The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-11 00:00:00

public bensineas is to bow their necks to the feet of who will bring them forward in the Hottite of
the enen iy. So, at least, they imagine. Never- Lords ; but it is easy to see that the interval of
theless, we cannot but urge on all sides the very six weeks before Easter will scarcely suffice, after
great pt tblic benefit
.of letting other subjects alone i the estimates are passed, to launch the various
for this session, and. confining discussion to the measures which the Government has undertaken
topics a E the Ministerial programme. Next session to carry. Mr. Spooner has already come forward
is not quite so uncertaisa an epoch as " to-morrow," to impede the progress of public business by giving
for to -ra.orrow depends not only on the will, but notice of motion for a Maynooth Committee—in
even oca the life of the procrastinator, while, if the words, for a debate on the merits of the Roman
world endures, next session will certainly arrive. . Catholic faith... If, 'under these circumstances, the
Then 'pit. off to next session, on the faith of the, House had been invited to, plunge at once into a
Ministe rial undertaking, the whole_subject of Par- debate on the re-adjustment of the representation,
lianaent ary Reform. Give it a rest for one year. it would: have
,been necessary to postpone almost
_There as much virtue in rotation of crops, whether all the 'MiniSterial Bills to a future session. The
in farrni ng or in. politics, and even a fallow is not proposal for appointing). CoMmissioners to collect
wholly. thrown. away. Let the ballot become a information on the subject of the franchise has—
novelty. Say nothing about 101. county voters, perhaps wisely—been rejected by the Government ;
and we shall be glad to be reminded of them next and Lord John Russell undertakes to bring for-
year. It is possible
antes, and perhaps we 'may acquire a now taste which he prudently intimates neither the extent
surfeit even of Irish griev- ward, at the commencement of 1854, a measure of
for them fry a short abstinence. Messrs. Cobden nor the details. He is .not pledged to make it
and Bright have stolen a march on the session by either more comprehensive than his former scheme,
a whol i fortnight of publicity. Will not that con- or, on the other hand, more restrictive. It is,
tent I;hem for the present There is nothing indeed, not impossible that it may be based on
in ti ie measures announced by Government very different principles ; but, whatever may be
last n ight which need excite hostility or sus- the ultimate result of the Ministerial councils, it
picion.. Then, for one year, at least, let magna- would evidently be unwise to divulge the secret
nimitr and patriotism
prevail, and let us have prematurely.
a true eto faction. Next session parties may It is determined that no further increase shall
resunio their warfare with all the more grace for be made at present either in the army, the navy,
their tt maporary self-denial. Last year at this time or the ordnance. This . announcement will be re-
we ittrued " fair play" for the Protectionist Cabi• ceived by the country with divided. feelings ; but
net, 'when it was in the power of the Liberals to there is good reason to anticipate, from the admi-
terminate, its reign at a very short notice. This *nistrative ability now collected.- in ,the Cabinet, a
year we ask fair play, not for the Administration more efficient application of the resources already
which is safe enough for the present, and does not provided for the public defence. The termination
want kmcla an appeals but for4Es ur which of the.
,4.fir war will it may be hoped csliortly
2
it is possible 175 f r :tZI , ven feTelige Consaierable-nifmber of seasoned troops,
to dro-wn, in. the hubbub of desultory debate. All who may be available for service at home ; and the
that w e ask is, that no subject be propounded ex- policy of conceding self-government to the more
cept with a view to present effect, and that no important of our colonies will probably diminish
measures be pressed on the attention of the Legis- the drain on our military resources. If the Go-
lature of which there is not a conceivable chance vernment are able to secure the country both from
that they can be passed this session, invasion and 'from panic, without any further ad-
ditions -to the public burdens, even Peace agitators
will admit that the policy of England is not yet
wholly directed by the voice of the legions. In
the meanwhile, another class of politicians will re-
member, with satisfaction, that Lord Palmerston
is intrusted with the control of the militia, that
Sir James Graham is at the Admiralty, and Mr.
Sidney Herbert at the War-office.
It was probably in deference to the Committees
now sitting on the affairs of India that Lord John
Russell omitted to mention a question incompa-
rably more important than any other which awaits
the decision of Parliament. It must not be as-
sumed that the preparation of the new Charter
will be postponed until next session. It is well
that time should be allowed for arousing the public
interest respecting a topic too generally neglected
by politicians ; but it could scarcely be hoped that,
during the conflict which will probably arise on the
measure for Parliamentary Reform, both Houses
could find leisure to deliberate calmly on the future
institutions of our Eastern Empire.
