The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-22 00:00:00

it might be improved.

Perhaps this was what frightened the others, for
Mr. GLADSTONE seemed to say that it might
be dangerous to let it get there, because the Govern-
ment might carry propositions of an undesirable
kind. Mr. BRIGHT has now got tired of the role
he enacted with so much credit to himself in the
House for the last week or so, and appeared quite
determined that the Government bill could not,

should not, and must not pass. If his advice were
worth anything, he said, the bill had better not go
into committee, but in deference to the opinion of
the majority of the party he would agree to its do-
ing so. In fact, he thought they would embark
upon a voyage full of peril if they allowed it do so.
Mr. ROEBUCK addressed the meeting a second time,
and said that he spoke as an old member of thirty-
five years' standing; and he told them, with respect
to public opinion, that if they did not consent to
the second reading of this bill they would be acting
against the feeling of the country, and would do a
great deal of mischief. He considered that they
would fall short of their duty as a party by not
allowing the measure to go into committee.
The fact is that the zeal of Mr. GLADSTONE has
outstripped that of his followers, and he has
been obliged to modify his course a little. We
think it is to the credit of the Liberal party in
general that they should have acted thus and re-
fused to follow their leader in the pernicious path
he sought to tread. So far so good, but let them
be careful and wary, and not mar the effect of the
wise resolution come to yesterday by taking a false
step next week. There will, in all probability, be
another meeting after the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has explained the policy of the Government
again, and then it will behove all those present to
determine if the Bill shall or shall not go into com-
mittee. There cannot be a more unreasonable plan
adopted than to be continually asking a Govern-
ment upon the introduction of an important measure
to the House what are and are not the vital points
of the bill. Such a thing shows the existence of
party spirit to begin with, and augurs ill for the
carrying out of a comprehensive scheme. So far as
we can see, if the Opposition force the Govern-
ment to a dissolution of Parliament, the latter
will have the best of it before the country,
and in the opinion of all impartial judges.
They have come forward as the upholders
of household suffrage, and to this doctrine
Mr. GLADSTONE will not subscribe. It is earnestly
to be hoped that no more exceptions will be taken
to the bill going into committee ; and we would
again warn those eager to prevent its reaching that
laud of promise that they will be injuring their
own reputation by pursuing so mischievous a course.
The spirit of faction seems unfortunately rife iu the
Liberal camp, but it is not yet too late for wiser
counsels to prevail, and we should rejoice if the
decision of yesterday proves an augury for the
uture.

The resumption of the debate on the navy esti-
mates last evening produced some animated discus-
sion ; and the question of naval promotions was
brought up with some energy. Mr. HANB CRY-
TRACY questioned the First Lord of the Admiralty
about the promotion of a young officer, Lieutenant
YORKE, the son of the Earl of HARDWICKE, and
expressed considerable indignation that he should
have been thus favoured in place of 370 of his
seniors. Mr. TRACY further referred to the manner
in which the Duke of SOMERSET bad exercised the
right of patronage, and declared that Sir J. FAKING-
TON by this one appointment had succeeded in up-
setting the whole policy pursued by his predecessor,
whose fairness and impartiality had almost entirely
removed the feeling of discontent sorife in the navy.
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, in his reply, did not attempt
to disparage the services of the Duke of SOMERSET,
but asked why it was so much worse for him to have
promoted Lieutenant YORKE than for his prede-
cessor to have promoted Lieutenants GRAHAM,
WOOD, and FITZCLARENCE, . the sons of Lord
GRAHAM, Lord HALIFAX, and the Earl of MUNSTER,
all of whom had served a shorter time than Lieu-
tenant YORKE ? There was a good deal more attack

and defence, complaint, and recrimination, and the
matter dropped for the time after it had given rise
to some discussion as to the principles on which our
naval promotions should be conducted. No doubt
it is of the first importance that such promotions
should be made with perfect fairness. There is
always too much influence, direct and indirect, exer-
cised in such matters, and one of the most vital
improvements of modern days is the change in the
system of patronage which of al was 'most baneful
in its effects. Its ramifications extended through
all branches of the service, and the claim of interest
and influence reached from the highest ranks of the
service to the lowest. It was sufficient to disgust
and dishearten the boldest and to daunt the energies
of the most adventurous spirits to know that
whatever service they might render their country,
whatever sacrifice they might make, they would
receive not only no reward, but no acknowledg-
Credit and profit alike would be reaped by

meat.

some of the favoured few- who were able to move
the secret springs of patronage. Such things, if not
openly allowed, were tacitly permitted, until a
change came over the whole spirit of our Adminis-
tration. If any case in which undue influence has
ben exercised, or in which the dispensers of public
favour have been thoight to look mole to the inte-