NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THERE is a slight stir in the political atmosphere, for which we have to thank the Tories. Apparently, the project for raising
sub,criptions to oust the Irish Liberal Members by petitions, meets with more favour in the country than in London. We learn from the provincial newspapers that the contributions to this final will be very general ; and probably some petitions will be presented in the hope of assistance from it, which otherwise would be dropped. The Whig journalists are very indignant at what they term a conspiracy to compel "constituencies to be re- presented for a term of seven years by the gentlemen they have rejected : " but the Whig anger and lamentation are useless.
Men have a right to subscribe for such purposes ; and with a suf- ficient inducement they will put down their cash. The way to defeat them is to raise a Liberal subscription, and fight Tories with Tory weapons. But then it will be said, that in a contest of purses the Tories must prevail. This may be true ; but whose fault is it that matters have been brought to such a pass that the loss of a dozen Liberal scats will give the Tories a preponderance
in the MELBOURNE House of Commons? Who is to blame for
that close balance of parties which encourages the Tories to spend their money in election petitions? It appears to us as childish to complain of the Tory petition-fund, as it was to whimper about the bribery and intimidation employed by our opponents during the election. What sane person doubted that every species of influence would be strained by the Tories to effect a recovery of office ?
Instead of impotent threats of bringing the Tory subscribers to the bar of the House of Commons, it would be more manly in the Whigs to retaliate. They entered upon the election contest on a system which required profuse expenditure. They did not appeal to the Reforming zeal of the country for support ; but paraded the power of the Queen and the Government, jobbed in boroughs, and, in fact, made the battle one of purses and undue influence, to a very great extent. Now let them " play out the play." They
cannot afford to make the pecuniary sacrifice so well as the Tories : very likely, but the consideration of that point comes too late— they should have weighed coin with their competitors before they challenged them to the game. But surely, after all, there can be no lack of cash among the great Whigs. With perfect nonchalance Lord JOHN RUSSELL and other aristocratic opponents of the Ballot call upon the Libe- ral electors to incur absolute ruin in support of their principles ; and will not Lord JOHN subscribe a year's salary in the cause of Reform ? Will his colleagues in the Cabinet hesitate to join him in making this petty sacrifice ? Than where are the well-filled coffers of Lord LANSDOWNE, the Duke of BEDFORD, the Duke of Dev.oeseier, and Earl FITZWILLI AM ? If the noble and wealthy W1n4s will only submit to a tithe of the privation they do not scruple to demand from the humble members of the Liberal party to keep the Ministry in office, the Tory petition tactics might soon be checked.