The statement that the Ministers have deter-
mined to deal both with the question of education,
from the parish school to the University, and with
the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland, proves
that they are not disposed to shrink from labour or
responsibility. It is obviously impossible to an-
nounce with accuracy their future measures on
these subjects, and it is undesirable to publish con-
jectures which can be only partially correct. It
speaks well, however, for the permanence of the
Government, that its members have already made
up their minds on subjects so replete with difficulty.
The obstacles to the establishment of a system of
registration, and to the reform of the Ecclesiastical
Courts, are of a different nature. There is no dis-
pute about the existing evils attending defective
titles to land, and cumbrous tribunals for adminis-
tering testamentary justice. Experience shows
the difficulties which impede any practical measure
of reform, but no controverted principle is at stake.
In matters of this kind, energy and determination
are needed ; but still higher qualities are required
in any statesman who would deal successfully with
the plausible theories and the honest prejudices
which embarrass every project for national ethica-
-1 tion.
If the Opposition consults either the public good
or its own party interest, no vexatious resistance
will be offered to the bulk of the Ministerial pro-
posals. The arguments against the claims of the
Jews are known by rote, and may in the present
session be advantageously condensed. The May-
nooth debate will afford a sufficient vent for any
theological bitterness which may stand urgently in
need of expression. It may be hoped that, on the
Canadian question at least, those who may differ
from the policy of the Government will deal with
the subject as statesmen, remembering that other
interests are at stake besides those of a provincial
religious establishment. The first debate of the
session will illustrate the temper of the house, and
will go far to determine the public judgment on
the comparative wisdom and patriotism of con-
tending parties.
,
(From the Morning Post.)
Seldom, perhaps, have a new Government settled
into office so smoothly and so quietly. Never has
a political coalition come into power under circum-
stances so favourable for the fusion of diverse ele-
ments. Their accession to the administration of
affairs is not the result' f any great party triumph.
They find, consequently,' no great party in avowed
and direct hostility to them, with whom they are,
on the very threshold of their career, to be com-
pelled to join issue on some great political prin-
ciple ; and there is, notwithstanding the efforts of
the Manchester sect, no agitation afloat.. The new
Cabinet, therefore, have full time and ample space
to direct their attention, with Ont any serious dis-
turbance' to a large number of44subjecte, the enter-
tainment of which,: although `actually •of prithary
importance, will not awaken or call into play the
differing opinions which the respective members of
the Cabinet have avowed, and doubtless. Still main-
ain.

(From the Morning Herald.)
Things have come to a pretty pass. They are,
however, exactly in the position in which we anti-
cipated they would be when Lord Derby's Govern-
ment resigned in December last. The shabby,
unprincipled, and motley group by which the late
Administration was ousted, at a period, when, for
Imperial interests, its ability was most influential
and useful, made manifest their past purposes and
their present intentions at the re-opening of the
Legislative Chambers yesterday. Their past pur-
poses (an unprincipled coalition destined to any
course of action) were undeniably rendered clear
by the fact that there was no common ground on
which the group were consentient, save two—the
first, a coalition to defeat and deprive of the offices
which they had never sought—a British—a patrio-
tic Government ; the second a betrayal of those
principles which Great Britain has marked espe-
cially to be her own—her Protestant Christianity.
To turn out by any means the Government of
Lord Derby, and to un-Christianise the Parliament
of Britain, are the only disclosures in reference to
the past and the present which were condescended
by Ministers in both houses last night.
At an early period a measure is to be introduced
to remove Jewish disabilities !

Lord Derby, in a speech which well became him,
invoked, in the Souse of Lords, a friendly conces-
sion from the Premier—a statement of the intended
measures of the Government--professing that which
every man who knows Lord Derby is aware was
onounced with a thorough feeling of sincerity, his
anxiety to support and to forward every scheme of
policy which he should deem to be correct—dis-
daining faction—proclaiming himself the sinc6re
friend of progress in its legitimate sense, and de-
claring his desire to promote any honest and well-
matured measures of the
.Administration, if there
were any.
What was the response to this ? We quote our
Parliamentary reporter. After the statement of
the late Premier, and the becoming reply of the
present First Lord of the Treasury, which will be
found in another column, thus stands our report
" The Earl of Derby.—l always understood that col-
leagues in one house were ready to answer for col-
leagues in the other ' • and I am sure that the noble lord in
the other house would not take the step of announcing
measures without the consent of the noble earl. I shall
limit !myself, however, to ask what Are the measures
which the noble earl intends to submit to this house in
the present session.?
" There was no answer.

