On this page
-
Text (4)
-
jgd. 476, May J% 1859.] THE LEADER 58q
-
THE ELECTION OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT. ¦ ¦ ...
-
IMPORTANT POLITICAL STATEMENTS.
-
Tirn Right jlox. B. Disraeli, M.P.—In hi...
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Jgd. 476, May J% 1859.] The Leader 58q
jgd . 476 , May J % 1859 . ] THE LEADER 58 q
The Election Of The New Parliament. ¦ ¦ ...
THE ELECTION OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . ' v . ' . - ' '¦ ' '
Important Political Statements.
IMPORTANT POLITICAL STATEMENTS .
Tirn Right Jlox. B. Disraeli, M.P.—In Hi...
Tirn Right jlox . B . Disraeli , M . P . —In his election speech at Aj'lesbury , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said , with regard to his defeated ¦ bill . " Permit me to mention what were the two principal features of the measure of parliamentary reform which I , as the organ of her Majesty ' s Government , introduced to the notice of the House of Commons . The two features were these—a large increase of the constituencies of England , and at the same time the representation of considerable places which now are not represented in Parliament . These , at least , are two great results which are not to be treated in a light and contemptuous spirit ; -, and if that machinery for increasing the constituencies had been fairly brought into play , I believe that it would , perhaps , have doubled the amount of the present constituent l > ody . It was , without doubt , the largest proposal for the extension of the suffrage that ever was submitted to the consideration of an Assembly . With regard to the second . point , so completely had we studied ' the claims of the unrepresented bodies , that there was no place we could look to—no considerable place omitted in our scheme . And when that proposal ivas made , it was received with great favour in the House of Commons and the country , and many gentlemen who had voted against that
measure , and many gentlemen who not only voted against that measure , but to my surprise spoke against that measure , had previously , in private , congratulated the Government on the wisdom of their plan and the satisfactory character of their proposition . Therefore , gentlemen , I think I have some right to say that that was a measure which was not entirely worthy of the condemnation which has been so lavishly bestowed upon , it . " Mr . Disraeli then spoke . of Foreign affairs . — ' 'I am now to be understood as speaking solemnly and without the slightest reserve . The beginning of the Italian dispiite found us on terms of cordial confidence with France . The mission of Lord
Cowley was eminently—no , not eminently , but entirely successful . The Emperor Napoleon , I believe , was sincerely anxious for peace . Austria made all the concessions that were desired . Kussia , however , interfered with the proposition of a Congress . In doing so , believe me , she was not prompted by any deep policy or spirit of finesse . France seized on this proposition without waiting to hear the answer obtained from Austria by Lord Cowley . But this was merely because she felt sure that that mission would bo unsuccessful .. The Emperor of the French wanted peace with honour . It was impossible for me to make those important revelations a few days ago , because the country was
excited by the fabrication of enormous statements , to the effect that a secret treaty had been formed between France and Kussia , and that their fleets were to be united . There is not a ti ttle of foundation for those statements . There is no treaty , soerot or otherwise , existing bet ween France and 11 ussia . Ther ' c is no secret convention . There is whnt may be called an engagement which thoy wore not bound in any way to { communicato to this country , but which was voluntarily communicated by the French Minister , and was , that Russia should put an army of observation on tho Gorman frontier . Moreover , wo have with tho confidence of a power that always acts' with frankness and straightforwardness ,
asked Russia whether she has engaged with Franco to declare war against Gormany , and slio has told us most unequivocally that it is not so . So much , then , for tho soorot engagements inimical to England . It was also announced that there was a spcrot treaty between Denmark and Franco , witJi the same object . Evoryono thought that tho whole Scandinavian navy was united with Russia and Franco to doalvoy the supromaoy of England . Wo havo inquired of Donnmrk , our friend , a powor which of lato exhibited the utmost friendliness towards this country , and I havo
