The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-05 00:00:00

extent of a complete equalisation, but rather to
a more suitable apportionment of political

power—so that the opinions of a few hundred
favoured electors should not carry with them as

much weight of more than double as many thou-
sands of persons equally competent to form sound
practical views on public affairs. It also asserts
that popular demands may be rashly granted, or
imprudently refused according to the pressure of
the moment, on an unstable Ministry." It is
for these very reasons that we are willing to give
a fair trial to the existing Government, to judge
them rather by the proposals which they bring
forward, than by the reckless and untenable ob-
jections of factious opponents. Nothing could be

more injurious to the publio interests than to
confer a virtual monopoly on one man or set
of men, which would be the result if the people

were blindly to follow the advice of the Times,
and constitute Lord EUMERSTON an absolute dic-
tator, whose will should be obeyed under any pcs-

sible circumstances.

As yet no opposition has been offered to the
re-election of any of those who, by the acceptance
of office, have vacated their seats in Parliament.
Mr. WALPOLE has been returned without opposi-
tion for the University of Cambridge, General
PEEL for Huntingdon, and Lord STANLEY for
King's Lynn. The Secretaries of State are there-
fore already provided with seats. The Co-
lonial Secretary has spoken boldly and
explicitly, in a manner that will receive
the cordial approbation of the nation. He
has long been recognised as a sincere Liberal—
the most promising and rising statesman of the
day. His accession to office materially strength-
ened the Government, affording as it did reason-
able grounds for anticipating that, at least, as
good measures might be anticipated at their hands
as could be looked for from Lord PALMERSTON ;
more especially if, as the Times desires, he could
have everything his own way, and had nothing
to fear from a hostile vote in the representative
branch of the Legislature. The Leviathan
declares that he delivered " a speech which
might have suited any member of the late
Government on the occasion of a re-election," and
that "for everything he has an elaborate reason,
except for his position as a member of Lord. DERBY'S
Cabinet." Now we are disposed to think that
his cc-operation goes far to prove that he has
reason to believe that his views will be more fairly
carried out by his present Cabinet, than if he had
accepted the office tendered for his acceptance by
the late one.
The Noble Lord justly and proudly referred
to his votes on two questions of social reform,
of no ordinary importance, which received
the Legislative sanction during the past
Session. He describes the Testamentary
Jurisdiction Bill as "a step, but only a
single step in that course of Legal Reform, of the
necessity of which every year and almost every
day that he lived convinced him more and more."
The Divorce Bill, rendering equal justice to rich
and poor in the most important matter affecting
their happiness, and protecting the property of
deserted wives, also received his ardent and
unqualified support. He then touched on three
very interesting topics—the future Government
of India, the question of Parliamentary Reform,
and that of our relations with other European
powers—and went fairly into each.
On India he had opposed the renewal of the
Company's Charter in 1853, and supported a
motion for carrying on the Indian Government in
the name of the Crown. These opinions he will
- be prepared to carry into practical execution. He
at the same time declares that a strict religious
neutrality is the only course which will be wise

and just.
On the Reform question he also speaks boldly
and earnestly. He asks for delay until next
session, in order to enable the Government to
frame a just and comprehensive measure, at the
same time honestly avowing that in our Parlia-
mentary constitution there are many anomalies
removable by legislation—anomalies of which the
evil is not merely theoretical, but results in
practical abuse. Adding that the excessive
value which belongs
,to every single vote in
small constituencies has a direct tendency to
produce corruption—and also that many districts
have not their adequate share of representation.
This shows that he concurs on these important
points with the Attorney-General, and induces us
to hope that he may be numbered amongst the
supporters of the Ballot when the time arrives for
taking the opinion of the House on that question.
At the same time ho deprecates the introduction of
piecemeal reforms, desiring that the whole sub-
ject shall be dealt with in its entirety. This is a
reasonable application, under the circumstances,
which he has so clearly and distinctly explained,
as if satisfied that Lprd DERBY'S Government
were determined to introduce a large and compre-
hensive measure—and Lord STANLEY'S speech
goes far to prove that such is their intention—and
we should willingly accord the time claimed for
maturing a bill that ought to prove acceptable to

the nation.
The handsome tribute to the honesty and
power—the best protection of the poor and
humble against the powerful—a protection which
our Legislature has created, and which no legisla-
tion can take away, proves that the Fourth E3tate
may be certain of fair play from any Government
of which the Noble Lord is a leading and influen-
tial member.
On the Refugee question he is the most explicit,
and, we may add, the most satisfactory, of any
person that has hitherto spoken. He shows that
it is by no means clear that any legislation is
required. He thinks and hopes that it is not.
At all events the point will soon be elucidated by
an impending trial that will prove the real state
of the law.

On the whole, the speech of Lord STANLEY is
just what might have been expected, from his
well-established reputation, and goes far to create
confidence in the Cabinet with which he could
feel himself justified in holding office. It fully
merits fair play, which is all that he claims at
the hands of the nation.