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] SFo. 484. July 2, 1859.] THE LEADER, 7...
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course you cannot (a voice, 'You don't c...
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Sir J. Lawrence.—We understand that the ...
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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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__ ___ . _ ¦ Iij._. _ «'Ka.«*^ Rtll «*M ...
formation of the cabinet , on the principle he had stated , some -were obliged to be self-denying * and to give up personal considerations and claims ; the policy of the cabinet was embodied in two simple words , " peace and reform ; " words dear to every thinking man , and of sufficient import to make every well-wisher to his country offer up a prayer that it might be in the power of the cabinet to accomplish the ends they had in view . ( Cheers . ) With regard to the state of affairs abroad , he said , much depended upon France . If the Emperor did ' withdraw his armies after effecting the deliverance of the Italian people , the present struggle would not have been in vain ; but if , on the other hand , he became heated with the love of war and conquest , and , flushed with the idea that he was a great general , pushed the war
farther than his intentions already expressed , it was impossible to predict what mischief might not result . At a given point , France must be told that she must " go no further ; " and such being " the intention of the Government , he hoped that it would receive the support of the people in that endeavour , and in their desire to preserve and secure for the people of Northern Italy their freedom , and the consolidation of liberal Government . But they must be prepared for opposite results : the love of conquest might know no limits , and the stoppage of the war might be impossible . It might be that Germany would arise and take part in the struggle , and all the calamities of the last war might be renewed . They could only hope that the new administration would be successful in bringing about a different result .
At Morpeth , Sir George Gbet reiterated the declaration of his colleagues as to neutrality , and said that whatever might be . the course of business during the present session , he hoped and trusted and believed that at the earliest period , consistently with their duty to the country , the Government would be prepared to deal with the question of Parliamentary reform . Mr . WitiTBREAn , at Bedfori , has been opposed by Captain Poi , hill , Turner , and a very large number of persons assembled to hear their addresses . Mr . Whitbread observed that it was said that , in the opposition of the Liberal party to Lord Derby ' s Government , they acted unjustly and unpatriotically . and that it was not wise on their part to leave the
country without responsible advisers when the sound of war had broken upon our shores . But who , let him ask , had , under similar circumstances , left the country without a Parliament ? Who , he should like to know , had hung so despairingly to office as to have rendered necessary not alone the recent general election but that in which he was now engaged ?—Captain Polhill then powerfully criticised all the recent appointments of " round men for square holes , " which have been remarked in the new Ministry . He added that Lord Palmerston was the most indiscreet Minister who had ever held office in this country . It was , however , idle to complain . He was , perhaps , as a consequence , a Premier all the morefit to preside over the deliberation of such a Cabinet as that which lie
had got together . At Newcastle , Mr / Headlui vindicated . his conduct on taking , office under Lord Palrnerston . He had taken office with Lord John Russell , Mr . Milner Gibson , and other Liberals , and it was absurd to think , because he differed from Lord Palmerston on one occasion—viz ., in voting against the Conspiracy Bill—that he should refuse to agree with that statesman upon any subject ever after . His opponents might as well argue that Mr . Walpole , Mr . Henley , and other leading members of the late Derby Government should have refused to take office in opposition to Lord Palmerston because they had billThe ri
urged him to bring in that identical . ght hon . gentleman ' s opponent , Mr . Cuthbebt , said he was not fond of the ballot , nor , indeed , was Lord Palmerston . In all questions of religious toleration he was thoroughly liberal . Since he last addressed the electors the condition of continental affairs had become more alarming . He alluded to the attitude assumed by Prussia towards the belligerents . Botween the Government of Lord Derby and the Prussian Government a most cordial feeling had existed ; but what confidence could the Prince of Prussia have in Lord Palmerston , who had truckled to the Emperor of France .
