The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-17 00:00:00

Mn. NEWDEGATE is one of those public men who
have a settled plan of their own, and are enabled
to keep it unmoved by changes of parties or confu-
sion of politics. He is very decided and.determined
in his views, but people very often prefer the down-
right upholder of any view to the timid time-server
or ingenious placemonger whose principles are go-
verned by his interests, and who has no object more
cherished than the idea of pushing forward his own
good fortune. Last Friday a grand entertainment
was given in order to celebrate the return of Mr.
NEWDEGATE and Mr. VANSITTART BROMLEY for
the Northern Division of Warwickshire, and the
Chairman, in proposing the health of Mr. NEWDE-
GATE, was enabled to dilate upon the services that
had been rendered to them during the twenty years
which he had been their member. The constituency
of North Warwickshire is a very important one,
and, indeed, second to none in the kingdom for its
wealth and the varied interests which it contains.
It is, therefore, no mean thing to gain the goodwill
and retain the confidence of so large and influential
a body, and Mr. NEWDEGATE'S hearty reception
when he rose to speak was a sure testimony to the
truth of his friend's flattering assertions. He com-
menced by an amusing allusion to the late Parlia-
mentary contest which they had passed through,
and declared that one of its most striking incidents,
as concerned themselves, was, that Birmingham
had aimed at having an aristocracy cf its own. But
" tell it not to Mr. BRIGHT," he added, and the
endeavour would have no doubt succeeded had not
Mr. MUNTZ been followed by Mr. BROMLEY, who
came forward with a spirit worthy of one who bore
so time-honoured a parliamentary name. No new-
fangled notions suit the purpose of the downright
member for North Warwickshire. He owns him-
self a " Pittite," and declares that he upholds the
Conservatism of the Constitution, as founded in the
year 1688, at the same time he is quite ready to
assist the constitutional Whig whenever the latter
desires his aid to revert to the true principles and
broad faith of csnrif. it n nn _ TJ k, r licccaa 8a
co-operate with a political opponent forthe interests
of their common country is creditable to the hon.
member, but, it must be confessed, the class of politi-
ciansto whom herefers are waxing fewer and fainter,
and their visits to ourpolitical arena are quite angelic
in their rarity. The old-fashioned Whig has been
put aside for a new order of beings who make place
their idol, and think all things fair that conduces to
reinstate them in power. Very true are some of the
observations which are found in this speech, and
especially that in which the speaker defends the
doctrines of Conservatism from the charge of over
zeal and undue care for the preservation of what
is tolerably secure and safe from disturbance.
"It has been said that the Constitution
under which we live is so admired by all abroad
and recognised by every one at home as the source
of the many blessings which we enjoy that men
like myself are fretting ourselves in vain. My be-
lief is, that there are trials in prosperity as well as
in adversity, and as with individuals, so with na-
tions, there is no greater danger than that which
arises from over-confidence." Many all-wise and self-
sufficient politicians may take this advice to heart
with profit to themselves and benefit to the com-
munity, for it by no means follows that because we
are great and powerful, we may not be in danger ;
and, indeed, at the present moment there is reason
to fear that too much stress is laid upon material
welfare to the neglect of higher principles and the
attainment of the wiser and truer influences which
actuate and impel the inhabitants of a great and
highly favoured land. England has, indeed, no
reason to depart from the Constitution which has
so long withstood the dangers of democracy and the
perils of absolutism. As Mr. NEWDEGATE well re-
minded his hearers, if we look to the nations of
Europe we shall find that, with the exception of
one or two, all have been plunged into confusion
and subject to " revolutionary action and internal
strife." Respecting the Fenian movement, Mr.
NEWDEGATE considers that the Government have
adopted a wise and prudent course, and certainly
he is borne up in his assertion by the facts which
have recently come to light and the hints which
are given of more being shortly discovered of a sig-
nificant character. The hon. member briefly ad-
verted to the cattle plague, and strongly
adviied his friends to avail . themselves of the
opportunities presented to them in the Association
for Insurance, and observed that he had some
knowledge himself of the veterinary profession, as
he had been a governor for some years, and was
now the Chairman of the Royal Veterinary College.
The results of experience are not very consolatory,
however, for he declares that the chief reason why
he advocates the encouragement of the Insurance
Society is this,—" from eighty to ninety per cent. of
the cattle which are seized by the disease will die."
This is, indeed, a gloomy prospect ; but, as Mr.
NEWDEGATE remarked, the best way of meeting
the difficulty, and the only real chance which we
have of overcoming the calamity, will rest indpreven-
tive measures, and these will never be generally or
willingly adopted unless the possessors of the
animals are
otherwise
of rfosma
sanitary
ry loss
measuresthat is
au s ediasdeosphtriiinonnskured because, naturally, they will
sepa-
ration of the flocks and herds. Mr. BRO3ILEY'S
remarks were appropriate to the occasion, but did
he not attach much importance to the Fenian move-
ment, but thought that it had served its turn in
keeping up the interest of the public at so dull a