The Sun.
London, England, 1836-11-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRI

REIGN, the Constitutional privileges of the House of
Lords, as well as the deliberative powers and privileges
of the House of Commons, unfettered and uncon-
trolled ; and to use our best endeavours to return to
Parliament, as Representative for this borough, a man
of,independent Conservative principles, who will resist
the rash innovations of theoretical Statesmen." This
declaration, says our Contemporary, " we beg to offer
for the consolation of our Radical-Papist Ministers"—
evidently insinuating thereby that it will be the means
of driving them distracted. Now we scarcely antici-
pate that it will have such a disastrous effect on the
Cabinet ; for, blustering and would-be-formidable as
is its character, it is not original even in that, being a
mere servile imitation of the well-known declaration
drawn up, some years since, by the three tailors of
Tooley-street, to the effect that so long as they could
flourish a goose, or digest a cabbage, they would stand
by the glorious Constitution. But the Wakefield Mani-
festo is not the only thing'which puts our Contemporary
beside himself with joy this morning. Equally enraptured
is he with the Protestant meeting which was held in
Liverpool on Tuesday last. " This," quoth he, "is
cheering news." Cheering, indeed, as much so, as
the tipsy shout in favour of the House of Lords,
Which was yelled out a few days since at Devonport by
some six score Conservatives, the majority of whom
were, we have every reason to believe, under the table
at the moment of their wild Cossack-like hurrah !
Having disburthened himself of much amiable en-
thusiasm, our easily excited Contemporary goes on to
recommend the formation of Protestant Societies all
over the kingdom, knowing at the same time—for it is
impossible that he should not be aware of the fact—that
such a recommendation, if carried into effect, will do more
to vitiate the sterling religious principles of the commu-
nity, and foster those of bigotry and intolerance—
which, Heaven knows, need no quickening !—than any
fanatical restrictions that have been adopted in Eng-
land since the Reformation. Is it not enough that
we have one M'GHEE and one O'SULLIVAN, but we
must have them swarming in every city, town, and
village throughout the country ? It was the chief ob-
jection of the Tories to the Irish Municipal Reform
Bill, that it would produce " normal schools of agita-
tion" in Ireland ; and yet here we find the prime
organ of the party—that in which " they live,
move, and have their being," and without whose
assistance, they are mere nullities—recommending the
formation of Societies which will be " schools of agi-
tation" of the very worst class ; for there is no agita-
tion so rancorous in its nature, so hazardous in its
consequences, as that which has religion for its ground-
work. Politics often unsettle men's tempers, and
cloud their judgments, but fanaticism makes demons
of them. Imagine the overwhelming mass of bad feel-
ing that would be brought into active exercise, if So-
cieties, miscalled religious, were once to be established in
our provincial cities and towns I Party spirit, of the most
malignant and inveterate character, would increase
ten-fold ; the social relations between man and man
would be rudely torn asunder ; where there is now
comparative peace, there would be decided discord ;
charity would be trampled under foot by into-
lerance ; and England would again become, what
it once was, a perfect hot-bed of fanatical bigo-
try. Our Contemporary's proposition is the most
striking proof that could be adduced, of the low
ebb to which Conservatism is reduced, and of the
desperate shifts to which it is compelled to have re-
course, in order to extricate itself from its dilemma. It
is like a man sunk chin-deep in a bog, who cannot
afford to stick at trifles, or consult the gentilities, but
must make his exit in the best way he can.