TWO GOVERNMENTS IN ONE.
" There are at present, in litct, two Governments in England; the respon- sible Government of the Queen, and the irresponsible Government (d. the Tury Lords. Foreign Powers will no doubt see the wisdom of havi ll g a double set of 31ini4ers in this country—one set accredited to the Government, and :mother to the Duke of Wellington, Lord Lyndhurst, and Sir Robert Peel—in order that they may know how km the former may he able to give elreet to their wishes in any arrangements which it may be necessary to enter into, and what steps may be additionally requisite to gain over the Tories."
MORNING CHRONICLE, August 13.
IN a certain sense, we are bound to agree with the Chronicle in the above description ot' the state of parties : for it is, as respects the existence of two Governments at the same time, a brief' state- ment of our own view of the subject. But we must deny that either of these Governments is " responsible." There cannot be respon- sibility without power. The lim.nounxn Government being so weak as to be under the necessity of submitting to the pleasure of the Pma. Government, is no more accountable than any other mere instrument ; while the Pim. Government escapes responsibility by keeping out of office. We have, in filet, a Tory Government con- ducted by Whig hands, and theretbre irresponsible. Or it might be termed two Governments its one; the diflbrence between the two parts being, that the Tories dictate all the measures, and the Whigs take all the salaries and patronage. Bust both the parts are irresponsible, and time whole is irresponsible, because die part which acts officially is under dictation, and the part which dictates has no official character. We prefer one responsible Government to two Governments in one without responsibility : and this is the ground on which we have for some time contended that it would be advan- tageous to fasten responsibility on the Tories by letting them into office.
To whom this would be advantageous is quite another question. It is ODD also on which both the aristocratic parties seem to have inside up their minds. They are equally opposed at heart to the progress of Reform. Time principle of Conservatism is its much Lord MELnovaNE's as the Duke of WELLINGTON'S—Lord JOHN Rt SSELCS as Sir Roninur PEri.'s. If this principle were avowed by the Government, the principle of Rethrm would be outraged, and would instantly come into active operation. For Conservative purposes, thcref(tre, it is most expedient that the Government should consist amen who do not avow the Conservative principle— who rather profbss the principle of Relbrot. By means of a Govern- ment prof'ssing the principle of Reform, that principle is laid
ient under Conservative
asleep; and by 111C1111S of suchGovern]t direction, the principle of Conservatism quietly takes effect. It would be very unwise in the aristocratic parties to rouse the prin- ciple of Reform by ostensible Conservatism. Softly, by means of' delusion, is the only way of successfully resisting the progress of Reform. 3,1r..13AniNi; WA LL, who has carefully examined the sub- ject, is quite right in saying, that we could not have so Conserva- tive a Government as the present—two Governments in one with- out responsibility.
So long. as it will last, this is, no doubt, the most Conservative of Governments, or time "best possible Government" for Anti- Reform purposes. But how much longer will it last ? Let us ask its priociiml supporter sold puffier. Mr. O'CtuNNE1.1. said last night iu the House of Commons--11 The country never was in a worse
state than it is at present, as well political as financial." This continent on the system of two Governments in one will meet with a general response.
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