Star.
London, England, 1831-05-11 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS.

TlMES.—ReforuL—Wherever the voice of Englishmen can be
heard—in counties, cities, in all but the very closest boroughs—it is
unanimous: there is no exception, but the disgraceful one of Bucking.
harnshire, to the return of representatives devoted to reform. We have
before refuted, and we again do so, in language the most decided and
peremptory, the miserable calumny circulated by the Tories in their
despair, and referred to at the Middlesex election,—" that Ministers
intended to postpone the introduction of the Reform Bill." It Is a
base and despicable falsehood. The Reform Bill will be proposed to
the new Parliament instanter, and proposed—and we flatter ourselves
carried—without one atom of change or modification affecting the great
principle of the measure.
POST.—On Rcoolution.—The reign of terror continues with all the
success that the advocates of revolution hoped for and predicted. In
very many plates candidates have been deterred front coining forward
on the day of election, not only on considerations regarding themselves I
personally, but fo. the sake of their friends, whose lives as well as their ,
own were endangered by the ferocious determination of hired mobs;
whilst in others the friends of the Constitution, after a long endurance of
savageoutrage,have been forced to retire from the contest, from the impel:-
sibility of the electors in their favour being enabled to exercise their
right of suffrage. And yet, strange to say, we are unblushingly told in
certain Journals that these unexampled atrocities are no more than
might ordinarily be expected ou the occasion of a General Election—
atrocities so enormous, and so utterly subversive of all elective rights
and constitutional privileges as we fearlessly assert never before dis-
graced the character of Englishmen--and which of course cannot fail to
engage the earliest attention of the New Parliament. All the elections
carried by vlolcocr and outrage must be pronounced void and invalid.
POST.—New Parliament.—There will be a very numerous, in-
telligent, and influential party in the next Parliament, who ente;tain
the opinion that some change in the system of representation has become
expedient, in acfrrence to the temper and feelings of the tinter, rather
than on account of any actual vice in the nature or defect in the
working of the present system. This is one very large and
important division of the conservative party, and is, of course,
decidedly opposed to the revolutionary scheme proposed by
Ministers. We suggest to this respectable and weighty class of
statesmen the propriety of preparing a bill before the meeting of parlia-
ment, comprehending the well-arranged outline of sonic plan of re.
form, in which they are prepared, by previous consultation, unani-
mously to concur. Let the conservative party promulgate their plan of
reform. Let it be the plan not of individuals but of a well-combined
and harmonious party. Let it differ, as it unquestionably must in
many respects, from the plan of ministers, but in nothing let the dif-
ference be more striking than in this, that it goes honestly and directly
to the purpose its authors profess to have in view. Should this be done,
we have no doubt that the task of legislation upon the important sub-
ject of reform will be easily wrested, or rather will drop out of the in-
competent hands which have hitherto essayed it, and that, too, amidst
the acclamations of parliament (their own parliament) and f the country.
H ERA LD.—Frecdows of the Press.—We have always advocated
the utmost extent of freedom in political discussion—we are glad to
find the present Government acts upon that principle. The boundless
license which the Tory Press has taken, in speaking of the Ministers
and their measures, affords an example of practical freedom of discussion
which the Tories theinselves, when in power, never allowed to their op-
ponents. Who can forget the battery of ealtlfcio informations which
Sir James Searlett, in the pride of his Attorney-Generalship, and in-
spired with the "liberal" spirit of the Wellington and Peel Admis.
tration, brought to bear upon an Opposition Journal ? Who
can forget that, in one instance, he obtained a rule for a criminal infor-
' mation for a libel on the then Lord Chancellor; and when be ascer-
tained the nature of the defence on which the alleged libeller intended to
rely, changed his mode of proceeding, abandoned his criminal informa-
tion, and filed an es-officio, which allowed him advantages over his op-
ponent that his original and less unconstitutional mode of pro-
secution would not permit him to wield for the destruction of his vic-
tim ? Such prosecution of opinion was unknown since the days
when the Star-chamber attempted to establish its odious tyranny over
the human mind, by making all freedom of sentiment a crime against
authority. Let us now see with what degree of decency and moderatioo
of language the party to whom Sir James &Arlen has attached him-
self, are supported by that portion of the Press which they admire
and patronise. In a recent number of a Morning Paper, which
has distinguished itself by a wild and furious opposidon to re-
form worthy of the cause It advocates, we find the following
passages t The King's Ministers arc determined there shall be no fair
election in any county or borough where the minds of the multitude can
be excited, and their hands armed against candidates opposed to the Mi.
nisterial measure. For the first time in the history of this country
we behold the appalling spectacle of a King's Government halloo-
ing on a ferocious rabble to destroy, by physical force, the ex.
biting institutions of the kingdom. This conjunction of the
powers appointed to administer the law with a brute force
which is stirred up to subvert the law creates the most fearful crisis
that ever threatened that law— and all that it has hitherto protected and
sustained, for the happiness, tranquility, and glory of this great nation
—with sweeping destruction." When the bounds of good taste and
decency are so grievously violated by writers who, not content with
setting truth at defiance, use language es comae as the charges it con.
veys are outrageously unjust the only mischief done is to the Press
itself, which is made the rod medium of extravagant malice and in.
credible defamation.

TIM FS.—:Veto French Order.—The French Journalists have now
found out a subject of domestic discussion, which seems to supersede
the interest of every other topic. It is not a new project of elections—
nor a new tax—nor a new code of laws—nor a famine—nor a pestilence
--nor arebellion,—that engages their attention: it is a new ribluld ! The
revolutionary "heroes" ofJuly, who did not require pensions for their ser.
vices to the public cause, were, by a law passed in December last, to receive
honorary distinctions or decorations, consisting of a cross or star attached
to their hutton-boles by a riband of a particular colour. It was enough,
one would suppose, that the Chambers decided so grave a question in
principle, and left the fulfilment of their intention to the executive. This
would appear to have been the opinion of the King and his Ministers,
who accordingly issued a regulating ordinance on the sabiest, dearly as
long m the fatal ordinancesof Charlie X. In this winsome knee decreed
that the " heroes" entitled to the decoration shield take thee/orb to the
King before wearing it, and that the medal should bent the inscription,
GMs by the Ifirsg." On Friday they were all summoned by a cir-
tutu to attend a conclave "of heroes." They met la a large ban, ap-
pointed their President, Vice-President, and liseeelarles, as if they
were about to commence deliberations for a whole seedes. An hel-
-1 dent occurred Immediately after the reeding of the resistless, quite
in chancier with the ImAsess of the meads& and the perms of whom
it was composed. The " heroes et July," ha Waft saved them,
discovered a " bens of the lierelle," sad lend plesulle are the hall
Unitas is his era penes a messinsat of the giselsseepsebe st l 7
and 11:10, be was called by the Prodded to came ups depleting'
sod two of :the secretaries were Esepatehed to lead= midi bro-
wner, shoute, and cla bosh, nom an the
as k mar Mini this .ens and deer peeler, whir ate se aZraort
the aimless In the esellset of shell seighbesis, and se ready SO ex.
peso le, As set em dim by casdnet Ills diat elms described, deg are
dm' all they eas se smile thseeilinie the hillilliemok of sand
t. eseeMt, if peel* thee scalds evades Is the bet woke Jaly.