The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-29 00:00:00

WHAT'S TO BE DONE?

It would be affectation and folly to deny the extent of
the victory achieved over the people by the oligarchy in
the contest just concluded. A majority of eighty is
greatly beyond anything the most sanguine among them-
selves could have hoped for, or the most desponding of
the Liberals have feared. They have good reason for re-
joicing, as have the people for mourning, over this result.
The most conflicting causes have been assigned by the
defeated party. We have seen adduced sufficient, in our
judgment, to account for the remarkable events of the
last month. They are ascribed to neglected registration,
but that has only partially occurred :—to reaction, but
if public opinion had veered round to Toryism, how is it
that the Tories could not get up a single public meeting
in any part of the cottntri to declare a want of confi-
dence it{ the, Liberal Mirnstry 7 Bribery and intimida-
tion have done much, but not everything ; they could
not have carried Yorkshire and Leeds against any-
thing like a glow of popular feeling. Nor could the
Chartists, few as they are among the electoral body, have
accomplished much mischief, unless parties were so evenly
balanced without them that their small weight could turn
the scale. Still the question remains, whence it happens
that parties are so nearly balanced?
Now the problem, so hotly debated, may be solved by
looking at the state of society in this country. There is
enormous wealth and,rnost abject poverty ; a privileged
aristocracy and an aristocracy of the purse, the latter
striving to obtain the countenance of the former, by aid-
ing it in the establishment of an oligarchical despotism.
Descending from them through the various grades of
squirearchy, gentry, professsions, retired tradesmen, we
find them all moved by the same desire of getting into
the circle just above them, and for this content to sacri-
fice their independence of mind, their liberties, their
consciences. Voluntary slaves themselves, they hate to
see independence claimed and exercised by those below
them. With such ramifications, the oligarchy could
not fail to exercise an overwhelming influence over the
dependent, which can only be counteracted when the
popular mind is sufficiently excited to set at defiance
both promises and threats.
It cannot be denied that, up to the moment of the
announcement by Ministers of their great measures for
unfettering the industry of the country, the people were
perfectly apathetic, the result of the efforts made by the
Whigs themselves to destroy the very excitement by
which they existed, and of the disappointment occasioned
by hopes unfulfilled and measures denied, which the
country had a right to expect, and especially the pro-
tection of electors from the undue intimidation and
undue influences to which they are subjected.
But the questions selected by Ministers for their appeal
to the people, important as they are, are of an abstract
nature ; they address themselves to the reflective mind,
they depend upon abstruse reasonings, and have many
prejudices to contend against. The popular mind was
not prepared for deciding on them, and consequently
they produced no sufficient excitement in their favour to
overcome the influences wielded on the other side.
Hence the results we have witnessed.
A knowledge of the cause of defeat is necessary to
prepare the defeated party to renew the battle with
more wisdom.
The very small majorities by which the Tories have
succeeded everywhere but in a few counties are most en-
couraging, for they prove that a VERY LITTLE popular
excitement would suffice to turn, the nicely-balanced
scale against them. It will be hard indeed, if a popular
opposition cannot succeed in winning favour, and strange
if a Tory Government should fail to lose it.
The people have but to be united, and patient, and re-
solute, and their triumph cannot be far distant. Mutual
concessions must be made between those who differ about
details; anti-Tory and anti-Monopoly Associations must
everywhere be formed, and ample preparations arranged
to resist the attempt, that will doubtless be made, to im-
pose new burdens upon the country, and to curtail the
rights and privileges, and the civil and religious liberties
wrung from the oligarchy during the ten years of a Li-
beral Government. _ _

- -
To despair of success is to despair of the progress of
truth and right—it is to doubt God himself, who has de-
clared that INJUSTICE, whether of individuals or of
parties,—whether accomplished by open violence or by
bad laws—shall never long prevail; and Heaven helps
those who help themselves.—Somerset County Gazette.

A BADGE FOR CORN-LAW RE-
PEALERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—The Tory landlords argue that wages depend on
the price of corn ; while now, they have artificially raised
that price, without adding one farthing to wages ; and,
apparently, their corn-tax will filch forty millions from
the gentry, traders, workmen, and military, before another
twelvemonth is passed.
They forget the wealth of Antwerp (133 millions in
gold, without reckoning the bank) ; Antwerp, where
John Daens, a merchant, after feasting Charles the
Fifth, threw his bond for a million of money into the fire
before the face of the astonished Emperor—into a fire of
cinnamon that had been burning during the whole enter-
tainment !
Yet all this wealth departed the instant trade was per-
secuted ; for the capitalists fled to Amsterdam and the
Hanse towns ; while the Spaniards starved or slew the
workmen. Our trade will disappear as suddenly if the
landlords' oppression continue ; and maritime power must
cease with mercantile superiority.
To prevent this catastrophe, a line must be drawn be-
tween the bread-tax payers and the receivers. The Tar-
tar who conquered China perceived that he could not
hold the natives in subjection while daily reminded of
their superior number, therefore he made both nations
dress alike ; but we willingly assimilate to the bread-
taxers who hold us in thraldom (although unconquered),
and who, by assuming their hired voters to be the nation,
have almost persuaded John Bull to believe it.
Now, if you, Sir, exhort all who desire cheap bread, to
mount a scarlet cockade, the colour of the Queen's livery,
millions will adopt the suggestion, the Tory Corn-law
will cease immediately, and the fictitious famine will be

averted.
Jacob, though cunning enough to cheat his brother of
his birthright, did not send for corn until the famine
waxed sore ; while Joseph, being wiser, prevented the
calamity by foresight ; but how cam Ministers prevent a
fictitious scarcity here if we appear indifferent
THOMAS MORGAN.
Up with the scarlet cockade, and make the Tories
afraid !
[We beg to recommend the suggestion to the consi-
deration of the Anti-Corn-law League,—ED. Sun.]