The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-12 00:00:00

THE

Ministers would be prepared to explain at
once their intended policy in reference to Free
Trade or Protection, Lord JOHN RUSSELL in-
formed the meeting yesterday that that answer had
proved so far evasive that he, the Noble Lord, was
resolved upon immediately forcing the Government
into the necessity of an explanation. After informing
his " kyind friends" that such was the generous con-
clusion at which he had arrived, the late PREMIER in-
timated in a tone of flattering significance, and of
seductive insinuation, that in the event of his own
ultimate restoration to office, he proposed laying be-
fore Parliament a new Reform Bill, such as he con-
ceived would be more generally acceptable to the
population.
The meaning of all this is surely sufficiently
transparent. It affords only another testimony, and
thi9, moreover, a very sorry one, that the Whig
PREMIER is true to his political antecedents. In
office he does nothing, or next to nothing—out of
office he promises everything, and, by his specious
assurance, makes the mouths of the more credulous
water for the advent of the time when he might re •
sume the reins of government. We do not
think, however, the public are to be cajoled
again so very readily, We don't think the Noble
Lord will be afforded once more an opportunity of
falsifying his own declarations. The experience the
nation has reaped from the last five or six years of
his mal-administration is not likely, we conceive, to
render the people solicitous for the speedy restoration
of his party. The people, indeed, are sick
of them to very nausea ; they are sick of
the GREYS and of the ELLIOTS, of the WOODS
and of the RUSSELLS; they are sick of
their ill-temper and their imbecility, of their egre-
gious place-hunting and their aristocratic predilec-
tions. The multitude is as likely to demand the
elevation of Mr. TAPER to the rank of one of the
Lords of the Treasury, or to require the transforma-
tion of Mr. TA_ r oLs into a Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, or to clamour for the re-appointment of
the Right Hon. NICHOLAS RIGBY as Chief Secre-
tary to the Board of Admiralty—as to betray
any anxiety to witness the resumption of
power by the late incompetent leaders of the Ad-
ministration.

It is manifest enough from the proceedings re-
ferred to above, the proceedings which must
be long and appropriately associated with Ches-
ham-place, that Lord JOHN RUSSELL is
bidding eagerly for the renewal of his
authority as First Lord of the Treasury. Not thus
acted Sir ROBERT PEEL, a statesman as enlightened
as he was magnanimous. Nay, if we might judge
correctly from the facts which came to light yester-
day, we believe we could announce with all accuracy
that as eagerly as Lord JOHN RUSSELL is bidding
anew for the Premiership, so also is Mr. JOHN
BRIGHT bidding for the principal post at the Horse
Guards. And, what is yet more, we look forward
with equal confidence to the re-appointment of
Lord Jous RUSSELL as Prime Minister, and to the
nomination of Mr. JOHN BRIGHT as Commander-in-
Chief of the Forces. Among all those 168 Members
assembled yesterday, in Chesham-place, two only
vindicated by word of mouth their title
as Liberal representatives—the Hon. Member for
Finsbury insisting upon the superior necessity of
forwarding the cause of Parliamentary reform, instead
of bringing forward this Quixotic onslaught upon the
windmills of Monopoly and the wine-skins of
Protection—and the veteran Member for Montrose
sarcastically maintaining that there was at this mo-
ment not a jot less need for Lord JOHN RUSSELL, than
for the Earl of DERBY, to explain the nature of the
principles upon which he would be prepared to con-
duct
the labours of her MAJESTY'S Government.

It is more than probable that, before many weeks
have elapsed, there will be a dissolution of Parlia-
ment, and that the several constituencies throughout
the length and breadth of the land will be again
called upon to exercise the important trust confided
to their charge, to select fit and proper persons to
represent their feelings and wishes in the Imperial
Parliament. The duty is at all times one of vast
importance, but it is more particularly so on the
present occasion. The commercial policy of the
nation is about to be placed on trial. The
people may be called upon to decide between
Free Trade and Protection, between untaxed bread
and a small loaf. We entertain not the slightest doubt
as to what the result will be whenever the appeal may
be made to the country. If there were even a possi-
bility of a Parliamentary majority in favour of a corn-
law, either in the shape of a sliding-scale or a fixed
duty, the voice of public opinion would be sufficiently
potent to prevent the revival of the obnoxious impost.
No Ministry would dare to bring in such a law, and
we cannot suppose that even the most sanguine Pro-
tectionist would not think it dearly bought at
the expense of the internecine conflict that would in-
evitably arise. We trust and believe, however, that
the question may not arise, but that the different
agricultural constituencies will be contented to ac-
cept the Act of 1846 as a final settlement of the
verata questio, and look to other remedial measures
that would prove exceedingly beneficial to their
order, and which would receive the general concur-
rence of the industrious classes.

It is not, however, material for the purposes of
our present argument to consider the course that
may be pursued, or the policy indicated ;by the dif-
ferent candidates ; we would rather direct the public
attention to the duty of the electors, and those pos-
sessing, or supposed to possess, extraordinary influ-
ence, whether as landlords or employers, at the
present crisis. And, first, as to the electors, more
partical irly in the smaller boroughs. It must now be
manifest to all such parties that the tricks and schemes
which have heretofore been practised with compara-
tive impunity can no longer be tolerated. They may
receive a salutary lesson from the course adopted with
respect to St. Albans. It will, if properly con-
sidered, convince them that it is the fixed and de-
liberate determination of Parliament to put down
bribery, treating, and the various phases of corrup-
tion with the strong hand, that no compromise be-
tween opponents—both of whom may be equally im-
.l e prceted in discreditable practices—will prevent the
most stringent and searching inquiries, if suspicion
be excited, and that the necessary investigations will
be conducted before far more efficient tribunals
than the Committees which have heretofore
decided upon subh matters. The ex-Pne-
lidlEle has announced his intention of going
on even during the present session with the Corrupt
Practices at Elections Bill. But even if that mea-
sure should not receive the legislative sanction pre-
' vious to the dissolution, there can be but little doubt
that a similar proposition will be carried at the com-
mencement of the sittings of the new Parliament, and
that it will, to a certain extent, have an ex post fact
operation, bringing all matters that may occur
the general election under its operation.
precedent with respect to St. Albans will
throw considerable light on this subject, and
'phroacwtk eveshat persons indulging in such unjustifiable
may reasonably anticipate. It will there-
fore be incumbent on all borough electors who desire
to avoid political
annihilaetioniattoeda.ct fairly and above
board, convinced that any deviation from the line of
duty must be lamentably expiated.
As to landlords and employers, we would earnestly
invite the attention of those persons to a letter from
a venerable and venerated patriot to his tenantry on
the subject of the approaching
that
ees •um on our
contest Pi;
the representation of the county of Kildare. Lord
CLONCLTERY'S name, and his sterling, ghtni .
nded inte-
gparritty are so b
so
weabsolutelyellknown
un n
e anye s
s ur
y. It carries
with it a higher title than any which the favour I ogi
of a mere earthly monarch could confer. He
May be mistaken in soma points—for who
is are convinced
perfect but we
he never advocatedthat
improper mo-
tives—that during his prolonged life he. invariably
his heart.
any cause from
gave expression to the true feelings of
This distinguished Noblemen, then, has written to
the tenantry on his extensive estates, a circular,
which we cannot deny ourselves the plea-
sure of publishing in extenso, and which
may serve as a model for other landlords.
He expresses his own feelings, as any man is justly
entitled to de, but scrupulously abstains from any
undue interference, We shall, however, give his
Lordship's, own words :
but not the least sincere of your friends,
tho"ttlan humble,ryiro
dfrura public Iget thialee it