"The Earl of Derby.—Am I to understand that si-
lence means none. (Laughter). With the sanction of
my noble friend on the cross benches, I again ask what
measures are intended to be laid before the house ?
" The Earl of Aberdeen made a remark across the
table which was altogether inaudible in the gallery.
" The house then adjourned at a few minutes after
half past six o'clock."
Thus, then, we are driven to the House of Com-
mons for a solution of that which appeared to be so
riddled as to be inextricably enigmatical in the
Upper House, wherein the Premier (if there)
usually holds the privilege of answering all ques-
tions in reference to the purposes of his Adminis-
tration. What, then, was the tone of the leader
of the Lower House ? We desire our readers to
dwell upon the statement (detailed in our report)
of the noble lord the member for London. What
has the nation gained by the coalition ? A promised
system of finance, the principles of which are yet
undecided upon The happy family is still (and
will remain so) at tooth and nail as to the princi-
ples and details of its financial project. One great
bone of contention—the income tax—is still so ut-
terly unpicked, that no jackal of the motley group
can know when his master (who is he ?) may throw
it to him comparatively clean ; and thus parlia-
mentary reform, the boon promised to be given
to democracy, is thrown over for another session;
or to the Greek kaleuds, as the case may be.
Will the nation stand this ? Will England show
so great a swallow as to take down, as the only alkali
to the possible acid to be propounded by the present
Popish,
of all that is un-English
Puseyite, pro-democratic
Government—theoPf the noble lord the member for
Nonconformist,
„TB
London.

Up Britain ! Up Protestantism ! ! The time has
arrived when there should be no mistake. Equi-
vocal professions or positive silence is not the part
of the Premier of our free nation amongst his peers.
His colleague in the House of Commons is unequi-
vocal in his declarations. In the Lords, the only
measures propounded or hailed with satisfaction are
those placed upon its table by the great Chancellor
of the late Administration. In the Commons the
only measures promised are--an income tax, the
principle of which is yet a bone of contention in the
Cabinet, and a bill to un-Christianise our Parlia-
ment.

Great Britain and a large portion of Ireland will
know how to instruct their representatives.

olookingw erof
(Frain the Morning Chronicle.)
prescribing the policy
solely to their party
which their opponents should vlopt, they would
i n tlefr eishtes , Mh
aicil il
ther sp,
certainly desire Lord Derby to'lmaintain the pug-
nacious attitude which he so 3
tuitously and im-
prudently assumed last night. le the traditional
Irishman of the extinct DonnYbtook Fair, the ex-
Premier went forth to seek fora
. provocation, and
came back indignant at experiatein_
g no ill-treat-
ment. He did not ask, he said,: for a statement of
the Ministerial policy, inasmuch as Lord Aberdeen
had anticipated that demand two months ago. Not,
indeed, that the explanation then given was, in
Lord Derby's judgment, . satisfactory ; but if it
were repeated, it would probably be found equally
objectionable. Yet it was necessary to discover
some ground for complaint ; and.the.leader of the
Opposition attempted to base a grievance on the
silence of the Minister in the 14
—olise of Lords as to
the order in which the business was
to be laid be-
fore the other branch of the Legislature. In strict
form, the Upper House can take no. cognisance of
any measure which is not actniQlrbefere it, nor is
it possible for any Government it.
assign a time for
the transmission of bills from the one assembly to
the other. Lord Aberdeen was, in fact, asked to
commit a technical irregularity, for the purpose of
communicating information of which every peer
who might entertain any curia on the subject
would be in possession before he went to dinner.
Frivolous assaults, conducted in this spirit, will at
the same time consolidate thq party which sup-
ports the Government, and re (party
the construction
of a serious Opposition impossible.
Lord John Russell's calm and business-like state-
ment of the measures to be,,brought forward by
the Government will have satisfied all moderate
men as to the expediency of pni
0,.A
pong the subject
of Parliamentary Reform. ,le Canada Clergy
Reserves Bill must be settle 4 immediately ; the
excite
abolitioconsiderable dis c dun of the Jewish issiosabilities will, no doubt,
i,
..... ;, and the extension.
of education, ,the pressing que'stion of secondary
' punishments in lieu of transposrtation, and, above
all, the financial scheme for the year, will amply
occupy the time and attention of Parliament. The
Bills for improving the administration of the law
P are judiciously entrusted to the Lord Chancellor,

(Front the Daily News.)
