The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-26 00:00:00

THE MINISTRY.

In the midst of so many rumours of a contradictory
nature—some giving lists of Administrations purely
imaginary, others stating measures as agreed upon
which have no foundation but speculative fancy,—it
is we venture to predict only certain that at this
moment, one o'clock, Lord Stanley has not positively
accepted office. The return of Mr. Gladstone is
anxiously waited for before Lord Stanley will com-
mit himself.

Public opinion inclines strongly to the belief that
Lord Clarendon, Sir James Graham, and Lord Pal-
merston will be the arrangers of the future Adminis-
tration. Lord Clarendon is at present in Dublin.

Unfortunately for the tranquillity of the country
the efforts recently made with a view to the con-
ciliation of Liberal parties in the reconstruction of a
Cabinet, have proved altogether abortive. The Free-
trade Administration may be looked upon as no
longer in existence, and a belief amounting to some-
thing more than a mere conjecture has become pre-
valent, that Lord Jons RUSSELL finds his successor
in the principal leader of the Protectionists. Never-
theless, it must not be imagined that, in so speaking, we
at all anticipate any attempt on the part of the latter to
return to the old bugbear of commercial monopoly.
Daring as Lord STANLEY is, almost to the extent of
imprudence, we do not believe him capable of any
proceeding so rash as this, any proceeding so certain
to bring down upon himself the weight of so many
and such awful responsibilities. We cannot conceive
to ourselves the possibility of a statesman rushing
upon any enterprise so peculiarly perilous
and extravagant. With the mercantile interests of
the community in a most flourishing condition,
as they are at present, it would be little short of
absolute madness to jeopardize every existing advan-
tage for the sake of gratifying a temporary pique, for
the sake of realizing a preposterous vision, for the
sake of chasing en ignis fatuus, of following a
mirage, of grasping at an illusion. No exploit of
this character can be entertained for a single instant
by a man like Lord STANLEY, a man as vigorous in
intellect as brilliant in oratory. Yet the temper of
the Noble Lord who is now endeavouring to
form an Administration out of the minority
of both Houses is chivalrous withal to the last
degree. Staunch
.to all the punctilios of political
honour, he may conceive himself bound in fairness to
maintain at all hazards that policy in advocating
which he has risen to the leadership of H. M.
Opposition. As yet, therefore, it would be difficult
to conjecture the course likely to be pursued upon
this all-important subject by the Noble Lord here
alluded to, in the event of his finding himself enabled
to collect together the members of a practicable Go-
vernment. Either he must then abandon at once and
for ever the cause of agricultural protection, and
thereby give mortal offence to the fanatical sections
of the Country Party; or he must persist in demand-
ing from the Legislature the overthrow of free trade
principles, and thereby risk the most terrible conse-
quences of a revolution. In one direction he is drawn
away by the influences of habit, and by the induce-
ments of a chivalric disposition. In the other he is
attracted by the logic of common sense, and by the
instinct of self-preservation. Whether he will yield
to the former or to the latter, remains yet to be seen,
and a few days, possibly a few hours, will enable the
multitude at once to satisfy their curiosity,
and allay their anxiety. The danger, as affecting
Lord STANLEY, is the ordinary one of falling to the
ground between two stools—between Free Trade and
Protection, between a moderate policy exciting the

animosity of his bucolic supporters, and a desperate
effort at retrogression rousing the fury of the entire
country, and giving the signal for the outbreak of a

revolutionary movement.

Foremost among all exciting considerations, just
now, is the doubt whether Lord STANLEY can
find a sufficient number of men of com •

petent capacities to undertake the duties of
office , his Ministerial colleagues. Time must
yet prove whether the Derby Dilly is licensed to
carry more than 'six insides. The sweets of power
will doubtless exercise a potent and scarcely re-
sistible fascination in the way of conciliating partie3
hitherto in opposition to each other. Excluded for
some years from place, the Conservatives will, of
course, show themselves ready to swallow a few
qualms and grudges, for the purpose of delecting
once more in the almost forgotten delights
of administration. Fortunately, moreover, for
Lord STANLEY, he can still enumerate
among his political adherents men of un-
elleestionable, and, in some instances, of even splendid
abilities.. So that, if once constructed, his Cabinet
must, at any rate, be anything but a Cabinet of me-
diocrities. Let him release himself from the perni-
cious influences of mere fanatics for protection, such
as the Earl of HARDWICHE, and ally himself in
preference to statesmen as enlightened'and capable as
Mr. GLADSTONE, and his Cabinet may be enabled to
resist somewhat more effectually the aspirants for its
•destruction. Upon the arrival from Paris of
the Right Honourable Gentleman the Mem-
ber for the University of Oxford—an ar-
rival momentarily expected, while we are writing--
more will be known by the public, and more will be
definitively arranged by Lord STANLEY. Could an
amalgamation of parties be brought about in any way,
so that, on the understanding of abandoning protec-
tion, some of the most able and influential among
the quondam Peelites might be induced to lend their
assistance to the STANLEY Administration, the
new Ministry might be enabled to enter
forthwith upon tke conduct of the, affairs
of, the nation, without necessitating the immediate
dissolution of Parliament. Otherwise the necessity
for the latter proceeding will be imperative. With-
out an appeal to the country the management of
public affairs by the minority would be impossible
beyond a fortnight. Seeing, therefore, that Lord
Joule Russesnr. has failed in his attempt to bolster up
his Government, seeing that Lord STANLEY may be
entrusted with the responsibility of forming the
next Administration, and seeing that his fol-
lowers are weak in numbers, though strong
in unanimity, the chances are that a
dissolution of the Commons may be looked forward
to with some confidence as inevitable. It were well,
consequently, for the people of the United Kingdom
to bear in mind the emphatic warning addressed to
them by Mr. ROEBUCK, only the other evening,
under cover of a reminder to the late Prime Minister,
a warning that the battle of free trade may have yet
to be fought anew
Bearing this in recollec-
tion betimes, the electors of England may pre-
vent the possibility of any revolutionary
movement as opposed to the Protectionists,
by selecting their representatives with due
consideration, and with a proper regard to their ideas,
not only in reference to the general principles of
political economy; but also in reference to their views
on fiscal improvement. Whatever may betide Lord
STANLEY in his present most notable endeavour, it is
earnestly to he hoped that the pesseseors of the
elective franchise throughout the land will keep a
vigilant eye upon passing
events, for with them, just
now, reposes not only the political power, but the
prosperity and tranquillity of the empire.

Once more have the feelings of many thousands
and tens of thousands of English famiNes, who have
been justly described as of "religious and moral
cbaruter,„
been deeply and bitterly disappointed.