The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-09 00:00:00

...
s.reet included, would experience within 24 hours one
universal smash. ' Tile object of O'Connell is to keep
the rump 'Whigs in the Government at all hazards,
anl under no matter; what intermediate trials of his
own patience aril cupidity. They form the only Go-
vernment capable of playing into his hands, and fur-
thering the steady march of his schemes for the ulti-
mate overthrow of Protestant freedom and Protestant
security in Ireland. The Melbourne Whigs depend
upon and indulge him in everythincy which lie yet
deems it prudent to require. His policy is now pre•
parative—not half of what it contains is visible on
the surface—all is in progress, and is- directly aided
by these Ministers ; any other Ministry would check
that progress. Hence he gives the present ones his
" disinterested" and " generous" support. The "nice
of it is to be his supreme dominion over Ireland—a
Bill which has some time to run, though of enormous
value. Thus the O'Connell protection granted to Lord
Melbourne is, iti the fashionable phrase about the
Reform Bill, no other than " a means to an end."
So we are referred by the Agitator and his serving
men, in every letter from the southern counties, to the
flattering tranquillity, or rather the dead silence, which
now prevails everywhere, as an index of good govern-
ment in the Radical Whigs, and of good dispositions
in the people. This ominous inaction likewise is no-
thing but "a means to an end." It encourages the
Whigs in a course of submission to O'Connell by this
"purring and stretching forth the velvet paw," until
the tiger gets the prey within his reach, when he
springs upon anti devours it. The whole face put
upon this system of Whig misgovernment is a wretched
mask. Appearances are worn for no purpose but de-
ception. The future to the end of time is sacrificed
for a short and degrading interval of place undignified
by power. The British monarchy is in a trance, which
it requires but some unlucky accident to ren&r mortal.
We ask with " Vindex," " will the people of England
—will the Parliament of Great Britain any longer tole-
rate this disgrace and havoc ?"—Tirnes.
The Council of the Birmingham Political Union
have again assumed a most important position, to
which they have been forced by the necessity of
the times, and a strong sense of public duty. We
refer with much gratification to the account, which
we publish this day, of their proceedings at a recent
meeting preparatory to a general meeting of the in-
habitants of Birmingham, to be convened on the 18th
inst. An address to his Majesty and a petition to the
House of Commons are amongst the most important
of the resolutions. Both documents are temperate,
judicious, respectful, and firm ; and may be fairly
.- considered to embody the sentiments, not alone of the
inhabitants of Birmingham, but of the great majority
of the British nation. His Majesty s sanction is
earnestly prayed to the following great measures of
Reform :—The Corporation Reform, full and com-
plete, as originally proposed by the present Govern-
ment—a substantial, judicious, and safe reform of the
House of Lords—the Reform of the Irish Church,
—and the establishment of a prudent and effective
measure of Poor-laws for Ireland. When we call to
mind the powerful aid afforded by the men of Birming-
ham towards carrying a Reform of the House of
Commons, we are induced to place the utmost confi-
dence in the effect which must be produced by the
present demonstration. We deprecate as strongly as
any men unnecessary excitement of the public mind,
but there are times when forbearance becomes danger-
ous ; and the intrigues of faction, the infatuated con-
duct of the House of Lords, and the reckless knavery
of a party, who have no ptinciple of action but an illi-
cit love of office, to the attaining of which they are
ready to immolate not alone the prosperity, but the
peace of the country—leave us no alternative but an
immediate and active organization. It is utterly
impossible that our legislative system can remain
as it is. This was demonstrated beyond dis-
pute last Session ; and the great question now is,
Shall we reform the [louse of Lords, or unre-
form the House of Commons ? Shall we revert to
oligarchic domination, or progress With the current of
public opinion in the amelioration of our institutions?
