Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-17 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIKES', FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1859

ciples. - And, to be consistent, as the composition of
the-Liberal party is, so ought that of the Liberal
Ministry to be. The one, on every ground of reason
and of congruity, ought, to all intents and purposes,
to be the reflex of the other.

Besides, it obviously is riot in accordance with the
terms laid down at the meeting at WILLIS'S Rooms
to determine upon the course to be pursued on the
displacement of Lord DERBY'S Administration. On
that occasion, Lord JOHN RUSSELL explained, that
" the Liberal party was composed of the Whig
party, of what had been termed the Independent
Liberals, and of gentlemen who had been connected
with Sir R. Peel in 'carrying measures of great
advantage to the country ; and he was quite con-
vinced, and in this he was also expressing the
opinion of his noble friend (Lord PALMERSTON),
that no Ministry could hope to be permanent that
did not include within it an adequate representation
of each of the sections of the great Liberal party in
in the House." This was a correct representation of
the case; and what Lord JOHN RUSSELL drew from
it was a fair deduction at the time. Mr. BRIGHT'S
account of their conditions, and the statement of his
expectations, were equally just and reasonable. "He
did not expect," he said, " that a Government could
adopt all his views. But what he insisted upon was
this--that all sections of the Liberal party should be
fairly represented in the Cabinet, and that the
Government should move in the direction of a Liberal
policy, in accordance, at least, with what might be
termed the average Liberal opinion of the party. He
was anxious for union and for a steady and moderate
progress ; and a Government formed in this manner,
and with the

vs, si

support as he could conscientiously give them."
Yet now, in the very formation of the new Ministry,
this principle is virtually thrown over board.
All sections of the Liberal party are not going to be
" fairly represented in the Cabinet." Mr. BRIGHT
himself must be there, as well as Mr. COBDEN, if it
is, as Lord JOHN RUSSELL has declared it ought, to
" include within it an adequate representation of each
of the sections of the great Liberal party in the
House."

We make these strictures upon the new Minis-
terial arrangements under a not unreasonable
anxiety as to their ultimate success. It is no affair
of mere party with us, be assured. This is no time,
we are thoroughly persuaded, to indulge in party
feelings, or to keep up any party struggle for place.
Great European as well as English interests are
quivering in the balance, and we want a Government
that will be capable of dealing with theui advan-
tageously and safely. Such a Government, to be
stable, that it may be serviceable, must be able
to carry along with it a majority of Parliament. We
may be wrong in our apprehensions; but we must
confess that we have our misgivings as to the new
Ministry--from its complexion—being permanently
in a position to do so. Certainly, in one important
respect it will have a very decided advantage over
that which it has succeeded. The Conservative
Opposition has already, through its chief, expressed
its determination to give it fair-play. " However I
may differ in political opinions from those who may
succeed me," Lord DERBY has declared, "yet I will
say this for myself, and for that great Conservative
party with which I have so long had the honour of
being connected, that. acting in the truest spirit of
Conservatism, their constant and anxious 'services
out of, as in office, will continue to be given to their
Sovereign and to the country," and, of course,
therefore, to her Majesty's Government for the time
being, be it composed of whom it may, so long as
they pursue a Constitutional course. There is no
ground whatever, then, for alarm from without.
Any danger of instability that there may be, must
arise solely from within

-..-...„...........

PROGRESS OF THE WAR,

So far the progress of the allied assault upon
Austria has been all that France could wish. It has
already, indeed, had- results which the assailants
themselves could never have been sanguine enough
to expect, in so short a time. Not but that they
have had to be obtained by a terrible series of
onslaughts, and at an enormous sacrifice of blood
and treasure, on the part of the allies. We have
little idea, here in England, it is now stated, of the
awful amount of life which has already been
sacrificed in the allied ranks, as well as in those of
their enemy. They have ' paid 'dreadfully dear,
therefore, for their brilliant successes. And if '
the French Emperor's object be, as he has
solemnly declared it is, only the disinterested one
of rescuing Italy from Austrian - domination, he
has made his country pay a price for it which no
national advantage it can derive from such an object
will ever compensate for. There is ,in this simple
fact, therefore, only too well-grounded cause for
alarm. Warlike Princes don't sacrifice their armies,
even in conquests, for nought. The resources of
France can never be allowed to be wasted so lavishly
upon the Italians, unless that France herself, or
her Imperial autocrat, may reap a commensurate
gain from it. And hence the ulterior danger of a
still more to be dreaded disturbance of the peace of 1
Europe: -

the Crimea ? Even as it was, we made a terrible

and most mistaken sacrifice in that most important
affair, comparatively for a small result. But what
would it be, if Russia were to be restored by France