Lord John Russell's Ministerial explanation con,
tains much ground for congratulation—but much
also for regret. It 'is u course agreeable ,to: us---
must be equally-so. es-many of our-readers—to
find the new Government come forward, on the
opening night of the session,' to say they mean to
carry into operation many practical reforms long
urged upon public and legislative attention in
these columns. We, and thousands with us, must
be glad to see that many arguments of the Daily
News in favour of practical reforms are about to
be crowned at last by Ministerial action. It is
satisfactory to learn that the Cabinet contem-
plate the abolition of transportation to Australia,
and mean to give up to the Canadians their un-
doubted—but long disputed—right to settle , the
question of the clergy reserves in their own Legis-
lature. It is gratifying to hear a Minister of the
Crown announce the intended reform of the taxes
on shipping—and declaring a determination to ex-
tend education, and to legislate on the subject of
the civil disabilities of the Jews. All these things
must be sources of congratulation and applause.
But indicating. the measure in which praise should
be given, it will be needful to learn how far these
improvements are to be thoroughly carried out.
This is especially necessary in reference to shipping,
and will be little less so in relation to the steps to
be taken on the subject of Education, and on the
plan of secondary punishment now in store as a
substitute for transportation. Still on all these
points there remains, as the matter now stands, a
balance of reason for congratulation, to be set up
against the disappointment inevitable on the decla-
ration that we are to have no improvement in the
income tax, and that,—urgent as are our needs
for electoral reform,—no measure on the subject
is to be introduced till next year. The heartiest
" hear, hear" that greeted, last night, any one of
Lord John Russell's topics of explanation in the
house, arose when he first referred to Parliament-
ary reform. Altogether his statement was re-
ceived with great attention,—and silence. No
enthusiasm was manifested. A cheer bespoke the
legislative interest on education ; another greeted
the intimation that additional soldiers were not
deemed requisite, but no other sign worth notice
enlivened the polite, but apparently, disappointed
attention with which Lord John Russell's explana-
tion, as a whole, was received. The silence of the
house over these Cabinet disclosures is not likely
to be imitated by the country. The people—when
they see the weakness of the reform element in
the present Ministry,—may think fit to take such
steps as may seem best to strengthen that section
of the Cabinet who would do most for the public,
and to teach the laggards the dangers begotten of
broken pledges.
It is difficult to relinquish the belief that the
Minister who was last night the mouth-piece of the
Cabinet can heartily concur in the postponement
he announced. Lord John Russell, when himself
Prinie Minister, brought 'into the' house a bill for
electoral reform. Be, therefore, cannot plead
ignorance either of the ills to be cured, 'or of the
means by which such cure might be effected. He
has been a parliamentary reformer long enough to
know alike intimately the need for change, the in-
terests involved iu such alterations, .the prejudices
to be met, the cliques to be braved, and the good
to be done. To rind him,' therefore, standing up
in his place in Parliament to say we are to have no
sign on the subject till the opening of the next ses-
sion of Parliament looks very like the liberal ele-
ment of the present. Cabinet. having been almost
swamped by its more reactionary section. It may,
and will doubtless be said, in reply to this sugges-
tion, that the people are themselves indifferent on
this subject. That the present affluence of the
country—the increased price of labour—the readi-
ness with which all claimants for occupation may
gain it—the hearty flow of emigration to the newly
found land of gold—have conspired to make men
patient for a time about internal changes is doubt-
less clear enough. That' these varied influences •
have been at work to divert a portion of public
attention from urgent political discUssicin is to
some extent true, but:those who urge this as ample
reason for a perfect electoral stand-still are most
lamentably out in their reckoning. To say we
want no Change is tantamount to-saving that poli-
tical feeling is dead, -which, is certainly not the case.
The 'country though prosperous and calm, is not
indifferent. The plethora of wealth has not acted
like a plethora Of wine,: and stupefied' the nation.
On the contrary; the changed condition of the
' people, by giving them more business to do, and
more wealth to win, has inclined them more than
The Government have, in our opinion, exercised ever to crave that political position which the
a wise discretion in taking advantage of this unusual theory of the constitution declares to be their right.
