The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-22 00:00:00

7'UESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 22, 1836

In our last paper we put forth a declaration, that we
would, at some future time, demonstrate, that the reform
bill had not produced, and we now further gratuitously
add never can'produce any sensible melioration in the
condition of this country, as regards the happiness or the
welfare of its people. Some might think this a piece of
florid declamation, the overflowing of political frenzy,
uttered without any serious intention on our part of ever
following it up with the demonstration promised. But
we are accustomed to use words with more mental col-
lectedness, and our readers will perceive, bye and bye,
that what we affirm we believe, and are, at all times,
ready to add proof to assertion.
Before we proceed to our demonstration, let us briefly
consider what circumstances preceded the reform bill,
and what were the prevailing sentiments of the country
just before this abortive boon was conceded to it. From
some cause, but what it will not he necessary now to in-
quire, a great and almost universal pressure had, for
many years, been gradually increasing among every
class of the community. Manufacturers found their
warehouses groaning under accumulated stocks of un-
saleable commodities—the artisan was obliged to submit-
to lower wages, and irregular employment—the merchant
could not find markets to keep his counting-house and his
vessels in activity—in fine, a fatal stagnation had partially
paralysed the hand of industry—and what was equally
remarkable, though not now a point of consideration,
every country, with which we had intercourse, seemed to
partake of the same commercial indisposition. So gene-
ral a state of depression perplexed men's minds, and the
more so as no evident cause was at hand to explain the
difficulty—but explanations of difficulties are almost al-
ways sought and are generally found—sometimes, as on the
present occasion, not over-encumbered with proof. Every
eye was turned towards the government—thence, it was
believed, every mischief sprung—the greatness of the
evil, and the universal influence of political measures,
were thought to be just commensurable with each other;
and, hence, every tongue became clamorous to reform
those abuses in the state to which all their grievances
were now referred. We heard a universal cry for the
reduction of taxes—complaints of the prodigal expendi-
ture of the public money, to maintain political influence
in the House of Commons—charges of official pecula-
tion in every department of government—of a profligate
multiplication of sinecurists—of the corrupt appropriation
of national funds to support rotten boroughs—in fine,
every theme of waste, melversation, and robbery had be-
come common " household words" in the mouth of every
declaimer in the kingdom—and when the vast items of
public expenditure were made the subject of calculation
every one concluded, that out of so many millions a-
year, it would be easy to spare sufficient to alleviate all
the distresses of the country ; for, very much after the
manner recommended by Swift, in his advice to servants,
each considered the entire amount as applicable to the
necessities of his own section. The first attempt, there-
fore, was to abridge taxation, judging that what was nut
paid to government, must remain in their own pockets.
Petition succeeded petition, and the press, and almost the.
very walls of every town and tillage, groaned with the
burden, "No Taxation.", But.though, they thus. urged
their demands with a vehemence which seemed to threaten,
Violence if what they asked was not conceded, yet Par-
liament turned a deaf ear to all their arguments—not
because Parliament was reluctant to meet the wishes of
the people, or had shut up the channels of sympathy, but,
because what was demanded could not be granted; and,
moreover, if granted, would have left t he evil unmitigated.
But it is in vain to reason with passion. The people be-
lieved otherwise, and as they fancied the then existing
Parliament, the only obstruction to the consummation of
their wishes, they determined up.in its reorganization
upon a more popular principle. The people, they said,
were not represented. Merchants, and manufacturers,
and agriculturists could be heard upon any question in the
'Senate, hut the people had no advocate within its walls.
It was a pitiable delusion, and much as we may lament
the fatal issues to which it led, we can find some excuse
for the more ignorant portion of the community under
its influence. But we know not how to make an apology
for those in higher stations who were not prompted by
the like necessity, and whose better judgments ought to
have secured them from such false reasoning. But to
the issue. Petitions, backed by intimidation, procured
the Reform Bill ; and under its benign influence the
country has still continued to experience the same vicis-
situdes of depression and prospetity with which it was
always acquainted. We shall not deal in bold general
assertions, nor make an appeal to the credulity of our
readers, but avail ourselves of a column, in the third
pine
of the Torre.', Nov. 15, (a journal which, for ability
in its leading article, and fidelity and importance in those
subordinate, stands far above all competition.) We there
read, that now " the condition of the fustian cutters is ,
still as deplora6le am ever, the want of demand causing !