY.

ff. NIOO3, Plumy.

A considerable number of the menlbers of the
St Noots Agricultural Society dined together this after-
noon ;Lord Room Mormon in the chair.

- ------- ---•
Lad B. MONTAGU, ha returning thanks to a tout in hie
honour, said be was esevineed that party feeling and factious
spirit was the ruin of the sountry. It was the bane of the
members of the Hones of Commons, of the constituencies,
and of the natter at large. What was its offset on the
House of Commies? One party proposed a mamma no
other petty opposed itt not because it was shad mreeen, bet
became they did not like the other petty le have the credit
of proposing it. Then, what did the first party do? They
, did sot my,' This is right—this is necemary--this mast
be done." They did not stand to their principles,
They did not stand to their colours. They resorted to sem.
promises—the monies of all unsteady minds. (Hear,
hear.) Every party bad does wrong. There was no piety
that had ever acted rightly. They were always
sonuithing to pin power—something which could not ha
=a--seesethnsg which they dared not tell the country.
wing many things kept secret, because they knew
i there was • strong sense of right and wren in *N6hmen
that would not justify any government that acted se • die.
boooemble meaner. (Cheers.) But what happened then ?
Borne am found out some secret transaction ; and what wee
the course pursued! Party spirit, faction, divided those
who were striving after something good; tint faction also
milted people when they were disposed to do something eviL
If something was found out which it was the duty of
Englishmen to know and judge—if any one person at-
tempted to bring it before the House and the country, and
to appeal to his brother Englishmen, "is this right or
wrong!" one party agreed with the other that the
country must know nothing of the matter, because such
knowledge would weaken their power, and they left the
House to be counted. (Hear, hear.) That was the effect
of party spirit in the House of Commons. Aod what was
its effect on constituencies? In certain constituencies
there ware parties very much animated by this party spirit.
They slurred over the falsehoods uttered by their perty.
They justified the evil deeds committed by their party.
They invented calumnies to blacken the opposite party.
(Hear, hear.) Did not such a course blind their
some of what wee right and wean ! With respect to con-
tested electives, it often happened that a friend turned
away from another with aversion merely on account of a
party contest. Dr. Johnson once said—mad very teal,—
that party spirit never left • man honest, however it might
find him. (Cheers.) He observed a motto in the room—
" Union is strength. That motto they had copied over and
over spin, until the words had almost ceased to have any
meaning in their minds. We had read in history of one of
the greatest cities of ancient times for two years withstand-
ing all the efforts of the Roman legions, which could not
be taken until faction reigned within its walla—until fear
of the enemy was • lesser thing than the hatred of the
opposing faction. Rome itself was mighty until
shattered by party spirit, and thee it sank un-
der the sceptre of • tyrant, and fell into the arms
of the invader. (Hear, bear.) Why not apply these things
to our own case?
_A great political writer once said that
party is the madness of many for the gain of the few."
The people were nothing but the dupes of party. Faction
lived entirely upon hatred. it wan the hatred of the op-
posite party that kept its members together. Government
by party was • thing of modern days. It was an innovation.
It meant nothing but tyranny and oligarchy. It was said
that it was impossible to have politics without party. Now
be denied that, and believed it impossible to have any true
system of politics whilst the passions of party intervened.
What was the case in England in former times--in the times
of our forefathers? It might be said they were rude, but
at least they were honest. What wee the course pursued
in those days? The King called to his counsels every
one who was known for his abilities and distinguished
for his integrity. At the Privy Council the pew met the
mummer and the merchant, and discussed affairs of state
together. They ell met in curet council, and whatever
their political biasses they gave their united counsel to the
sovereign. The course which their adopted was founded on
the union of every political creed, and could not become the
war cry of any party. Such days as these might perhaps
never occur again. But on such occasions as the present all
might be friends. They might set aside all party rancour
and live in harmony. Here,
" At home, the hated names of party i 5..,,
And factions souls are wearied into peace."
. _

The noble lord resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.
Pommel other toasts of a local character were afterwards
given and duly responded to, and the party then separated.

SIR J. TROLLOPS M.P., UPON rap MEXICAN
IIIiSRVENTION.

GRANTHAM, FRIDAY Erman.

The annual meeting of the Lincolnshire Agricul-
tural Association was held to-day at this town, and was
attended by the principal gentry sod farmers of the dis-
trict. At the dinner which subsequently took place at
the Town-hall, under the presidency of Mr. TURNS'S,
Sir JOHN TROLLOPS returned thanks for the county
members. After glancing at some other incidents of last
session, the right hoe. baronet said that be viewed with
astonishment that after the government had avowed as its
principle nonintervention in foreign countries, after having
levied a ninepenny income tax to pay for the Chinese war,
after having spent many millions of money, it was
are now about to wad a Beet fur the purpose of interfering
in the affairs of Mexico, "a country with which, although it
may be, and I believe is, the worst governed, and has
the most degraded population in the world, we have
nothing whatever to do, thus distinctly ignoring its prin-
ciple of non-intervention. No doubt years ago, when that
country threw off the yoke of Spain, individuals in England
supplied • large sum of money to that government, the
scenting interest of which has amounted to a vast sum; but
is that a neon why we should interfere and take the re-
venues of that eaastry to meet the claims of the bond-
holders of Mexico? I never knew the military and naval
force of this country employed to collect bad debts, but
that seems to be the cane now, for we ore going to send
forth the forces of England to collect the debts of the
bondholders. I think if parliament had been sitting no
such expedition would be sent out for that purpose, for the
matter would be too well ventilated. One word
more. I cannot Nay that I canbear out the favourable
reports which I have seen in the newspapers
re-
specting the state of Ireland, for on a recent visit
to that country I saw that the crops of wheat
were next to nothing, the cats and barley miserably bad,
and the potatoes altogether rotten, and there is every rea-
son to believe that that unfortunate country in the coming
winter will spin experience • scarcity of food. Nor are
accounts from Scotland at all favourable, so that I am
sorry that the same congratulations cannot be wade with
respect to other part. of the United Kingdom as have been
made with regard to the harvest in England. I feel, how-
ever, that I am trespassing too long on your attention, and
I will therefore conclude by 'nearing you that at all times
my efforts and my energies will be used to the utmost for
your benefit and advantage." (Loud cheers.)
Several other toasts of a local c haracter were then given,
and the proceedings terminated.