to her former position ?
Now, as respects England, the most alarming
thing of all, under such circumstances, is the
accession to office of one who has already declared
his strong proclivity towards that very progress of
events. Lord PALMERSTON is in favour of a closer
alliance than ever with the Emperor of the French.
He has distinctly avowed his opinion, that a closer
alliance with Louis NAPOLEON is the interest of
England. And how could there be such an alliance
maintained, unless England sympathised with, and,
sympathising, supported him in his policy ? It is
obvious from the Official Correspondence on the
Affairs of Italy which has been laid before Parlia-
ment, that Lord PALMERSTON and Lord CLARENDON
were made pretty much aware of the French
Emperor's designs on the occasion of their visit to
him at Compeigne last Autumn. Lord MALMESBURY,
whilst disclosing this to our Ambassador at Paris,
for his guidance, took occasion to declare, with
respect to France's then threatened rupture with
Austria, that " the war, if it be what is expected,
namely, an Italian war, can neither be short nor
decisive. It may begin as a conflict in which three
monarchies are engaged, but, looking at the soil on
which it will be waged, and the elements which it
will contain, it must ere long expand into a war of
opinions. Among these theories youil Excellency
may be assured that those of a republican hue will
not be the faintest. Of such a war," added the late
Foreign Secretary, " France will have to bear the
heaviest expenditure of blood and treasure, against a
foe possessing great military power, and a determin-,
ation to use it to the last ; while the phases of the
contest would give new life to that dreaded class
who look in anarchy alone for a realisation of their
avarice or ambition." Much of this prediction' is
already in course of fulfilment. France has, in a very
short time, thrown Italy into such a state of insur-
rection and anarchy as must have raised high the
hopes of those who only flourish in such an element.
Bid, thank GOD ! England has so far no share in the
responsibility of it. " If," said Lord DERBY in the
City of London the other day —" if we have not been
successful in preventing other countries from entering
into mad and causeless hostilities, we have at least
been successful in keeping this country out of that
turmoil of war ; we have hitherto preserved to her
the blessings of peace ; we have protected her from
all entangling ..and embarrassing alliances ; and we
are enabled to hand over the Government of this

country to our successors, whoever they may be, in a
position, I hope, prepared for war, and also deter-
mined, as long as it is possible, to Maintain peace."
We would hope that Lord PALMERSTON will duly

appreciate such a position, and will not only deter-
mine to maintain peace, but make it one of the first

great objects of his Administration to do so. Yet

we must confess that we have our fears. Were

..
Europe still at peace, it would be different. But in

the war that now prevails, we do indeed dread that
a Minister of Lord PALMERSTON'S bellicose character

and Napoleonic connections, may be unable to resist
the temptation to participate in its glories.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MERSEY DOCKS.—Mr. APlver

has brought his practical experience to bear upon the pro-
ceedings of the Mersey dock board in various ways, and it
will be seen, by reference to yesterday'

_ proceedings of
that body, that he is aiming at protecting the mercantile
body from various tedious, troublesome, an•i oftentimes

invidious returns, which the dock officials call for, upon the
plea that they are essential for the protection of the dock

estate, in the collection of its legal clues,

We know of no

body which has power in its acts of parliament of requiring
suchvarious returns and details as this board .oan call for

from parties who pay the dues to its exchequer, and if Mr.
M'lver has succeeded in reducing this labour, and modifying

the inconvenience, he will confer no light benefit upon the

mercantile community

THE COURT.
WINDSOR CASTLE, June 15.—Her Majesty, shortly after
arriving at the Castle yesterday, visited her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Kent, at Frogmore. The Queen was accom-
panied by the Princess Helena. The following visitors
arrived at the Castle in the afternoon, and dined with her
Majesty : —His Highness the Maharajah Duleep Singh, the
Duchess of Manchester, the Duke of Beaufort, the Duke and
Duchess of Buecleach, the Duchess of Sutherland, the
Marquis of Exeter, the Marquis of Abercorn, and Earl de
la Warr. The Band of the Ist Life Guards attended during
dinner. The Queen's Private Band afterwards performed
in the drawing-room.

Mae Queen and Prince Consort walked and drove iu the
Homework this morning, accompanied by Prince Leopold
and.the Maharajah Duleep ; and viSited'her Royal Highness
tize.Duchasz of Kent, at Frogmore.
Helena and Louisa, rode ,out .o horse-
back,

apprOaching, therefore, when the question will
practically and anxiously arise —What next ?
One answer to this question is, that Italy will be
Napoleonised. " Universal suffrage and the ballot-
Lox," we see it ironically remarked, " will be intro-
duced into Italy with the same beneficial effects that
have already been experienced from that admirable
piece of voting machinery in France, which, com-
bined with the presence of a large foreign army,
will guarantee to the Italians the free expression of
their wishes," And then the questions are signifi-
cantly asked, " Who knows whether universal
suffrage will ratify the decision of municipal bodies,
,converting them into subjects of Piedmont ? Who
knows what the ' free expression of their wishes'
may not lead them to ? " Who, indeed ! But, then,
why should they expect what even the French
people themselves, even with universal suffrage and
the ballot-box, have found it impossible to secure ?

Were this an affair which France and Italy could

be left to themselves to settle, and which, when
settled, would be sure to restore tranquillity to
Europe, all well and good. But there is little hope
of its being so. Austria will not rest satisfied with
any such issue. It will not settle her account with
France. Nor are we quite sure that it is intended
to settle France's account with her. And then
Germany may be placed in jeopardy—or, what is
much the same thing, Austria may persuade her that
she is. And it is evident, from the ominous circular
of Prince Gortschakoff, on the part of the Russian
Government, that if Germany goes to war with
France, Russia will go to war with Austria. And
in such an event, what may there not arise to undo
all that France and England did against Russia in