The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-12 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

J:he Times looks upon the past thirty-six years..., a period
of glorious improvement, disappointing the predictions of
those who thought the country was going to ruin. There
has been no such progress in any one generation—nay, we
do not scruple to add in any one century. It may be ad.
mitted that the country made a start, and quickened its
pace, immediately upon the conclusion of the great war.
That universal improvement itself suggested the necessity
for political progress and development, for the people
which achieved such marvels of ingenuity and industry had
a right to be regarded as the citizens of the State.
The marvellous progress made may be reckoned from the
time of the admission of the British people to the pale of
the Constitution. If there are still those who tremble
before the rude majesty of the people now as their
fathers did on the last similar occasion, it is pleasant
to observe that it is not with quite so much
sinking of hearts, such utter despair, such prostra-
tion of soul. Perhaps the high authority of the Con-
servative chief has reconciled them to a' measure which
would once have been thought the end of all things.
They who govern themselves may be as liable to blunders
and to faults as they who govern others ; but, upon the
whole, they will be more likely to govern with a view to
their own benefit and improvement. Utility has become
the test of measures and of expenditure more than
it used to be, and the utility thus recognised has
been of the higher quality. To govern for others,
and to undertake any trust for others, is a
task that demands a vigilance, a fairness, and a
distrust of self that is found in very few men. Upon the
whole, the work is better done by people for themselves,
even though it be effected with a somewhat lower aim.
But, be the aim higher or lower, the British people have
bot governed themselves without advantage, nor without
glory, for the last thirty-six years; and it would be most
unjust to doubt that with better education they will make
a good use of their new privileges now.
The Star notes that the day fixed for the return of the
writs, and consequently for the meeting of Parliament, is
Thursday, the 10th of December. According to the estimate
at present generally acquiesced in, the Ministry will he
condemned by a vote of the House within nine days from
the date of reassembling, and of those nine days five or
six must be devoted to swearing members in. The
majority will unquestionably use their utmost endeavours
to arrive at a decision on the morning of Saturday, the
19th ; but the new Parliament will doubtless be eloquent,
and the fox under whose nominal leadership its delibera-
tiuns will commence has many doubles. We shall not be
surprised to see the great debate carried into Christmas
week ; but the majority will not suffer it to be unreason.
ably protracted. Everything, in fact, depended on the
issuing of the writs, and now they have been issued, Mr.
Disraeli has no further control over the events which so
deeply concern his future.

The Standard rejoices at the manifestation of Conserva-
tive feeling in the metropolis. This is a marvellous change
from the old state of things, when a serious Conservative
opposition in Radical constituencies like those of the
metropolis was almost as mythical as the Conservative
working man. Speaking frankly, we do not ascribe it soli
much to the growth of positive Conservatism. We have
always held that throughout the metropolitan consti-
tuencies there has been a leaven of Conservative feeling,
but that it has felt itself crushed beneath the dead weight
of the Radical majority, and either from laziness or
despair has acquiesced in its political extinction. But
something more than the revivifying of this petrified
mass was needed to produce the phenomenon now
exhibited in the metropolis. It is not merely a dormant
Conservatism roused into active life, powerful as it
undoubtedly is, which has worked this result. The
recruiting agents of the Conservative party have been
Messrs. Bright and Gladstone. It is the reaction which
has mainly aided to bring about this result, and the
reaction is the work of the Liberal party and their leaders.
The tyranny of Beales and the Reform League, the malig-
nant temper of Mr. Bright against the present order of
things, and Mr. Gladstone's conspiracy against the Pro-
testant faith of the realm, have contibuted to drive
hundreds of thousands of moderate men into the Conser-
vative ranks, as the true refuge and defence against the
statesmen who for mere purposes of selfish ambition are
seeking to subvert our most cherished institutions.
The Times is very indignant that it has been found neces.:
nary for Sir Roundell Palmer to withdraw from the con.
test for the University of Oxford. The preference of Mr.
alowbray to Sir Roundell Palmer by the University has
no direct bearing on the question of the day, with respect
to which there can be little doubt Mr. Mowbray is pre-
-pared, when properly called upon, to go much the farther
of the two. What it does shew is that the University
of Oxford prefers to support anyone who will pro-
mise to fight for exclusive privileges rather than
trust a man who takes a stand upon the prin-
ciples of equal justice. It is not the first time-
that Oxford has shewn this disposition, and not the
first time it has shewn it in vain, save to its own dishonour.
The university rejected Sir Robert Peel, but the Roman
Catholic Disabilities were removed. The university
rejects Sir Roundell Palmer, but the Irish Establishment
is nodding to its fall. There are men for whom history is
written, and to whom reason speaks to no purpose.
Delighting in the possession of arbitrary privileges, they
dream in their vanity that they can for ever withstand
the claims of those who clamour for the right ; and well
will it be for them if they are not rudely awakened
by an outburst of popular indignation, rubbing them of
all they most prize as ministering to their pride and
exaltation.

