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THE H EADLESS LIBERALS AND THEIR RECENT VICTORY.
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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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A FTER long preparation , and the employment of every / V means -at * the disposal of a wealthy body of maiiufacturers , and with . the svrpport of a powerful and dishonest portion of the Press , the great faction fight of Monday has ended in the defeat of the Tories , the Protectionist paper makers , and the venomous Times . Mr . Gladstone is left in possession of the field , and in the enjoyment of a triumph ' which will draw Avith it still further victories . The Liberal majority of thirty-three is ample for the purpose of showing
that the Ministers can lead the present House of Commons when they pull together , and show they are in earnest upon any question of importance ; but the issue could never have been in doubt , nor would a special -meeting with the Premier have been necessary if our representative machinery had not got sadly out of repair . The principle of Free Trade having been adopted for many years , it is monstrous that a few selfish traders should have been able to create such a hubbub , place a Cabinet in danger , and almost bring about a dissolution of Parliament , in order that they might for a little longer retain a pennyworth of protection for themselves . The Tories sank deep in degradation when they took up this miserable question for the mere purpose of
damaging Mr . Gladstone , and obstructing the growth of the cheap press . If they had come forward to avow any broad principle of action , their conduct might . . have inspired some respect ; but the speech of Mr . Disraeli carefully avoided any large view , and only attempted to establish a pretext for delay . The fact is , that from the moment the private intrigues failed to make Lord Palmerston desert Mr . Gladstone on this question s as basely as he did desert him on the far graver question of the aggression of the House of Lords , the Tories could not have really cared for a victory , as it would have been too absurd for them to bring about a dissolution upon such a ridiculous issue , and they must feel relieved that the . Premier ' s efforts to bring his
team into order met with * success . The Protectionist paper-makers are bitten as they deserve . They have ^ it is true , obtained more than they have shown themselves entitled to ; but , now they have to compete upon almost equal terms with foreign manufacturers , very few will continue to express a desire to work in the fetters of an Excise ; and before Parllament again assembles there will be many more converts to the popular doctrine that the paper duties ought to be altogether abolished , and the evil-doing of the Lords completely set aside . The Tory Commoners and the Peers have played a very silly , and .. short-sighted gnmc , and ' they Will find the difficulties of keeping itp the Excise on paper growing thicker day
by day . On Monday . Mr . Bright presented a petition detailing the grievances of Messrs . Casskll and Co ., who embarked in a large ¦ ¦ enterprise as soon as the House of Commons repealed the paper duties , and who consider themselves entitled to compensation , now that repeal has been refused ; and Mr . Gla . ds . tonk presented another petition ' from the hatters of Bcnton , complaining , that they had to pay an Excise upon paper used by them in making hats ; while according to the French treaty similar hats partly composed of paper were admitted duty free . Mr . Gihson presented similar petitions from manufacturers of cardboard and paper-hangings , and dozens of trades will follow in a general chorus of grumbling , until neither the Excise officers nor the . Cabinet can obtain
peace while the obnoxious impost remains . . Thus the future and early triumph of the free , knowledge party is assured ; but how is it that tho House of Commons is so uncertain in its operation , and the Liberal members aro reduced to isolated units , who can only bo brought together by an absurd amount of whipping-ia ? Partly , no doubt , this comes from the tendency of our electoral arrangements to keep out good men , and return others wanting in ability , and still more destitute of political integrity . But thoro sire other reasons which wo propose to consider .
