The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-11 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

TIMES.—It is an unspeakable relief to have to
deal with an opponent who has the wit to put the
question between us on a simple and intelligible
issue. It was open to reasonable suspicion that the
supporters of her Majesty's Government were
shutting their eyes, with more or less effort, to the
nature and consequences of its action in the matter
of Reform ; in fact, that the bill itself was not the
real question. This, however, which we have treated
as the best conclusion we could come to, is the first
postulate and starting point of our correspondent
" II.," and it is upon this basis that he rests the
eloquent appeal to our loyalty and patriotism which
we published yesterday. Never mind the bill—he
says—nay, he almost dismisses it with a summary
benediction. He had foreseen that the less said of
it the better, for even before it came into the world
he cried out with all-trusting faith for something or
other, some settlement of the question, some rid-
dance from a controversy which did not appear to
be quite congenial, The bill now sees the light of
day ; its provisions, as far as they go, are not
wanting in preciseness ; and a host of auxiliary
statistics give us information which appears to have
surprised even the authors of the measure on the
very eve of its publication. Friends and foes join
issue upon a thousand little differences, and every
day is now adding fresh pamphlets, the authors of
which all flatter themselves that they have made
important discoveries. We need not add that,
besides the usual fencing on the floor of the house,
there has been some street fighting of a less refined
sort. We were beginning to look with some mis-
giving to the sort of life we were likely to lead for the
septennial period inaugurated under such auspices.
Suddenly " H." appears to drag us out of these
deep ruts. Like Justice, he is blindfold ; but
he holds those well-known scales in which sub-
stances, virtues, verities, and achievements have
ever been found to preponderate over all that
is flimsy, specious, and transient. The Bill, no
matter what, a blank sheet of foolscap, a Field-
Marshal's baton, is in Lord Russell's hand, in
the downward scale, while a pile of useless inquiries,
vain misgivings, and superfluous reasonings kick the
beam. " Follow your leader" is the watchword.
" Occupet extremum stabies." Don't even look be-
fore you. Forwards. Thorough. Accordingly,
and evidently because the case required it, " H."
has carefully abstained from saying a word about
the contents of the bill or the nature of the bill.
Every word he says, and every argument he uses,
would have applied equally had the bill not dealt at
all with the franchise, and only transferred a score
or two seats. His letter might have gone to the
press without one single correction had " H." dis-
covered subsequently to writing it that the bill was
one for a commission to draw up a comprehens'ive
scheme of reform. It might have gone to the press
without a verbal correction if " II." had learnt that
the bill comprised all six points of the Chaiter. In
fact, the letter is not about the bill, or about reform,
but about a certain ghost, under that name, that
has been haunting the Legislature now for 15
years, perplexing statesmen, creating scandals,
affording opportunities of mischief, damaging cha-
racters. baffling exorcists, and, finally, the subject
of one more attempt by a well known-Mystery Mau
great in his line. The whole nation has been crying
out for deliverance, and now, if ever, is the time.
But faith is necessary. Believe in him, " II." shrieks
out with raptured vision and frenzied energy. Doubt
not, mistrust not, know not, inquire not! Is not
Lord Russell your chief ? has he not been your leader
to a hundred victories? Has he not at once led the
van of the people and protected the rear of the aris-
tocracy? Is not his name the highest in the rolrof
honour, however it may stand in Battle Abbey? Will
you see him beaten ? Whom then will you have ?
Will you not then fall into a base servitude to Con-
servatives, themselves 20 years ago the victims of a
like defection, and now rising on the fall of their
rivals ? When the keynote is loyalty, the rest follows
of course, and through the usual variety of changes.
The variations upon the air are brilliant. There is
the country to be satisfied. " H." does not stop to
ask whether the bill is even meant to satisfy the
country. There is the reputation of the House of
Commons now put in peril, happily not now for the