The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-24 00:00:00

THE DIE UAST.

The debate of eight days on the Sugar Duties termi-
nated in the defeat of Ministers by a majority of 36,
which was rather under the expected number.
Previous to the division Lord John Russell intimated
his intention of bringing the whole of the financial pro-
ject under discussion ; and though he does not appear to
have said anythinff distinct as to an appeal to the country,
yet he gave the clue to an arriere pensee in the remark,
that the expectant successors of Ministers did not cer-
tainly enjoy the confidence of the country to such an ex-
tent as to justify them in taking the Government, and he
proceeded to say that the results of the single contests
on which they relied were no tests of the sense of the
country.
On Thursday all doubt as to the intentions of Minis-
ters was removed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
notice, that on Monday he would move the annual Sugar
Duties. _ _

It may perhaps be requisite to explain that the sugar
duties expire early in July, and that it is necessary to
renew them before a dissolution, as there would not be
time for a new Parliament to pass them.
Here is the opening of a great scene in English his-
tbry—" the beginning of an end"—the beginning of an
end of the pillage of the people—the beginning of an
end of the sacrifice of the interests of the many to the
profit of classes—the beginning of an end of the inju-
rious restriction of commerce—the beginning of an end
of the crushing burdens on the springs of industry—
the beginning of an end of enhancing the price of the
poor man's bread, and by the same impolitic means con-
fining the market for his labour.

Without decrying what has been done since the pass-
ing of the Reform Bill, we rate it all as not comparable
in importance with the great measures of relief now
proposed. If not the first, they are destined to be the
noblest fruits of reform.

We have seen what the country could do under the
disadvantage of the rotten Parliamentary system, to
carry reform, which was but the means tor such great
ends as those now before us ; and remembering how
complete, notwithstanding the greatest disadvantages,
was the victory for the machinery of good government,
how confidently should we now reckon on the result of a
far less arduous struggle for the great practical objects
for which reform itself was so eagerly sought. There
are large faults still in the representative system, but
what are they compared to those, in spite of which the
people returned a decisive majority against the borough
mongers, fighting in their own holds for the life of the
abuse in which they trafficked ? How much easier,
then, is victory in the present conflict, with the greater
power which the Reform Act has pliced in the hands of
the people.'
In all the general elections since '33 the.public:have
been apathetic. They have now, for the first time, a
great object to strive for, and the improved electoral
system will be worked with a vigour and earnestness
which have not, as yet, been applied to it.
Ministers have done their duty nobly. They have taken
a step involving mighty consequences,DJ wyitrhemtahinescofourraz
which can only be derived from a sense of right. They
have
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