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

THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

(From the 3forill ay Herald.)
Lord Derby's first appeal tee country bas nut been
mado in vain. All the Ministerial candidates have been
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 sections opposed to
Lord Derby and hie colleagues would most decidedly have
availed them elves of the same. Opposition under the
circumstances was altogether useless. By the boroughs
and the counties precisely the same verdict has been

given; in England,•in Ireland, and in Scotland the
Conservative Cabimet is popular, and great expectations
are formed respecting the 'nuits 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 Hausa of Commons, because it had per-
formed its duty ; nem, they rail against the country for
setting the seal of approbation to that decisive course of

action, The representatives of the people might be got
rid of, and another Parliament assemble l ; but in that
case the appeal would lie to the people, and they are pre-
pared to give Lord Derby a larger and more compaot
majority than that claimed last year for Lord Palmerston.
Hence all this abcie, tergiversation, and calumny.
Neither in the composition of the Cabinet, nor in the
policy laid clown, can the lea 4 flew b., detected ; so
these antagonists pretend that Lord Derby has no right
to be in office. which they represent as bolonging to the
Whigs as a sort of prescriptive heir-loom. The doctrine
revelations as to the manner in which East India affairs

h. ave been administered, and the universally admitted
incompetency of the majority of the ex-Promier'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
reasons 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 ruay, from a factious
House of Commons the new Government can safely
I appeal to a patriotic and an enlightened public. I f
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
confidence is already growing out of distrust, and the
beneficial effects of their enlightened rule are every-
where apparent. In fact, opponents are disappointed
and enraged because the change of Government 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 the
Opposition oracles are at a loss how to express the Inge
which consumes thew, or to give vent to the indignation
which they feel. No subject of complaint is at hand •
titer, fore, 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 bo brought
against them.
Some gravely assert that Lord Derby is following out
his predecessor's policy, and adopting his me esureF.
Any thing 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 tf
the country must be transacted as promptly and 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 for 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 when, not the manner how, Lord Derby showed that
he is above petty prejudices, and determined to walk
faithfully in the paths of the constitution. Those cavil-
lers who assert that the new India 13111 will be identical
with the scheme proposed by Lord Palmerston can have
but small respect for themselves and little regard for
truth. Members of the Cabinet have assured the public
that the most objectionable features of Lord Palmer-
ston's measure will be removed, and this assurance ought
to be deemed sufficient. With reference to Parliamilnot
ieyn-
tary Reform the people, after having granted the
ll
ten years for the preparation of their plan, wi
refuse the new Ministry al reform are safe
as many mont.hs for dealing with
that important topic. Legal and social9oithe
good effects of
in the hands of the Conservatives, a 9
their rule during ten months in 18x3 are not yet for-
gotten.
The Conservative party is by far the most numerous
in the House of Commons. If it does not actually
commend a majority, itts numbers are as two to one
.To them, therefore, by ri ht
against any ofitsopponen
the government belongs. Since the fall of Lord Dergby'L
Cabinet in 1852 England has been ruled by ministers on
‘ufferance. Lord Aberdeen was a minister on sufferance,
and so was his successor, Lord Palmerston. Withcrit
party and without following the latter maintained office
fur three years. During that period he was continually
exposed to defeat, and his frail ministerial vesture might
at any moment have been swept away. The ex-Premier
is an admirable tactician, and bad 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 ad ministration were
he to be so rash as to make the attempt. At any rate
the experiment would not last long, and the country
would again ba left without a government. Anoth r
coalition is out of the question. " England," to tee
Disraeles words, " does not lova coalitions ;" and the
multi, of the last will not justify a repetition of that

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' is” PH Orli Conlbinatiln , We de Tiletcapp „ SA.- Ir• • ,
I Lc), ! Dt,rby wi.l e c.lucter n ugh jeriovslep• t7404-/4
li ! , mthe Uoure oi C 111n:ions i but;iitouidfao'ion..,sir-rph 7_,
in hat asxenibly ,he Prime Minister Mal' Erifeit*tral
to the cout.try. That is his great etronghoTE4llivre
his character is under-tood ata,
_kis great meth are
appreciated. The people have leaded many vihiliite9mie
les,onit since 1852, a,.(1 know whit sacrifices t Va. giant
~ g.,od goes: urten t aas entailed. Or coarse 444 JAI
Eußeell will r.?new his agitation 0;1 refortn. The at.
wospliere of the opposition beaches &es net suit him,
and he will doubtless bill high for place. The mamba:
for London has, however, been tried more than once,
itid hi 9 failure was of, ESCII opraelf-ti eomplete.. Although
1 dliturber ‘,f p%itca az./ breaker ot4
P CaLinettr, this
leg 3lator h a 3 al wa3 s pro ye 1, wh en szc r great opportnallits
tiave been within L's grasp, utterly incapable. He n 3,, y
use big words, and talk largely ~f what he intends to
do, vet for all that, in power, he always proves to be
Lard John the Unready.