state of things, and postponing, at all events till Men hungry and desperate may be feared , for r io-
another year, the only great constitutional question lence, but men prosperous and full are far more po-
which would necessarily develope every difference of litically dangerous to any clique or combination
political opinion which exists in the Cabinet, the who may stand in their way. Of this we may soon
house, and the country. No fault rests with any have proof enough should the popular voice ex-
particular party—the severe struggles which have claim—" Why support a Ministry which boasts the
impeded the consideration of many social questions possession of all the administrative talent of the
long agitated, but still undecided, were unavoid- country,' if that administrative talent is not ready
able. A great commercial theory, opposed to the to do the people's work ? - Why uphold men who,
convictions of a large and powerful party, and when the time conies for action, ask leave to pro-
to the experience of centuries, was for six years crastinate ? " These are questions that may ass
under the test of actual experiment and it suredly be asked throughout the country, and the
was not possible that decision on its value Coalition Cabinet must be prepared with their re-
should be concluded without vehement contest. ply. If the leader Of the Commons had been per-
Those contests, however, beyond doubt, did niii,ted to announce that at the end of present ses-
have the effect of shelving much general legislation. sion the promised Reform Bill would be laid upon
The great question at issue is at rest, those contests the table of the house, with a view to its discussion
are over ; and we cannot but think that the present at the beginning of next session, there would have
Government would have taken a most unwise been more reason for the step. But, after the pro-
course if they had re-created the difficult circum- liaises of the hustings—and the unopposed , returns
stances which we have just got rid of, by hastily there made—a bitter feeling of disappointment,
throwing on the table of the house a new Reform nearly akin it may be in many places to a sense of
Bill for every political section to pull at. having been cajoled, may naturally be felt.
In point of fact, too, the sessional programme This postponement seems all the more unwise
announced by Lord John Russell includes a suffi- when we find it coupled with an intimation that
cient number of subjects to occupy the most indus- Ministers intend to ask for a renewal of the income
trious Parliament at the least till the end of July. tax in the present form. If the public Mind
t. has
The question of the disabilities or inconveniences been made up upon any one question oft-taxa
teen,
which our present laws impose on our commercial it is-that the inequalities of this impos
be
marine, the increase and perfectionment of our remedied. Even the last Tory Government did
naval defences, are matters which cannot be lightly
feel-
treatedExche-
or hastily disposed of. The consolidation ing on this point. The ex.-Chancellor of _
their share towards strengthening the populart
to tlus tax) the
of our criminal law and the subject of secondary quer made, perhaps, in reference.
•
punishments are matters of high importance and most acceptable of all his propositions when. indica-
primary urgency. We rejoice that such experience Ling a desire to discriminate bedtwtheeaut
won the incomebytine
and administrative talent as is embraced in the pre- derived from realised wealth n
sent Cabinet is to be brought to bear upon this useful toil of the industrious. and
would have taxed
great question. We learn with satisfaction that the territorial millionaire at a somewhat heavier rate
our colonies are no longer to be paltered with as than the struggling shopkeeper or the temporarily.
regards the transportation of convicts ; and that successful professional man ; and, vicious as some
the—to use a plain word—dishonest proceedings ! portions of his plan were, it had • within it, in one
whole Yet
which threw so much, and such deserved, discredit respect, anevleemLenotrdof
Anahteirodnneaelactcaekilptig theabili
acceptability.
on Lord Grey's Colonial Administration will no now we ha
more be permitted. On this subject, the Duke of income tax at
d insonce,taahnent of reform. We are to
his immediate predecessor in office. nd telling us to wait a year
Newcastle wisely and justly adopts the policy of for his promise
pay down ourfive millions of hard cash—whilst the
In addition to these questions, the Government Minister coolly postpones for a twelvemonth the
promises to submit propositions for the better edu- redemption of his pledge. We cannot believe this
cation both of poor and rich—applicable to the to be a course in_ which Lord John. RusSell does,
systems pursued in our universities as well as in with any heartiness, coincide.
our national schools. They propose,
also, to carry There is only one consolation to be had from the
to more complete develop ment the schemes for law postponement, and it is that the question of Re-
reform so ably and energetically initiated by Lord form being put aside for the present, there will be
St. Leonards. The budget, of course, is a matter more Parliamentary energy left for the furtherance
which forces itself into consideration bon gre max of other measures. We may get the Tariff relieved
gre ; but we trust that, having now forSwelve years of the 281 articles that burden industry, whilst
patched our revenue by temporary I returning lesgthan 500,000/. a year to the Treasury;
.
made both ends meet by the proceeds :d a taX.s we- may have the question of Law Reform and
originally triennial, but latterly- .only - annual, ! Religious Disabilities Cleared satisfactorily out of
vitality, and having settled the greater contest be- the way; we may, perhaps, succeed in getting full
tween the principles of free trade and, protection, justice done to shipping ; and may, moreover, ox-
we shall at last have our financial system put on' an tort from the Chancellor of the Exchequer some
intelligible, safe, and permanent foundation. If modicum of justice towards soap, paper, advertise-
Mr. Gladstone will do this, we will not quarrel with meats, and other things now unwisely taxed. The
him for taking till April to consider his budget. ' statement that no additional men are
to be raised,
On one great question, however, we feel empelled, must turn Executive attention to Army and Navy