TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE CONTEST FOR WESTMINSTER.
THE first light in which we regard this spirit-stirring .scene, is that of a warning, not a little wanted at the present time, to presumptuous Members of Parliament. In the issue of the con- test two antagonist systems of government—the progressive, or improving and elevating, and the unprogressive, or corrupting and debasing—are involved. An unfavourable issue—a defeat of the united Whigs and Radicals in Westminster—would in all probability, more than any other single occurrence, embolden the half-frightened Tories to undertake the administration of public affairs, and mislead the King to trust them. No wonder that the approaching election for one seat in the House of Commons is regarded throughout England with a national interest. The electors of Westminster called upon Sir FRANCIS Buenerr to resign his seat, because they were resolved that the first city in the empire should no longer be, as Sir GEORGE MURRAY, at the Tory dinner last week, truly described it, in "the condition of a decayed borough," and because they at length felt the necessity of having an efficient representative of their principles, the principles of Reform, in the House of Commons. Such was their reason for cashiering BURDETT; and, contemptible as their opinion of their old Member must have been, they never anticipated that he would have sunk so low as to apply to the Tories for assistance again to force himself on the consti- tuency whom be had insulted and betrayed. But, after many years acquaintance, they were still ignorant of' the character of the man they bad to deal with. BURDETT obeyed the call to give up his seat, for the opportunity of personal display—not because his constituents were dissatisfied with him, and he knew their dissatisfaction to be well grounded. He resigned—and he stands again—for his own honour and glory. In his last address to the electors, indeed, he talks about another resignation, in case his health should not permit him to give that constant attention to his duties which he now admits to be " indispensable." How does it come to pass, that although he has been iii Parliament more than thirty years, he never discovered till Thursday in the present week, that neglect of duty was a disqualify Mg offence in a Repre- sentative of the People ? and if he has any doubt of his capability, why does he convulse Westminster and harass the constituency with his pretensions ? The reply is—for his own honour and glory. He cares nothing for the interests of the electors of West- minster : he thinks only of himself—of winning the race—of a personal triumph. The electors are "pismires" and "jackasses;" but he is the marked and the admired of all beholders. We be- here fully that his conditional pledge of resignation is not an empty promise. He feels that he is worn out ; the close service and attention to business, which he has now discovered to be so "indispensable," he has not the slightest notion of rendering : he could not endure to be thrust out of his seat, but only let him ride rough-shod over the " pismires" into Parliament, and then— when it suits the plans of the Tories—when, perhaps, on the strength of his success the Duke and PEEL are once more in power—then he will retire on a Tory Peerage, and make way for Sir GEORGE MURRAY. SUCH are the calculations of Sir FRANCIS BURDETT. Silly old man ! your despicable ambition is doomed to bitter disappointment. To his present melancholy condition BustnErr has been gra- dually declining for several years. In 18'29, he was the pane- gyrist of a military dictator—nobody was so fit for a Prime Minister of England as a successful soldier. He had also become an upholder of the cruel Corn-law.. In 1832, he ridiculed the idea of a Meniber's responsibility to his constituents—sneered at pledges —and was pelted with mud and cabbages on the Covent Garden hustings. Then he became sullen. From the beginning of 1833 till the dissolution of 1834. scarcely any thing was heald of Buis- DETT. Ile was rarely in his place in Parliament. He occasionally lounged in the lobbies, and once or twice took charge of a private bill ; doing the business in a most clumsy and indolent manner. In 1835, it was with great difficulty that his election was secured. Be was more than suspected of Toryism then. Shortly all doubt on the subject vanished. He got into " villanous company " at Brighton, and could scarcely be dissuaded from voting for MANNERS SUTTON. Since that time to the present, what has been beard of Sir FRANCIS Busmen? In his place in the House of Commons he was never to be found ; hut he did distinguish himself, as a Tory agent, in a very dirty business—the attempt to drive Mr. O'CONNELL out of Brookes's Club. O'CONNELL, on account of his mighty labours for Ireland, was hard pressed by a troop of low Tories, banded to put him down at all hazards; and Busmen had a kick at the lion,—which, however, broke his own hoof, and left the object of his attack scatheless. That was the last grand achievement of Busmen—the only public act be has performed within the last two years. But there is no need to multiply proofs of his apostacy. Read his letter of resignation to the electors—matchless in impudence. It is full of the most insolent Toryism. No other constituency was ever openly addressed in such a vein. Outward civility at least was paid to the most dependent borough in Schedule A, but BurtnErr treats the Westminster electors as if they were his beagles, whom he can spit upon and lash when a fit of ill hu- mour is on him. CROXER is his travelling companion; SINCLAIR the Chairman of his Committee; DAWSON his bottle-holder; MURRAY resigns in his favour, and hands over to him the Tory machinery prepared to carry his own election! Why, here is ye surfeit of Toryism. He sees, hears, writes, and talks nothing else, Well, electors of Westminster, is it for such a man as this that you also are to apostatize from Liberal principles ? Has the p. form Act, which enfranchised other towns, converted Westminster into a Tory borough—rendered the constituency of Westminster less democratical than formerly ? Assuredly, a few yearssince before the Reform Act passed, a candidate for Westminster, pre: fessing the High Church and Tory principles which Buanert puts forth in his address—though not, like him, proclaiming them as a renegade—would have been hooted from the arena. But the fact is, that the result of the contest is not doubtful new. BURDETT can only rely upon the Tory minority in Westminster. and of the Tories, the more honest are, and must be, very hikes' warm friends to him. "Good Heavens !" said one of these in the course of this week's canvass, " that I should be asked to vote for this man, whom we have been opposing and vilifsing these thirty years ! What other degrading sacrifice will the necessities of our party next demand of us ?" He may also get the votes of half-a-score of old twaddlers, practical traitors to the Reforming politics they profess. But there is no respect for him in any quarter—not a spark of enthusiasm; and It is on this absence of moral support, more than upon any returns of canvassing com- mittees or calculations of strength, that we fully reckon upon his defeat in a constituency of ten or twelve thousand voters.
On the other hand, the Liberals could not have a better canal- date than Mr. LEADER has proved himself. Intelligent, active, ready, industrious, frank, manly, and of unblemished character, he has only to be known to be respected; and the week's proceed- ings have made him extensively known in Westminster. Is his youth a reproach ? On the contrary, we deem it an advantage; and we are mistaken if the electors do not discover that it is much better to be represented by one who derives his importance from his constituents, and holds it on the tenure of constant respotsn- bility, than by an older man, of whatsoever distinction, who, after his career of active usefulness is over, lazily reposes with over- weening conceit on the mere prestige of a remembered name. The whole Liberal party, Whig and Radical, is united in favour of Mr. LEADER. Distinguished men of both sections are active on his committees ; and from the nature of the support he receives his success is certain. But the electors would err, if, trusting to an assured certainty, they neglected any one means which pru- dent men would employ to strengthen a doubtful position. Though we shall unquestionably beat Buenerr and his Tories, and carry LEADER, the cause of Reform in Westminster will be best served by the demonstration of a very large majority.
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