The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-17 00:00:00

(114 voi,
444

LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 17, 1831.

The Northamptonshire election, which just
now engrosses the attention of all parties, and full
particulars of which will be found in another
column, goes on as triumphantly for the cause
of Reform as could be desired. But it is also
encouraging in another respect. Lord ALTHORP,
we perceive, gives a flat, unqualified contradiction
to the recent calumnies of the Anti-Reformers,
that Ministers have it in contemplation " to make
great alterations and modifications in the Bill." 11 is
Lordship distinctly denies that they have, or ever
had, any such intention. They have pledged them-
selves to pass the Bill—whole and entire, so far
as the vital principle is concerned —through both
Houses; they have staked their honour, both
as men and as Statesmen, on its success; and will
no more think of deserting it, than a parent
would desert his offspring. It is for the mode-
rate Reformers—those veriest of all hypocrites
--to lie, cajole, bully, swindle, and break their
faith with the people ; it is for the Ministry to
respect their word, to preserve their consistency,
and rise or fall with the great healing measure
they have so wisely and so seasonably put forth.
The former having no character to lose,
whether as Gentlemen or Statesmen—Mr.
COKE of Norfolk vows he would be
ashamed to be seen even shaking hands with
snail), of them—are of course brazen, desperate,
and reckless alike of what they say, or what
they do ; the latter standing high in public opi-
nion and still higher in public-affection and con-
fidence, have but one path to pursue, that of
honesty and straight-forwardness. Lord
AL-
THORP, we repeat, has given a flat contradic-
tion to the malignant falsehoods of the moderate
Reformers, and by sa doing, has proved that
they are not to be believed on their oaths ; no,
not even with the Church to back them. His
Lordship has also published a disclaimer
of. some absurd calumnies which for the
last few days have been busily circu-
lated against him by the Anti-Reformers.
This was assuredly an unnecessary proceeding,
on the part of a Nobleman so proverbial
for his candour and integrity. No honest
man believed the lies in question. They
refuted themselves by their excessive ab-
surdity. Besides, from whom did they proceed ?
From a rancorous, disappointed faction, whose
passions perverted their reason, and blunted their
discernment. We are convinced that the en-
lightened electors of Northampton will rate such
falsehoods at their proper worth, and return those
candidates who will reflect honour on their choice,
instead of those who will disgrace them. We are
convinced that they will not heap such shame on
themselves as to halt in the march of Reform,
while the rest of the empire is on the move.
Far from it. They will assist in the glorious
cause. They will vie with each other in the
ardour of their exertions. They will think of
what is due to themselves, their wives, their
children, their friends, their posterity, and bear
in mind that in supporting the Reform candi-
dates, they are merely doing justice to their cha-
racter as friends., as fathers, as citizens, and as
patriots. The elector, who, with the know-
ledge he must long ere this have necessarily
acquired of the intrigues of the Boroughmongers,
still persists in supporting them, is actually strip-
ping the coat off' his owl, back, and taking the
bread out of his child's he is disloyal to mouth. As a subject,
his RING :
le
member of society, he is lendinsg a
hi
es sspaonncstiilon
to bloodshed and revolution, and doing his ut-
deserves no mere . He most to restore the reign of Swing. Such a man
has yforfeited,i all claim
to respect, and deserves to be b.
to his KING and Country. banded
Nasorathtraamitpo.r
Electors u