The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

Ito Times remarks that the result of the elections
hitherto is not wholly satisfactory. We should have
been glad to see one or two of the working men's delegates
in Parliament, since they would have been able to com-
municate and to receive new ideas, which might bring
classes together with better knowledge and more friendly
feeling. The absence of any such men is, to our thinking,
more to be regretted than that of the working man's
gentlemanly friends, the advanced Liberals, academic or
literary. But, at all events, both classes have beenbrought
to confusion at these elections, and it is difficult to
imagine that they will ever have a better opportunity.
There is at present an accumulation of legislative work to
'be undertaken, and many things which are undoubtedly
'abuses to be rectified. The present electors have returned
'moderate candidates, and future elections are likely to be
without any revolutionary result. Nothing remains but
to congratulate the country on the perfect success of the
Reform Bill, and on the answer the most decisive of tests
has given to the calumny which was in the mouths of
many popular orators two years ago—that England was
legislated for by a class for a class, and that the real voice
of the people was stifled by the selfish artifice of the few.
Events have proved that it was the party opinion, and no t the
class prejudices of a section of the House, which the nation
desired to modify. Three months of discussion have
revealed the order of men who are likely now, as hereto.
fore, to please constituencies. The results also flew how
considerable is the power of the Conservative minority in
the country. The quality and temper of the new House
have been largely determined by the influence of the un-
successful party, which we may accordingly console with
the suggestion that it has not been beaten so completely
as it may, perhaps, be itself disposed to believe.

The Post remarks that the new electors have been
wrought up into the substance of the pre-existing con-
stituencies to which theyhave been added, and the general
character of the whole has been preserved in its various
diversified elements. Indeed, giving a man a vote
renders him more Conservative than he was before. He
feels himself to be somebody. The new status he has
'acquired sets him thinking upon many things that
bad not previously occupied his attention. The
working man as a rule, and taking the average,
has no idea of electing and being represented in
Parliament by one of his own class. There is always a
degree of jealousy between men of the same class—an un-
conscious and unanalysed jealousy it may be, but still
jealousy for all that, and this feeling stands in the way of
men voluntarily elevating their equals above themselves.
Whatever men's views of things in general may be, they
like somebody of a higher social status than themselves to
represent them and preside over them, whether in Parlia-
ment or at a public dinner. It was indeed upon this prin-
ciple of Britiih human nature that Mr. Disraeli relied in
passing his household suffrage bill. There are historical
reasons and causes why he should rely upon this principle.
Those who know the history of the period during which Mr.
Disraeli has taken an active part in politics, and who have
watched his career, will easily understand why he should
have hoped to create a Tory democracy which would give
him a triumphant majority in the new Parliament.
Generally speaking, the lower you go down in the vertical
section of the social scale the greater is the reverence and
awe for wealth and station and rank and title. But Mr.
Disraeli made the mistake of relying too much upon this
principle. Wealth and rank and title and social status
are not confined to the Conservative party ; and, other
things equal, the tendencies of the working and middle

dames are decidedly in favour of Liberal representatives.

The Herald thinks this success of the Conservatives
with the great constituencies and the success of the
Radicals with the small ones has been the great feature of
the elections. Whilst in every one of the great cities
and towns the Conservatives have been returned at the
head of the poll or have pressed their opponents so hard as
to leave the result for a long time in doubt, the Radicals,
employing their old weapons of lavish expenditure and
intimidation, have carried many of the small
boroughs, which they have chosen to treat al
the Conservative strongholds, and to which they
have been wont to deny any right to representation.
Compare the Conservative gains with the Opposition list,
over which our Radical contemporaries have crowed so
lustily. The seats which we have won have been won in
constituencies to which the Radicals have been accustomed
to contend that larger representation should be -given.
The Conservatives gain, for instance, in London, in West-
minster, in Worcester, in Manchester, in Bolton, in
Chester, in Coventry, in Nottingham, in Norwich, in
Portsmouth, in Stockport, in Salford, in Ashton, in
Staleybricige, in Southampton. What seats have the
Liberals'Won in large and wealthy boroughs? Only three.
All they can boast of are Derby, Carlisle, Wigan, and
Sunderland. The most remarkable result is the practical
unanimity with which the great county of Lancaster hat
pronounced for the Conservatives;

