The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

StIN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 5, 1864.

here chronicled, so that the argument that many
will put forward as to its being a clap-trap
manceavre, and all that kind of thing, falls to the
ground. Mr. CHARLES TURNER made some appro-
priate remarks at this meeting, which set forward
in an effective style the chief topics which the occa-
sion of their gathering there that day suggested.
He alluded to the most striking circumstances which
had led to the great revolution in political feeling
which has occurred throughout the country. In the
first place, he cited the American war as a very
potent agency in this affair. There can be no doubt
that the general opinion of the events that have
occurred since the first outbreak of that disastrous
contest has been decidedly adverse to the popu-
larity of our Government. Whatever gains they
may have had, in so far as regards the services
afforded to their friends across the Atlantic, their
losses at home have been most considerable. Espe-
cially in Lancashire must this feeling have been
prevalent, and the short-sighted, i efatuated states-
men, who have persisted in their headstrong course,
must now reap the bitter fruits of their own in.
fatuation and recklessness. Mr. TURNER made an
amusing parody of Earl RUSSELL'S well-known
maxim, "Rest and be thankful." He said be
trusted that the Conservatives would be thankful
for their victories and successes, but not rest. They
must press on to further achievements and future
efforts. It would be well if all politicians
took this view of the matter, and certainly they
could hardly take a more supine notion than that of
the Foreign Secretary, or one more inimical to the
best interests of a community. There can be no rest
for the Minister who keeps pace with the ever
changing spirit of the times, and at any rate such a
posture of inactr.on would not suit the sentiments
and sympathies of an active and leading nation.
Perhaps, however, there is more truth in this motto
than at first appears, and we may traee some of the
disastrous losses and dreary changes that have be-
fallen the Liberal party to their fatal inactivity and
false security. The fable of the hue and tortoise
has often been illustrated when those who are in
the possession of innumerable advantages build too
much on appearances, and think more of the
enemy's weakness than of their own strength. It
is always difficult to find men honest enough to
own • that they are in the wrong, or perspicacious
enough to discover exactly bow their mistakes ori-
ginated. A philosophising politician may inform
the disconsolate and defeated candidates, however,
that their errors have been those of omission most
especially. How much have the professors of libee
ralism done of late years to meet the exigencies of
the times or merit the confidence of the country ?
They have been for the most part exceedingly lax
in all the requirements of their position, and now it
is a just retribution that has overtaken .them, and
taught them some most unwelcome truths. It is to
be hoped that they will profit by the stern lessons of
experience, and for the future more worthily fu;fil
the high duties that devolve upon them, but it is
not likely that they will have any opportunity of
exhibiting their amended ways for some time to
come, for they have neglected to take the tide of
public events at the flood, and they will not find
that fortune will smile upon them, or fling her h-
yours on their pathway.