The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-26 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDO.V BRIDGE.

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LONDON, SA7URDAY, OCT. 26, 1867.

Conservatism is evidently flourishing at present,
partly, no doubt, owing to the conduct of the Libe-
rals, but also to the advanced policy pursued by the
party. They have been, moreover, consistent, and
that is a great thing nowadays. They have not bid
for popular favour by making extravagant promises
which they could not or would not fulfil in action.
The "inaugural dinner" of the Working Men's
Conservative Association that took place on Thurs-
day at Coventry was a striking success, and both
in attendance and in enthusiasm surpassed many
similar demonstrations through the country. Six
hundred were present, of whom the large propor-
tion were working men. Mr. Alderman LYNES pro-
posed the Earl of DERBY and her MAJESTY'S Minis-
ters, and remarked that Lord DERBY stood " head
and shoulders" above any other man in the House
of Peers in fitness for his post, and that Mr. DIS-
RAELI was one of the " greatest men" of the
nineteenth century. The Right Honourable
C. ADDERLEY, who presided on this occasion,
made a suitable response. After declaring
that nothing gave Lord DERBY and his colleagues
more pleasure than that their names should be so
well received at a meeting of this kind, he pro-
posed the toast of the evening, " Success to the
Coventry Working Men's Liberal-Conservative
Association," in appropriate language ; and it is
worth considering what the right hon. gentleman
said about the manner in which those associations

are springing up vigorously and increasingly
in all parts of the kingdom. In pursuing this
theme he.told au amusing anecdote of Mr. COBDEN.
Having upon one occasion asked him if he did not
confess that the tendency of Englishmen was Con-
servative, the great apostle of Free Trade replied,
" Conservative is not strong enough, they are Chi-
nese ; if our great-grandmothers had put our grand-
father's infant feet into small shoes we should do
the same." Mr. COBDEN was right in his theory
that this country clings tenaciously to its old habits
and customs, but experience has shown that it is
the safest custom to do so.

Mr. ADDERLEY takes the flourishing state of these
Conservative Working Men's Associations as a pro
test against the " sham Liberalism " that has been
" bawling " about the country ; and, if so, they
deserve welcome and encouragement from all classes

of honest, inde pendent politicians. It is indeed
quite necessary -that something should be done to
withstand the influence of those make-be-
lieve parties, who are ready to resent
wrongs rather than have nothing to de-
claim against. He had always protested [against
the line which Mr. BRIGHT has taken for himself of
railing against the aristocracy in a senseless man-
ner, and nothing can be more effectual in checking
the mischief thus spread abroad than the united
action of the working classes themselves.
" The people of England must wrench their
rights from a hostile aristocracy," was one of
Mr. BRIGHT'S grand flourishes ; but such remarks
are insulting to the common sense of those to whom
they are addressed. Mr. BEALES follows suit, and
declares that the great people of England must
have the public parks for their own use, meaning
all the while that he and his friends want them
for a political purpose, not for a national one. No
doubt " bitterness and rancour have," as Mr.
ADDERLEY says, "been spread about the country by
these inflated statements, and it can do no harm,
if it does no good, to expose their emptiness and
falsity." There is nothing so overbearing
either in religion or in politics as our " one
great reformer, who claims to himself all
the public virtues and all the wisdom in the coun-
try, and who cannot conceive it possible that any-
body else should either wish or do anything for his
country's good unless through his own particular

views."

