TOPICS OF THE DAY.
WEAKNESS OF THE WHIGS AS AN EXCLUSIVE PARTY.
AT every public meeting or dinner of the Reformers, the differ- ences between the Whigs and Radicals are made more or less prominent. And the Whigs must have perceived, that, among their own supporters, the Radicals predominate in number as well as energy. That such should be the case in Manchester, Bir- mingham, or the Metropolis, was to be expected; but we have seen that in the agricultural counties of Cumberland, Hereford, and Somerset, mere Whiggism is at a discount. Now, without the aid of " something more than Whigs," the mere Whigs have nothing to rely upon but the influence of property. The Tories have the fierce support of a bigoted Church party, and can ope- rate powerfully on the more ignorant electors by stimulating their religious prejudices. Supposing that the property were equally divided between Whigs and Tories, and the Radicals were neuter, there can be no question but that the Tories would re- ceive much the larger support from those who were not acted upon by the influence of property. Let the Whigs recollect their position in the House of Commons before the Whig-Radical union was formed, and then calculate whether, if that union is not again cemented, they have any chance of reaching even the numbers of their miserable minority during the Liverpool Administration, now that their rotten-borough nominees are diminished ? Cer- tainly they have not. The Tories beat them in the popularity which depends on prejudice, as well as far outweigh them in wealth. Let the Whig-Radical union be completely dissolved, and the number of Whig Members in the House of Commons would be reduced to the Representatives of their few remaining rotten boroughs. It would then be seen that the Reform Act, which was said to have " poisoned " the Tories, had demolished the Whig party.
But, " where there is a will there is a way "—it is not even now absolutely too late for reunion. Never before had a party so in- trinsically weak as the Whigs, the opportunity of making so advantageous a political bargain as is now offered to them. They are not required to support a single measure wi:ich they dis- approve of, but simply not to appose, as a Cabinet, the wishes of the majority of their supporters. In return for this negative aid, the Radicals offer them power and office, and even popularity to some extent. In all other political combinations, the various parties have each bargained for a share of the loaves and fishes; but the Radicals say to the Whigs, take them all, and only do not oppose measures necessary for your own salvation! Is it possible that any set of men can be so deficient in the corn- ,monest worldly wisdom as to reject such terms as these ?
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