The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-23 00:00:00

energetic harangue addressed viva voce to the
Constituencies. Lord JOHN RUSSELL being a sig-
nal instance of this kind—wit h his Address about
" Sixteen years" and his Speech about JOHN the
Gardener It is not, of course, surprising, there-
fore, to note already in the midst of these ener-
getic proceedings with a view to the General
Election which may be said to have now virtually
commenced, and which must very speedily be
brought in duo course to its ultimate comple-
tion—it is not surprisiug, we would say, to note
already as the result of these very prompt and
vigorous proceedings a few facts of really re-
markable significance. Straws thrown up
showing which way the wind blows ! Ex. gr.—
How many of those who voted in the Majority
slur over their reference to the Chinese Division
How many of them don't allude to it all—vide,
for instance, the Electioneering Address of the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for
Leominster. While, on the other hand, not a
man told off into the lobby of the Ministerial
Minority but eagerly courts some opportunity for
allusion to what identifies him in a signal manner
with the immediate source of the immense popu-
larity of Viscount PALMERSTON !
Meanwhile about the Retirements—How
many of them may be regarded as auguries of de-
terioration and weakness to the Opposition. Fif-
teen county seats alone may be already mentioned
as among the number of those vacated by old Der-
byibe representatives. Fifteen of the county
seats alone Argyleshire, South Derby, North
Devon, South Hants—two for East and one for
West Norfolk—one for H eits and one for South
Warwickshire—one for Lincolnshire, for the Isle
of Wight, for Gloucestershire, for Berkshire, for
Glamorganshire, and for Clackmannajn 1 Fifteen
old Conservative county seats already vacated
in despair and handed over to new
and Liberal candidates Palmerstonians
Amongst the number of these retiring Derbyites
being Sir THOMAS ACLAND and Sir JOHN STRACEY,
Sir HENRY MEUX and Sir GEORGE TYLER, Lord
GUERNSEY and LORD BARRINGTON, Colonel HAR-
COURT and Sir ISLAY CAMPBELL ! TO say the
least of it, significant 1 Significant—considering
that these are agricultural constituencies, we may
venture to say wonderfully significant—of much
that is disastrous to the Derbyites, and of all that
is auspicious to the Palmerstonians.

The Parliament of 1852 has terminated its
existence. It will be regretted only by those
who can no longer attach the magic initial 3 M.P.
to their respective names, and who must, hence-
forth, "bid a long farewell to all their greatness."

But little can be said in its favour. And the
country, warned by the deficiencies so painfully
notorious during its career, must endeavour to
obtain from its successor the boons so urgently
required, and so contumeliously refused, by that
now numbered with the past. Nothing has oc-
curred to cause its memory to be held in grateful
recollection. The prestige of Great Britain was
scarcely maintained—cei t tinly not advanced—
during its continuance, and there were no domes-
tic ameliorations to compensate for its short-
comings in other respects. Many important re-
forms were spoken of, but few, if any, carried
into execution. It may be characterised as the
"do-little" Parliament. The chief object, ap-
pareetly, being to reject or emasculate every useful
measure introduced by any party, whether on
behalf of the Government or of private indivi-
duals. It has struggled through a tolerably pro-
tracted existence, having advanced some way into
into its fifth year before the factious vote was
delivered, which may be regarded as an act of
virtual suicide. Never was a ;penal dissolu-
lution" better merited. May its fate act as a
salutary caution to its future successors.

It was called together by the late Derbyite
Cabinet. Early in 1852 the RUSSELL Adminis-
tration had been driven from office. A just rc-
tribution attended the ill-treatment of its most
efficient member, and the wrongs of Lord PAL-
MERSTON were speedily Rad completely avenged.
Tho leader of that which had once been the great
Conservative party received the commands of his
SOVEREIGN to form a New Ministry. The task
was undertaken, but it was obvious that nothing
could be effected with the then House of Com-
mons by the "Protectionist chief." "An Appeal
t) the Country" became indispensable, and
the Government was carried on through
the forbearance of the Opposition, on the under-
standing that no great measure was to be attempt-
el. Even before the contest the principle of " Pro-
tection" was consigned to a dishonoured grave,
or rather every attempt to resuscitate the departed

monster was abandoned, save by a few fanatical
admirers, so that the late Parliament cannot even
claim the honour of settling a question that had
previously been disposed of by an o►erwhelming
majority of the people.
It has been stated that " much could not have
been expected from a body chosen under such
circumstances." We cannot, however, agree
with the observation. Great questions of
Reform, Parliamentary, monetary, fisca 1,
financial, and legal were agitated. Profess,
ing Reformers received a generous and dis-
interested support. There was sufficient strength
to carry any point in which either the Govern-
ment or the members were really and truly in
earnest, and we may ascribe the failures that have
since occurred to the apathy and indifference of
the House, rather than to its want of power it)
give effect to its resolutions. The questions
affecting civil and religious liberty—among which
Jewish Disabilities and the Marriage Affinities
Bill were the most important—were repeatedly
affirmed in the Commons, but in such a manner
that the other branch of the Legislature was en-
couraged to reject them with but scant ceremony.

The first act was to reject the financial scheme
of Mr. DISRAELI. That led to the Coalition Ca-
binet, under the nominal leadership of the Earl of
ABERDEEN. It was hoped that the Income Tax
anomaly would have been removed, and that the
distinction between permanent and precarious
revenue would receive a legislative recognition.
It is but justice to Mr. DISRAELI to say that he,
to a certain trivial extent, adopted the wishes of
the people. But although the relief was
trifling the principle was valuable, and the matter
would unquestionably have been carried further
but for the speedy overthrow of the Administra-
tion. " The GLADSTONE dodge" was then prac-
tised. Knowing that he could not resist the
just claims of those who had so long been
defrauded, by being compelled to contribute more
than their fair proportion to the Exchequer, he
pretended to provide for the total extinction of
the tax in 1860. The people fell into the trap,
although we, at least, pointed out the
full extent of the deception about to be practised.
The renewal was granted in the manner asked for
by Mr. GLADSTONE, and the nation was conse-
quently saddled with the burden for a longer term
than it had ever previously been asked for.

He also carried his proposal for the redemption
of a portion of the National Debt, and thereby
occasioned a serious loss to the Treasury. It is
remarkable that at the very time when he was
bringing forward the abolition he must have been