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[ to his loss of influence ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦...
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•NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. We Lave no s...
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SATTTBDAT, MAT 1, 1858.
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^it liltt jffaira . ' ;.
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¦ There is nothing so revolutionary, bec...
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¦ — ? : — ¦ . THE STATE OE PARTIES. The ...
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INDIA BILLS, ONE, TWO, AND TIIRKR. Tiik ...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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[ To His Loss Of Influence ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦...
[ to his loss of influence ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' : - ¦ ¦ ' ' • 1 420 THE LEAPEB . No . 4 , 23 , May 1 , 1858 ^ |
•Notices To Correspondents. We Lave No S...
• NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS . We Lave no space at our disposal at present for the letter on Mahomedanism . The subject as interesting , tout not of pressing interest iust now . No notice can betaken of anonymous correspondence Whateveris intended for insertion must beautheaticated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily for publication . butas ^ guarantee of hisgoodfsith . € tis impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we re'• ' ceive . Their insertion is often delayed , owing to a press ' of matter ; and when omitted , it is frequently * -. reasonsquiteindependeut of theweriteof tb ^ cininiunication-
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Satttbdat, Mat 1, 1858.
SATTTBDAT , MAT 1 , 1858 .
^It Liltt Jffaira . ' ;.
^ it liltt jffaira . ' ; .
¦ There Is Nothing So Revolutionary, Bec...
¦ There is nothing so revolutionary , because : there is nothiag so unnatural and convulsive , as the strair to Tceep things fixed when alltbe world lsby the verj law of its creatiorun eternal progress . —Db . Abkoli
¦ — ? : — ¦ . The State Oe Parties. The ...
¦ — ? : — ¦ . THE STATE OE PARTIES . The House of Commons , at tins moment , appears to be influenced less directly by public opinion than by tbe underground operations of political leaders . In the interest of Lord Derby ' s Cabinet the Tory prints have been endeavouring to persuade themselves that party government is at an end , and that the
Legislature can never again be divided by a broad line between Liberalism . ' and Conservatism ; but there has seldom been a , time in which party princip les were more active or paramount than now . What Toryism misj . _ l _ - — - £ •„« 4- "U . rt An v » l «» - ** - * Ap-r \ ny » fxr ia i + * o / mimi riOPiiv ii /
taiv . cS 1 UX Lilt ? ucvtiuc kjx j- /<* i- wjr •¦¦» c vhju uwviwj The great schisms of the present century have in almost all cases resulted . in the partial disintegration of the Conservative mass . The rupture between Canning and CAsaiiMKEAGH -was more detrimental to the Conservative than to any other following . Sir Robert Peel ' s abandonment of the powerful combination dating from 1834 i was ;„ 4- ^ 4- "U ^ "VX 7 ~ V » t « - » ci ~ XKT \~\ n < - £ x \ rOl > t . llf ^ "WTVllfTS lajm « j- »^ it
U , gitllX l / VJ UI-IV 5 Y » » igi 3 < » . u ^ . v ^ .. u ..,-, ^ have lost in party cohesion has been -within the last few years—indeed , since the separation of Lord PAiiMEKSTON : from Lord John Russell—and what they have sacrificed in unity they have gained in numbers . The Conservatives have gradually melted away until they command only a doubtful third of vuuiuiuuo
JjIXG vulca 111 Hits xluubc < J ± , uuu their weakness is aggravated by the weight of the millstone once more fastened to their neclcs by Lord Ciielmsfohd in tlie House of Peers . They were anxious , no doubt , to sink the Jewish difficulty in a lioyal assent ; but the sincerity of fanaticism , combined with the affectation of consistency , overpowered the convenience of party—to provide for which
proxies were excluded—and Lord . JJeruy gained a damaging victory . It was time , Ser haps , that something like a majority should ignify the votes of the Government : for their retreats and discomfitures in the Lower House had rendered their situation somewhat deplorable . Mr . Monskll had beaten them ; Lord John Russell had driven them round a circle until they had abandoned their India
Bill ; and while Lord Ciuslmsfohd was performing for them the most malignant oflices of friendship in the Hereditary Chamber , the Electivo -was bearding them on the subject of the franchise . They have had ono victory , and another such victory may ruin 4-1-fc /\* w i < » -i 4 * 4 'l \/~ kxr Milt / Mi ** nloA it i \ / I < n « nt ~\ « il \ .
