NEWS OF THE WEEK.
GrAngrorrn's victory at Oxford, over a powerful and un- scrupulous -combination, organized at leisure, strong at head- quarters, and ramifying into all parts of the coantry7-indefati- gable in its malignant activity, and shrinking from no measure of mendacity—is the most gratifying event . in the present elections. It is a victory over a conspiracy of the most discordant elements to gratify vindictive spleen. It is a tribute, to independent and original thought in the formation of opinion, and independent and i courageous action in carrying them into practice. It s an asser- tion-. of the true- principle of elective legislation—the choice of a:re- presentatiVe because he possesses qualities above the common order, by men who have the ability to recognize his merits ;though the S mass of them are consciously his inferiors. • The return of Mr. Gladstone to Parliament as representati:ie -Of the University of • Oxford is a satisfactory test of the . intelligence and generous sentiment that :pervade its members; and the higher place on the poll (both absolutely and relatively) occupied by Mr. Gladstone at the present. -as-compared with last elec- tkin, indicates " progress" among Oxonians equal- ta.that-ot any sectien otthe conununity. . The 111-niver,sity_of Oxford haS efledtb
• Mr .- g.litlitoile'e;poWer to promote - benefteial
',minded:Ali:45.0p eveu direction for does it ' 4-ppear too ,sang-uine'..t-O.:134at.ftliat the _spirit -Of :resistance . an-akeied, in • this .el:stetapi.',to'the dictation of the Hebdoinadal Eciard; may encourage :and. promote efforts self-rekin within 1h Colleges. There were less imPortant issues at stake .in. the,Edinburgb election, yet is the return of Mr. Macaulay only in degree leas gra- tifying:than. that Of Mr. Gladstone, while it resembles it in one com- mon feature. -It tô is pritotieal reedimt, ition of the sound thittriiie - .that repiese,ntatiieS in- the House of Commons olightto be-chusen for their aptitude for the wrli*Of legislation:--for_fthility to- origin-
-ate _ . ate important . and useful measures, and for courageous assertion
ef seimd-priiiciplei dis" regardful-Of ephemeral popularity; . and not for habits of base mob-flattery, -readiness to gulp pledges; or
even less worthy reasons. ,• • . ,
. Mr. Disraeli, though in every respect of an inferior cast amind to Gladstone and Macaulay,y, possesses natural gifts which Might have entitled him to rank' in the same order with them, had notan 'impatient and :vial& ambition :tempted hire. to -seek its gratifi- cation by vulgar and ,quackish arts: ; ccanvass, cOm7 mewed .tho, course of the week at Newport.Pagnell, presents, like almost every step in his political career; the painful spectacle of the voluntai•y-abasenient of-gel:due.-- There is something piquant in the audacious effrentery with which he mystifiel his'gulls1 his refusal tci explain the policy of Ministers, because they staid on a -" principle," , and are not going to enter upon details, was as rich in its way as anything in Foote ; but it is mortifying to contem- plate talent so 'unworthily waited.- - Regret.of iiiiOther kiiid is inspired by Mr. waited.- withdrawal from the confelt Berk-shire.' If any one incident in these elec tions more than another can be conceived to reveal the inherent falsehood and meanness of the tactic's now installed in high Office, it is the treatment Of the late .Member for Berks. Mr. Pusey is a gentleman of unequivocal Conservative principles ; of a devoted loyalty, '; and iiiistobratic chivalrous sentiment, that sit gracefully en one of his old family. Mr. Pusey is moreover a zealous agri- miltiffStfAtiiiii-and. sincere in his aspirations to increase the com- 'fort.andelevate-the- moral • and intellectual 'character of the pea- sintrY.e...1.4ritithe spirit of an old English gentleman incarnated in the acconiplfsbnients.and Practicel Sagacity of .6: Modern manor ;the world. ..-Yet;.beeittise Mr. Pudeyhadltdinitted'that the repeal of the Corn-laiislwasinevitable, andeil-orted egrieillttirista to rely avian their7oWn‘ intelligence 'and 'enterPr4e,., the utmost efforts of the DerbYitelliaite been strained (trticetlgrally)-to drive him from his seat. A true Conservative Englishgentleman.' if ever there was one, has been borne down by the malice of a party Which pro- fesses to take • up its Amid upon Conservative principles. Mr. Pusey is punished for his acquiescence in Free-trade, while Mr. Disraeli is telling his constituents that their only hope is in re- ducing -the .00st of production ; that his remedy will not avail farmers- Who lack capital, or are deficient in activity andPintelli- gence ; that they must conform to the " spirit of the age," which, according to Mr. Disraeli,Js the spirit of justice. The most whimsical passage in -the elections is Mr. Adderley's -sPeech in North • Stafilashire, after his return. Mr. Adderley had . heretofore gained and deserved credit for. independence of _party: While his seat,may have been in . suspense, he braved the hostility of Derbyites and Protectionists; but the moment his - seat is secured, he plunges into the deepest Derby-tern, and pro- - claims uncommon confidence in a man of whose deficiency in states- manlike- qualities—always excepting his great gift of speech—Mr. .Adderley. mud have had better opportunities' than most Members
of Parliament tohe made aware. .
