Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-04-03
EUROPE.

given up office. Its defeat was of
course in the House of Commons; the
occason was a movement TO extend the
suffrage. Mr.. Locke King asked leave
to bring in bill giving the franchise to
every householder paying GlO taxes
Lord John Russell opposed this meas.
ure, but on division was left in the
minority by forty.eight votes. After
such a reverse as this it was out of the
question longer to remain in power
and resignation Of the whole Minis.
try took place. AT the sailing Of the
Pacific they were only carrying on the
administration till the appointment of
their successors.
The retiring Cabinet entered upon
Office in July. 1916, and has according.
ly lasted near five years. Its duration
for SO great length Of time is 10 be as
cribed solely to the very fact which
caused all politicians to anticipate for
il a much more speedy extinction,
namely, the division and confusion of
parties Sir Robert Peel said that he
finally resigned because a ccompact and
steady majority in the Commons could
not be hoped for, and any tenure Of
office must be precarious. And yet Sir
Robert had then held office but few
months more than have the Ministers
who succeeded him, though his admin
is,ralion had exceeded in length all its
predecessors since the long period of
Troy rule beginning with the acces-
sion Of Percivas in 1900. and ending
with that of Grey in 1880.
Lord John Russell canno, be called
weak man, though he is far from be-
ing a strong or brilliant one. His pow.
CIR is that Of a taciician rather than that
of a statesman. And if he can fairly
claim the honor Of consistency in his
political career, he has no right to that
of progress. He was a Wing when he
made his debu, in Parliament; he is
nothing more than a Whig to. day.
Starting on the side of Parliamentary
reform in 1914, he lays down The reins
of Government, opposing a related, but
rather more liberal reform in ISL
Of his colleagues, Lord Palmerston is.
if not the ablesi, at leas, the widest
know in other countries, where it is
not much TO say that ne has added moth.
ing TO the glory Of the British name, or
the frmness of the British power. As
this Ministry has lived simply because
there was no organized party strong
enough for its overthrow, it would be
unreasonable TO inquire what it has
accomplished. 1t has certainly exer.
cised the functions of Government; il
history has anything more 10 record in
its honor, we are moi aware oft.
What will succeed this Cabinet il il
difficult 10 say. lis overthrow must
have been caused by the coalition OF
elements which could be united for liz.
tie else than the destruction of a COM
mon foe. |, is said that Sir James
Graham has been sent for by the Queen
but it remains 10 be seen whether he
can form a Ministry. Sir James wa:
Home Secretary in the Peel Cabinet
and acquired most dubious distinction
by opening in the Post Office sundry
sealed letters addressed 10 Mazzini, Their
resident at London. He was original,
" Wing, but of q less decided hue
than Lord John Russell. But all spec,
ulalion as TO the composition Of min
istry under his leadership, or indeed
under anybody's, is of little worth. i
is doubtful whether a stable Govern
ment can be formed without a dissolu
tion of Parliament and an appeal 10 the
Country.
In France the Schism betwixt The
Assembly and the President is not re
paired, In Germany the joint usurpa
ton of Austria and Prussia is rapidly )
advancing to its consummaton. A de
monstration against Switzerland TO re
cover Neufcha,el for Prussia seems neaI
at hand. Logically this ought to b'
done. The independence Of that LITTLE
i Canton is The last relic of lS4s, con
nected with Prussia or any of The Ger
man States. II must be extinguished.
Italy is in terror about Garibaldi, VIII
is said to be at Genoa, ready TO over