The Dgi,l y News notices that the borough elections prove
how vain was the hope with which Mr. Disraeli beguiled
the Conservatives into accepting household suffrage ; and
how unfounded. were the alarms under the influence of
which Mr. Lowe eloquently shrieked and raved against
any reduction of the franchise. The elections have dis-
pelled Mr. Lowe's fears. They have not the less
demolished the baseless fabric of that vision in which Mr.
Disraeli is said to have• indulged, of a term of office
as long as Lord Liverpool's. The Conservative leaders
thought that they had found in household suffrage a solu-
tion -of the great Ministerial problem, stated by Lord
Derby with classic simplicity, " how not to be ousted."
By a just retribution, household suffrage pro-
mises to be •the instrument of their destruction.
Mr. Disraeli's policy is coMprised in two words—the
Monarchy and the Mob. It is a theatrical adaptation
of French. Imperialism to English habits. Mr. Disraeli
has contrived already, by a course, of conduct thoroughly
unconstitupionakto embarrass the relations of the Crown
and the House of Commons. .The speeches of Mr. Glad-
stone and Mr. Lowe shew that the attention of the Liberal
leaders is fixed on this point. It will be tha first business
of the House of Commons to assert its authority, and to
vindicate constitutional usage. The Tory demagogues,

having found household suffrage vain for their purpose,
i may be well enough disposed to try universal suffrage.
But the Tory deinos is not likely to be a willing party to a
second political ekperiment. • •
The Standard rejoices over the rejection of the dcctrt•
naircs. The spectacle of these stranded wrecks will, we
trust, tend to mitigate somewhat of that boastful spirit
with whichAhe Rh.clicals- speak' of the present elections.
Whatever 'may happen hereafter, and whether the Conser-
vative minority grows more or less, we claim the rejection
of Mr. John Stuart Mill, and of all the candidates supported
and approved by himself and Mr. Goldwin. Smith,
as a signal demonstration of the people of England against
the arrogance, the self-conceit, the extravagance, and the
excesses of that pestilent sect of political fanatics who pro-
- fess to be Radicals of the Radicals—the apostles of a
re volution,, social, political, and religious—the " cultured"
persons who would begin by wiping out that precious gift
of English, liberty which is contained in our glorious
Constitution. ,
The Morning Summary says altogether the result of the
polls on the first.day o£ the borough contests is inspiriting,
particularly after .the gloomy anticipations indulged in by
our Radical. friends. It is clear. that the heart of the country

is sound, that the people are true to the Constitution in
Church and State; and when again the House of Lords
rejects Mr. Gladstone's bill for abolishing the Irish Esta-
blishment, should such a bill again pass the House
of Commons, the people will speak out yet more
unmistakeably. For the more the Irish Church
question is discussed, and its real bearings under-
stood, the more do people see its imminent danger.
Meanwhile, let the counties be fought with increastd
earnestness and confidence. Let every seat be contested ;
. let South Essex .and North Nottinghamshire suffice for
timorous surrenders to the enemy ; and let the natural
strongholds of Conservatism not prove less reliable than
those large constituencies whi.th have hitherto, owing to
Conservative timidity and Liberal braggadocio, been HMV
Liberal preserves.

A gulden:an living at Ashton, near Wigan, and
who has been worhirg. Lard for the two Liberal candidates
for Soutli-west Lancashire, has received an anonymous
tter tolling him it will be " WOTEO " for him if he does not
desist froth his efforts. The epistle concludes with the
fol!owiug sentence :—" The pouiirg day his near; think
well if you live to see it, and tell your friend the same."

, The Queen, who, since the lamented death at
cue Prince Consort,. has used plain note paper in Ler corre-
spondence, has adoi.ted a monogram consisting of the regal
It Ender an imperial crown, with the legend Victoria
across the letter. The design, which has received its last
improvements tram her Majesty's own hand, is being
exee:lted in black and silver.

Mr. -E. C. who is said to ho an authority
the ethnolowy and archaeology of South and Central
pierica, says there is nothing incredible in the story told
by General Kilpatrich, United States Minister to Peru,
that during the recent earthquake at Arica 500 mummies
v.-ere thrown to the surface. He writes :--" The desert hills
buldnd Arica—as, indeed, those surrounding the few habit-
able spots ()lithe Peruvian coast—are literally stuffed with
the desicated bodies of the aborigines. They are but thinly
covered with the light and nitrous sands, and are often
c::posed by the winds. I have seen dozens of them at
Arica, lying on the surface, wrapped in coarse gra s
vatting, or in their crumbling nets, for most who liv,d
hero n,.!cmcd to have been fishermen. I have carefully
h hundreds of the so.called mummies without
the slightest evidence that their preservation is
- cc than natural conditions ;,f Ccii and eimate."

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