STRENGTH OF THE MINISTRY.
MostariteG HERALD—A Ministerial paper states that the Govern. ment expects to gain ninety-three votes by the change of members which Will take place on the general election. The same organ, however, does not add whether these expectations are faunded on its popularity or Its influence. Calculations are sometimes mote minute than accurate ; and we wonder that, for the sake of appearances, the paper in question did not throw the old seven into the scale, and make the whole a round hundred, instead af this over-laboured accuracy of ninety-three.- We are .among the numberof those whowould wish to see the Government popular with the country ; but then real popularity is a matter which admits of no • cavilling The country at large is not the public of Downing Street, Whitehall, or of clubs. It is not the interested and fulsome adula- tion which the parasites and expectants of- MIt'sters offer to their official divinities which constitutes the popularity ofa Government, but the satis- faction which the great body of the people feel at their measures. Is that satisfaction felt on account of the measures of the present .Ministry? We answer, No. Can a mere new electioiLait'ale feeling ? Certainly
not. Can a Ministry expect to go on, ilasia: most subservient Parliament, with the voice of the peep.: them ? Again and again we would answer that it is impossible ; were it possible, it would be most injurious and unwise to attempiit. To talk, then, of adding nineties, or even hundreds, to their mag,rities, with the voice of
the people against them, what does it arm either a reckless in- difference to public opinion, or that an irdplief appeal to the people, in the shape of a general election, is, in fact, a rank delusion ? There is a way, and a very easy one, by svhich any Ministry, competent' to their duties, might have both the Parliament and the people with them ; and that is, by sedulously and honestly informing themselves of what the real wants and situation' of the country are, and by fairly meeting its wants and difficulties, instead of denying the existence of dangers and embarrassments which they have not attempted to avert or re- pair. In a free country public opinion is, and ought to be, the true source of power. Owing to the present vicious state of the representa- tion, another source of power may be resorted to for a time ; but it can
only be for a time; and bespeaks for itself a reaction which no wise Government ivoiild think of unnecessarily encountering. The difficul- ties and perplexities of the present Administration have been mainly of their own creating. They have originated in an ignorance of the real State of things, and an unwillingness to be informed. Such a course cannot be long persisted in. Knowledge will force itself upon them, in spite of their disinclination to receive it ; and we augur better of our new Monarch than to believe that he will long continue any set of men - in office who will attempt to govern or rely upon servile majorities in Parliament, uubacked by the holiest feeling and general voice of the country. •
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