Star.
London, England, 1825-01-27 00:00:00

'_ .-- tom_ "'1

-egiqt t

MR. SECRETARY CANNING. ' 1
PROM THR JOURRAR oha OROATS.
There is so much ign tAnce in the articles of the
Ministerial Journals, that we blush to employ ourselves
in refuting them ; but, as ignorance is the lowest stage
from which men can stmt to ascend t 6 knowledge, the
Ministerial Journals offer the most certain. point which
could be chosen to start from iu search of truth: In this
re-pect they are useful.
They

ask—" what has Mr. CAWING done to merit
the praises which are lavished on him ? He is -pro-
claimed the greatest staterman_that ever existed, for
having secured to his country the gain of some millions."
Men who occupy themselves seriously with political
studies, have never formed their judgvnezt from a single
fact, of the power and the talent of those who are placed
in a situation to influence the destiny of a nation.; for,
in so doing, they do not comprehend even the value of
the fact on which they would ground their judgment.
Nothing is insulated in politics.
• The following is the way in which such studies are
connected:
Ten years ago, Mr. Canning offered himself as a can-
didate at the Liverpool election ; England was then led
astray from her true policy by the dazzling effects of the
prodigious success which she had obtained, in common
with those who have since been called the holy Alli-
ance; and the English Aristocracy, for the first time
since the establishment of liberty in that country,
seemed disposed to forget those principles, which, in
justifying its pre-eminence, have always constituted its
_glory. and its safety.
• In England, a candidate must speak to the electors
whose suffrages he solicits. If thi- usage be attended
with-some inconveniences, it has also its advantages,
since it compels a declaration of principles which can-
not be violated, and it furnishes a pledge that the me-
diocrity.of the candidates shall not .extend to the must
complete nullity.
In the then state of England, what speech did Mr.
CANNING address to the.electois of Liverpool?
" I know that the Opposition Members, who wish to
concentrate the Ministry in certain great families, and
who, while mocking legitimacy with respect to thrones,
pretend to hereditary political talents, treat me as an
adventurer. Ido not understand what such a reproach
can mean in a country where all the highest offices of
the State are open to every one, but I accept this deno-
mination, it it designate a man, who, as a repiesenta-
tive, wishes but to. depend upon the nation, and who,
to serve his country, conceives that he has no occasion
IT the support of a hunched generations of illus-
trious ancestois."
Nerier was a declaration conceived in clearer terms ;
yet, it was but a simple candidate who dared thus to
express his thoughts and his sentiments.
The man who, in silence, gives himself up closely to
political studies, transcribes this avowal into his collec-
tion of public statements, which he deems it necessary
to refer to, and puts as a note, under it, the following :
" This speech is either mere rhodomontade, or an act
of the most splendid justice which a man, conscious of
his own powers, can render to himself. In any case
there is prodigious greatness of mind in thus declaring
war against the loftiest pretensions, before even being
secure of entering tie li,ts."
Mr.CANNI NG was chosen by the electors of Liverpool.
Through difficulties, insurmountable in a country where
talent was not the greatest power known, be teaches
the Ministry, not ignorant that England is entangled
in the trammels of the Holy Alliante; he withdraws
her, places her oli one side, and finally, in opposition,
gibing always to his conduct that appearance of frank-
ness which enables him coolly to say, to those whom it
disconcerts—" I forewarned you of it." And this goes
so directly to the object, that the French Ministry, who
cried out that war would be rekindle.' in Europe, it
England recognized the independence of South America,
says, two days after the public declaration of that inde-
pendence—" Nothing new has happened—we were foie-
warned of it!"
It is not, therefore, for having secured the gain of
several millions to his country, that Mr. CANNING takes
his place in the first rank of Statesmen, but because,
having a system, he at once avowed it in the face of
those who could counteract it, and before he was himself
in a position which enabled him to put that system in
operation ; because, having publicly professed certain
principles, he has never swerved from them ; and, above
all, because there were formidable obstacles to overcome
before he could accomplish what he now has accom
',fished; and that he surmounted those obstacles, with-
out,. for a moment, balancing between the resignation
of the seals of office and the dishonour of acting con-
trary to his own principles. His strength did not consist
in his Ministerial position, but in his personal character
and in the wisdom of his opinions. His antagonists,
England and the Opposition, always to respectful to-
wards him, are equally convinced of this truth.
The weakest Ministers in point of talent, always
know and believe some things. It they are conscien-
tiously misled, the Public feel it, and attribute the mis-
chief they do, not so much to the men themselves, as
to the institutions of the country, which prohibit the
application of general knowledge, and the force of pub-
lic opinion, in opposition to individual incapacity. But
the Minister who belies his conscience, who acts against
his conviction, who, giving nay constantly to a pity
whom he neither respects nor esteems, and the dupe of
his own artifices, more and mute involves himself in a
false porky, with the frivolous hope of regaining by
subterfuge the ground which he yields without honour;
such a Minister would be judged by the Public as' he
deserved, and more severely than a Minister who errs
with good intentions. They would say of the lattet,
"he has been deceived ;" of the former, ""he has pot
even known how to deceive, and yet hat was all he
aimed at."
In thus contrasting the end now attained by Mr.
CANNING with the point from which he set out ten
years ago, we have' been anxious to demonstrate that it
is not upon insulated fads that enlightened men form
their judgments. The Session of the English .Parlias
merit being 'about to open, the simplicity which Mr.
CANNING will adopt in his language, will form a fresh
subject for political study. The bold and uncompro-
mising candidate for Liverpool will be found very un-
assuming; but he has nothing now to brave, though he
knows very well that there may be a great deal with
which be may have to contend. Hence it was not
without a reason that he preceded the opening of Par-
liament with the recognition of the independence of
South America. As soon as it shall be well understood.
that this measure has the approbation of a country whkh
thoroughly comprehends its own interests, all the
Cabinets of Europe may send Notes .and Counter-notes,
without any ether result than that of opposing phrases
to facts.