The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-24 00:00:00

suggested by the late First Lord of the Treasury,
I and to the scheme proposed by the present Chief I
Secretary for the Home Department. It will be
re-
membered that against the former enterprise Lord
PALMERSTON directed such an overwhelming blow of
opposition that before the pressure of its impetus the
whole fabric of the Administration crumbled away;
It will be observed, moreover, as a sort of corollary
to his remarks upon that occasion, that the Noble
Viscount spoke last night with,
if possible, yet more
remarkable energy of declamation in favour of the
latter scheme, the scheme submitted to the consi-
deration of Parliament by the Conservative Adminis-
tration.
After the significant amendment proposed by
the Honourable and Gallant Member for
Westminster, an amendment suggesting that
the Bill should be read a second time that day
three months, the debate assumed a colour such as
at once revealed that the opinions of the House upon
the matter were, in the strongest sense of the term,
diametrically antagonistic. Antagonistic be it remem-
bered, not upon the principle of the measure, but upon
its probable operation. Insomuch was this the case
that the ex-Premier commenced his opposition to the
projected enactment, by observing—" It is because I
feel that this country requires more internal defences
—it is because I think these internal defences ought
to be better organized than they now are, that I feel
myself unable to consent to the second reading of
this Bill." An apparent non-sequitur so very startling
could not fail, of course, to elicit roars of laughter,
but the accuracy of the assertion received on many
sides the strongest corroboration. Instead of ar-
guing after this fashion, however, Lord PALMERSTON
remained consistent to his original impression upon the
matter, and while he continued to advocate
unprecedented measures of precaution like those
originally suggested by himself, and such as those
now propounded by the existing Government, he
took occasion, in his reply to the speech of Lord JOHN
RUSSELL, to wreak a more signal vengeance even
than any he had hitherto obtained over his late
Ministerial colleagues. " I had hoped," said Lord
PALMERSTON, " that_ when this House was called
upon to consider a measure admitted in its princi-
ples, at least, if not in its details—in its object, if not
in its provisions—admitted by all parties on both
sides of the Ibuse—(Cheers)—by the Government
that was and the Government that is, to be essential
for the beet interests of the country, that that mea-
sure would have been discussed solely with a view to
the defence and security of the realm, and that no
party feelings—(A. burst of cheering from the Minis-
terial side of the House)—would have mixed
themselves up with the discussion of the present
measure.—(Cheers.) I confess it is with much sur-
prise, and still more pain, that I have witnessed the
line which the Noble Lord and those of hie followers
who have preceded him—(A nether tremendous shout
of applause from the Ministerial aide)—have thought
it their duty to pursue upon the present occasion."
No wonder the occupants of the Treasury benches
greeted words like those with their interpolated ac-
clamations, no wonder they celebrated the support
obtained from a statesman of such considerable popu-
larity with an enthusiasm indicative of their latent
sense of exulation. The speech delivered last even-
ing in support of Mr. Secretary WALPOLE'S Militia
Bill by Lord PALMERSTON, is calculated to prove
more advantageous to the present Cabinet than
would have been half a dozen triumphant majorities.
That speech may save the Ministry from the ig-
nominious, because summary and peremptory
rejection of their first measure, which we believe
must have been otherwise inevitable. For ourselves,
we are as eager as the late Foreign Secretary could
possibly have been to deprecate anything like party
reeling in reference to a matter involving the very
stability of the empire. Like him, we should regard
a factious opposition upon a subject of such marvel-
lous import as more than, and even most peculiarly,
unconstitutional. But factious though we have
at different times deemed the course pur-
sued during the present session by the members of
her MA.USTY'S Opposition, decisively and sternly as
we have pronounced our condemnation of their pro-
ceedings towards the new Government—we
cannot regard the views entertained in the
present instance by Lord Jotier RUSSELL and
his supporters as either factious or unconstitu-
tional, we cannot speak otherwise than in terms of
respect of the arguments which in their instance
we feel assured are traceable less to the
dictates of party feeling than to the promptings of
an earnest and energetic patriotism. Mistaken they
may be, but that they are likewise sincere we rest
satisfied, if from nothing else, from the circumstance
of their obdurate consistency.
Meanwhile, during the discussion of the ques-
tion of our national defences in the English
Legislature, the Continental Powers, such as
France, must be somewhat entertained by the
complacent exposure of our own weakness.
Aware that such has already been the case,
it is seriously to be hoped that we may not
disagree so totally in reference to the most
advisable means of defence that no measures
at all may be adopted in the end, and that
after displaying how peculiarly vulnerable England
is in reality, our administrators shall fail altogether
in their efforts to render it invulnerable.

The popularity, nay more, the very existence of
the present Government, will depend on its fiscal and
financial policy. Friday, the 30th of April, will
prove the crisis of its fate. If the country caa then
be satisfied that every notien of a bread-tax has been
finally abandoned, and that just ani equitable mea-
sures are under consideration, and likely to be intro-
duced in due season, it will not sanction anything
approaching to a factious opposition. Whatever may
be the feelings of "the happy family"—however
strongly they may feel respecting the inalienable
rights of RUSSELLS, GREYS, and ELLIOTTS to the
sweets of office, the people are not quite so devotedly
attached to their rule as to sacrifice substantial bene-
fits for their sake. The Earl GREY was not so very
meritorious in his Colonial, "mar-administration,
nor was Sir CHARLES WOOD so exeeedingly popular
as to create a demand "for men ra•her than mea-
eures," or for their restoration to the °alai residences,
in Downing-street, at any cost.
Protection being, as we have stated, abandoned,
we look for more from the present Ministry than we
could have anticipated from their predecessors ; we now
look forward with confident hope to an equalization
of taxation, a matter on which we hare long and
strenuously insisted, but which could not be ob-
tained while Sir CHARLES WOOD presided over the
national finances. The local burdens will, in all
human probability, be assimilated ; and we shall not
again have to complain of the less wealthy districts
being compelled to contribute more than four times
as much in proportion to their means as their more
fortunate neighbours.
It is also by no means.unlikely that the doctrines
of free trade may be more fully carried out
by the Earl of DERBY than they could have been by
Lord JOHN RUSSELL. It has at length been clearly
ascertained that exclusive privileges will no longer be
compe-
tition as well as the rest osfmtuhset scuebmmuietittyo. commpeey-
tolerated—that agriculturist
should be satisfied with " a clear stage and no
favour," they will get no more, but to that they are
entitled. If they are unduly burdened or over-
weighted tahne y
onlya r e
buenoqbuteasitniedon by an
entitled to relief,
an equitable adjust-
ment of the general taxation of the country.
measures of fiscal pol.si,c
We do not, of course, expect that great and com-
however,
completecu
receive nn instalment on account.
With so large a balance on hand, Mr. DISRAELI •
eyeevennmed feelings
aan be carried
ya,
the present session, or that
com-
prehensive
during
exposition of the Ministerial view
forward on Friday. tine bo brought
should give something. He should not retain all,
find for the next year ore un-
and allow us to
substantial promises. From . what fell from
him on Thursday evening, we may
almost
reckon upon the abolition of the advertise-
ments duties which, although producing to
the revenue but 150,0001., or at the outside 160,000/.
per annum, oceation great annoyance and irritation
to men of all classes, and are peculiarly detrimental
to those whom it should be. our object to assist to
the utmost degree. We believe that if the result of
that iniquitous impost could be fully ascertained,
•
that it would be found that the poor rates were in.
cteppe4 by far mop
n !-0 sz:otlEt pe,O. i'.3o the