The Washington union., 1857-04-22
THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS.


The dissolution of the old Parliament and the cleo
tion Of new one have followed each other with
great rapdiy. The public journals in England have
for the last fortnight been full of electioncering mat
ter, almost competing in this respect with the press
of the United States. There have been speeches to
the people and printed addresses to the people, and
editorial appeals together with all the usual
ries Of hard-fought contest The ministerialists
and the opposition have handled each other fire.
quently without gloves, and there is no doubt that
England has free speech and free press. The ap-
peal to the people ON the Chinese queston-that
is the question whether the British authorities at
Canton had sufficient justification for their war on that
city? The Palmerston government took the broad af-
frmatve Of this issue, and being out-voed dissolved
Parliament. Then it was announced that Lord Elgin
had been sent to China special minister; and the
opposition complain that this ought to have been an
nounced before the vote China was taken because
such an announcement, being quasi disclaimer OF
Sir John Bowring' proceedings would have prevent
ed the dissolution. The charge is that Lord Palmer
ston wanted new Parliament more thoroughly de-
voted to himself than the old one, and glad to
avail himself of this China question in order to get
it. Going to the people on appeal to British
pluck and British honor, he felt of success.
Whatever may have been his motive, there is no
doubt that he judged rightly of the effect of such an
appeal, and the opposition were not very adroit in
accepting the issue prepared for them The contest
is now over, and the new Parliament will assemble
about May 1st. To dissolve Congress-, order cleo
tions, and have new Congress back again in two
months, would be considered rapid work even in the
United States.
The result Of tho elections is favorable to Lord
Palmerston, but still moro favorable, we Judge, to
the liberals as he chooses to call his party al
though many Of the most liberal of the members re-
iected land the members elect as wel belong to the
opposition The liberal members suspect Lord Pal
merston of having very little notion Of REFORM be-
yond the that can be made of the word as raj
lying cry and in the new Parliament they threaten
to make him meet all the reform issues squarely
Perhaps they viii, but he can avoid them if any
body can, for never there a moro adroit
party manager than Lord Palmerston. He goes
back to tho leadership of the House of Commons,
exultant and powerful. But it is not quito true
as the London Times says that he has been so
lected to represent them by the British people full
ly as any American President is ever chosen to rep
resent the people Of the United States. This is
dered impossible in consequence Of the restricted
suffrage across the Atlantic. While here the presi
dental poll runs up to aggregate of some four mil
lions Of votes the English poll is only about 700 900
This disparity tells its story, and Lord Palmer
ston cannot claim successfully to be the chosen cham
pion Of the British people in any such sense the
elected head Of our own government can make q sim
liar claim here. Nevertheless, he has abundant
son to be gratied with the result of the elections
He is not however, the only triumphant figure in tho
new Parliament Lord John Russell is almost po
itical resurrection. After his withdrawal from thu
Aberdeen cabinet and his failure at Vienna he seem
ed to be utterly lost to future prominence. Yet thu
city Of London has again returned him to Parliament
and there are many indications that he may becom,
the leader Of new reform party The following
speech of Mr.. Golden at Hudderseld shadows fortl
the views and purposes Of this coming party, an,
points to Lord John as it's possible leader;
A meeting OF the electors of Huddersield was held o.
Saturday There most crowded attendance o
electors at the appointed time. Mr. w Williams J. p
chairman of Mr.. Cobdens committee was voted TO TIN
chair
Mr. Cobden, presenting himself was received will
immense cheering After recaptulatng his arguments
the Chinese question: he went TO speak OF the balo
and suffrage, TO which he had before alluded. He said
connected with these there organic change
sary Of great importance either, and that was tn