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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ELECTION.
24th January 1856. Sm—Perhaps you can spare me a short space in next Saturday's Spectator to explain the grounds on which Mr. Denman's supporters in the University of Cambridge are, to the best of my knowledge, acting. I am anxious to make this explanation, because, though we have an unquestionable right to bring forward any candidate we may prefer, we certainly. should not exer- cise this right unless we had strong reasons for disapproving the other can- didate who is proposed to us, and good hopes of bringing our own man in. A contested election at either of the two Universities is attended with so much inconvenience, that no sensible man would promote a contest which was either needless or hopeless. We think then, in the first place that Mr. Goulburn's seat ought not to be filled by a member of either extreme party in the country; and that it is as essentially- untrue a representation of University opinion for two decided Derbyites to be our Members, as it would be fora politician like Mr. Cobden to be one of them. Of course we are aware that majorities have no con- sciences, and that if the thoroughgoing Derbyite section of the Senate can monopolize the two seats, they will not scruple to do so. But we are not prepared to allow this without a struggle. Then in addition to being a thoroughly committed party-man we feel that Me. Walpole ought not to sit for Cambridge just now, because the vast majority of members of the Senate would wish the Government heartily supported in its foreign policy—looks with abhorrence upon Mr. Disraeli's utterly unprincipled conduct in reference to the war—and is pledged to a thorough reform of the University constitution. On all these points Mr. Walpole's past conduct—to which he refers us as an indication of his future conduct—places him at variance with the constituency which he is seeking to represent. Now, Mr. Denman isnot a party-man, and he will go to the House of Com-
mons, if he succeed, with his judgment and actions unfettered : Mr. Walpole, on the contrary, is pledged to judge every question, not on its merits, but as it
affects Lord Derby's and Mr. Disraeli's chances of power. So far as the University sympathizes in this latter viewof social and .political questions, so far as it consists of mere party politicians, it has Mr. Wigramto represent the onesidedness. Surely we have a right to one Member who can help on the rational decision of questions, or, at least, who is not debarred from all rn- tional consideration of them whenever such men as Mr. Disraeli think their party interests likely to be promoted by irrational conclusions. Mr. Denman, again, will support the Government of the country in its lonouruble pursuit of peace, or, if that be unsuccessful, in its vigorous pro- secution of the war. What Mr Walpole will do, he bids us gather from his past votes and speeches. And we do gather that he will follow Mr. Disraeli in giving to his Opposition tendency the freest scope that, in the present temper of the country, is safe. As he was one of those who did not shrink from embarrassing the Government last session on the infamous Turkish-Loan division, and from justifying his vote afterwards in cool blood, I see no assignable limit to his indulgence lathe spirit and practice of factious opposition. There is not one man in ten in Cambridge who would at the tune have approved of Mr. Walpole's conduct. How can they. vote for him when they disapprove his actions on the most important point of present practical politics? Mr. Denman pledges himself in his address to aid the University in her desire for a representative government; thus placing himself in accord with the prevailing public opinion of the constituency, as indicated by its em- phatic demonstrations last session. On this question too Mr. Walpole's past conduct is a pledge that he will do all labia power to oppose anti ob- struct the reform of Cambridge University and to maintain the present system. And if he be elected, what conclusion can the Government and the country draw, but that the University is insincere in its professions, and cares less for the reforms for which it has petitioned Parliament than to show how deep-rooted is its aversion to every shade of Liberalism, and how. willing it is to pardon in its representatives any fault but that of superiority to party watchwords. No doubt, in fighting the battle against a man of Mr. Walpole's Parlia- mentary reputation, we have placed ourselves under a disadvantage, by bringing to oppose him a man who has never been in Parliament. Nro doubt, Mr. Arthur Helps, though in this respect labouring under the same disadvantage as Mr. Denman, would have been a more welcome candidate to many among us as Combining in, a high degree. the literary distinction which should be demanded in a 'University Member, with the humane wis- dom and deep sense of practical wants of the time, which are rare in any clam; and particularly rare among active politicians. But Mr. Denman was not only first in the field ; he has, besides, the advantage of combining with his political claims to support a vast amount of personal influence,. arising from a career as popular among his non-reading as among his reading con- temporaries. He is known an the Cam as well as in the Senate-louse; and the Captain of the first Trinity is almost as great a man at Cambridge as the first Classic of his year. Men, as in Mr. Denmao's case, both hon- ours are united in the same person, they must be very ignorant of English natures who do not understand what an advantage such an Olympic victor carries with him through life in the sympathies of his contemporaries and the tradition of his glory. These, Sir, are the grounds on which I believe Mr. Denman's friends principally rely for success. That they are sufficient fully to justify the struggle, I do not think your readers generally will be inclined to deny. That they will secure our triumph neither am I prepared oonfidently to 'me- diet: for I remember that Mr. Goulburn was returned with extreme - may in 1847 and I perceive that some leading members ef the Anti- Tractarian party who then supported Lord Feilding, then on the eve of join- ing the Church of Rome, are now supporting Mr. Walpole, whose Puseyite leanings are as far more undisguised than Lord Feilding's, as his prudence and intellectual power surpass his Lordship's, and secure him from following out the fatal example.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A 3fvunan OF MR. DRNMAN'S COMMITTEE.
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