The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-15 00:00:00

V.ENING EDITION,

WHAT SHOULD THE PEOPLE DO?
(FROM A CORRIAPONDENT.)
The Queen has done her part—it remains for

the country to sanction and support the patriotic
courage displayed by their young and lovely
Sovereign.
We take it for gra►ated that Lord Melbourne on
resuming office prepared to change the fatal policy
he has been of late pursuing. We presume that
the Ministry will be reconstructed, not merely
as the only chance of securing for it a prolonged
existence, but in accordance with the expressed
wishes of the Queen herself. It is well known

that her Majesty is favourable to a more enlarged
policy than that lately adopted. On the resigna-
tion of the Melbourne Ministry, she proposed to
send for Lord Normanby, and when she prevailed
upon Lord Melbourne to resume the Government,
after the insolent proposal of Sir Robert Peel, she
is said to have expressed her hope that he would
flame a Ministry on the most liberal basis posei-
ble, so as to unite all Reformers in one compact
party about her throne, and protect her from the
sommon enemy of her and them.

We have no doubt that Lord Melbourne will
observe these, her wishes, and enlarge the basis of
his Ministry by the addition of some po-
pular men, and the abandonment of finality. It
will not be difficult to find a bond of union among all
Reformers, especially now that their regard for their
high-spirited young Queen would naturally incline
them to a compromise. They will not require the
adoption by the Cabinet of the measures they deem
the most important. They only insist that the Ca-
binet shall not officially oppose them and subject
them to the continual mortification of defeat by the
friends they are supporting. The Ballot and Ex•
tension of the Suffrage might be made open ques-
tions without dishonour to either party, and the Ca-
binet may proceed at mice to the repeal of the rate-
paying clauses of the Reform Act, and the adoption
of a penny postage. To these terms even Lord
John Russell may accede, in spite of his unlucky
pamphlet ; and it would be prudent in the Liberals
if, from no other motive than regard for the feelings
of the Queen, to yield to them, and on that basis,
to form a treaty offensive and defensive among them-
selves, and henceforth act together, cordially, as they
did of old, before Finality came to set them by the
ears. They will thus advance their objects, more
elowly than they might wish, but, perhaps, on that
account the more surely. The principle of progression
will be admitted, and will wait only the favourable
time for its more rapid development.
Such should be the conduct of the Representa-
tives of the People in Parliament—and such, we
believe, it will be. But the people out of doors
must also bestir themselves for the same object.
The various sections of Reformers must unite on
like terms of mutual concession, and rally round the
Queen. Meetings should be everywhere held,
and addresses of sympathy and confidence should
go up from every pact of the empire. Let the
Queen feel that she has the love and support of her
people, and she will be strengthened in her noble
resolve never to become the slave of faction. Her
spirit-stirring reply, " I will resign my Crown
rather than give up my friends," should echo
through the land, and kindle all manly bosoms, all
womanly hearts, to resolve rather to resign whatever
they hold dear than abandon her who has proved
herself their friend. The Queen has declared for
the people, and desires a popular Government.
Let'the people at once and emphatically declare for
the Queen, and rush to the aid of the popular
Government that is about to be adopted. The
Queen has rescued us alike from Tory tyranny
and Whig finality. God save the Queen !
This is the moment, in the enthusiasm of love
for the glorious young creature who has effected
by the impulse of her own noble mind, perhaps
we should say by the inspiration of Almighty
God? what the great men of the land were un-
able to effect--this is the time we say, for mu-
tual concession and conciliation, for the healing
of differences and dissensions, for oblivion of past
quarrels, and for cordial union, now that we are
entering on a new career. Let not the opportu-
nity escape unimpaired in any locality.
'We would earnestly recommend, that in every
city, town, village, and parish, wherever three or
boar Reformers can be gathered together,
1 whatever their former shades of difference,
they forthwith assemble, after the old English
fashion, at a public dinner, or if it please them
better, after the new English fashion, at a public
breakfast or tea (and this latter has the advantage of
being accessible to women and children, who ought
toshare in the expression of regard for their Queen),
and celebrate the courage of their Sovereign, seal
by mutual interchange of goodwill a renewed bond
of alliance, resolve to labour together for a common
cause, and in an address specially issuing from that
meeting, independently of any addresses that might
have proceeded from a more formal meeting of the
neighbourhood, send to the foot of the Throne their
declaration of confidence and admiration, and their
pledge of support—not merely of tacit acquiesence,
but of energetic aid.
And that meeting must be the commencement of
an union, not, henceforth, to be severed so long as
the Queen and her Government continue to be
Liberal. They must not part and think the work
done. They have to contend with a powerful
and ever active enemy, who will take advantage of
any cessation of zeal to advance his own ends. The
meeting must be renewed annually, and from it must
flow a vigilant attention to the registration, energetic
efforts to diffuse the principles of Reform, and what
is of yet greater importance, a resolve to!support each
other in the maintenance and avowal of their prin-
ciples, as the only means, till the Ballot is obtained,
of defeating the undue influences brought to bear
so fearfully against the free expression of an opinion
opposed to the dominance of Toryism.
We submit these suggestions to our readers,
earnestly hoping that if approved, they will be
acted upon without delay through the length and
breadth of the land, and the victory will be speedy
and certain.