Loni > STAKr . r . T . —On his re-election at King ' s Xynn , the noble loi-d ' s speech commenced with a survey of the state of parties ; Having spoken of Lord John Russell and his followers , he said : —Lord Palmerston , in March , 1857 , was perhaps the most popular minister since the time of Sir Robert Peel ; he contrived to lose that popularity more rapid-hand more signally than any other man -whose nam ' p is prominent in the political . history of our times . In March , 1857 , Lord Palmerston was carried into power on the shoulders of the people ; in February , 1858 , he fell . No voice was raised in his defence , and the conviction must have been forced upon his most sanguine admirers that a second Ministry having Lord Palmerston for its head , during tho existence at least of the Parliament , was not possible . That being the position of the two large sections of the parties in the House of Commons who form the opposition to the present Government , what is tlip position of the party headed by Lord Derby ? It is powerful , united , compact ; it has instincts of discipline , unity of purpose , and confidence in its leaders , arid never have those qualities been more distinctly displayed than during the last session of Parliament . It does not , however , form a majority in the House of Commons , . while the other two parties , which are unable to unite for action , are able and willing to join in opposition . Speaking . of the dissolution , his lordship said : —It is a step that must have been taken before any very considerable period of time elapsed , and if it was to be taken ere long , I do not know that a more fitting ' opportunity could have been taken than that which has been selected . Lord Palmerston has asked if we were going to throw the British constitution to be scrambled for on every hustings in the country . Now , I see no ' harm ; I see no danger , if the British constitution is discussed on every hustings in the country . I believe the people of this country appreciate and love the institutions under which they live , and ,
while not opposed to fair and moderate reform or change , they desire to increase rather than to diminish the power and control of Parliament over the executive Government . Admitting that tbc question of reform is one which-will be most prominently discussed at the hustings on the' present occasion , I sec in that circumstance no danger , but , on the contrary , much benefit . I believe it will show the next House of Commons what the people really want and what they do not . On the franchise his opinion was thus expressed—I have always thought the county franchise was nxed too high , and I cordially concurred in the proposition of the Government , by which it was reduced from 50 / .
to 10 / . On a former occasion I felt it my duty to vote against Mr . L . King ' s motion , and I now tell you , standing here , that my only reason for giving that vote ami resisting the change lie then proposed was , that I thought tho quostion of a 10 / . franchise one which could not bo considered separately from ti general scheme of reform . 1 think 1 may venture to say , thot the sincerity of that assertion has been proved , so far as 11111 . 1 concerned , by tho insertion oi tho 10 / . franchise for counties in tho Government Reform BH 1- Now , gentlemen , we have all hoard a great deal of criticism upon that part of the Government scheme . by ' which it was proposed to assimilate tho borough anil tho county franchises . For my own
or as fleets and squadrons careering in the Mediterranean or the Adriatic , to seize every favourable opportunity which may enable them to terminate the struggle and obtain a settlement of Europe , founded upon justice , and those regulations which may conduce to a . permanent adjustment . My policyis the policy of every sound-headed man in this country . The policy of England is the policy of peace . But have we been caught napping ? It is not in any boastfulness , but in a manner becoming on the part of an Englishman speaking to Englishmen , that I tell you what is the situation of En-gland . You have in India 100 , 000 seasoned valiant troops ;
such troops , pra'bably , as never before existed in the world ; equal to that army which "Wellington rendered immortal . A great portion of these troops are to quit India , which England had there at ' her command . And if they come here it is not to relieve England , but , owing to the happy course of events in India , and the position of the Indian Government , it is rendered desirable they should quit India . You have in England 100 , 000 valiant and disciplined men , not perhaps equal to those who have been seasoned in the recent illustrious campaigns of India , but disciplined , soldiers , and . valiant , I need not say , as they are your countrymen . You will have , before six weeks elapse , not only a