The Tdcgeaph. adopts " Retrenchment " as the Liberal
cry. Five millions a year ought to be saved at once from
the expenditure, and given back to the comfort and
industry of the people, without diminishing national
security by one iota. It is a matter of mere revision and
business-like check on outlay; and when this much is
done, the duty of a far larger review of our imperial
methods, with fresh ideas upon the better organisa-
tion of public defence, will remain, affording the
prospect of savings compared to which this will lie
but a trifle. Not only have we men like Stan*.
fell and Childers prepared to carry out tin
policy in the working of the departments—but the future
Prime Minister has placed " Retrenchment" conspicu-
ously on his flag, while Mr. Bright has earnestly taken
up the cause, and has contributed a grand practical
suggestion. If any candidate mouths the word "Retrench-
ment " upon the hustings, yet means less by it than a root
and branch reform, let him go to the Horse Guards or the
Admiralty for a berth, while he has time : there is no
place for him upon Mr. Gladstone's side in the House of
Commons that will soon assemble.

The Daily News says: Let the nation and the House of
Commons determine what the relations of England are to
be to foreign nations and to its own colonies ; let it fix the
principles on which it will rule Ireland and India, and the
amount of our naval and military forces will follow as a
clear inference. A total sum being fixed, in confor-
mity with precedent and analogy, and on the
scrutiny of existing circumstances it may be left
to the departments to make it do as best they
can. Mr. Bright's advice that every item should be
made the subject of a special scrutiny, would involve the
House of Commons in a pathless jungle of details. But it
is well that his proposal should be put forward. A vague
declaration of ends to be achieved is easily made. When
men begin to canvass means, a sign is given that they are
in earnest. If Mr. Bright has not struck on the right
path, he has given an example to explorers which they
may imitate with more success.
The Post remarks that whatever else history may hay.:
to say about the presidency of Mr. Johnson, it will at
least record that it was during his tenure of office that the
only remaining causes of misunderstanding between the
mother country and her vigorous offspring were removed.
The President's worst enemies can say no worse of him
than that his failings are resolvable into errors of judg-
ment, while it must be confessed on all hands that his
foreign policy has been at once pacific and patriotic. We
have always been ready to settle the matters in dispute
between us on equitable and reasonable terms, and the
initiative for which we have been waiting has now
been taken by the Government of the United States.
The Post also commends the conduct of Mr. Reverdy
Johnson. He has shewn much better taste than they who
will not, as he is disposed to do, let bygones be bygones,
or who think that criticism in season or out of season is
always pertinent and appropriate, provided only that it be
sufficiently ill-natured, or, as its authors would perhaps
say, candid. If, in short, a gentle answer turns away
wrath, Mr. Reverdy Johnson may rest assured that he
has had very much the best of the discussion.
According to the Morning Summary, of all the inflictions
which the Times has imposed upon the easy-going English.
man none can compare with the nuisance of having to
wade through colunins of the tall-talk indulged in by Mr.
Gladstone and Mr. Bright when they arc on the stump.
'Time was, indeed, when the political world did eagerly
devour the sentiments which fell from Mr. Bright's lips.
People were curious to see what was the next extrava-
gance which he would recommend. But latterly,
since he has been in training for office, his
utterances have fallen comparatively flat, and he has
been almost as much muzzled as poor Mr. Bernal Osborne
in oflice. Such safe ground, however, as criticising the
estimates, and raising so innocent a cry as a cheap
breakfast table, depressed the great tribune of the people ;
and on the land question, the other day, he broke his
traces, and has revived the fears of his old' WM.' friends,
who hoped that Gladstone and lie might run well together
in double harness. Mr. 13right's evening with the gun-
makers will not, on the whole, we think, improve his posi,
tion with his Whig friends, who will lift up their hands in
pious horror at the very notion of a further onslaught on
the power
.of departments to carry out nice little jobs for
young lirglings, such it." the lamentecl Dowti end the
9ag4ei:)us Awberley, •