The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-10 00:00:00

while now the tendency is to choose them with re-
ference to their opinions,—as delegates rather than
as legislators. The Reviewer can be but very par-
tially right. Ever since there have been parties in
the House of Commons, the electors have always

professedly voted for candidates of their own opinions.
A great deal more margin may have been generally
allowed, but assuredly every candidate has always
proposed some political creed, and solicited votes on
the ground of his fidelity to it. The real difference
is that particular measures and opinions are much

more frequently brought forward at the hustings
now than formerly, and the true reason for this is
that the numbers are increased beyond all calculation,
who are quite as competent to form political opinions

as the Members they return. The Quarterlies,
the Monthlies, the Weeklies, and the Dailies,
especially the latter, have done their work.
They have enabled the million to possess in-
telligent and well-considered opinions on every
public topic ; while political' societies and public
meetings have habituated the electors to discussions,
in the case of the Corn-laws, and other subjects too,
no way inferior to many a debate in the Houses of
Legislature. In such an altered state of the electoral
intelligence, it is absurd to complain that electors
will have their opinions represented. Every man of
ability, who covets the position of a Member of Par-
liament, but whose opinions differ from those of every
constituency in the kingdom, has innumerable means
open to him of changing public opinion. The press,
the lecture, the public meeting, are all before him ;
and, with a good cause and the requisite ability, he
must ultimately succeed ; while, on the other hand,
the instances are but too numerous of the inutility of
legislation much in advance of public opinion. We
think, therefore, that, on this point, the Manchester
men are right. Representation is a farce unless it
represents public opinion. That opinion may be as
wrong as individual opinion—it must be corrected
like that of individuals, by experience ; but the same
electoral conditions which would give facility for its
blundering, would give equal facility for correcting its
blunders. Large as is the preponderance of Free-traders
in the present Parliament, there can be no doubt that
were our population polled, the preponderance would be
immensely greater. Had public opinion been pro-
portionably represented in the House of Commons in
the last Parliament, no Premier would have dared to
coquette even with Protection,* and to talk of wishing
for a verdict of the country on that question. There
would have been no need to subscribe 70,0001. again
to the resuscitated League, no need to make the im-
posing demonstration of last Tuesday.
If the people are so incompetent to form opinions,
so unworthy to have them reflected fairly in Parlia-
ment, how happens it that on this great question, as
on many others, they have been in advance both of
Parliaments and Cabinets; as Mr. BRIGHT observed,
" Though we were right 14 years ago, and have been
right in this question ever since, and though three
Cabinets have been wrong, and one of them has not
yet put itself right, it is to be held that we are not
statesmen, and that those men only who could not
see what was simply right on this great fundamental,
t
all•absorbing question are entitled to describe and
o carry out the political policy of the nation. We
have not hereditary brains." It is perfectly certain,
indeed, that universal suffrage would have prevented
the imposition of the Corn-laws in 1815, and would
have repealed them in any subsequent year ; and,
with so strong a case before them, no wonder that
the League gentlemen feel as much confidence in
Ives of landlords
and squires.
public opinion as in the representat
Little was done or said at the meeting indicating
DEN described the House of Commons as one "in
any political programme for Reformers. Mr. COD•
which the intellect, and the wealth, and the power of
the country are so unequally and unduly repre-
sented, that, instead of its being a fair exponent of the
opinions of the country, it was little more than a ma-
chine where ingenious jugglers, like Signor BLITZ
himself, can shufile their cards and play their game,
and win the stakes in spite of the opposition of nine-
teen-twentieths of the population of this country."
His practical advice was that they should forthwith
get Protection clean out of the way, and then that
men of thirty (as time would be required), should de-
vote themselves to gaining the extension of the Suffrage,
the and every other iust, right, e" oolitic
measure
eau it they would but work for it, they
were are to have it." Mr. BRIGHT eloquently re-
marked—" e
d_The patriotism of our day does not consist
a r
in the destruction of monarchies, or the change of
dynasties. Our fathers wrested the institution of
an Annual Parliament from unwilling and despotic
monarchs. Be it ours—and I speak to those who can
do it, if we will it ;—be it ours to wrest a real House
of Commons from a haughty nobility, and to secure
the lasting greatness of this nation on the broad
foundations of a free Parliament and a free people.
(Loud and enthusiastic cheering)." Mr. KEOGH
pledged himself for the fidelity of the Liberal ma-
jority of Irish Members, and, much as his party have
been attacked, we think it only fair to give prominence
to the following noble declaration : " Irish membrs
were charged with sympathizing with tyranny and
despotism, but he was there to declare that they
sympathized with no tyranny abroad, and they obeyed
no tyranny at home. (Hera the whole company rose,
and the cheering and the waving of handkerchiefs
lasted some time). Having long experienced, under
the regime for which they were not answerable,
crushing despotism themselves, they must be as bereft
of mind as devoid of feeling, if they sympathized with
any one that tyrannized over the bodies or the con-
sciences of men. (Great cheering)." We record
with the greatest pleasure such sentiments from the
lips of men like Mfr. KEOGH and Sergeant SHER.
These things, thee, were plainly enough indicated
at the
u meeting; one that the energetic men of the
L real representation of the people the
toiled for and fought for, when nee
next
tgthe
ing to deemb ae
Pro-
tection is interred ; aaother, that the Irish Liberals
will stand as faithfully as ever by the English Liberals
wMaisnistry, unless, indeed, their conduct on
hint
ton of Protection deserved it. It was a
in the great conflict for
dottthh
ee a people's House of Commons.
given, aowever, of any wish to eject
present
League meeting, and they adopted their old course of
keeping as clear as possille of general politics.

