FROM A CORRESPONDENT.1
M uch whispering, hinting, hoping, and fearing, has been going forward during the last month in relation to the anticipated disunion of Whigs and Radicals. The partisans of each section are indefatigable in ex- plaining the supposed conduct of their respective allies. The Radi- cals are stoutly defended for plainly declaring they won't uphold Mi- nisters unless large concessions be made to popular principles. On the other hand, the Ministers are acquitted by their organs of all and every defect : e. e are assured that all they can do towards improving the condition of the United Kingdom will be done, if the Radicals will only be quiet—neither more nor less. Meetings of the Radicals,. to declare the alliance at an end, are spoken of, as impending over them; but the Government prints strive to allay all apprehension by positive assurances that great measures are in preparation, and great concessions likewise about to be made as to admitting the principle of "open questions" on organic changes.
Now, it would scarcely be credited by plain lookers-on, that all
which is thus affirmed, and explained, and settled, is a "baseless fa- bric." Yet I believe that no "meetings of Radicals" either have taken place or are contemplated. I equally disbelieve that any com- munication has been held by the Radicals with members of the Go- vernment, with a view to a fresh treaty. In short, the truth is, that nobody out of the Cabinet can pretend to predict what Lord MEL- BOURNE'S line of policy will be ; for he has not disclosed it. On the contrary, the best.infonned members of the Liberal party are posi- tively ignorant of it. The Radicals' support of Lord MELBOURNE, it cannot be doubted, will depend on the Premier's own measures. He knows this perfectly well, and consequently has no occasion to take any trouble to "sound " them, or to consult their opinion on the po- licy he is inclined to pursue. Lord MELBOURNE received pretty strong evidence of the disapprobation felt by that party towards one or two of the measures of the last session; and he may rely upon it, that whatever deserves their censure will be certain to receive it in the en- suing session. But his lordship also knows, that lie has only to fol- low up popular objects, to be heartily backed by his Radical allies.
How futile, then, is the daily attempt to worry the Ministry, through the press, by threatening a disunion, under a positive absence of all evidence on the subject. The Radical Members of the House of Commons know their duty : the constituencies, it is to be hoped, equally know theirs. When the time comes, both will act upon this knowledge. Till then, as Ministers obviously decline revealing their plans, the daily press would be most usefully employed in preaching sound doctrine on the more important political features of the times.
The bawling about " Radical defection " is chiefly remarkable in the Whig scribes ; who, knowing the grounds the Radicals have for complaining of their masters, set to to "cry thief first," and to up- braid them with "desertion." To sum up the whole case, Lord MEL- BOURNE must choose between losing the Radicals and losing the Whig- Tories ; and it is not by "ballyragging" the Radicals that his party can succeed in averting the necessity of such a decision. The Radi- eels must now "stand to their colours ;" and if, by what we should call their "firmness," and the Morning Chronicle their " wilful obsti- nacy," the Whigs are forced to resign, they at least will remain on their posts, to uphold the cause they bear on their banners ; and, sup- ported by the people, may perhaps uphold it with undiminished suc- cess. A minority, such as they, will be able to resist all efforts hostile to progression ; and on the vital questions which they exclusively ad- vocate, the Whigs must either side with them or abandon all claim to popular favour. By thus keeping alive the discussion of political questions, the public will steadily advance in the knowledge of their true interests; which is "the one thing needful" to our ultimate re- enerat ion.
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