Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-30
ENGLISH POLITICS.

The London "Times" may be counted among the
wonders of the present century. 1t deserves place
somewhere near the foot Of the list which begins with
tbs application Of steam and the invention Of the cleo
trio telegraph. With all its faults, it presents an in
s,ance Of the vast power which may be consolidated
ID the hands Of engle press, by gigantic centrali'
aation Of monied and intellectual capital. 1t Id the
only instance which has yet existed, of world
newspaper. Other journals must bs content TO e1er-
st.e an Immediate influence sectional in Ito COM
= ass, that none asserts more than an exceptional
claim, even to national consideration.
They must depend for extended influence, mostly
on the pripoiple of intellectual vibration, which COM
munioates Impressions from smaller to larger cir
ole growing fainter and less perceptibls as the circle
expands. until the last recipient of the shock ID guo-
ran, whence /. proceeda Not SO the Times"
Tb;s Colossus has assumed in earnest, the province
Of communicating directly with the world at large
And vet the Times Is directed with too much intel.
lec,ua, vgor to attempt the impossible task Of mere
cosmopolitan journalism. Its universalsm ia compa.
rativey iufrequent. 1t 10 especially national In its
tone; absrac, philosophy has very limited place In
Ire columns it only processes to express to the world
the shrswd and often prejudiced opinions which
John Bull entertans Of his own affairs, and Of his
John Bull himself, in the consideration of tho latter
topic is often driven by selfish purposes to acts and
expressions which distrust elsewhere, as to the
really superior excellence of his Intellectual acumen,
60 the Tunes often bunders most epeeiously in its
dissertations international affairs Iii only Ia its
pitby comments on home affairs, that We find the
same journal. whose subscription st might stand for
the muster roll Of Christendom. afording the most
convincing evidence of Commensurate quantum of
enlightened discrimination.
II s to the "Times" especially that we must look
for lucid explanations, apd still moro enighteDng
suggestions as to the and portents Of minis
terial change In England. And here we find il
explained, how 1t vas that Minister 60 popular
Lord Palmerston certainly was. has Just made place
for Premier so unpopular as Lord Derby undoubt-
edy lei and here too We read certain Indications Of
the speedy downfall OF the newly erected Cabinet.
The Times properly sets forth the real insult
nciepoy Of the conspiracy act and Walewski's des-
patch out Of their own Importance to effect change
of Ministry. Count Waewski's note was doubtless
Intended principally for the French market. All the
world knows, or ought TO know, that In a case like
this. the French Minister OF Foreign Affairs is the
mere smanuensis of the French Emperor. Nspo.
leon III 10 too sstutey advised Of English affairs 10
e1pso. such note to lptmidate an English Cabin, t.
A. for the note itself, It the complexion of
despatch which may be received by European gov
eminent 10 dudgeon or with digni6ed complaisance,
% policy may dictate Lord Palmerston and Lord
Clarendon received It, as it was intended they should
IN the latter spirit. In view Of the existing stale o!
European relations, Lord Derby and Lord Mslmes
bury would have followed similar course-perhaps
MORE perhaps less skilfully.
Asmatters have turned out, the English Minister
committed blunder, in giving verbal, instead of
written answer. The substance Of the answer would
have been the same, from any Minister, viz: that
Her Naissty's Government regarded with horror any
conspiracy against His Ma-.ys psrson-that the
laws OF England required positive proof OF the
crime but that 60 far as the English Constitution
would permit due precautions should be taken, If ne.
oe..ary, by act Of Parliament
As for the Conspiracy hill, 1t involved u" undlgn.
.t submission to foreign dc,stion and innovation
on the spirit Of the Common law either of England
Of psticps 1: lie true that extraditon is not usually
accorded in the case OF called political offences.
But conspiracy BY refugees on English SOIL to assassi
nate Frenchmau ON French coil. whether he be
Emperor or an ourrer, caunot be regarded as mere
2o!tlca. ot.ence. The bill was indeed go harmless
that bad II been offered by Lord Aberdeen immedi'
stely after the astenta. of Panor, 1t would probably
nave passed both Houses without division.
Ths Times" very properly adopts the oplnicnOf,he
.Econom'st," that the Conspiracy bill and Walswskrs
ao;s together were Insufficient Of themselves to pro-
duce Ministerial criss. The late government was
bs.ten by combination of iseues upon any one of
T7hlch II would have commanded majority Lord
Dsrbys followers voted 10 body under instructions
another faction against The bill it's merits
euober to produce counter irrtant to the conduct
OF the French oolones, &C. some stung by the
majority obtained by government fer its India bill
a still larger number wished to dodge the Reform
bill.
This calculation lie good. bat Cot altogether CON-
pete The Times IL we'll abreast the polite. Of tho
day but like the nation which II represents it seems
to ignore ths power aud the designs Of the great pio
neers Of reform, who compose the radical party. il
10 somewhat significant that the movement which led
80 the defeat OF the ministry, wac made by radical,
Mr.. Miner Gibson. The party of which be is q mem.
bsr cave hitherto been restricted to apparently hope
isss struggles for liberal reform. They have prepared
the pubic mind for almost every important reform
which has been adopted during the pact twenty year,
measure. 1t has been Immediately adopted by some
government, tory whr COALITION which has reaped
the benefit for it's own parisans.
7his Is the natural fate of party In an avowed
minority without the pact machinery of efficient
organisation, depending solely on honesty of pur-
poes and vigorous intellect and outrunning the gen.
eral mind in the march of political Advancement
In one sense il is revolutionary party, and is now
approaching the revolution to which it tends with
accelerated sreps. Gradually this third party is be-
ginning To employ the drill aud discipline OF part
organization, nov rendered the more necessary by
the increase Of i's numbers. An approximate appre
citation Of the force which il already wields may be
attained by reference to the fact that lees than three
years ago, resolution to abolish the law of p,imo
Senure was defeated in the House of Commons, by
less 'hsn two thirds majority II has been sufti
ci-ntly demonstrated by past experience, that no
pure party government, Wing or Tory, can perma.
neutly withstand the shock Of public sentiment or of
Parliamentary warfare.
The radical party are determined to convince the
public and the House Of Commons of the equal in
stability OF coalition ministries which do not ade
quatey represent the radical interest The late
speech Of Mr.. Bright sufficiently develops the me.
iives which occasion his congratulations over The
change Of ninietry. This gentlemen, like a stout
hearted out.spoken quaker as he is. has already pro
ca med that the Derby ministry il destined ouy to
All temporary iaterregnum, which will DO succeed
ed by Government representing the liberal progress
OF the Bri ish Empire. While we sympathise in the
sentiments Of THE great leader Of the radical party,
"e can hardly expsct ,hs speedy fulAlment which he
~ ea'ne'ty desires Unleds We are happily mistaken,
1t will require anoth-r serss of triangular contests
among Whiss, To.es and Coal,oniss, before the
great liberal party can Secure that governmental
representation to which it il justly entitled. In
any event. however. Mr.. Bright lie par.uinp the best
course to ensure such a contamination Er.