It may serve the purposes of hireling scribes to dilate
on the inviolability of the Constitution, and on this
form high-sounding but unmeaning phrases for the
entertainment of their patrons. But the fact can no
longer be disguised that the greatest—the only dan-
er to Vie Constitution, is in the resistance to those
improvements which it is impossible to stay without
hazarding a violent convulsion. Let those who would
preserve a House of Lords reflect well if it would
survive-the shock of a hostile collision. But we are
discussing a hypothesis which is most revolting to our
contemplation. We do 'it merely .as a caution to
those, if there be any so stupid, who might be led
astray by the oft-repeated falsehood of the Tory
Press—that a reaction of the public mind had taken
place in favour of their cause—and who might under
such impression endanger the existence, in the endea-
vour to uphold the abuses of the Lords. The lion is
now rousing himself. Let his tormentors beware of
urging provocation beyond endurance. Are they—
can they be ignorant of the question agitated amongst
the millions on the mutilation of Municipal Reform of
last session ? Will they again excite suspicion and
dislike, where they should and would, but for their vile
machination, be confidence and love between the Mo-
narch and the people ? The struggle will be renewed in
the approaching session ; we are secure as to the result,
but we are anxious about the means—we wish them to
be peaceable, and to have them such. A steady adhe-
rence to Reform, and to each other, between the Mi-
nistry and the people, and the day-spring of Reform
must triumph.—Morning Advertiser.
- We have already shown that the triumph assumed
by Ministers in the result of the municipal elections is
a mere farce. They know that it is—they know
that their boasting in the newspapers and elsewhere—
for they are regularly drilled in deceit, and practice it in
club-rooms and in drawing-rooms as well as in news-
papers—has not a particle of foundation in truth. It
is, however, in their opinion, expedient, in order to
keep up the spirits of their adherents—Land expediency,
we know, is the political religion (so to speak) of
modern Whigs. Their great object at present is, to
obtain attendance and support at the opening, of the
session of Parliament next month, and there is no trick
so mean, nor falsehood so monstrous, that they would
not resort to, for the attainment of that object.
But, it may be asked, what interest can they have
in appearing in great strength at the opening of the
session, if political circumstances be such that they
cannot go on without exhibiting themselves in a
position of ridiculous fedeleness ? The answer is,
that they probably indulge a desperate expectation
of changing the state of political circumstances, by
what they shall propose at the very_ outset of the
session. 'They arc in a condition to run all risks, for
nearer a fall they cannot be, until the very instant
their
precipitation. They may attempt to strike a
. . ow in the very first week of the Session—perhaps in
the Address from the Throne—by which
_they have
resolved to stand or fall. Though willing to cling to
place under circumstances which nothing but that
peculiar sort of official honour which belongs to Whig-
Radicals could brook, they know that they cannot
hold on without some support from England very dif-
ferent from that which they now possess. England
will not be insulted for another Session by Ministers
governing in spite of England's voice—governing by
means of such an alien majority, as England loathes,
while she despises it. Let not any one carp at the
word " alien"—we mean alien in principles, religious
and political—alien in feeling—alien in manners—
eager to destroy what we in England think it a duty to
revere, and an honour to defend. Ministers must do
something to endeavour to rouse a feeling in their favour
in 'England, and as all their operations are dir cod to
act upon the bad, the turbulent, the presumptuous parts
of men's nature, it may fairly be expected the attempt
will be made through some desperate project of
political turpitude. Their case is desperate—their
official existence (and oh ! how dear it is to them ?)
depends upon exciting a popular commotion in their
favour in England, and d for this they may now be pre-
paring. Such a scheme ought to be crushed at the
opening of Parliament ; for after that it may be too
late. The incendiary may be thwarted if you seize
Lim with the torch in his hand, but who shall stay the
conflagration when it has made some pro-Tress, and the
crackling flame is bursting from the doors' and win-
&A.. It is, then, in our opinion, for an occasion
es..,;.*:Virififireikt that we call upon Conservative Members
.K.- ,i,,,'•\,'Nzit
;.,,_:,i.i,--, - ---
1;q-
-,,
_.,
(-tis

•
•
,1 - -