The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-13 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —There exists in society a numerous class of
utilitarian philosophers, whose chief delight is to expa-
tiate upon the immense superiority of practice over
theory, and to deride, as dreamers and speculators, the
men of thought and premeditation, who deem a well-
devised plan the necessary precursor to successful action.
" Away with your Aristotles and Dialectics," say they,
"your Galvanis and Newtons ; give us the men who
have laid the Electric Telegraph to the Crimea. We
appreciate action, but what is the world better for all
the fantastic dreams of your theorists and speculators ?"
Now, sir, I confess I am one of those who have a
sort of sneaking appreciation of the disparaged idealist,
and am prone to estimate the unrewarded labours of
the sage in his closet—that secret inspiration that genius
alone can coeceive—above all the noisy performance of
the executauts of his ideas ; pilfered (if not presented)
to he converted into ingots ; and, for the simple reason,
that the one appears as a Centennial and precious bloc-
coin, and that the other is as plentiful as summer leaves.
We have had one Columbus, but a thousand circum-
navigators ; one Faust, or Guttenberg, and 10,000
journey:nen printers ; one Paxton, but how many Foxes
and liendersons ? True, it may be answered, but these
were practical' men also. Yes, but their design pre-
ceded the execution ; the theory was dwelt on, and well
meditated, before the carrying out was organised or
effected. The union of the two powers is essential to
full success ; for the one is not more vain alone than
the other is usually abortive.
To persons constituted as above the new cry for "Ad-
ministrative Reform" is likely to prove an attractive
one ; it has a spice of feasibility about it, and is spe-
fically pointed to a seemingly practical end.
I hail it, as I do all reforms, and wish it full success.
I tried to be present at its initiation, but the zeal of
others anticipated me and fiiled the room. It is, there-
fore, that I venture some suggestions that may aid its
purposes directly, or, marching along like friendly
armies in parallel lines, give mutual countenance and
support,
If a well-wisher attends a meeting, and (not being
set down to speak) ventures to inquire, or suggest, that
" Administrative" is but a branch, Of the great Reform
family, and that to cure the rottenness in the bough it
might be well to examine and prescribe for the root,
those fiercely-practical zealots are down uppn him at
once, as a disturber of the meeting, an enemy in disguise,
PckllT,Wei9ri TOIU 'WOW' r-11 d""
u , o nustfe rom t e room.
This was the fate of many a man during the railway
mania, who ventured to question, the impeccability of
Directors, whom the same rabid partisans, afterwards,
when too late, were howling against in concert. Very'
few will choose to encounter this voluntarily, but as no
meeting can be disturbed, nor anybody's zeal offended
by a calm inquiry in print, of a corresponding nature, I
take the liberty of asking whether the Ministry or ie
House of Commons are the more to blame for the evils
complained of ? If the latter did its duty honourably
and fearlessly could the former long outrage public
opinion ? If a Prime Minister is guilty, he has Parlia-
ment for accomplices. If incompetent appointments are
made they are sanctioned by the personal solicitations of
members, and the corrupt chain is commenced and
continued by the unfortunate requirements of hungry
constituents.

I am prowl to say of mine that not one among them
ever sought this from me, and I bad no temptation to
traffic my intlependence. To put "the right man in the
right place," you must be,gin at the beginning ; and I
unhesitatingly say, get the right men in the House of
Commons, and you will soon have the right men in the
Government, and in every office oftrust and responsibility,
from the Commanders of your fleets and armies, down
to the humblest tidewaiter or gauger required, until ex-
cise and customs shall be no more.
Shut men out of Parliament for that their rent-roll is
not, plentiful ; make them buy their seats, even at the cost
of liberal Marylebone ; give them a septennial lease of
places corruptly obtained, with the power to shorten it
for contumacy in Ministers' hands ; continue to do thip,
and your babble for "Administrative Reform " will be a
sounding brass.
With rottenness at the core you cannot have health at
the extremities. If our representative Oak be cankered
lay the pruning knife to the root, as well as set about
lopping the branches. The first might cure alone ; the
latter never ! If you will consider this as introductory
to what is to follow, that I may not make this letter too
long, I will now conclude, by subscribing. myself,
Your very obedient servant,
SAMUEL CARTER.
3, Church-court, Temple, June 1855.