On Wednesday, at Balboni, Sir S. Northcote addressed some of
the branches of the East Surrey Conservative Association, and took pains to throw cold water on the violence of some of his partisans, and to speak somewhat disparagingly of mere party organisation ; while he panegyrised the Conservative cause, and contrasted it with the wild democracy which he de- sired to oppose. It must be admitte 1, however, that he blew
loth hot and cold at once. He was very anxious for the Con- servatives to organise themselves afresh for a contest, but very much disgusted with the Liberals for organising themselves so well. It is monstrous, it seems, for the constituencies to com- plain of their Members for resisting the Liberal policy ; but it does not appear to be monstrous at all, in Sir Stafford North- oote's eyes, if Conservative constituencies send him an addi- tional supporter, or even insist on that supporter remaining Conservative, after he has so described himself. Sir S. North- .cote warned his hearers of the mischiefs which a minority of the people might work if, like the parties in the French revolution, they were bold and determined. But it did not appear to occur to him that the same is true of a minority of the House of Com- mons, and that the New Rules are intended to curb that dan- gerous tyranny of a minority. So far as we understand him, Sir S. Northcote thinks minorities sacred when they are on his side, and very tyrannical when they are against him.
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