11 FEBRUARY 1837, Page 15

TOPICS — 0 - F — Flet.t — RAN;

PRESENT POLITICS..

LAST week there were suspicions and rumours of' some coalition) between Mere Whigs and Conforming Tories, with the view of forming a Government likely be supported by the Lords and by a majority of the PEEL House of Commons. The intriguers, how- ever, on whose unquestionable wish this scheme was founded, seem to have been thoroughly disappointed. As the wish re- mains, one cannot tell what may happen by awl by; but every thing indicates that no change will take place in the state of parties until after another struggle between Reform and Obstruc- tion. All thought of concession seems to be dismissed for the present, by all the adherents both of Lord MELBOURNE and Lord LYNDHURST. Ministers, supported by a majority of the Com- moners, will once more send up to the House of Lords certain proposals of Reform, which their Lordships will as surely reject after the fashion of last year. In so far the present session will exactly resemble the last.

But now come two very important differences. In the first place, it is understood that, though, in this their new " bom- bardment of the Lords with good measures," Ministers should make little or no use of the old Irish Tithe Bill with its poor Ap- propriation-clause, yet they will propose the total abolition of Church-rates; by which course, there can be no doubt, they will secure the most active support of Dissenters throughout Great Britain at the next general election. Secondly, it is further understood, that as soon as the Lords have rejected the bills for the abolition of Church-rates and for Irish Municipal Reform, Ministers will dissolve Parliament, it' the Court should not forbid it,—or, in the other case, resign, and let LYNDHURVT and PEEL try their hands at governing in opposition to the House of Commons.

The difference then between this year and the last, is, that Ministers have at lengths resolved upon that sort of course which some of their best friends (including the Spectator) vainly urged them to adopt last year.

But, arising out of this difference, there is another which de- serves to be noted. At the time when, if their last year's policy had been the same as at present, Ministers would either have resigned or dissolved Parliament, the Tories, except within the • walls of the House of Lords, were dejected and inactive. Their present confidence and activity have grown out of the success, so far, of LYNDHURST'S plan of determined Obstruction. By delaying for nearly a whole year the adoption of a counter-plan, Ministers have allowed the fruits which LYNDHURST expected front his plan, to form and ripen. Not merely has so much time been lost, but, in the interval, the force opposed to Ministers has been greatly increased. The Tories, let us repeat, have never since Lord LIVERPOOL'S time been so united, so resolute, and in all respects so well prepared for a battle against Reform, as they are at this moment. The obstacles, then, with which Reformers have to contend, are much more formidable than at Easter last.

However, treating bygones as bygones, there is comfortable assurance that the Tory leaders will not be allowed another twelvemonth for stimulating their party by means of successful Obstruction. This session will not end in " nothing." It be-- comes, then, of the very highest importance to the cause of Re-- form or peaceful improvement, that preparation should be made. for that seemingly inevitable state of things under which we shall have either a Tory Government or a dissolution of Parliament. Or rather, it would be more correct to say, we have to prepare• against one event and for the other. Now it so happens, that the means by which a general election could be made productive of a large Reform majority in the House of Commons, are precisely those by which, if at all, the Court may be prevented from giving us a Tory Government without a general election. By preparing for a general election, we shall take the best precaution against a coup d'etat. If at the tnoment when Lord MELBoualsz shall present to the Curt the alternative of a general election or his own resignation, the Reformers of the United Kingdom should be- in such a state of enthusiasm and organization, as to make it cer- tain that a general election would greatly strengthen Lord MEL- BOURNE—in that case, the Court would hardly venture to dismiss him. If he be not so dismissed by the Court, a general election is inevitable. It follows, that the Reformers will provide against Lord MELBOURNE'S dismissal, and insure a general election, by vigo- rously preparing for a general election. Though we have two objects—to prevent a Tory Government, and to obtain a large Re- form majority in the Commons—the means by which to accom- plish those objects is one and the same. Reformers, then, may confine their attention to one object—a marked triumph of Re- form at the coming general election. Next week we shall give particular attention to this most important subject.