The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-03 00:00:00

FRASEI?.

It has long been evident that the great majority of
the Conservative party are thoroughly disgusted with
the mad vagaries of Lord George Bentinck and his
little band of Impracticables; and we are, therifora,
not at all surprised to find that the thinking men of
that party are holding out the olive-branch to Sir
Robert Peel. The article entitled " Politics and
Personality" in the present number of Fraser is
evidently a feeler, put forth for the purpose of bring-
ing about this reconciliation, and from it we gather
that if Sir Robert Peel will consent to let bygones
be bygones, and once more place himself at the head
of the Conservatives, and rally their scattered forces,
they will be but too happy to throw overboard the
impracticables, and to yield to the Right Hon.
Baronet that implicit odedience which of yore he was
wont to exact from them. After speaking of the in-
definite nature of the promises of both the great
political leaders the writer proceeds,—
"The Protectionists, that is to say, the followers of
Lord Stanley and Lord George Bentinck, are equally
indefinite, though more talkative, as to their future
policy. Whether it is to be one of reaction, or only of
revenge, no man yet can say. If we might hazard a
guess, it would be, that, as in the case of private indivi,
duals, there excessive morality has brought them into a
scrape. flunlan nature cannot sustain long such an
amount of political virtue as they have bound tlienaselve.
to ; nor can such exalts d expend it-
self without stun.- organised, but (•iub,,rra,;sir.g, party
action. Th. it practice, however, must have a hard
struggle to keep pace with their professions ; and the. 4.•
are as yet so vague, so tinged with retrospective fury
and prospective passion, as to afford an unsafe ground
even for speculation on their probable conduct. To re-
store our commercial system to the basis of a century
ago—to retrace the steps of all the greatest statesmen of
later years—•to repeal, in fact, the repeal-bill, this is
what they threaten ; and we are very far from saying,
that if they could succeed in their object they would not
be rendering good service to their country. But as well
might a child's finger strive to stay a falling rock. We
are in the course of a revolution, and if a reaction comes
it will not be immediately."

This is pretty clear evidence of an intention not to
"march through Coventry" with Lord George Ben-
tinck, and if this is to be taken as the deliberate ex-
pression of the feeling of the great majority of the
party, and we believe there can be no doubt but that
it does truly express their feelings, " the Honourable
Gentlemen below the gangway" will, in all proba-
bility, continue to be "below the gangway" to the
end of their Parliamentary existence. Lord Stanley
and Lord George Bentinck having been thus uncere-
moniously thrown overboard, who is to be their
leader ? The following passage, with which the article
concludes, proves to demonstration that they would
most ardently desire that the leader should be Sir
Robert Peel. Speaking of the past session, the
writer says—

It has been the most trying scene of Sir Robert
Peel's arduous career. Indeed, an opinion very generally
prevails that he does not desire to resume offiee, but
that if he did, he might be Prime Minister if he liked.
Of what party ? If past treachery did not forbid future
confidence, we might answer—of the COnservative ; for
there is yet much to be defended. The censure passed
on Sir Robert Peel is not grounded so much on his
policy as on its inconsistency with his past professions.
Although he has lost moral influence with his party, he
has gained ground as a statesman—has shown a strong
will and a definite purpose. Ile has certainly inspired
vast numbers with the belief that he is the only man to
govern the country. Even those who most reprehend
his proceedings are beginning to urge that the corn-
laws formed no essential part of a Conservative system
of policy—that Sir Robert Peel saw they must go, and
took means to anticipate the catastrophe rather than be
overwhelmed in it. On the other hand, we must not
over-estimate the facile triumphs of a Bentinck or a
Disraeli. The best speeches of the latter were those in
which he attacked Sir Robert Peel for mediocrity, and a
timid policy as a statesman ; yet as soon as the Premier
adopts the only bold course open to him, he turns round,
and makes the charge of treachery. And of Lord George
Bentinck it should be remembered, that to attack is al-
ways an easy task ; for you take everything for
granted, and have nothing to prove ; you have only to
assert and to vituperate. Politics are growing to be a
more noble pursuit. They are more removed from the
sphere of court caballing or caprice, and cabinet in-
trigue, and are more and more open to the influence of
public opinion. New laws of political morality are
thereby rendered necessary. One significant fact must
have been remarked. Sir Robert Inglis, although he
deprecated, more in sorrow than in anger, the conduct
of Sir Robert Peel, adopted a very moderate tone
throughout the session. Does he perceive that the
Whigs are already preparing an organisation against the
Church, beginning with the Irish branch of the Esta-
blishment, and foresees therefore a reunion of the Con"