"RULE RADICALE 3."
Seen is the title which the Standard gives to our controversy with the Examiner. In not much worse Latin, we have named the new AV hig-Radical variety of which the Examiner is the soli- tary organ, the Radicalus Paradoxus. Our brother probably feels the necessity of showing, if he can, that there is nothing monstrous in his recent course. We proceed to anticipate his de- fence; first observing, however, that the question at issue is just now of paramount importance to Tories, Whigs, and Radicals.
It is seldom that opinion originates with a newspaper. Gene- rally speaking, newspapers do but represent and enforce the opinions of' the bulk of their readers. The readers of the Ex- aminer are, for the most part, determined Radicals. If they are truly represented. they approve the paradoxical course of their organ; they would " support " a Ministry which, they think, de- serves " censure," "reproof," " animadversion," and " attack."
And why not, the Examiner may ask, seeing that this is the "best Ministry the country ever had, and better than any that could be formed upon its ruins ?" We at once admit the sound- ness of such a plea. Every considerate Reformer, or prudent man of whatever party, will do that which, upon the whole, pro- mises a balance in favour of his own views. And if this were, first, the best Ministry that the country ever had ; secondly, better than any that could be formed upon its ruins ; and lastly, not to be made better by the fear of losing Radical support; since steadily pursued. Lord MELBOURNE'S claim to the support In our anxious wish to see the Whig-Radical union restored, of Reformers rested upon certain promises. " His promises " and upon the firm basis which Mr. BULWER and others, following Says LYNDHURST, in words all the more offensive for their truth, the Spectator, have recently suggested—that of mutual emcee- " were, as he then was, mighty ; his perfoimance has been, as he sion and gain by Whigs and Radicals—we have thought the now is, nothing." Nothing—no Reform—is riot more Reform than wonderful, the really unaccountable " lire" of the Examiner, a Tory Gosernment would give. LYNDHURST, as Premier, could worthy of so much notice, because it tends to defeat the object not give less than " nothing." Nay, it should be remembered which all sincere Reformers have in view. The Ministers cannot that, except Reform of the House of Commons and English be so very stupid as to be much influenced by the support which Corporations, all the more important changes of the last ten their Whig-Toryism receives from the Treasury papers. Support years—reductions of public expenditure, the removal of restric- both in the abstract and practically, has its price, and is worth no tins on trade, the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, and more. But practical support of that which is censured in the oh- the great measure of "justice to Ireland"—have been granted by street, naturally encourages the persons supported to persevere in Tory Administrations which were able to manage the Lords, and the thing censured. Lord MELBOURNE, having read the Ex- willing to make any sacrifice of opinion for the retention of office. aminer for the last few months, would be entitled to say—" Well, If PEEL'S Conformity had been allowed a two years' trial, it would though the Radicals complain of us for being opposed to their probably have done much more for Reform last session—it could favourite objects, Ballot, Short Parliaments, Extended Suffrage, not possibly have done less—than Lord 1VIELBouaNs's " nothing." and Peerage Reform—and though LYNDHURST has reduced to So long as there is a merely Whig Ministry—that is, a Ministry ' nothing ' the performance of my promises of Reform, such which the Tories wish to displace, and which is not Radical as they were, still those good Radicals think so very highly enough for the masses—the Lords can and will prevent all ma- of us, that they will support us, even as that clever SPRING sures of Reform desired by the Commons. Except through a RICE says, with ' the same ' policy next year, which has change in the policy of the Whigs, there is not the slightest pros- this year produced • nothing' like Reform. As for Lyisrn- pect of any change in the new Tory policy. That policy, if not HURST and the Lords, I was beginning to think that defeated by a sufficient counter policy, renders the Whigs good for their new and desperate policy would compel me to make an offer " nothing" to Reformers. The Whigs do not intend to change of something to the Reformers; but I see that the thorough- their policy. Their Chancellor of the Exchequer, following their going Radicals at least do not, as our wise Mr. Rica says, wish Secretaries of the Admiralty and the Colonial Office, who speak for any ' novelty.' Another proposal for rejection by the Lords, for their Secretary at War, has just informed us that there is to of what my popular Colonial Secretary, Sir GEORGE GREY, calls be no "hunting after novelty' next session—that only " the ' the great measure,' will be enough of Reform for another same" means of Reform are to be pursued next year, as have session. Egad, I shall be saved the trouble of writing a King's this year ended in " nothing." We deny therefore that the Whig Speech next year; since, with a mere repetition of this year's Ministry, in its present position, and as at present disposed, is Speech, we may be sure of Radical support. What if the Radi- " the best Ministry that the country ever had." And as for its cals do abuse us for opposing with all our Ministerial power nearly being " better than any that could be formed upon its ruins," let all the reforms which they profess to desire? still they support us observe, in reply to the absurd and therefore insulting propo- us through thick and thin, ay, even in our adherence to sal which