Mr. ADDERLEY took a true view of the case when
he said that in all the party struggles that have taken
place in this country there has been a spirit
above all parties, a spirii; of patriotism which has
influenced both sides in the struggle. In alluding
to the one-sided character of extreme Liberals, the
right hon. gentleman gave an amusing account of
the ready-reckoner by which they gave themselves
the trouble of thinking about great public questions.
Mr. BRIGHT'S ready-reckoner is, that anything that
is like the United States is good, and that anything
that differs from them is bad. Referring to the
recent Reform Bill, Mr. ADDERLEY declared that
the Conservatives had not been faithful to the old
traditions of the country, but that the Whigs
said they were, because they believed that they
themselves were the only ones who could deal
with these great national questions, and that the
Conservatives are exceedingly impudent for pre-
suming to do so. The conclusion of this able and
interesting speech set forth the true principles upon
which nations must stand and institutions much
flourish, and there is great truth in the assertion
that, amid all the changes and alterations of
different parties and their several discussions, there
is one party that is supreme over all the great
party of our common country.
Mr. BROMLEY also made some remarks worthy of
notice. He said that there were three courses open
to the Government of Lord DERBY about the
Reform question. They might have left it alone
altogether or have resigned, and proclaimed their
incompetency to deal with the question, or ad-
minister the affairs of the country, and the third
to introduce a sham bill. We think that there is
a good deal of truth in the assertion of Mr.
BROMLEY that the Bill just passed required
a certain amount of " patriotic artifice."
What would have happened had the
Chancellor of the Exchequer said on the
first day of the Session that they meant
to propose household suffrage ? Every one
knows that the whole thing would have turned out
a complete failure. The most effective part of this
speech is that passage which describes the scene
that took place on the second reading of the
Reform Bill. Mr. DISRAELI'S memorable speech
on that occasion was one of the most successful
ever delivered within the walls of Parliament, and
virtually decided the fate of the measure. Then
might be seen the great anomaly of those who had
devoted their lives to this grave and important
question ; who had, so to speak, got up early and lain
down late on this question, who had struggled hard,
and not forgotten to tell their fellow-countrymen a
great deal about those struggles in the cause of
Reform ; there might have been seen the great
anomaly of gentlemen going about meeting each
other, running to and from the lobbies, with white
lips whispering to each other,- " Why,
good GoD, if we don't take care these
mon will pass a Reform Bill."
It is very true also what is pointed out here, that
some of those who now take the greatest credit to
themselves for the passing of the Reform Bill lost
no opportunity that presented itself to them
of opposing the measure stage by stage in
the House, foremost among whom may
be named Mr. GLADSTONE and Mr. BRIGHT. There
were, indeed, great difficulties in the way of the
Government, difficulties which seemed insuper-
able, and would have been so had not the
greatest courage been displayed by them
on all occasions, coupled with marvellous
patience and perseverance. In conclusion,
Mr. BROMLEY passed some very proper strictures
upon the course pursued by the Reform League.
They have recently passed a resolution, to the effect
that they express their sympathy with the patriotic
but misguided men now under sentence of death
for high treason in Ireland. This is cer-
tainly one of the most suicidal acts
committed by a body of men, and cannot fail to call
forth the reprobation that it deserves from the right
judging of the community. A most impressive
sketch was given by Mr. BROMLEY of the state of
liberty in foreign countries compared with that
which flourishes at home. " Look at France, which
of all countries in the world has talked most of liberty,
what has she ended in ?—in a gagged press and a
thousand bayonets in every country-town. Look
at Prussia, with the very railway stations choked
with soldiers. Look at Austria, with the spy sys-
tem everywhere. And look at Russia, where you
cannot be free for an instant." It really
is of consequence just now that these
truths should be impressed upon the minds
of all, and more especially upon the class of our
intelligent artisans who are too apt to be misled by
the sounding brass and the tinkling cymbal of the
professed leaders of the people. It would not suit
the common sense of Englishmen to have profes-
sions without practice, and to talk of liberty
wLile the reality was for ever withheld from
them. Improvements are required from time
to time to suit the requirements of the
age ; but that is quite another thing from
sweeping changes and disguised revolutions. The
soundness of the principles set forward at this
meeting at Coventry entitle those who uttered them
to the confidence and respect of• real Reformers, who
are not bewildered by shams, but look things in the
face, and demand a meaning for all that is done,
and truth in what is said.

Mr. CLAY is always worth listening to, and his
speech to his constituents on Wednesday evening
deserves the attention of a wider audience. In
straightforward and fearless language he boldly de-
clared his satisfaction at the great gain made in the
cause of Reform, and he is one of those who
can look back upon his own share in the
work with unmitigated satisfaction. During
the Jut two trying geed= he Lae acquitted