The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-18 00:00:00

a Romanist, would be an enormity not to be
endured, and more than one-third of the British
army being Roman Catholics, must be disbanded.
Of course you are prepared to admit that
Itornanists may not be called on to pay taxes or
fight the battles of their country. The thing
will be far better done if it rest on Protestant
shoulders and Protestant hearts, holding the one
true faith, without which we perish everlastingly.
All this, and much more, you must be prepared
for, gentlemen, if you are to be consistent in the
crusade against Maynooth. Is it possible
that statesmen could for a moment listen
to such insane raving ? Could our Houses
of Parliament venture to enter upon this
course of legislation —legislation for and
against sects and theological opinions. In
this case, indeed, the British Empire would be
tending to decline and fall ; the sun of England
would be near its setting ; and that very respec-
table animal, the British lion, would have
uttered his last roar. Happily, the Houses of
Parliament know their own dignity and their
own functions better than to listen to any such
arguments from men who know as much of the
wisdom of Statesmanship as they do of the
charity of Christianity, and the equal rights of
citizenship.

BOTH the Conservative and Reform I parties
have now held their first public meeting in con-
nection with the approaching general election.
All the candidates have stated at length the
peculiar and distinctive features of their respec-
tive political creeds. On all local topics they
are agreed. Each is pledged, and, we believe,
equally determined, to resist the contemplated
attack upon the Town Dues. Nor will they coun-
tenance or support any attempt to wrest from the
people of Liverpool the management of their own
Dock affairs. With regard to China they are
also equally agreed, and as fully resolved to sup-
port the Government of the day, in carrying to a
final and a successful issue our present contest
with the Celestial Empire. In the estimation of
all the candidates, Lord PAL3IERSTON is the only
statesman of the day who can so conduct our
foreign relations in the East. On these points,
then, there is nothing to warrant the preference
of one candidate over another, unless it be that
on the score of energy and aptitude for the trans-
action of business that those who are in the full
vigour of manhood, and who have been accus-
tomed to business pursuits, are more likely to
stand the wear and tear of a Parliamentary life,
and be more likely to promote the interests of
their constituents, by their ability and willing-.
ness at all times to forward their views, no
matter to which party they belong.

As matters stand at present, there seems to be
a total absence, on the part of the Ministerial
candidates, of an election cry. From the state-
ment of Lord DERBY on Monday night, it is
quite evident that the Premier cannot supply
them with one. The noble Earl has clearly de-
monstrated that .the first Lord of the Treasury is
without a principle, and his Ministry without a
policy. Cle,,rly, indeed, did he picture the
absurd and ridiculous cry which the Premier's
adherents are sending forth throughout the
length and breadth of the land. On all sides
we hear of nothing but—" what will PALMERSTON
do ?" No one can tell, not even conjecture.
The chameleon hue of his political character, and
the constant changing of sides among,the leading
statesmen of the last half century, is an un-
answerable proof that he is not " the coming
man," and that lie is quite opposed to Reform.
Lord DERBY twitted him on this point on Mon-
day night, and referred to the vote of Ministers
on Mr. LOCKE KING'S motion for an ex-
tension, of the suffrage. This was such
a severe thrust that Earl GRENVILLE was
obliged to explain away, if not entirely
ignore, facts, that he might rescue his
noble colleague from the vehemence of the dread-
ful wound inflicted on the Premier's political
character. Lord GRENVILLE, in replying to this
particular charge, said that it had been the
intention of Ministers to support the motion of Mr.
LOCKE KING, hoping to make the measure more
perfect in committee, but as that was found to
be impracticable, the Government abandoned the
intention. The fact is, ministers, say what Lord
GRENVILLE may, never purposed to support the
measure ; for Lord PALMERSTON, in his speech
on the subject, emphatically declared that he
opposed the motion on the ground that the
people did not want any such change as was
demanded by LOCKE KING.

Again, we have seen that on the ground of re-
trenchment they are equally opposed to the public
will, It is true the Chancellor of the Exchequer is
made of squeezeable materials, for when severely
pushed on the tea duties and the income tax, he
succumbed to the pressing demand of the popu-
lar will. In educational matters they have been
either indifferent or culpably supine, and
although a clamour may be raised to pour forth
the diplomatic abilities of Lord PALMERSTON,
and the energy and success which he has dis-
played as regards our disputes with Russia and
Persia, we cannot be insensible to the fact, that
one of the greatest statesmen of the present day,
or of ancient or modern times, has strongly con-
demned the belligerent character of his foreign
policy. We all know what was the subject of
Sir ROBERT PEEL'S last speech in the House of
Commons, and the vote which followed that
speech ; and we also know that both were a
censure upon the noble lord. Has he retrieved
any of these errors ? His vindication of Sir
JOHN BOWRING'S conduct, and the recent warlike
operations in Persia emphatically answer—No.

As far, then, as Lord PALMERSTON and the
present Ministry are concerned, they are not to
be relied upon as the advocates and supporters
of Peace, Retrenchment, and Reform. Lord
DERBY, and they who commonly follow in his
political wake, are in the same category.
He tells us that there is no political combination
or Coalition, such as was charged against him in
both Houses. Indeed, Mr. HORSFALL, in his

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