The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-18 00:00:00

but we cannot, in the conscientious exercise of our
duty, recommend it to the perusal of our readers, for,
so tar from their reaping any reward for the time and
patience necessary for the accomplishment of so arduous
a task, we tell them at once that their only return would
be a deep feeling of regret that they had made so mi-
serable a sacrifice of both. The long-winded gentleman
who commenced the discussion began by commu-
nicating to his auditors the cheering information that
he could fix upon no point which had not been already
completely exhausted, and yet, after a preamble so full
of promise—so much in the nature of a pledge, that
nothing more serious than a few subsidiary remarks was
intended—what does he do but inflict upon us a point-
less homily, which drags its slow length along the best
part of five mortal columns. The man who found the
two grains of wheat in two bushels of chaff,
was singularly fortunate, when compared with
him who shall wade through this unconscionable
quantity of twaddle. The Lord deliver us from Mr.
EstEnsoN TENNENT, and such as he. This eacocthes
loquendi must really be subdued. It is beyond all en-
durance that the time which ought to be employed in
doing the business of the country should be wasted, ap-
parently for no other purpose than to gratify the inor-
dinate vanity of certain small fry of faction. For any
new light which the Opposition declaimers have thrown
upon the ,subject at issue, it is quite clear
that the vote might have been taken on the first night
of the debate. Sir ROBERT PEEL'S speech is their
case—a lame enough one it must be admitted, but still
the best that could be presented under the circurn.
stances. If that speech is destitute of those masculine,
straightforward, and comprehensive principles which
characterise that of the Ministerial leader, and which
are the offspring only of superior minds—if it has no
claim to sound argument, or to any of the attributes
of genuine eloquence, it yet abounds in those spe-
cious fallacies, ingenious mystifications, rhetorical clap-
traps, and other base coin of the same stamp, which
the Right Hon. Baronet shuffles off upon his hearers
with the dexterity of a practised hand, and which well
answers his purpose for the time. Why, then, aot let the
case rest as ho has left it ? Is it that there may be
grounds against Ministers for the usual charge of having
done little during the Session that this needless and
wearisome " iteration" is resorted to ?
The point which the Opposition seem_ to regard as
their stronghold is the number of offences still com-
mitted in Ireland. If your system of Government,
say they, has been so very effectual, whence all this
crime ? From Tory misgovernment, we answer. The
crimes now committed in Ireland are the necessary re-
sult of the mal-administration to which Ireland has so
long been exposed. You may reverse the wheel of go-
vernment in an instant, but you cannot produce an in-
stantaneous moral revolution. The process of amelioration
must necessarily be slow in a country which has been
for centuries subjected to misrule, in which the sacrifice
of the interests of the vast majority of the people to a
favoured clique of partisans has been the never-failing
they must certainly eat dirt like our Conservative poli-
ticians ; and continually adopt, while they decried, the
improvements of those they pretended to restrain. But
of politicians this general principle is more cer-
tain and more humiliating than it would be of
such a body of Conservatives, if they could exist, of
ancient arts. However rude might be the first and all
successive spades, ploughs, looms, and ships, each one
answered, to a certain extent, the purpose of its in-
ventor, and contributed
enjoyment. to lighten human labour
r .
and increase human ynent But such is
not the case with: laws or institutions. They are,
in their own nature hindrances and restraints.
The best character given of them
is that they
are necessary evils ;
and the instant it is ascertained
that they do not answer the purpose for vvhieh they
were intended, they became pure, unmixed, and unne-
cessary evils.
A bad spade may still be a useful in-
strument, but a bad institution or
bad
policyla is
s
laws,
simply mischievous.
The Conservative
though time
to cling to demonstrate
that they are unjust, and then the Conservatives must
make the errors of their predecessors the objects of
their worship.
The laws being in all cases intended to provide for
the future welfare of society, it is clear that those who
persist in adhering to old laws cannot be right. Those
h cated system who propose changes
in cubits thosecompliwho
as political society may, adhere to
existing institutions must, be wrong. It is of no use to
tell us that with every form of institution considerable
prosperity has co-existed ; for that only proves that the
innate laws of human nature arc stronger than the fool
ish restraints imposed on it by ignorance and presump-
tion. France enjoyed a long career of prosperity under
her feudal institutions, but they ended at length in a vio-
lent revolution. Spain was very prosperous for many
years, but her adherence to Conservative policy has
plunged her now into great and continued disasters.
Italy is another rigidly Conservative country. She has
preserved her Popes and her Princes. Up to the 16th
century her system was compatible with great opulence
and vast national progress ; her continued adherence to
the same system has brought her now into misery and
degradation. Experience speaks as strongly, therefore,
against the Conservative policy as theory, and not only
must the boasting Conservatives be wrong, but they