The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-16 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL CRESIS.

FROM THS MORNING PAPERS 01 YESTERDAY.

CHRONICLE.—Lord John Russell has not yet nn-
dertaken the task of forming an Administration ; and
it is not unlikely that two or three days may elapse be-
fore the Noble Lord can be in possession of the infor-
mation which would warrant him in taking that impor-
tant step. Upon this point we can only say what r e
here said before, that the Liberal leader would not be
doing justice to the great principle with the maintenance
of which he is identified, nor to the party with which
he is connected, nor to himself, in accepting the respon-
sibilities of Government at the present crisis, without a
eear prospect of being able to effect an abolition of the
corn-laws. In the actual state of parties it is evi-
dent enough that the chances of a quiet and speedy
settlement of that question depend mainly on the
course which Sir Robert Pee may think proper to
take. We are bound to express our belief that in
the proceedinge which led to the break up of
Caviinet, the late Premier's conduct evinced
e sagacity and a courage worthy of a statesman. lie
was iiesiroue, we believe, of carrying a measure for the
tete) abolition of the corn-laws, and we cannot doubt
that he wishes to see a work accomplished which an
everwheiming sense of public necessity could alone have
induced him to attempt himself. Sir Robert Peel mutt
be fully aware that the discontent created by the corn-
laws is not to be allayed by any half measure. The ex-
perience of the last four years has doubtless been stall.
cieet to convince him that a mere modification of thine
laws would be as ex isperatieg to the landlords, lied as
dithieult to carry through Parliament, as a measure of
entire abolition, whilst it would not take away the ma-
terials of agitation, nor give to any of the various in-
terests concerned the slighteat feeling of security. We
conclude, therefore, that Sir R. Peel is really anxious to
see the principle of entire abolition adopted by Parlia-
ment, and that what circumstances rendered it impossible
for him to do himself, he will be glad to see done by
another. If this anticipation prove correct, we appre-
hend that a period will soon be put to the uncertainties
and anxieties which now beset us. The united testimony
of the heads of the two great parties in the State will be
borne to the necessity of abandoning those commercial
restrictions by which British industry and enterprise
have been so long fettered. To such a weight of autho-
rity there will be nothing to oppose. Resistance will be
felt by the most enlightened of the Conservative party to
be as unwise as it will be odious, and Sir Robert may be
able, not only to spare the aristocracy of this country
humiliation and loss hereafter, but to claim a share in the
credit of that mighty reform which he will haveso greatly
contributed to effect. We are persuaded, too, that even
those who now denounce his conduct as an act of" perfidy"
and " treachery " will, by and by, have the candour to
admit that it can hardly be considered as even voluntary.
It is but the tardy and reluctant acknowledgment of the
reality and potency of a most unwelcome fact. However
sore the monopolists may feel towards their late leader,
they must be aware that he would not have broken his
party in pieces, and sucrificed his political position—
that party and position being the creation of his own
hands—but on the compulsion of a perfectly irresistible
necessity-. Sir Robert Peel's relinquishment of the task
a blob he undertook in 1841 is a fact the significance of
which is immense and indisputable. There is no
getting over it. He he surrendered his strong
Government to a potter stronger than any Go-
vernment—to the ideas and necessities of his time.
We have nothing to do with defending the late
Premier's political character and conduct gene-
rally; but we say—and all the world will say—that in
this particular act of his life he has but desisted from an
impossible task, obeyed an overpowering necessity, and
cast off an utterly unbearable responsibility. Nor shall
we willingly- contemplate the prospect of one of Eng-
land's greatest men closing a brilliant career in the in-
glorious defence of one of the very shabbiest of human
institutions. Sir Robert Pee!, in his wise and honour-
rub'e sacrifice of personal and party feeling, and political
position, to duty and conviction, must have many fol-
lowers. We feel constrained to believe that a legislative
change, demanded alike by the popular voice and by the
declared convictions of all our leading statesmen—ap-
proved by the principles of economical science, and en-
forced by a novel and tremendous national emergency—
will be effected without any extensive or permanent tin-
es ttlemerit of our social relations and political ideas.
POST.—We exhort the Conservatives to be every-
where up and stirring. Apathy now were madness,
There is no longer room fur self•deception. The danger
is manifestly great, the necessity for exertion moat
obvious and most pressing. We know that in general
the partizans of change will be the most active. It
belongs to their nature. The same restlessness of dis-
position a hich makes them impatient of order and
goeertiMent, also makes them agitators. Peace and
modesty ate alike strangers to the course of their lives.
But there are times when it may not unreasonably be
expected of the friends of settled law, that they too
shall make a great exertion, and shall even disquiet
themselves now, that they may have the better
( hence of peace hereafter. Such a time is the
present. A new state of affairs has arisen. The
trait so long looked to as the Conservative leader has
consummated his career of treachery. He may
not have all along intended to betray. We dare say he
did not. Such weakness as his, however—such vacilla-
tion and unmanly fear—is, in its practical object, nothing
less than treachery. He was trusted, and has betrayed
his :rust. He was captain of the watch, and has gone
over to the enemy. The power which was placed in his
hands he has endeavcured to turn against those who gave
it. Conservatives must remember that they who have
trusted a traitor have much to do in order to redeem that
error—in order to recover the effects of that misfortune.
Let them, then, be up and stirring everywhere, to rouse
the dull, to animate the slow, to strengthen the feeble,
to put life into all, and to teach the traitor that his
treason shall be of no avail. Let it be borne in mind,
however, that great activity is perfectly compatible with
sound discretion. Reasonableness may become impas-
sioned and be reasonableness still. There is no occasion
to rave and talk wildly, or to lose sight for a moment of
the ultimate object, because acting under the impulse of
a just indignation. Let frantic violence be left to the
opposite party. They will give us enough of it; but
let us meet them with earnestness—determination—
activity. Rash and scheming Russell, and dastardly
deceiving Peel, and all the rest of them, must be met
and coolly overcome by showing that what they want
to accomplish is not for the notional interest, and does
not accord with the national will. Lord John Russell
says that protection is the bane of agriculture. If he
really believed this, he would be more fit for Bedlam than
for the Cabinet or the House of Commons. It is precisely
tee opposite of what he himself asserted when he owed his
teat in Parliament to an agricultural constituency. That
is a fact which he cannot deny; but he says he has
changed his mind. Statesmen who change their minds
upon matters of principle should not continue to he
statesmen; they should seek some other occupation fbr
their time and talents. To promote the profitable in-
dustry of the people should be the object of Govern-
inert. It may be denied that the present sliding-scale is
the best method far promoting agricultural industry. It is
a peint open for discussion. But to say that there should
be no protection, and that foreigners should in future do
a considerable. part of the business now done by British
fartnere, that is a proposition for the maintaining of
which a man deserves to be shut up in an asylum for the
mare. That is the proposition, however, to which men
who are called statesmen would now persuade the public
ks,•;;lt ! Against tie folly—the treachery—the fear,
we! the craft of such men, we call upon the Conservatives
to be tip and stirring. The dernagagues evidently think
that tl,fa is their time, and they are bellowing furioutly.
The easily-excited and exaaedingly-misled populations
of manufacturing towns, will probably give their aid to
detnenstrations against the law which protects the in-
destre of their countrymen who work in the fields. But
this srror, we trust, will not long c ;ntinue, if the British
Conservatives make proper exec do is to show that it is
at: error. This, then, is the time for exertion—for argl-
nieve persueaion—tor every effort that can be made
in the cause of common sense and of justice.
TIM ES,—The consternation which seized some, and
the surprise which pervaded all, parties in the state,
have scarcely subsided. It is true, strangely true, that
the 'fury Government i.e out. More strangely true is it
that a Whig Government is in. Men are obliged to cal;
these facts to their recollection before they begin to
spcctil-zte on future arrangements or prospective changes.
It is an event which baffles the conjectures of shrewd
inen, and offends the sober reason of practical men.
To any one who remembers England in the autumn of
1841 this catastrophe must seem almost a miracle. Then

