The Sun.
London, England, 1831-07-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

It was plain enough, from the excessive soreness
if the Tory Opposition at the advice which we
lave Lord Althorp to crush the resistance to the
Reform Bill by every constitutional means which
Vie hearty support of a powerful majority had placed
it his Lordship's disposal, and thus to push the
-neasure forward, so as to redeem the decaying con-
iidence of the people of England in the zeal of his
Majesty's Ministers—it was clear as light th it se e
iad " bit the nail upon the head"—that we had
iffered precisely the counsel which the emergency
'ailed for, and had recommended the very course
vhich would best promote the success of the Bill,
rid most eff crually defeat the treacherous schemes
,f the
1 ei,
0 n()u Opposition.bTe
s not for nothing
so
raged
wi that
con-
erept and indifference" towards the Press. It
was not for nothing that another worthy per-
son charged us with bullying, and persecu-
• ion, and all that, because we have been
seeking to thrust out of an assembly, to which
hey could never have rightfully found access,
Oat whole tribe of nominee Members. Several
klembers became half frantic with alarm lest the
Minivry might rouse from its unseasonable slumber,
and press on the Bill at the pace which the country
calk for, rather than suffer it to creep along in a
mariner so exceedingly complaisant to those whose
hope is, that procrastination and the chapter of ac-
cidents may finally enable them to frustrate it alto-
.ether. Oil referring to the stage whereat the Bill
flow rests, we find that after a discussion of several
weeks, the first clause has not yet been disposed of,
ind there are sixty clauses ! When, then, in the
'lame of Christmas twelvemonth, or of the Greek
calends, w ill the Bill be read a third time in the
other House of Parliament ? The country begins, the
timid part of it to take fright, the manly part to be
disgusted; meetings are called, and will become uni-
versal, for urging on the more wholesome pro-
gress of the measure; and the Government, if
they are wise, will beware of being left behind, as
it seems they are likely to be, by the people, whose
confidence in their energy has hitherto proved
their hest and only support. Numberless proposi-
tions have been made to us with regard to those
portions of the Reform Bill which may be termed
the reconstructing clauses, and they will, doubtless,
be well worth considering at the proper time; but
first of all we must witness the administration of a
complete quietus to schedules A and B. Let not
the country think of any secondary objects until after
the demolition of the enemy's force : the important
questions of county divisions, qualifications, and so
forth, will then claim arid obtain their hearing. In
the mean time, it is obvious that certain Members
—a good many of them professed, and pledged, and
sworn supporters of the Bill—have been absent
from recent divisions : these men must be carefully
watched, and when the lists of Ayes and Noes are
given, let there be always a column of absentees,
that the nation may know for the future whom to
trust, and whom they ought not to have trusted. In
line, let there be no more concessions to the anti-re-
form Jesuits; permit them to rail, and tumble, and
make what grimaces they think fit. They have but
one purpose, which is to delay the Bill. Alinisters
ought at present to have no other but to expedite
it. If they do not,—if there be any further co-
quetting !—we see what is already suspected by a
number of clear-sighted patriots, and how easy it
would be to ripen their suspicions into something
worse. The Tory prints express themselves more
sanguinely than ever that the Bill " will not be car-
ried." If it be not, what will they have to answer
for, who need but say " Carry it," and it is car-
ried ? Coventry is already in the field. Three
thousand four hundred names were affixed in ten
hours to a petition praying the House of Commons
to be less dilatory with the Bill. \Vhen the Duke
of Wellington brought in the Catholic Bill, upon
which, numerically at least, the people of England
were divided, did he suffer such offensive and tan-
talizing delays in the passage of the measure through
Parliament ? Not he, indeed ! Above all things,
let us beseech the real friends of the Bill not to
split with each other upon any part of it, or upon
any question arising out of it, Leave every thing
to Ministers, and let them be responsible for every
thing.—Tires.

The snail-like progress of the English Reform Bill
is beginning to occasion, as we apprehended, great
dissatisfaction in all ranks of Reformers, not un-
alloyed with suspicion of the good faith of its pro-
moters. Ministers, however, are not responsible for
the unexpected and formidable difficulties opposed
to their great political measure, in the crafty use
which the blind and obstinate boroughmongers are
snaking of the forms of Parliament; and all that
the public can reasonably expect from the Cabinet,
is to meet the craft of their opponent with the de-
cision and ability befitting so momentous an occasion.
Ministers must not be seduced by the candour of Sir
Robert Peel; they must pay no attention to the
babble about " precedent" arid " orders" squeaked
by Mr. Charles Wynne, or the minute counting-
house opposition of Mr. Ex-Secretary Croker, but
pursue their course right onward with firm-
ness and gallantry. If they deem any extra-
ordinary measure essential to expedite the Bill,
let them propose and adhere to it; they have a ma-
jority ready and willing to second them, We have
great doubts, in which many sincere and well-judg-
ing friends of the Bill coincide, whether it is possible
to get the Bills through both Houses (should it pass
the House of Lords) before Christmas, if the mino-
rity is allowed to continue their " bush fiehtieo"
system of debating word by word and clause by
clause, interspersed with Anti-Reform choruses
chaunted a hundred times every eight. Daily meet-
ings of the rabid opponents of Ministers take place
in Pall-mall, where the " Orders of the Day" are
considered arid determined; and the old " whipper
in" (whom we need not mention), is reported to be
more active than ever in his vocation. Surely this
guerilla warfare may be abridged; and, indeed, it
rnz he determined, if the contest between the Oli-
garchs and the People is to be brought to a conclu-
sion in 1831. We cannot but think that the pri-
vate business of the session may be so arranged as
to enable the House to meet at noon. The
paramount importance of the question demands
it. We hear, that on the committal of schedule
A as 11 clause, a fresh attacie in detail will be ex-
e.iaed, and when the general question of course.
will be again delutied. A most decided and unani-
mous feeling, etas pervaded the Opposition the last.
few days ; necessity makes strange bed-fellows, and
it is riot to be concealed that the old sores of the
Catholic question are healed—all parties among the
Tories uniting in a desperate defence of the common
cause of corruption. Those who despise their
enetuies generally drop into ambush, and fall a sacri-
ce to ill-judged contt.ropt. Ott any other question
but that of Reform no Administration could stand
against su:h a numerical minority; the advantages
their
aetirttscitNould completely impede the public ser-
eiee, Ministers must, therefore summon all their
energies and power to defeat the combined forces of
obstinate enemies. The country cannot bat
see, that while the House of Lords maintains a
T.illen and ominous EiVr).ee, the House of Corn-
mons minority k arming a sort of cordon Joni-
faire to delar),, as much as passible the approach
of the to the Peers. In defeating these artful
taz.cies, Ministers mot be upheld by the people,
'and supported by their repres'entati res. Every per-
sonal sacrifice should t`R made by Members to attend.
t•
onstitetee4a, tisroughout the coutitry should unite
it; kesectiul addresses to their letest representatives
4to hm,-;, constant and punctue,', at their post, and to
oppose every delay. We must deprecate their ec-
centric voting wine.: art Thursday nigNA suarged many
commonre
svi,lletrtees
senseedyV Oca tn 1;;) edf asA, of the
zle ef
chon as rtred4u,
Milton,.
tifi
01: ot,
htrt, le.
hi
rs)eig'(mii-
re
iiireT,ohert:tt,it
the case of Do welon. was.tincit_tninorityuh to
only
tempts
ir
Ighu:sAti°"antriclhiteni:gfd:rehnFitco'n'Tm"'nu'ieltfirieptlaY re but two questions.
flli;hc ought to divide the friends of Reform,