TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE MAN COME.
WE understand that the Queen has " sent for" Sir Robert Peel's successor. Even those who are most anxious to reintroduce their friends the Whigs own some fear lest a change of Ministry at this juncture should have disastrous influences ; but we believe that they may be reassured, for the selection is of such a kind as at once to obviate all anxiety. It will be remembered that Sir Robert has hinted at an intention of not going into Opposition when he leaves office, in the ordinary way : we are persuaded that he will find it impossible to oppose the new Minister. The gentleman who is selected is of course a Commoner, so that he will lead the House of Commons ; but he is of stock sufficiently illustrious to command the respect of those who deem that the affairs of this monarchical republic cannot be ad- ministered except by persons of " birth " or " blood." He has had a long political experience, but is still in the prime of life ; uniting the greatest amount of mental and physical energy : we almost believe that he could either talk down or sit out the whole House of Commons. We do not exaggerate in saying that he has the honest and enlarged views of the present Earl Grey, with the vigour requisite to give them substance; the humanity and gene- rous feeling of Lord Morpeth, with the combative energy and obstinate courage that distinguish the outset of Lord John Rus- sell's enterprises ; the extensive political knowledge of Lord Pal- merston, with an earnest desire not merely for his own profes- sional advancement as an official, but for the welfare of this country and of its fellow nations ; the historical lore of Mr. Macaulay, the historical philosophy of M. Guizot, with the official aptitude of Sir James Graham ; the popular principles—. we might almost say of Mr. Roebuck, with the temper of Mr. Charles Buller, and the reverence for all that is venerable of Lord John Manners ; the financial knowledge and skill of Pitt, with the newest lights of Mr. Cobden ; the .philanthropy of Lord Ashley, the urbanity of Lord St. Germania, with the practical shrewdness and strict business habits of Wellington. To all these qualities of statesmanship the new Minister will be recognized by the House as adding all the present Premier's power of com- manding attention and compelling others to join in executing his purpose. There is no doubt that the head Minister will be supported in his Cabinet by the most sincere and able men in the country; out of doors by all honest and patriotic politicians. We are confident that we shall be justified in giving to the future Minister such hearty support as will show that no " political idolatry " binds us to other men less able than he is to serve the country. We shall hail his accession to office as the greatest boon ever bestowed on the nation by the prerogative of the Crown. We are authorized to indicate the policy which will be adopted. The Corn-laws will be settled at once, with the concurrence of all interests. A series of measures equally simple and effective will both tranquillize Ireland and prepare for a genuine con- summation of the Union. Now indeed that ungovernable coun- try will for the first time be governed,—not trampled on, as by the old Tories • not cajoled, as by the Whigs; not held in aie sus- pense of baffled action, as by Sir Robert Peel : the Orangemen will be governed with a master hand as strong as the Repealers can wish ; the Repealers, with one that will satisfy the party " Protestants," no longer uniting. in " self-defence." We believe that, with a generous consideration of Mr. O'Connell's past ser- vices, and of the embarrassment which tranquillity in Ireland must entail upon him, he will be provided for. The feelings of the Irish people will be gratified by that deference to their predilections, however strange ; and at the same time their slender resources will be relieved from the hardest of all taxes—that which remains to be paid when the others have emptied the pocket. Of course, as no distinct pledge to this effect can be given, Mr. O'Connell will at first oppose the new Ministry with some fresh inventions to make the people be- lieve in nothing but Repeal : the readiness, however, with which subordinate Repealers accept advantages under the denounced Colleges Bill, when those advantages assume a specific shape, gives hope that the Liberator's opposition to a really tranquil- lizing project will not be very obstinate. The Poor-law. will be remodelled, so as really to " relieve" the industrious poor, without fostering pauperism. The Tariff, after Sir Robert Peel's example, will be visited, only more boldly, with the pru- ning-knife. A plan of Education for the people, full, simple, and comprehensive, will be introduced, with universal approbation. We shall have Medical reform—Colonial reform. In short, all the desirable measures in which Lord John Russell failed, in which Sir Robert Peel has been thwarted, and which both have neglected, will be introduced in a mature and perfect state, and carried.
Such is the policy contemplated by the new Premier. Its suc- cess would be guaranteed were we able to mention the states- man's name ; but that, for the present, we are obliged to leave to the facile conjecture of our readers.
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