The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-12-26 00:00:00

remarks on the conduc

We might, indeed, content
ourselves with enlarging on the reflections which

opponents

rn of

refresh the memory of our

usions

o the particular dut

es which

they are called upon to perform—thereby seizing
the opportunity to counsel a remembrance of the
object contemplated in the glad tidings of " Peace

,arth ; goodwill towards men." Unfortunately

however, we are surrounded by stern facts which
brook no delay, and by circumstances which force
themselves upon public attention, however well
disposed we may be to join in the holiday which is

the especial privilege of the season. The-war is
still going on in the Crimea, although the com-

.om active

hostilities : the necessity for reinforcements of men
and material still exists, and the demand must be
attended to, however strong the inclination to
e in repose ; and np to within a day or two
ago both Houses of Parliament have been engaged in
e business of legislation and the strife of

induh

party warfare, while their constituents were pre-

paring for the customary rejoicings

But, amidst all these claims to notice, we must
not omit what we may call the pleasing duty of
reminding our readers, that the only true enjoy-
ment of the delights of the season will be obtained
from the extent of happiness which each has been
the means of diffusing around him. We can hardly

expect to return, in this utilitarian age, to that

litions

of Commons it was somewhat different : the mem-
bers mustered more numerously, and as the metro-
Christmas ; but much of the same spirit may be
evinced, in a general practice of that benevolence politan press had, with very slight exception,
/which binds together high and low, rich and poor, pronounced against the measure, it was fully
in that common bond which recognises mankind as anticipated that the Bill would be thrown out,
one brotherhood. Those, upon whom the bounty upon the confident conviction that,whatever might
of Providence has conferred the means, will show
be the opinions of Ministers, it was totally unneces-
their appreciation of the blessings which they sary and" altogether uncalled for. The fact was
well known that recruiting had been going on to
enjoy, and their gratitude to the DIVINE GIVER
of all good things, by contributing to the necessi- an extent unprecedented in any era of our history ;
ties of their poorer brethren, and enabling all that since the great battles in the Crimea men
within the sphere of their influence to partake of volunteered with an alacrity which proved that
their abundance. Nor should the spirit of bene- danger was an inducement rather than a discou-
ragement, and that the ancient spirit which had
volence be confined to the wealthier classes of
, for all have it within their power to do given the prestige of invincibility to British troops
good, if it be necessarily limited to friendly acts, still animated our population. It was a libel on
kind words, or charitable thoughts of each other : our native courage to convey by implication the
remembering that OUR SAVIOUR has blessed the idea that we were unequal to the emergency,
gift of a cup of cold water in His name, and given however great that might prove, and therefore
required the assistance of foreign soldiers to rein-
us the significant warning, " Inasmuch as ye have
done it not to the least of these my little ones, ye force our army ; and there was, moreover, the con-
have done it not to me."
viction that the gallant affair at Alma, and the
still more wonderful resistance to the fearful odds
tions to the Patriotic Fund has been responded to
The manner in which the appeal for contribu-
arrayed against us at Inkerman, were solely owing
throughout the kingdom, offers a gratifying proof to the fact of the British army being composed of
of the kind and sympathetic spirit which animates British soldiers.
Here was sufficient cause to justify the most
the majority of our countrymen; but there are
duties owing also to the poor at home, who have strenuous opposition to the measure, even without
no other claims than their poverty ; and there is no regarding the constitutional part of the question,
and the strong repugnance very naturally enter-
season so appropriate as the present to put into
practice all our good resolutions, to let the com tamed to any resort to the practice pursued in the
mencement of another year witness our determine- -
last war of subsidising foreign troops. It was no
tion to become more and more what we ought to
wonder, therefore, that members -declared their
be, less devoted to the mammon-worship of this determination to oppose the progress of the Bill
world, less selfish, and more regardful of the
in all its stages—a course of policy not very diffi-
interests of others. It is true that the especial cult even for a smaller minority, when they
Day will have passed when' this may be read, are fully resolved on their course. Indeed the
but it is never too late to do good ; and sufficient fate of the Bill seemed all but sealed, when the
M
time is left us, before we enter upon another year, Ministers resorted to one of those expedients which
to show that, in keeping our Christmas holiday, we nothing but the most pressing emergency could
have not been neglectful of the blessed truths, the justify,— a course which has never been pur-
glorious event, which it is designed to commemo-
sued except by Liberals, the Conservative
rate. In addition to the many acts of individual party always disdaining to resort to it. A
benevolence, there are numerous societies estab-
Cabinet Council was held on Saturday week, and
on the Monday following it was announced, through
fished for pious objects, which require increased
support, in order to maintain their efficiency. the usual channel, that, in the event of the Bill
All
these are specially commended to our attention, being defeated, the Ministers would resign ; and
and if we mark the Christmas of 1854 by such truly the emergency must have been great when
prove to us
proofs of our being Christians, it will Liberals can seriously think even of the virtue of
as great a blessing as the event we celebrate was resignation. The threat seemed to have had its
intended effect, for, notwithstanding the promised
designed to be to all mankind.
opposition of members of all shades of politics, the
second reading was carried on Tuesday night, or
rather on Wednesday morning, by a majority of
thirty-nine in a house containing four hundred and

with which our ancestors marked the return of

society

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS

NOTWITHSTANDING the shortness of the Session

before the Christmas recess, several new measures

fifty members

have been introduced, and notice given of
others, to occupy the attention of Parliament when

A resignation of Ministers at this particu-
lar juncture must have had far more weight

it will agal

meet for the d

some of our timid representatives than
;erved. Could it have been imagined for

stancE

effect in stimulating the

st, as consic

if they h

and tha

n;il 4.1

I ability to cop(

I except by