• Erratum.—ln our notice of this subject on Monday a
misprint occurred towards thi close of the article,—" for the
door of Protection is sealed for ever ;" read the "doom."

.lICKINGHAM
.....
Her
Majesty,ARRIVAL Ol
aTcHcoEmCpaonUißeaT
ti
,y,/,
HE
leßoyal Higness Prince
1357 athe numerous, suite, arrived
this afternoon, at half-past tvo
bo clock, at
Albert, their Royal Hignesses PBAucLkAiCni:
Princess Royal, and attended Prince of Wales and
R from Windsor
Bucking-
ham Palace, having traveller
train via the Great Western Railway,7 the
cungntsoins,tingwhn.efrea
dtahteactinoyroyal special
toan
escortPadd i al carriages, and
Dragoons, (Royal Irish Hassals)ent of the Bth Light
convey the august par.ty to the Paace.Tere in waiting to
was held after her Majesty's arrival,wh A Privy Council
to be delivered to-morrow, on the ownen the Royal Speech
Ses-
sion of the new Parliament, was subytiteg of the first
approval. . ed for her Majesty's
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT B 1 R
Orders were received, on Saturday, al the House MAJESTY.—
from the Lord Chamberlain, to make ouse of Lords,
reception of her Majesty on Thursdar(eParations for the
that day it was the intention of her 'nap-morrow), as on
Parliament in person. Since Saturda,. Jesty to. open the
been proceeded with in, order. to rec4v,prheparati.ons have
respect. Her Majesty will arrive at the grand
Majesty with
the House of Lords at two o'clock precisev,
nd entrance of
HER MAJESTY AND
.THE CORPOR/TION
SOIL—At the annual meeting of the Townco OF WlND-
terdaY, a resolution expressive of the deep
ientinc held yes-
felt by the corporation to her Majesty and princese of gratitude
the spontaneous and munificent present o' their Albert for
wherewith to decorate the Town-hall, was ) portraits,
motion. At the same time a letter conveyhassFd b accla-
the council to Colonel the Hon. C. B. phi/4 the thanks. of
manner in which he had seconded the wishes for the kind
• of the town,
was unanimously adopted.
BIRTHDAY OF THE PRINCE OF VALES. —,yesterday
being the anniversary of the birthday of his Royal Highnessesterday
the Prince of Wales, merry- peals were rung from
the bells of
St. Martin's-in-the-fields, St. Margaret's Wes mint
other churches, and flags hoisted in honour of the 'doer; and
great number of persons congregated. on the Parade behindy
the Horse Guards, in the expectation of witnessbg a review
of the. Household troops, but they were disappointed, for no
review took place. On Somerset-house and other Govern-
ment offices flags were also hoisted.
CrtEmoariE.—We perceive by notice in oar adver-
tising columns, that the spirited proprietor of Cremorne
Hotel and Gardens, intends to cater fa the bodily wants of
visitors to the Great National Ceremonial at Chelsea Hospi-
tal; and from the close neighbourhood of this alarming
resort, and the well-known fame of Mr. Simpson, sate host
of the Albion, as a restaurant of the hi ;hest order, v,e have
no doubt that many will avail themselves of the oppeetuvity
of paying a visit to Cremorne, which, though shorn cf some
of its summer beauties, still presents many attractive clarets,
and will enable those previously unacquainted with its 10-;ality
ty judge of its great beauties and capabilities in the stunner
season.