Mr. RICE makes to the earnest Reformers of Scotland those very opinions which they so loudly condemn in the and England, that a Tory Ministry would grant more Reform abstract. And such support—practical support, I call it—is far than two mere bills, not acts, relating only to Ireland. There is more valuable than that of a mere partisan whose soul is not no Toryism in office. Toryism, getting into office, becomes Con- his own : for what does it prove ? that my Government is formity. Conformity is very much better than " nothing." Be- considered, stopped as we are by the Tories, and opposed si(les, if the Whigs were in opposition, most of them, instead of as we are to the Radicals, not merely, as the nice Exa- being Whig-Tories as they all are just now, would become miner says, ' the best Government the country ever had,' 1Vbig-Radicals. The Whigs radicalize to obtain office ; the To- and ' a better Ministry than could be formed upon its ruins,' but ries to keep it. Upon the whole, therefore, we further deny that the best possible Ministry for Reformers. Seeing then for what, this Ministry, as at present situated and inclined, is " better than in what, notwithstanding what, and to what extent we are sup-
any that could be formed upon its ruins." ported by the special Radicals, we need not care for the advice of
But this question of the best possible Ministry for Reformers, those Whig-Radicals who urge us to become, as they foolishly say, embraces another consideration of greater urgency as to time ; a better Ministry than we are ! The best possible Ministry can- viz, whether the Ministry be so good, or so irreclaimably bad, as not be mended. Thank you, Mr. Examiner, for I hate trouble • to afford no hope of its own improvement. The Examiner says, so, eschewing 'novelties,' as my Chancellor of the Exchequer that, "as long as he believes this Ministry better than any which says, we will go on, or rather stand still, 'the same' as before, could be formed upon its ruins, he will support it ; and that when sure at all events of Radical support?'
remain, for what do you censure ? in what do you support ? The sure in the abstract, instead of neutralizing, really aggravates the Examiner censures the Ministry for their abstract opinions—for mischief of unconditional practical support. For the sake of the being not Whig-Radicals, but Whig-Tories; but " nevertheless " cause of Reform, which is now deeply suffering through the dis- supports them. Notwithstanding all their faults, says lie, they union and apathy of the Reformers—not to mention the cense- deserve Radical support, as the best possible Ministry for Re- quent union and activity of the Tories—we call upon the Ex. formers. We too have censured the Ministry for their Whig- aminer for his powerful aid towards the restoration of the Whig- Toryism, but have not supported them in it. On the contrary, Radical union upon the natural and unassailable footing of Whig- leaving censure of' abstract Whig-Toryism pretty much to our Radicalism. But if he should not on public grounds see the contemporary, we have pointed out and blamed that practical errors of his way, we would appeal to his personal attachment to Whig-Toryism in which the Examiner supports the present the Whig Ministry. This world is full of paradoxes; and it may Government. We have urged, nay implored the Whigs, to abau- be that the mother whose son bit her ear under the gallows, had don the Whig-Toryism which we could not help censuring—to not been wanting in abstract reproof of that course of life which, adopt a plan of Whig-Radical action, such as, by gaining for the with her practical support and encouragement, brought him to an Ministry the strenuous support of all Reformers, would at once ignominious end. defeat the new policy of the Tories. The Examiner, always cm-' "The Whig organs denounced the invitation to Lord 13nouotrAm as a suring the Whigs for their opinions, has steadily deprecated any Radic.r! manceuvre to punish Ministers by bringing Lord BROUGHAM into pressure upon them for an alteration of conduct. Such is the fashion."— Times of Monday last. wide difference between us. He can compare the Whigs with No Radical organ, certainly, except the Examiner, objected to the proposed nothing but the Tories : we compare them, as they are, with what gathering of Reformers at Edinburgh. The very earnest objection of the
they might might be. Ile can sec no choice between supporting the
ter than it is, hOWeVer good it may be—by instructing it as to the state of Ministry with with and in all its faults, and endeavouring to overturn Jar feeling in Scotland, is another proof of our brother's practical Wbiggery or it : we, on the contrary, endeavour to support it, by pra)ing that paradoxical Radicalism. its fsults may be •orrected We have been throughout, from the - _ r- • then:welshould entirely agree with the Examiner. But we deny hour of the Whig-Radical union in November 1834, consistent the existence of any one of those three conditions on which a Minis- Whig-Radicals : he, still remaining in the abstract a remarkable try, not Radical, would be entitled to strenuous Radical support. Radical, is considered by the Tories a" Whig organ."