TOPICS OF THE DAY,

PROSPECTS AND POLICY OF TIIE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

THE vanquished partisans of' the PEEL Ministry endeavour to find consolation for their defeat in prophesying a brief and troubled existence to Lord MELBOURNE'S. According to these sagacious

seers, the Liberal phalanx is a rope of sand, a mere miscellaneous assemblage of conflicting elements, a composite pillar, and we know not what else that is emblematical of weakness and incon-

gru.ity. Yet it does somehow happen, that this miserable body of ignorant. pennyless, stupid, and profligate creatures, has con-

trived to push the gigantic Conservative party from their stools. Yes—notwithstanding the Tories are backed by the Court, and, if we credit their diurnal assertions, are in possession not only of absolutely all the wealth, talent, and respectability of the country, but even count more in number than the Liberals, it has somehow come to pass, that, after a severe struggle, they have been utterly defeated by this contemptible faction. All the favour of the So- vereign, all the influence of offIce, all the arts of practised poli- ticians, availed not to save them from deep and bitter humiliation. Now we are not so foolish or so prejudiced as to deuy the hoarded wealth, the extensive influence, the considerable numbers, the unwearied activity, the disciplined organization, of our antago-

nists. We admit that we have see reason to rate their powers of mischi n ef much higher than we did previously to the dismissal of the MELBOURNE Ministry in November last. But, do we infer from our knowledge of the formidable extent of their powers of an- noyance, that we, the victors, are weak ? We infer the precise contrary. Cannot the Tory writers perceive, that all their boasting tends to the honour and glory of' that party- which has overthrown their mighty men of valour ? IKe se;! plainly enough, that if the Tories are strong, the Liberals are stronger. The fact is now un- deniable ; for the faction has put forth its full vigour for the first time since the passing of the Reform Act. The struggle on the part of the Tories has been one of desperation ; and its failure might convince them of the fully' of an obstinate strife against the national will.

But it seems, that though united in opposition, the Liberals will not hold together when in power. It commonly happens that adversity tries men's souls, and that they who are constant to each other in stormy weather du not part company when the sun shines. But with the stupid Liberals, the usual order of things is to be reversed. Make it desirable in a worldly point of view that they should remain united, and that instant they prefer separation. Success, which invigorates the bonds of' every other political so- ciety, is to weaken theirs. The influence, emoluments, and pa- tronage of office, which attract so much support to Tories, are to scare it away from the Liberals. All the Waverers and Trimmers will go over to the ejected Tories : the Liberals will receive no aid from such, because they have now the means of paying for it. This is the logic of these admirable reasoners ; who endeavour to persuade us, that the men who were all-powerful in opposition must necessarily be weakened by the acquirement of official in- fluence, authority, and patronage. We shall be reminded, that the troops who bare contended shoulder to shoulder for victory, frequently fall out about the divi- sion of the spoil. True; but the Liberals have not fallen out, and time" spoil,' or the principal part of it, has already been ap- portioned. Nay, some of those who fought in the thickest of the battle have refused a this share of the plunder—not in wrath or disappointment at being offered less than they claimed, but from high and disinterested feelings.

But granting, it may be said, that you are all patriotic, all honourable men, there are such differences of opinion in your ranks, that you cannot conscientiously act together. Here again our opponents are in error. On leading questions that require speedy settlement, the Liberals are of ohe mind. That will soon be demonstrated; and as for matters of secondary urgency in point- of time, they will be suffered to lie over for the present. When the Reformers had an overwhelming majority, there was no risk or impolicy in forcing on the discussion of subjects on which considerable diversity of opinion prevailed; but now the instinct of self-preservation, were there no other reason for cau- tion, will suggest the necessity of adopting a different course. The formidable numbers of the Tory minority will have great influence in preserving union among the real Reformers of all shades.

The MELBOURNE Ministry is then, as we believe, sufficiently powerful to defy external attack ; and as yet we perceive no symptoms of disunion among its supporters in or out of Parlia- ment. It occupies, therefore, at the present time, high and firm ground. The most weighty question for consideration is, how is this position to be maintained and strengthened? Simply and only by a practical development of the principles of Reform, on which its chief declares himself resolved to act. Too much will not be expected by the Nation ; but what is attempted must be good of the kind, and manfully persevered in. We have Lord MEL.. BOURNE'S emphatic assurance that he will carry out the principle of appropriating the surplus of Irish Church property, laid down in the resolution of the House of Commons. This is the grand point as regards the subject of Irish Tithes. The other matters connected with it are comparatively unimportant, or of mere detail. It would, however, be politic, not to augment the paymen

to be made by the tithe tenantry beyond what was intended by the rejected bill of 1114 sear. The settlement of the Tithe question must be the lending legislative measure of the session for Ireland ; but we hope it may be found practicable to undertake and perfect other important though not complicated reforms. If not, we trust that the Irish people will he pacified by the knowledge that new princi- ples of government arc about to be adopted towards their country. They must see, from the composition of the Irish Cabinet, that

th •st are to be treated in a kindly spirit. We greatly mistake the national character, if the knowledge of this will not prodigiously fa Pate the work of improvement in Ireland.

Next after the Tithe Bill, the Reform of the Municipal Corpo- rations must be urged. All parties on the Ministerial side of the House of Commons are agreed upon the principle on which the new measure should be based. We trust that Ministers will not be contented with merely laying their bill on the table of the Com- mons, but will do their best to carry it to the door of the House of Peers ; so that, if an election should take place in the autumn, it may be distinctly understood that Ministers were in earnest.

With a large and comprehensive plan of Municipal Reform to point

to, the Liberals may sefeirs appeal to the constituencies,—if (and this brings us to our third and last essential measure, or rather series of measures) the necessary steps shall have been taken to make the Reform Act what it was intended to he, the means of red representation.

The deplorable state of the registries at the present time, the extensive use of bribery and intimidation at the last election, and the enormous expenses legally ineurred by many of the candi- dates, prate and enforce the necessity of amending the details of the Reform Act. It has worked well for the Tories, not for those whose political independence it was formed to create and gua- rantee. We are not now calling for extensive organic changes, but for such amendments of the details of the Reform Act as shall make it what its authors avowed they wished it to be.

If the Country and the house of Commons see that Ministers are honestly and steadily occupied in carrying such measures as these, it may be safely assumed that no serious attempts to harass and annoy them will be made by the Independent Members : but if it shall appear that Ministers are endeavouring; to shirk these important duties, then the motives for sparing them will be much weakened, and then indeed may arise those divisions in the ranks of their supporters which the Tories predict, but which as yet are nowhere to be seen.