The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-11 00:00:00

THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

(Font the Morning Herald.)
Lord Derby's first appeal to the country has not been
made in vain. All the Minkterial candidates have bee❑
re-elected, not only without a single defeat, but even
without opposition. Such a thing is almost, if not
altogether, unprecedented in our Parliamentary hi,tory,
and affords a certain proof of the favour with which the
new ministry are regarded by the people at large. Had
the slightest chance existed of a successful issue to a
contest, members of the various section, opposed to
Lord Derby and his colleagues would molt decidedly have
availed themselves of the same. Opposition under the
circumstances was altogether useless. By the boroughs
and the counties precisely the same verdict has been
given ; i❑ England, in Ireland, and in Scotland the
Conservative Cabinet is popular, and great expectations
are formed reepecting the results of its rule. A fair trial
Ministers can claim as a right, and if we understand
anything of the feeling and the temper of the community
a fair trial they will on this occasion most assuredly
have.

It cannot, therefore, excite surprise that those organs
most devoted to Lord Palmerston beat the air right and
left in fits of ungovernable rage. First these oracles
attacked the House of Commons, because it had per-
formed its duty ; new, they rail against the country for
setting the seal of approbation to that decisive couree of
action. The representatives of the people might be got
rid of, and another Parliament assemblel; but in that
case the appeal would lie to the people, and they are pre-
pared to give Lord Derby a larger and more compact
majority than that claimed last year for Lord Palmerston.
Hence all this abuse, tergiversation, and calumny.
Neither in the composition of the Cabinet, nor in the
policy laid down, can the least ficlW be detected ; so
these antagonists pretend that .Lord Derby has no right
to be in office, which they represent as belonging to the
Whigs as a sort of prescriptive heir-loom. The doctrine
may be plra ant to their distempered souls, and has a
certain air of novelty, but it will prove distasteful to the
great bulk of the cominueity. Recent appointments,
revel-ations as to the manner in which East India aft tire
have been administered, and the universally admitted
incompetency of the majority of the ex-Premier's
colleagues, convince most unprejudiced men that the
country has had a lucky escape. It is not in the least
degree probable that people will so soon court the peril
which has been happily averted ; and until some better
reaoone are adduced for the dismissal of the new Govern-
ment, its tenure of office may be considered secure,
Rumours of various coalitions are in circulation, and
a course of opposition is threatened, the effects of which,
if it ever be reduced to practice, must recoil upon
the heads of its originators. The dignified support for
some time accorded by the Conservative opposition to a
weak minority holding office entitles them to better
treatment. Be that, however, as it may, from a factious
House of Commons the new Government can safely
appeal to a patriotic and an enlightened public. If
there is one characteristic more than another for which
Englishmen may take credit, it is their love of fair
p'ay ; and of all Administrations that have ever wielded
authority in England, Lord Derby's can most justly
claim this as a right. Ministers have accepted the
responsibilities of office at a terrible juncture. Yet
cenfidence is already growing out of distrust, and the
beneficial effects of their enlightened rule ate every-
where apparent. In fact, opponents are disappointed
and enraged because the change of Goverament and
Conservative interference have hitherto proved so salu-
tary. If Lord Derby had shown himself incompetent,
or had committed himself to some absurd line of policy,
great indeed would be their delight. From the want of
such topics to point a sentence or barb an invective ihe
Opposition oracles are at a loss how to express the rage
which consumes thew, or to give vent to the indignation
which they feel. No subject of complaint is at hard .
therefore, the Conservatives are- maligned, simply be
cause they are in power. This is their sole cause of
offence ; this is the only charge that can be brought
against them.
Some gravely assert that Lord Derby is folloning out
his predecessor's policy, and adopting hie measure..
Anything more absurd and untrue it would be impos-
sible to conceive. Legislation must not be permitted
to come to a dead lock. The estimates have been pre-
pared ; and we presume the most bigoted opponents of
the new Ministry will not deny that they ought to be
brought forward at once. The legitimate business t f
the country must be transacted as promptly end as
efficiently as possible. The Conservatives have been
censured for their conduct with reference to India. Yet
upon this topic much misconception prevails, and many
calumnies have been put in circulation. By their vote
a few nights since the Conservatives did not oppose any
change ; they merely objected to immediate legislation,
because they doubted whether the period of revolt is
best suited fcr carrying out important reforms. This is
question of time, not of principle ; and in bowing to a
decision of the House of Commons with respect to the
time zrAcit, not the manner how, Lord Derby showed that
he is above pet'y prejudices, and determined to walk
faithfully in the paths of the constitution. Those cavil-
lers who assert that the new India Bill will be identical
with the scheme proposed by Lord Palmerston can have
but small respect for themselves and little regard for0)14,
truth. Members of the Cabinet have assuredth%elmer.
that the moat objectionable features of Lord P
ston's measure will be removed,
reference to Parliamen-
tary Reform the people, after having granted the Whigs
and this assurance ought
to be deemed sufficient. With
theiriFig!-
months for dealing with
refuse the newMinistryas
ten years for the preparation of plan, will not
effects of
nh that iemhpaonrdtsa n
oft
the Conservatives, Legalma
anynd social reform are safe
'1852 ar as the goad e
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e not yet -
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ares
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in
1852 England has been ruled by ministers on
the government belongs. Since the fall of Lord Derby's
Cabinet
sufferance. Lord Aberdeen was a minister on sufferance,
and so was his successor, Lord Palmerston. Witt oat a.
party and without following the latter maintained office
for three years. During that period he was continually
exposed to defeat, and his frail ministerial venture might
at any moment have been swept away. The ex-Premier
is an admirable tactician, and had he possessed the con-
fidence of a majority of the House of Commons he would
not have resigned. Any reconstruction of his Cabinet
is for the present impossible. The public are thoroughly
disgusted with the policy as well as the material of that
political gathering. Lord John is also beyond the pale ;
in more than one point he has even recently committed
himself most painfully. Indeed, we doubt whether the
member for Landon could form an admini'tration were
be to be BO rash as to make the attempt. At any rate
the experiment would not last long, and the country
would again be left without a government. Anoth r
coalition is out of the question. " England," to Use
Disraeles words, 4, does not lova coalitions ;" and the
results of the last will not justify a repetition of that