REFORM MEETING AT 114NLEYI BV4F.
FORDSHIRE. •

On Tuesday evening last s public meeting was held
in the Town-hall, Hanley, on the subject of Parha-
m, ntary reform, and also to an exposition of his
views on the present crisis from Mr. J. L. Ricardo,
M. P. for the Parliamentary borough of Stoke-upon-
Trent. The meeting had been called by the Mayor
(Mr. J. Ridgway), in pursuance of a requisition
signed by 400 persons. The ball was crowded.
The Mayor presided. The proceedings were unani-
mous throughout, and the following resolution WaS
adopted by acclamation :
" That any measure of Parliamentary reform, to
person
householderated ts o h
o u
be acceptable to the people, should at least enfran-
chise, boroughs,sei,nincouuties
every
e
theldi ) go or
,er sl,
to every voter the protection of the ballot, should
abolish the property qualification of members of
Parliament, should as equitably as possible appor-
tion representatives to population, and shorten the
duration of parliament to three years."
A separate resolution in favour of the ballot was
passed, declaring that " any measure of parliamen-
tary reform which did not give the voter its protec-
tion would be disadvantageous to the country and
unacceptable to the people."
A petition to parliament in favour of the above
programme was also adopted.
The MAYOR opened the proceedings in an ani-
mated speech, in which he argued that there was
no such thing as "finality" in parliamentary reform,
any more the '-- -- - __al or any other kind of
reform. Ho attributed in a great measure the
repeal °Mho corn laws, and also of the nav:gation
laws, and the general enlightenment of the nation,
to the reform bill of 1832. He thought there could
be no doubt that a large extension of the suffrage
was needed, and he believed that the nation would
so demand it that no government dare refuse it.
Mr. RICARDO rose and was recaived with deafen-
ing cheers. After a few introductory remarks he
said that his belief was that the representative
system was the great guarantee of the liberties of
the people. It was by that system that public
opinion passed into the public will, and the public
will passed into public law. A previous speaker
had spoken contemptuously of Lord Derby'sgovern-
ment, and he confessed that he felt iuclinel to a:-J,2e
with him. He deeply regretted that for some time
past political men, and especially the representa-
tives of the people, appeared to have forsaken
principles, and to have become more followers of
Lord Derby, or Lord John Russell, or Lord
Palmerston, or some other lord. Men did not act
as if they were sent to parliament to tight the
battles of the people and to serve their country, but
to become the tools of a minister. (Cheers.) He
had always told his constituents that they must
not expect that sort of thing from him. He had
resolved always to follow an independent course,
and therefore it was that he was one of the 09 who
stood forward to declare that the laws of England
should never ba altered at the dictation of a
foreign despot. (Loud cheering.) Ho did not
mean to say that the French government asked any-
thing very unreasonable, but their demand be con-
! sidered to be one of a series which would have been
made, and by which the liberties of the English
people would have been endangered. (Renewed
cheering.) There was no amount of jealo asy—
there was no amount of vigilance—which the repre-
sentatives of the people ought not to exercise in
guarding against the first encroachments of the
liberties of this nation. It was the restraint which
was the cause of the weakness of the French em-
pire ; and ho did not feel at all surprised at the
people attempting to take the power into their own
hands and to break off their chains. With regard
to the charge of factious voting which had been
made against the majority which ousted Lord Pal-
merston, lie would say, what he had said many
times before, that he had never given a rot. in
which he did not honestly hope that he might not
be in a majority. The minority of ninety-nine be-
lieved that they were representing the views of the
people of England, and to it turned out, and then
the majority longed for some opportunity of retrac-
ing their steps, and Mr. Milner Gibson gave it to
them. (Laughter and applause.) As to Lord
Derby's ministry, he thought it occupied a very
unconstitutional position. It was to be a govern-
ment by a minority. Lord Derby intended to try
'EOM' I.saVC‘s't,urillirfirtiiiittj'.:o,Qa'atcur. ..w.it.kiot
that would load to great popular advantages if the
people would only be true to themselves. (Hear,
hear.) He confessed that he never expected a sa-
tisfactory measure of reform from the late govern-
went—for the men who could bandy the people
about from pillar to post, and put them off year
after year as they had done, on trifling pretexts,
could not be sincere. As to the reform bill pro-
mised by Lord Derby, Mr. Disraeli had given them
ahint as to when they might expect that. In address-
ing his constituents the other day, he said that the
government of Lord Derby had the question of re-
form under consideration. Now he could tell
them that when any government talked about any
subject being under consideration, the public
might rest assured that it would stick at consi-
deration, unless it were compelled to go forward.
(Laughter.) Mr. Disraeli, too, gave them another
hint. He said that the country did not ask for a
Reform Bill. Then the cry of reform must be
raised. (Loud cheering.) The Government must
be made to understand that the 1 eople meant to
long,
they it—that having been bamboozled so
they meant to stand it no longer.
(Renewed
cheering.) Let the Government be put
not
defence, and let them be called upon to
show,bu t n to
the man who was worthy of the
sifranchise,aould 1:1 ot have
give a good reason why
eve7linnlit of Englishmen
it. The franchise was the bx ~
lefttlr to their children ;
—it was a legacy which they.
classes, as a body, were
and he thought the working
4.
discretion as
quite as capable of exercising. 1., with
Ire
would it. For himself, le
any class that now
by thepeople
rather be elected or rejected.
hispresent
of the Potteries as a body than by 2,oooconstituents. Mr. Ricardo then spoke warmly in
favour of the ballot, and ridiculed the objection of
its being tan-English. He had himself been elected
by ballot into Brookes' and the Reform Clubs, and
so had Lord John Russell, whose pet objection
this was. (Hear, bear, and laughter.) He was
inclined to think that an exi;musion of the suffrage
would. be almost a curse, if unaccompanied by the
protection of the ballot. (Applause.) Mr. Ricardo
then concluded by saying that after listening to
some of the speeches made that night by working_
men, and after seeing the attention and decotw.uotnuloci
the meeting, he wondered whether any man
venture to say that there was a single man in the
_
oud
room who was not entitled to the franchise. (Loud
cheering.)