The Sun.
London, England, 1831-06-24 00:00:00

succession or alienation ; but, at all events, for so
;long a period as to invest the tenant with a real in-
terest in the property which he cultivates." The
cause of the misery of Ireland lies deeper than Mr.
'Melville supposes. We will answer for it, if the
Catalonian peasantry were starved in the midst of
abundance, they would be as unruly as the Irish.—
A.forning Chronicle.

Having been among the first and most urgent to
call upon the Government to adopt the most prompt,
effectual, and determined means to avert, if possible,
from our shores the deadly scourge which has vi-
sited so large a portion of the world, we must, of
necessity applaud every step which is taken in fur-
therance of an object of such vital national interest.
Yet, with every inclination to look, not only favour-
ably, but with gratitude, to the efforts of Govern.
ment upon the occasion, we are very much inclined
to doubt the wisdom and propriety, as well as the
utility and necessity, of introducing the subject into
the King's Speech on the opening of Parliament ;
and for this plain reason—that such mention of it
seems only calculated to spread alarm, without prc-
ducing any practical benefit. Knowing how sensi-
tive people are upon such topics, and likewise how
much influence fear, working upon nervous minds,
often has in increasing danger, the true wisdom and
policy of rulers should be to provide every possible
protection, security, and caution against the threatened
calamity, making as little parade and ostentation about
it as the object in question will admit of. While
on this subject ive cannot help adverting to
what appears to us to he a singular discrepancy be-
tween the acts of the Lords of the Council and the
opinions of the College of Physicians. The former,
it appears, had given authority to exempt steam.
vessels from quarantine, under an impression that
they imported passengers only, and not merchandise;
and as soon as their Lordships discover (which, if
they allowed their eyes and ears to be used out of
Downing-s.reet, they might have known before)—
as soon as they discover that steam-vessels carry
goods us well as passengers, they recall their former
order, and subject these vessels to pralique—the
learned body to whom we before alluded having
given it as their solemn opinion that the disease is
communicable by persons and not by merchandise—
, a state of things which, as we apprehend, fixes their
Lordships on the horns of a dilemma from which
they cannot very easily escape. We would again
urge that whatever is done in the way of prevention
should be done promptly. The establishment
of a Board of Health is a very wise awl
proper measure on the part of Government ; but
then such a Board should not separate at its first
meeting without promulgating a set of rules and
precautions for the public guidance and safety. Why
are not peremptory orders given, for instance, to
parochial boards and authorities to see to the cleans.
ing of the by-streets and houses of the metropolis
and the suburbs ? Why are not theJmuses in such
situations whitewashed, where the owners or tenants
cannot afford it, at the public expense ? Why are
not the water-plugs in every street opened, to at
least an hour every morning and afternoon, to assist

in cleansing houses, and Washing away impurities
And why, when we are every day shipping off mo-
ney and provisions to the starving people of Ireland,
are squalid groups of them allowed almost to perish
of hunger in our own streets and fields ? These and
many other suggestions of a similar tendency must
naturally occur, we should think, to a Board of
Health, if, as we have no doubt it must be, the
salus populi be the object of its prompt and earnest
solicitude.—Morning Herald.
The Reform Bill is to be brought forward this
evening. In the contest about to ensue much will
depend upon the firm adhesion of the conservative
party in the House of Commons. They should es-
tablish amongst themselves a definite understanding
as to the line of conduct they are to pursue; they
should resolve to act upon all occasions in perfect
union; there should be an agreement in all matters
of Parliamentary taciics ; they should arrange to
follow implicitly some recognised and well-qualified
leader; they ought to act as if they felt that upon
the success of their efforts depends the salvation of
the country ; and all differences that have unhappily
long existed amongst the Tories should be forgotten
at once and for ever. Notwithstanding the vaunting
of the Whigs and Radicals as to the result of the
late elections, there is really no cause to despair even
in the House of Commons. Many of the Reform-
ing Members will differ amongst themselves as to
what Reform shall be. Many Members are no
doubt inclined in their hearts to the conservative
principle, but, considering the excitement and
delusion of the people during the elections, deemed
it prudent to conceal the .r inclinations. Many
Members, after hearing the measure fairly discussed
in the House, may be convinced of its dangerous
tendency, and will not hesitate to disappoint their
constituents rather than vote for a project which
they clearly see would have an injurious effect upon
the country. Mr. Fox has said that the wishes of
the people are frequently contrary to their interests,.
that they are incapable of judging either of their
true interests or their trite happiness—arid that it is
the duty of Parliament to promote the interests of
the people in preference to their wishes. The prac-
tice that has prevailed during the late elections of
fett( ring Members by pledges to support a particular
measure is unconstitutional and unreasonable; it is
destructive of the independence of Parliament, and
converts the Members from deliberative orators and
legislators into mob delegates. The present system,
however imperfect in the eyes of theorists, has ne-
ver been proved to be practically injurious to the
country ; no good reason has been given for the Re-
form Bill, though the motive is clear enough, viz. to
enable the Whigs and Radicals to maintain them-
selves in power. Those who support the Bill are un-
able to show that any practical benefits would be likely
to result front it. The Bill is in truth a delusion arid a
mockery—a fraud upon the nation. The people have
been taught to believe that this Reform will make food
cheap, clothes cheap, wages higher, and labour less;
but the people have been deceived, for the Bill will
do none of these things ; and when the people shall
discover this, their exasperation and disappointment
will be in proportion to the expectations that they
have been led to form. A House of Commons
elected under the proposed Bill could do nothing
for the people which a House of Commons as at
present elected could not effect. It is the duty of
Ministers to bring forward some measure which they
think will benefit the country, instead of changing
the Constitution without being able to show how
that change will benefit the country. On the con-
trary, it has been clearly proved that the change
Ministers propose will shake every great interest in
the empire ; that it will let into the, State a demo-
cratic power, which will lead to the destruction of
the Church, the Monarchy, and the Aristocracy—
the same power that has destroyed the Church,
the Monarchy, and Aristocracy of France—a
power which has never gained an ascendancy
in any State where a Monarchy and Aristo-
cracy existed without leading to revolution.
All history teaches us this truth, and the state of
France ought to be a warning to the King and
Aristocracy of England. Revolutions are caused
by the weakness and concessions of legitimate Go-
vernments by making concessions to the people
they part with the power of resisting popular de-
mands and popular violence. Now is the time for
the Aristocracy of this country, on the other hand,
to stand firm, to discharge the sacred duty they owe
to their country, and to resist the popular madness.
Whatever may be the consequences of rejecting this
or any other measure of Reform which would lead
to a considerable increase of democratic power,
those consequences cannot be so bad as the conse-
quences of passing such a measure. No sensible
man can believe that the Radicals would be satisfied
with it ; to pass it would only encourage them to
make further demands; the struggles between the
Aristocracy and the people would continue so long as
any thing remained for the Aristocracy to concede. All
that has been said by the Ministerial Press and the
supporters of the measure about tumults and insurrec-
tions amongst the people if the measure be rejected
is put forth to frighten the Legislature into passing