ULlVlAl * J- * U U U 11 VJJ Al ± KJKJ \ -i . L . U 1 OU L 11 AV 4 U . J . C * 1 J . ilKr solute prohibition to legislate . If the theory of the Constitution wore that tho functions of Ministers should be exclusively ministerial , Lord Dkiui y and hia colleagues might prosper , with occasional instructions
from Parliament—at tlie suggestion , for instance , of Mr . Monsekl . Lord Deeby is adroit in the reception of deputations . The Colonies , we believe , would be satisfied to keep Lord Stanley in office , could they retain him without his party—a party with which , by the way , he is only ancestrally identified ; Sir John Pakington , for anything that is known to the contrary , is equal to his position at the Admiralty ; and although General Peee presides dubiously in the war department , and Lord John Mannejis , with capricious meddlesomeness , over public works — -the Marble Arch included—the only absolutely mischievous and incompetent member of the Government is Lord Deiiuy ' s foreign Minister . With that exception , the Executive is by no means inefficient . But a British Cabinet , working upon constitutional principles , means more than an Executive . It leads the legislation of Parliament , and of this Lord Derby and his col'• leagues are hopelessly incapable . They hold r office simply until their successors are ap-J pointed . And who will be their successors ? wmtu cooi i / wu ^ o «
Tfiat is . Tlie question . uc ^ , review of the actual state of parties . There are four distinct sections of the Opposition —the Palmerstoniaus , the Bedfoiid Whigs , Mr . Gladstone and his friends , and the vanguard of the Liberals ,, with their flying columns , sharpshooters , forlorn hopes , and stragglers waiting for an opportunity to desert . Under the first head may be ranked those who
¦ entered Parliament Jasc year Diinmy pledged to the Minister . Their number has decreased since the overthrow of the late 'Administration , partly because Lord Ealmerston has allowed the lead of the Oppo-H ; +. ir » n fn lift fnkftn out , of his hands . rmrtlv
from dissatisfaction with his conduct in the Sandhurst division , and also from other causes connected with the general tendency in favour of a new amalgamation of the Liberal party . Lord John Hussell appears to have accumulated influence in his hands since the recent change of Ministry . The impression of the Vienna , event is wearing away , on ac-Mnnh nf n . ronviction evervwhere eainincr mi ¦ -
^ mr *^ *^ m m ** -+ ^ — - — ^ - * ** —— " — — . - ^ E l ^ J ground that the whole story has not yet been told , and that the part reserved , when explained , will be more to the credit of the envoy than to that of the Minister who sacrificed him . What position is now occupied by Mr . Gladstone it is difficult to determine , "but it is improbable that any ac-* - */ icicii / -v » i r \ £ "Pm » l in yvif » nfn pv i"W \\ x * rM * Riirnilfl flPfMMlA / 1 tJUVUAVA
I / VOOIUII , VJX JL . 1 * 4 . J . IUL 11 ViXUlili Y IVMU t * Wl « - * W to him or the section he represents . As for the independent Liberals , although the most growing party in the House , and with the largest popularity , they wander aimlessly apart , and exercise only a traction of the influence which would belong to them were they to act in concert and with any sort of consistency . There have been attempts , howtunite not two oi tnese divisions
ever , o only , but the whole four , as the basis of im administration to supersede that of Lord Derby . Hitherto this project has failed , and the general belief is that the failure arose not so much from rival claims to the Premiership , as from the nature of the conditions proposed by the friends—who may not bo the agents —of Lord Jojin itussELL . There is , at all
events , a mutual disposition to approximate , although the Whig loader , from whatever quarter prompted , pursues a lino of action not altogether intelligible oven to hia personal followers . He probably stands nearer tho Premiership , at tho present juncture , than
tiAijr wuiivji . luuiiiMLi uj . uuu juiuuiiiL pa l by , always provided that tho next Ministerial crisis bo not a juggle between an outgoing and incoming intriguer . It ia rnah to assume , na PnltnorBtoiiian advocates do , that Lord . Toms ' Hussell ' s gain of influenco over tho Tories