At New Radnor , on Tuesday , Sir George C . Lewis bored his unfortunate constituents with a . very long and heavy' disquisition on the state of parties * and reasons why Lord Derby ' s Ministry were compelled to resign ; at the end of which he tucked in a few words , as to what the present Government intend to do , with regard to the question of Parliamentary reform . He said , "I can only say I feel satisfied the present Government will , at the earliest time which may be consistent with the proper conduct of public business , propose to Parliament a measure of Parliamentary reform , which they will be able to offer upon their own responsibility , and which I feel confident will not be founded upon the same principles as that of the late Government—viz ., of taking back with one hand what you appear to give with the other . "
At Halifax , on a similar occasion , Sir Charles Wood said of his party ' s assumption of office : — "It was no light task we had to undertake . When Lord Palmerston ' s Government was dismissed from power we left peace in Europe—we find war . We left a flourishing revenue , with a surplus—wo find n very large deficiency . It would have been some comfort to leave those who have sown to reap the fruit of their conduct ; but , thinking it was not fpr the advantage of the country that tlio late Government should continue in power , they have- been removed , ' though wo have succeeded to a most difficult task . On tho subject of our national defences , ' permit mo to say a word in rcferonco to the administration of the navy . Attacks have boon inado of late upon us ns having
neglected tho defences of tho country . Gentlemen , believe mo , there is-no truth in such an accusation . Lord Derby stated the other day that when we loft office tho navy was in a state of impotence ami decrepitude . But I mn hnppy to bo able to quote tho evidonco of tho Into Government itself , not in words but in acts , to prove that when they did accede to power they found tho navy in a most efficient stato . Wo had a superiority over tlio French when I loft ofllco of no loss than 240 vessels of steam power , a superiority greater than tlio whole numbor of the French navy at tho time . " Of tho Reform question ho said , ' ? It must bo tho first business to bo undertaken on our reassembling , but before wo separate I dont beliovo it can ho performed . What that Keform Bill may bo , oi
At Calne , the Right Hon . R . Lowe said his own political opinions were not equally represented by ail those who were in her Majesty ' s Government ; but he believed that the cabinet was actuated by a spirit of moderation and concession towards each other , and it would have been an act of bigotry on his part if he had refused to take office because there were a few of the members who were not altogether of his own political creed . It would be the duty of the new cabinet to introduce a measure of reform , but that measure he should not look forward to with any very agreeable feelings if it- were prepared by one or two only of the men who composed it . He cordially recognised the principle of maintaining a to do
strict neutrality , and hoped they would be able so . He must deal candidly with them . He was not ¦ without some apprehensions on the subject . He believed it was the intention of the Parliament arid the people to maintain a position of neutrality in the war , but they , must look the thing boldly in the face , and see how the matter stood . He would ask , how was it likely that they could confine the war to Italy ? They hact Kossuth and Klapka sent into Hungary for exciting the people , and France was already in possession of Genoa and Leghorn , and perhaps was now possessing herself of Venice , -and she was drawing close to the frontiers of Germanv . Germany was preparing to meet her ,
and Prussia had made proposals to Germany for concerting together . Therefore , unless through tlxe interposition of One who ruled over kings , it seemed impossible , unless some wonderful and unaccountable change took place in the minds of the Emperors of France and Austria , that another month should elapse without war being declared between Franco and Germany . Franco was a gallant and military nation , and was flushed with her successes over an enemy trained to war . He would say then that there was danger lest the tide of success should flow on as it flowed at the beginning of the present
century under the groat Napoleon , and lest the country should find itself m a position in which a participation in an Karopcan war is unavoidable . Wo must be prepared to defend our own coast , and to prevent uu invasion , for a single week of the presence of an invader on our shores would do us more injury than a century could , repair . It was not our monoy and property that was our only wealth—our credit would , be damaged . We must take tho most energetic measures to put us in a position to render an juva-Kion impossible—not to repel it , but to render 'it impussiblc .
Sir IIkniiv Sinokr Keating , at Reading , displayed a most lawyer-like caution , and took immense care not to commit himself to anything definite . Ho was persuaded that at the earliest practical moment tho question of licform would receive tho attention of the ministry . Whether tho measure propounded would meet the views of all was doubtful ; ho thought hs might say it would not ; but still , when they did propose a measure of reform , it would bo a real ana not a shumono . Of course . in tho position , he occupied ho could not toll what that Koform Bill would bo , but ho was sure it would bo such an ono ne tho country called for .
Mr . Fitzkov told tho Lewes politicians that he " bolioved " tho Government intended to keep the navy and army in an efficient condition . As to 1 ar-Hnmentary Reform , if they failed in reflecting the opinions of tho people of this country , ho trusted they woulb bo speedily removed from power .
] Sfo. 484. July 2, 1859.] The Leader, 7...