- 'Of the yet undecided-elections, the only one to which much interest 'attaches is that for the county of Midalepex, where Mr. Osborne's 7seat is in some danger. The reason why so vigorous an attack has -been made upon that gentleman lies on the durfaCe. Of late Mr. -Osberne has displayed effective ability as a debater, and respectable -acquirements as a statist; above all, a rare talent for assailing _solemn empty.conyentionalisma and cant, by -a Mixture of playful -wit, indignant sarcasm, and rattling denunciation. He is felt to -he a Strong man and a' growing power; and all -the- solemn plausi- -bilitiee, the Joseph Surfaces of politics and-religion,.have combined :to-rid -themselves of sp dangerous a critic and commentator. The ;unworthiness of the Wisiult• is agglevathd by the meanness with which those who make- itlawn upon- Mr. Osborne's colleague, be= saute he is 'a lord,' of very wealthy connexion taut -immense influ- mice in'the'district.: This is quite as despicable al the preference -ofthe populace for mere mob-sycophants; over Men'. Of high- talents and geq. ruts who Will not stoop to flatter there. By electing
-that wel 'lag but very commonplace nobleman the Marquis of
_Blandfork in.preferenee- to: Mr.-.0slattrteutht Middlesex elentors wOuld-degrade-themselves .tia.nineh;ai-the Edinburgh electors did they substituied-Mr. Co-tvap forMr. Macaulay, or al the _electors of OxfOrdlTiiiiiiSity 'ivOuld have dolie-in--.185Z;_had they rejected Mr. -Glndatone and chosen the nominee of the
'Hebdomadal Board. . ' . . - • • - -
.Except at Edinburgh, -Greenock, and Glasgow; the Scotch elec- tions pre-Sent no salient features. The-return of,Edinbiargh to its letter. judgment has already bean noted. ; In Greeniick; Lord Mel- gun.d.,_kpoblecian far in advance of his pine and. paity, ' and an efficient advocate of unsectarkneducafiOn for the people,- has ,been compelled to Withdraw, by the Aiiti-MaynoOth. Clamour. • Some of the more intelligent electors in GlasgoW•endeavoured lo" secure for their- city Services so wantonly and unwisely rejected by the neigh- tobring constituency; -but, -owing to raiimnderstandings and jeti lonsies_aniong the Liberals, the well-Meant attenipt failed. There have been few contests in Scotland, and feiver- displacements. For- -faishire presents a' neW and prothishil asidrant to -.public -position, inliniperion-of Colonel Menlo; -whoseinsian addresiela show him to he iuninated:il;an hereditary liberality of Sentiment. The' Irish elections supply:much-Matter for _seriousregret,. little for satisfaction: -The fierce spirit Of sectarian hatred -appears to be, more ranipant there than ever: Atiimerick; Cork, and Bel- :fast; -Politico-religious rioti liaye rendered 'the interference of the miJitaffneeessary. 7 Some occasion has been given—at least some preteatt.affordedfor these lainentableeichibiticeal,. by the Minis terial coquetting with Exeter. Hall and OrangeAscendancy. But the main relptinsibility' attaches to the.Mtramon.tatie: party, in Iiya land:- These unwise leadenal of an ignorant people -Seem bent upon juitifying the affected: alarms-of the 171tra-Protestant panic-mon- gers: • -Under . their priostlyguidel, the Roman Catholic electors, in-both eolintries; are doing all the mischief they can. Their hos- tility and friendship are alike fatal • Their opposition contributed natiinlYto throw out- Colonel - Thompson at Bradford ; their obtru.-- live -adhesion endangers Mr. Osborne's seat for' Midcllesei.