is in exact proportion : S over the Liberals . He speaka with authority ¦ ' to the Treasury Bench , because the Treasury , Bench knows that he speaks with authority to 't the Opposition . Nor is his camp so far from * T that of the Peelites but that a junction might \ be effected , thus preparing the materials of a Ministry strong in talents , reputation , and popularity , with alargeanddistinct Liberal policy before them , views of European diplomacy at least more national than those of the late or present Cabinet , and probably no disinclination to reverse the decisions of Parliament on questions of war and peace in Asia . It is not improbable , moreover , that a certain detachment of the advancing Liberals would form parb of such a combination ; and under these conditions a Cabinet might be established , even without the assistance of Lord Palmebston . As an outsider , it is true , Lord Palmeuston would always be dangerous . It is not every statesman who has the nobility to assume such a part as was assumed by Sir Hobeb'x Peel during the four years pretorlinir flm lTifimorable debate on Poreijin
Affairs , of June , 1850 , when Lord Joiin Russell said , " 3 feel an obligation to him for the . manner iu which he has given that support , giving it freely , giving it frankly , and at the same time never attempting to show that it was by his support that the majority of the House were induced to uphold the measures of the Government . " Keeping in view ~ n j . 1- « ~« ^ --v »~» ni yl ,-vm- » 4- ^ * - *¦» - » a T \ rw-fair / it * f . nAr ^ nrA vt ^^
' ttll tIJtJOU V'UlliolUvl HKjlvJJ-L & y uu »» v * j w » * m . ** .- ^ two points demonstrable;—that we must haye a Government ; and , that we cannot have / the ¦ Government of Lord Dekuy . ^ The country 4 is not to be governed by a minister whose pressing political invitation " brings him less
than two hundred political visitors m bt . James ' a-square . We can have no factious feeling in thia matter . If party sentiments -were to be gratified , the Liberals could do no better than punish the " Whigs by retaining the Tories in office . The advent of Lord Deuby has been of positive advantage to the cause of Reform . It has compelled the Whigs to advance their
banners , and a few months of privation in the nipping and eager air of Opposition might wonderfully sharpen the opinions of Lord John Hussell , Lord Palmeuston , and others of the heaven-born family . But Parliament has other responsibilities . It has to legislate , and if LordUjEitBY ' s Cabinet be an obstruction , if it be an unconstitutional nullitv , if the whole — — _ — — . _ _ /
*' work of tlie Legislature is interrupted because a weak party is in office and a powerful party in opposition , the Liberals are bound to forego their personal inclinations , and save at least a remnant of the session for the legitimate business of legislation . Under existing circumstances , the relations of parties and the situation of tho Ministry incapacitate the iu
aj . uusu « jl v ^ uiiuiiuiia iiuiii prtjcuuuiiiy i" «^ performance of its duties . The House is entirely beyond tho control of its nominal leaders ; the incurable weakness of the Government is exhibited night after night ; no practical progress is made ; and yet , when this state of things falls under the discussion of the press , no reply is attempted , except to challenge a vote of want of confidence . To unless
such votes thero are grave objections , under circumstances of extreme necessity . The confidence of Parliament is to be inferred from the goneral support it ailbrds to tho Ministry , and it is not pretended that this support is enjoyed by the existing Cabinet .
India Bills, One, Two, And Tiirkr. Tiik ...
INDIA BILLS , ONE , TWO , AND TIIRKR . Tiik occwvrcncc of a ninlinv iu any one of tho Nhtive annics of India would nave coimnanded a lai ^ o amount , of attention , but tho defection of the entire Bengal Army , followed as it was by tho most extra-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 1, 1858, page 12, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_01051858/page/12/
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