] SFo . 484 . July 2 , 1859 . ] THE LEADER , 785
Course You Cannot (A Voice, 'You Don't C...
course you cannot ( a voice , ' You don't care , ' considerable laughter , in which the right hon . barorfet joined ) suppose that I can tell you . It must be the object of early and serious deliberation among those who compose the present Cabinet . That Cabinet comprehends Lord John Russell , Mr . Cobden , and Mr . Gibson ( a voice , ' Where ' s Bright ? ' ) , and I think you may look at this as a common security , independently of our own opinion , that the bill will not be of a retrograde nature like the last . " The re-election of Mr . Stdxey Herbert gave , him the opportunity of assuring the public that tlie present Government do not intend to relax the wise measures of defence which have been commenced . He remarked ,
" I have heard it said that great armaments and great defences imply upon the part of those who forward them some covert intentions at some future time of making war . I utterly deny that proposition . We are to use what is commonly called a moralinfluence inEurope and no coun try exercises a greater influence than England . But when you speak of moral influence , depend upon it there must be something behind which is more than moral . If you are to give advice , and make it respected , it must be understood that you are strong ; and , in my opinion , any Government would be guilty of a great dereliction of duty which did not press forward the utmost preparations for the national defence . On the sea , --which is the chief defence of
England , the' greatest exertions must be made . That is oar first line , and it is a line -which ought never to be broken ; but if it be broken then we must fall back upon our second line—nainely , the defences we can make upon our own shores . Now , I hope there will be no mistake upon this subject . I allude to it because there have been rumours spread abroad , founded upon the grossest , the most absurd mistakes , that the Government will be disposed , in order to reduce the expenditure , to reduce also the preparations for national defence . It is an entire mistake , and I believe that at this moment you will find that , so far from any preparations being relaxed , every effort is being made for the purpose of putting
the country into a proper arid safe state of defence . " At Edinburgh the new Lord Advocate , Mr . Mokcrieff , alluded very slightly to reform . He said that great question was plainly now on the eve of being settled , and it seemed to him that the late discussions had made the path of settlement a very plain and easy one . Abroad there were heavy clouds looming , and the banks of the Ticino and the Mincio presented a spectacle which it was deplorable to think should be presented in the present age . He trusted that the strong- hands in which the country
had now placed the reins of power would be able before long to bring back peace to Europe : He concluded by referring to his own appointment as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Edinburgh regiment of volunteer rifles , and by expressing his approbation of the movement going on over the country , because for 3 'oars he had thought it neither patriotic nor right that we should depend on our small standing army for protection in any sudden exigency that might arise , and that -w-3 should be the only nation in Europe not in a position to fight for our homes and our country .
Sir J. Lawrence.—We Understand That The ...
Sir J . Lawrence . —We understand that the University of Oxford will confer the honorary degree of D . ' C . L . on Sir J . Lawrence , at the approaching commemoration . Re 3 ui-ts of Tin-: Elections . —Man } - of tnc reelections consequent upon the change of Government took place on Monday , among them that of Lord John Kussell for the City . Mr . Gibson was returned for Ashton without opposition , Mr . Cardwell at Oxford , Sir George Grey at Morpetli , Sir Iv . Bjthell at Wolverhanipton , Sir H . Ken ting at Reading , Mr . J . Wilson at Devonport , Mr . Lowe at Calne , mid Sir G . C . Lewis at Radnor . Lord Palmerston w « s re-elected for Tiverton , hia presence-Jmving been dispensed , with . At Newcastle , Mr . Hendlam defeated Mr . Cuthbert . Sir Ch rules V ood has been elected without opposition . Mr . Hufjesson was opposed by Sir James Fergusson , but unsuccessfully . At Norwich , Lord Bury beat hid opponent . Sir S 3 . Bignold . At Salisbury , Mr . Sidney Herbert was re-elected for South Wilts without opposite-n ami at Edinburgh tho Lord-Advocate . Mr . Wliitbroad-has defeated Cnptuln Polhill-Turncr , at Bodford , by a majority of fifty . Mr . Coddkx . — This gentleman nrrivo . l iu Manchester on Wednesday evening , devoted a part of Thursday to visits to private Ineiuts , nnd was oinoetod to arrive in London immediately . Vnilous rumours wore prevalent I" Manchester as to his intentions with regard to tlio acceptance or rejection of tho ofllco tondored t . o him in the Ministry by the Premier , but , of course , no reliance could bo placed in thoin . It is probably too early for the lion , gentleman to have fully determined for himself as yet on a question about wluali the pubiio seem to havo so llttlo difficulty . — Times ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 2, 1859, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02071859/page/5/
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