¦ powerful fleet in the Channel , but a powerful fleet m the Mediterranean . What nation in the world , then , can compare with England ? For you have , with all these , the condition of your finance most wholesome and most healthy ; and this great armament -will never be exercised except-for defence or for the maintenance of your honour ,, and the vindication- of your absolute interests . Our finances are inexhaustible , an income-tax of 10 per -ceu $ * would be heartily given , our national debt is a fleubite , and additional loans of 20 millions per annum would scarcely be felt . Looking at this league of kings and-emperors , I know well , if there is to be a war of nationalities , of opinions and races , of revolution and
reconstruction , ; who can weather the storm . It will not be England that will suffer . ' It is Europe that will be desolate , it is Europe that will be injured . The time is coming , if it has not already come , when the question of the balance of power can no longer be confined to Europe alone . Since the days when that doctrine prevailed great communities have grown up in another / world , who will not permit the question of the balance of power to be limited to Europe . You have on the other side of the Atlantic , vigorous and powerful communities , who will no longer submit to circumscribed and limited theories of authority . You have the Australian colonies—they are in their youth it is true , but it is the youth of a giant—they' have already as it wore thrown their colossal shadow over Europe 5 and it is for old Europe . I lament , that' she should so cxj > end her resources and her energies in these wars . . I wish old Europe to prepare for that awful competition that in coming time she must inevitably incur . England , although she is bound to Europo by tradition , by affection , by great similarity of habits , and by all those ties which timo can alone crcato and construct , is not a mere power of tho old world ; her geographical position , her laws , her languago , her religion , connect her as much with tho now world as with tho old . And although she has occupied not only an eminent , but , 1 am bold to say , the most eminent position among European nations for agog—if ever Europo , through hor own short-sightedness , falls into an inferior and exhausted position , for England then will yet remain
part , I 110 toned most carefully to tho arguments against that proposal . I have weighed' thorn in my own mind ns fairly as I could , and 1 confess that thoy are objections to which I attach very Uttlo weight . I still think that as long as you havo an unequal franchise in tho boroughs and tho counties you will havo a dissatisfied class . Lord Stanley next epoko of Indian uflUlrH . Thoso who havo tho administration of afniirs in India , whether in this country or on tho spot , havo laid upo n , thorn one oi the greatest burdens of responsibility which overfull to the lot of any public man in this country . I hero is involved in t ' lio case of tho Indian Administration every olomont of dhUculty . Thoro is tho distance , thoro is tho climate , and thoro is that opposition oi classos and jealousy of race which inevitably attend tho condition of a conquered community , Besides all this , you havo thoro to doal with a form of government which , howovor necessary and howovor suited to tho country-in whioh it provalls , is not in accordance with tho habits and ideas of the natives . Wo luivo to add , that at tho present moment the finances ( Sea puye 5920
an illustrious future . We arc bound . up witji the communities of tho new world and thoso groat powers whioh our own planting and our own colonising energy have created , wo urc bound to them by tics of interest which will maintain our po . wur ana permit us to occupy as great a position in tho future as we tlo now in tho present , and as wo havo done in tho past . And therefore , now , if Kuropo is on tho eve of war , L say it is ibr Europo and not for England that iiiy . heart sinks , and I liopo it will bo by tho iufluonco of England that tho war which is now opening , or has opened , may be a war pf limited duration , " that it may bo local in its character— -that it may bo limited in its conduct ^—and that after somo encounters of avmlos both Franco and Austria may fool that it may woH by tho influonco of those who havo not 11 boon roduood . by tholr political passions , to torminato tho strife , and secure at tho samp time tho bottor government of Italy , mid tho peaco of tho world .
tho host authority for hero publicly stating that thoro is not a shadow of foundation for this report . And , God forbid , if wo had occasion to call our allies and friends to rally round our standard and support tho cause of freedom , truth , and justico , that wo could not with tho utmost confidence feel tho spirit pf Scandinavia would bo enlisted on our side . It is not for mo to stand horo and denounce tho Powers of Europo , because 1 do not think that England and Kussia should forego their position as mediators , but that thoy ought to bo proparod whether as nn army of observation on tho Gorman front-tor ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), May 7, 1859, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_07051859/page/13/
-