* We, seeing Is this, all things considered, the best possible Ministry for Re- that Lord MELBOURNE'S promises have ended in " nothing " are formers? All turns upon that question. I 6 no doubt less Ministerial than heretofore: our most Radical con- Down to last Easter holydays, we certainly did think Lord temporary seizes the occasion of the greatest difference that has MELBOURNE'S Ministry the best possible Ministry for Reformers; yet occurred between the Whig Ministry and the Radicals, to and it received accordingly our constant and not inefficient sup- become more Ministerial than ever. If he persevere in such port. But the case has been altered by the new policy of the Tories, monstrous inconsistency, he will long be called the Radicalus which LYNDHURST de % ised during the Easter holydeys, and has ever Paradoxus. since steadily pursued. Lord MELBOURNE'S claim to the support In our anxious wish to see the Whig-Radical union restored, of Reformers rested upon certain promises. " His promises " and upon the firm basis which Mr. BULWER and others, following Says LYNDHURST, in words all the more offensive for their truth, the Spectator, have recently suggested—that of mutual emcee- " were, as he then was, mighty ; his perfoimance has been, as he sion and gain by Whigs and Radicals—we have thought the now is, nothing." Nothing—no Reform—is riot more Reform than wonderful, the really unaccountable " lire" of the Examiner, a Tory Gosernment would give. LYNDHURST, as Premier, could worthy of so much notice, because it tends to defeat the object not give less than " nothing." Nay, it should be remembered which all sincere Reformers have in view. The Ministers cannot that, except Reform of the House of Commons and English be so very stupid as to be much influenced by the support which Corporations, all the more important changes of the last ten their Whig-Toryism receives from the Treasury papers. Support years—reductions of public expenditure, the removal of restric- both in the abstract and practically, has its price, and is worth no tins on trade, the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, and more. But practical support of that which is censured in the oh- the great measure of "justice to Ireland"—have been granted by street, naturally encourages the persons supported to persevere in Tory Administrations which were able to manage the Lords, and the thing censured. Lord MELBOURNE, having read the Ex- willing to make any sacrifice of opinion for the retention of office. aminer for the last few months, would be entitled to say—" Well, If PEEL'S Conformity had been allowed a two years' trial, it would though the Radicals complain of us for being opposed to their probably have done much more for Reform last session—it could favourite objects, Ballot, Short Parliaments, Extended Suffrage, not possibly have done less—than Lord 1VIELBouaNs's " nothing." and Peerage Reform—and though LYNDHURST has reduced to So long as there is a merely Whig Ministry—that is, a Ministry ' nothing ' the performance of my promises of Reform, such which the Tories wish to displace, and which is not Radical as they were, still those good Radicals think so very highly enough for the masses—the Lords can and will prevent all ma- of us, that they will support us, even as that clever SPRING sures of Reform desired by the Commons. Except through a RICE says, with ' the same ' policy next year, which has change in the policy of the Whigs, there is not the slightest pros- this year produced • nothing' like Reform. As for Lyisrn- pect of any change in the new Tory policy. That policy, if not HURST and the Lords, I was beginning to think that defeated by a sufficient counter policy, renders the Whigs good for their new and desperate policy would compel me to make an offer " nothing" to Reformers. The Whigs do not intend to change of something to the Reformers; but I see that the thorough- their policy. Their Chancellor of the Exchequer, following their going Radicals at least do not, as our wise Mr. Rica says, wish Secretaries of the Admiralty and the Colonial Office, who speak for any ' novelty.' Another proposal for rejection by the Lords, for their Secretary at War, has just informed us that there is to of what my popular Colonial Secretary, Sir GEORGE GREY, calls be no "hunting after novelty' next session—that only " the ' the great measure,' will be enough of Reform for another same" means of Reform are to be pursued next year, as have session. Egad, I shall be saved the trouble of writing a King's this year ended in " nothing." We deny therefore that the Whig Speech next year; since, with a mere repetition of this year's Ministry, in its present position, and as at present disposed, is Speech, we may be sure of Radical support. What if the Radi- " the best Ministry that the country ever had." And as for its cals do abuse us for opposing with all our Ministerial power nearly being " better than any that could be formed upon its ruins," let all the reforms which they profess to desire? still they support us observe, in reply to the absurd and therefore insulting propo- us through thick and thin, ay, even in our adherence to sal which Mr. RICE makes to the earnest Reformers of Scotland those very opinions which they so loudly condemn in the and England, that a Tory Ministry would grant more Reform abstract. And such support—practical support, I call it—is far than two mere bills, not acts, relating only to Ireland. There is more valuable than that of a mere partisan whose soul is not no Toryism in office. Toryism, getting into office, becomes Con- his own : for what does it prove ? that my Government is formity. Conformity is very much better than " nothing." Be- considered, stopped as we are by the Tories, and opposed si(les, if the Whigs were in opposition, most of them, instead of as we are to the Radicals, not merely, as the nice Exa- being Whig-Tories as they all are just now, would become miner says, ' the best Government the country ever had,' 1Vbig-Radicals. The Whigs radicalize to obtain office ; the To- and ' a better Ministry than could be formed upon its ruins,' but ries to keep it. Upon the whole, therefore, we further deny that the best possible Ministry for Reformers. Seeing then for what, this Ministry, as at present situated and inclined, is " better than in what, notwithstanding what, and to what extent we are sup- Examiner to a step which promised to improve the Ministry—to make it
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