level of taproom gossip , is net likely to produce any important effect . The most conspictious efforts to lead are made by the Manchester School ; and , on the whole ,, with mischievous effect . Mr . Bright fancies he has a mission to talk on a certain range of subjects , and it too often happens that he merely throws the ball into the enemy ' s hands . This was the case with his late fortification speech . In exhibiting the folly of the
professional advocates of the gross jobs which Lord Palmbrstox thinks it politic to encourage , the hon . member for Birmingham was right enough ; but instead of confining the debate to the specific question before the House , lie rambled away from it , and indulged in nearly every topic in which he could differ from , and annoy Liberals more rational than himself . He condemned the general principle of increasing our armaments on account of the fear of France ; he condemned Sir
J . Pakington ' s patriotic efforts to bring our navy into an efficient state ; and ridiculed making war preparations while the French were carrying on their Italian campaign ; after this he declared that the Queen had not a " particle of justification " in encouraging the Volunteer Movement , and going to the shooting match on Wimbledon Common . In all these particulars he ran counter to common sense and English
feeling . Everybody , except the Manchester School , believes that our safety has been obtained by the necessary , though painful sacrifices , at which our armaments have been kept up . Sir J . Pakington is universally applauded for his exertions at the Admiralty , and the Queen most assuredly acted with the approbation ' of the country when she reviewed the Volunteers , and discharged the first rifle at the Wimbledon match . If Mr . Bright had made a reasonable opposition to
those portions of the fortification plan , which were wrOng , instead of pouring forth an unr-Englisli rhodomontade , lie would , in all probability , have succeeded in his endeavours ; but as it was , he made the cause of opposition ridiculous , and Lord PALMERSTON easily snuffed him out with a joke . In this discussion no independent Liberal member displayed any talent or any industry , and the Government got through , without having been compelled to give any useful explanations , or deal seriously with a single-argument used against them . The next "day the disturbances in Syria gave Mr . -Bright another opportunity of making the Liberal cause
contemptible , and lie took care not to lose it . On this occasion he ridiculed the idea of maintaining the Turkish Empire , denied that any good had been done by the Crimean war , declared Turkey to be tumbling to pieces , and that it would not matter much whether Russia did annex one of her provinces or not . Now , it is palpably and totally untrue to represent English policy as having been directed to the maintenance of the Turkish . Empire as a primary oltjTret ^ aTrd no iiitirrvrho valued freedom in Europe could speak lightly of the aggrandisement of Russia . Our statesmen have committed many
faults and follies in their Eastern policy , as in other matters , but while Russia remains a barbarous military despotism it is of consequence to Europe that her power shall not be seriously augmented . If she need the Black Sea , and filled it as she now would with a powerful fleet , we must enlarge bur own navy to be prepared for the possible contingency of a coalition between . 'Russia and France . Our safety deporids on our being able to traverse the waters freely , in spite of all opposition . 1 f France had Belgium , and Russia Constantinople , it is absurd to fancy we could ensure this with anything like our present force , and therefore , on tho simple ground of interest , we ought to do what we can to prevent such territorial changes from taking place .
Mr . Bitir . rrr admitted that if Turkey were left alone , a fearful internal struggle , with moro massacres like that ^ of Damascus , would occur . Surely , on the ground of hum unit }' , this should bo prevented if possible , and when an enlightened Minister , liko Lord John Russell , is wisely exerting himself to remove tho various difficulties of the Eastern question , it is the part of bad feeling as well as bad taste to indulge in a tirade against supporting an authority of the Sultan . Apart from its occasional timidity , Lord John Russkli . ' s
Italian _ policy has bccn . _ an honour to our country , and has exerted a most beneficial clrectin " aiding tlio Italians , and diminishing tho chances of a European war . His Enstorn policy is no less enlightened , and the beneficial influence of England mny be clearly traced in tho good understanding that has been brought about Avith Franco on tho Syrian question . If our Government had followed Mr . Dkmiiit , and . said , Wo will have nothing to do with the mutter , and shall not grudge Russia , a province or two of her neighbour's torritory , tins Manchester generosity with other people ' s property would have
The House of Commons is necessarily dependent upon leaders .-, WJicn ~ .. thc _ jG . Qy ^ mie n ^ means a bad follower ; but it is lamentabl y deficient in loaders who do not belong to tho Liberal administration , or to tho Tory party . Thoro are scores of M . P . ' s who might bo got to follow a good chief , but who cannot take a foremost position . When any member of fair reputation works up a question , ns Sir John Trklawnkv has done with Church ratoa , he has seldom reason to complain ; but . scarcely any members take the trouble to learn what they arc going to talk about ; and desultory speuking , not above tho ordinary
Untitled Article
Aug . 11 1860 . 1 The Saturday Analyst and Leader , 715
The H Eadless Liberals And Their Recent Victory.
THE H EADLESS LIBERALS AND THEIR RECENT VICTORY .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 11, 1860, page 715, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2360/page/3/
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