The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-22 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL DEFEAT.

(From tke Times.)
We believe there is no doubt that Lord Derby
has undert %ken to form an administration, and that
he will endeavour, with the help of such colleagues
as he can draw round him, to carry on the govern-
ment of the country. Of course, it is impossible
for any one biond a limited circle to speak with
confidence, but it is said that Mr. Gladstone has
composed all his differences wi h the Conservative
party, and will be the Chancellor of the Exchequer
of the new Government. Rumour assigns to Mr.
Disraeli the important post of Foreign Secretary.
With regard to what is called the Peelite Party, we
believe that Mr. Gladstone's is the only dis-
tinguished name that it will add to Lord Derby's
Ministry. Mr. Sidney Herbert and Sir James
Graham will certainly not abandon the Liberal
standard, and probably the Duke cf .Newcasthe
will follow their example. It would seem, there-
fore, that the new Ministry will be formed of
Derbyites "pure and simple." The names of 1852
will once more be brought before the world, but
Lord St. Leonard's, we believe, will waive his claims
to the Chancellorship in favour of Sir F. Thesiger,
whose accession to that high dignity would be satis-
factory to the profession over which he would pre-
side. The Conservative Ambassador at Constanti-
nople, too, is at home, and we can hardly doul,t
that Lord Derby will take the opportunity of rein-
forcing his somewhat inexperienced following by a
person of such weight and distinction in European
politics as Lord Stratford de Redcliffe. The party
counts in its ranks so many lawyers of note who
have waited long for the ermine that we need sot
indicate how the legal posts are likely to be filled
up. So far as mon willing and, to a certain extent,
fit to take office are concerned, lord Derby it not
likely to suffer any lack.
We cannot be surprised that the Conservatives
should be eager for office, oven with such unfavour-
able prospects as at present. Tile wealthy and
higly-placed Peer who is their chief may indeed be
indifferent to power. The possession of office can-
not enhance his dignity or appreciably add to his
resources. Nor can he desire it as a field for the
display of his great abilities. Indeed, Lord Derby's
forte is essentially opposition. lie is an orator,
not a statesman ; a critic, and not an administrator.
He would, no doubt, be content to spend his life as
the leader of a band of brilliant debaters, the
scourge of a succession of pompous or plodding
secretaries. Two or three oratorical field days in
the Session, after each of which he should return
home laden with the spolia opinia of a slaughtered
Ministerial leader, would amply satisfy his ambition.
But. his followers are naturally anxious for some-
thing more solid. They may welt be hungry, for
they have fasted for many a year, and the banquet
of 1852 was torn away by the harpies of the Coali-
tion. For nearly 12 years they have breathed the
thin air of opposition, which, while it no doubt
braces the energies and sharpens the wit, still gives
no little appetite for the good things of ofticisl life.
Conservative politicans mourn at seeing place and
power become almost the natural inheritance of
the Liberal party ; Conservative Peers pine after
their due share of Garters and Lercl-L'eutenencies,
and Conservative Lawyers find that they are grow
ing old and feeble at their work, while their juniors
are Vice-Chancellors and Judges. Were it only in
justice to some of his stanchest ani ablest followers,
whom a few months of power would provide for or
to reward with appropriate dignities, Lord Derby
must take office when he has the opportunity. If
he could tide over a Session, srls it geed thingsmight
not be at his disposal before Parliament met again 1
How man4of the holders of great appointments are
advanced in years, and might leave a place vac ant
for those who havelaboured so long without re ward !
Nay, there is too ranch reason to believe that some
who would. not resign to a Whig successor will be dis-
posed to se .ze the opportunity of retiring in order to
place their offices at Lord Derby's disposal. Nor can
we leave out of view the ambition of a band of ac-
complished men to try their hands at the admini-
stration of public affairs. Mr. Disraeli, Lord Stan-
ley, Mr. Walpole, Sir 3. Pakington, and a few
others, may naturally think that they did not have
a fair chance in 1852, and that there was nothing
in the composition of the Government which has
just resigned which need inspire a man with abso-
lute despair of his own ability to fill the post of a
Cabinet Minister.
So, it is not to be wondered at that the Tories
should have determined to try their fortune, and,
as they have waited so long, we will not begin in
the first 24 hours with vaticinations of ill. But we
are hound to say that Lord Derby
more fortunate in the time of his accession to power.
might have been
The star of Coeservatiam is certainly not in the
ascendant. It rises in a malefic " house." Lord
Derby undertakes to form a Ministry on the very
day that we learn how his protege Yoh has been
c 4 i rried n the garb of a Coolie on board a British
man-of-war. The first despatch which he receives
from the East will perhaps be from the exulting
Bowring installed in the yamun of Canton. Mr.
Disraeli, whose theme has been the late Minister's
"laxity" in suppressing the Indian revolt, will also
have to deal with the fact that Sir Colin Campbell
was by the last news just about to make his final
march on Lucknow, and crush the rebellion in its
stronghold. The Conservative leaders will gain
but little by a reference either to their own past
prophecies or their opponents' conduct of affairs.
On the other hand, some very serious questions
are bequeathed them by the late Administration.
We are well aware of the facility of politicians in
accepting the measures they formerly opposed, and
carrying out the policy they formerly de-
nounced. We know how easy it is to say
that " the time has come ;" that, though they
still retain certain opinions, yet, as Parliament
has decided the other way and the country is com-
mitted, they feel it their duty to acquiesce, and
so forth. Still, in this case, the position of the
new Cabinet will be somewhat difficult. Will Lord
Derby carry on the Chinese war, or give effect to
cthonejoupnicntiioonnswih which
hthe his party advocated last year in
same allies by whose help they
have gained their present triumph ? Again, the
Government of India is a question which cannot be
delayed. The House of Commons has decided by
an immense majority that a bill should be brought
in transferring the authority to the Crown, and
has rejected the plea that the present is an im-
proper time for legislation. Will Lord Derby adopt
the bill, and allege that his party only doubted the