the (v.'', de grace was given to a Ministry which had
long ceased to exert any vigo tr or exhibit any genuine
tiymptoin of vitality. The new Premier led Parliament
With a working majority of 90 to back him. People read the
,iivision lists twice over before they could believe the
Uhf mon mho had formerly tied up the papers of
seen,, routine (Alice, rind therefore called themselves poll-
tniiits, crowded on the steps of the Cariton,;hugged each
°the= wi h slobbering and reciprocated cordiality, and
rhankel God that the good old days of the constitution
had returned. In every little village and market-town
abere: .was joy and congratulation. The parsons and
squires out-talked one another at the dinner table in
praising the new Premier, and recounting their own
Pro,Pee.ts. Many elderly ladies wept outright in the
extremity of their inexpressible delight. The
morning sun of Conservatism had risen, never to set
,g,tia in the shades of opposition. The church—
the gentry—the farmers—the wealthy and comfort-
awe classes generally—how was a party consisting
of such elements to be dissolved ? How could it be
overcome ? Yet, where is it now ? Gone—dissolved--
dijaintt d. Without appareht cause—without a distinct
warning—in no party. conflict—during the periodical
political warfare--while man places had
tuspension of
vet to be allotted. and manyp misapprehend. promises
'WHO yet to be fulfilled-10. t blirlisttheerT,lglreeaadr
csotnriskeer!
ap,parently
hi ihrtz--his army melts away—and
votivephalanx " becomes a headless and
helpiesa trunk. There is lamentation the Carlton,"
bitterness of heart at the ponservati,e,e
Yotint..;er hrothers innumerable moan for the fore.
fore.
.ra
gone enjoyments of Downing-street,
and u
f.alaci,-s flit before the eyes of disappointedln er
this iteetants with insufferable distinctness. o
class there is probably no very general commiseration.
" Wby did Peel resign ?" and " why did he resign just
at thi, time !" are questions asked by gone more tre-
gun t;). and anxiously titan by those innocent persons
t whom ha used to dole out the perquisites of small
offices on the implied condition that they were to do
their small work without presuming to thing, advise,
or net for themselves. These and such as these will
indulge in the virulent invective that the bile of-dis-
appointment can alone discharge. But it is a question,
n ,t only for this, but for all future time, why did
Peel resign ?—not a piece of political gossipry—not
as a tittle-tattle of pique or spleen or temporary re-
sentment, but as a most curious subject of speculation,
and a no less curious index to thecharacter of a
V atesman who is more remarkable for the tactics where-
by he obtains, than for the skill with which he retains,
power, It is no trivial thing to break up the alliances