TOPICS OF THE DAY.

EASTER 1836 AND EASTER 1839.

Tunny, years ago the MELBOURNE Government was yet strong in the confidence of the whole Liberal party. Restored by a vigorous

effort of the Reformers, it enjoyed their undivided aml earnest sup- port. Then, at Easter 1836, the Tory Opposition first attempted to govern, by destroying or mutilating in the Lords all measures of reform which had passed the Commons. Lord IsrisninsasT is said to have predicted at the time, that if the Government sub- mitted to his proceedings, disunion and apathy would take posses- sion of the Reformers, and would, in due couse, " let in the Tories."

The prophecy attributed to him was at all events made by others, and now seems on the point of being fulfilled. The MELBOURNE

Government did submit ; disunion and apathy amongst the Re- formers followed; and no one doubts now, that the 'forks may take office whenever they please.

Lord LYNDHURST probably hoped, that the Tory tactics wItich he suggested at Easter 1836, would take effect long before Easter

1839. If so, he under-estimated that general and deep-rooted dis-

like of the Tories which has sustained the ,.!.1EBBOURNE Government since Easter 1836, by the proximate means of submitting to Tory guidance, and deluding the Reformers with such pretences as " ripening the pear " and " bombarding the Lords with good mea- sures." If the Tories had been less feared and hated, less than three years would have sufficed for the success of the LYNDHURST policy. At length the MELBOURNE Whigs are more despised than the Tories are hated or feared; and the end of a Government which has long subsisted on truckling and trickery, is obviously near at hand. In surveying, however, the gradual decline of the MEnnounzsr: Government since Easter 1836, and still more in attempting to con- jecture the probable hour of its 11111, we must not omit to notice an influence which has restrained, though it has rather insured than frustrated, the operation of the LYNDHURST policy of Easter l83(3. Admitting Lord LYNDHURST'S great ability, his prudence is hot re- markable. The Prudent Tories, (commonly so called to distinguish them from Orangemen and the pack who merely hunger for Down- ing Street,) with Sir ROBERT PEEL and the Duke of Winsumeros at their head, have kept a drag on the LYNDHURST chariot. They have had no mind to office without a pretty sure prospect of re- taining it. Nay, it has latterly become manifest that the Duke's ambition is satiated ; and an opinion prevails, that Sir RonuaT pre- fers his present distinguished and easy position as head of the great Conservative party, and real but irresponsible leader of the House of Commons, to the toils and responsibilities of official power. But however this may be—whether their motive was a personal repug- nance to office, or a desire to render their future hold of office se- cure by utterly degrading the "Reform" party, they have frequently protected and preserved Lord MELBOURNE'S GOVC111111CIA even while they brought it into contempt. Front the beginning of this session, the sole stay of the Government has been the lbrbearance, or rather protection, of Sir Ronmcr and the Duke.

How long the policy of keeping themselves out will probably actuate the prudent Tories:, it would be hard to say provided the event were entirely subject to their pleasure. But this is by no means the case. The state of parties has recently assmned a new

aspect ; exhibiting one feature, at least, which mu s: very dis- agreeable to the out-keeping Tories. At the close of last scs,:ion, the " pear-ripming," " Lords-bembarding" fraud (4' the mai:- non:NJ.; Government had tidily worn itself out. 1):tr'ag this - skin, a section of the House of Commons, numerically small uo doubt, hut which represents the great bulk of those who ever called themselves Rethrtners, has set up for itself; not very syste- matically or vigorously indeed, hut still so as to draw a plain line between Finality and Iletbrin within the walls of Parliament. Mr. Dt-x(s)m on's moth at on the Address settled that poiw. Since then no week lets passed without some frosh symptom of Radical inde- pendence. This neNv element in the state of partil'7, is beyond the control of PEEL and WELIANnTox. Tiwv cannot ke,:p thentselves out, if' twenty Liberal....‘lembers a the lions- of Cse11110M-; to aid them in preserving the MEL:tot-RN!: Govern:1:r t for :ifrt her degradation.

Mere Whigs and Whippers-in of' the Government, such as Messrs. ELLICE and STANLEY, go Whining about and complain- ing of the Radical section, whom they accuse of wishing to " let in the Tories," and of cruelly deserting the GoNernmL`III \\lien it is in the greatest danger. There is neither :my such wish, nor any cruelty in the case. We pretend to soon' acquaintance with the state of' feeling amongst the Independent Retbrmers in ; and we assert confidently, that the present motives er II! )1: class of 'Members comprize no purpose tithes friendly to the Tories or hostile tEl the Al ta.nonaNE-Whigs. Some Radical hostility to- wards t!te Government would be excusable cat 'ugh, considering how often LORI MELBOURNE 1111(1 his coliPll,olleS ill III:. House of Commons have snubbed the Radical Members, besides constantly helping the Tories to defeat their objects. But personal resentment, we repeat, has had no influence with the Radical Members, save two or three who have been personally affronted by the insolence of Lord .lonN Tins and Mr. SPRING Titvr. The hulk of the

Radical Members do not even want to " let in the 'forks" with a view to the good measures that might be extorted from a Prudent-

Tory Government by a vigorous Liberal Opposition. Not more than ten or twelve of them, perhaps, have yet concluded that a break-up and reconstruction of parties would be good for the cause of Reform. Most of them are still afraid of the Tories; but all have at length become more afraid of incurring total loss of character and position by longer sticking to the despised and fall- ing :MELBOURNE Administration. Herein lies the whole secret of their recent assumption of independence. They see that the MELBOt RNE Government cannot much longer be upheld by any means; and they are unwilling to fall along with it. They are washing themselves of the dirt through which they have been dragged for the last three years. It is with a view to their own position hereafter, that, by a timely exertion of foresight and pru- dence, they lay aside party considerations and take their stand upon principles. After having been cheated into a long sacrifice of' their principles to party objects, they must submit to get credit for no higher motive than a sense of sclf-interest. They wish

to preserve, perhaps to improve, their own importance. And this motive, which may be attributed without the least reproach, seems at last to actuate a portion of the press that has hitherto stre- nuously supported the Finality Ministry. The Horning Chronicle

cordially adopts that policy which we urged upon Lord MEL- BOURNE with friendly importunity so long ago as 1833. Ills game is up; the ship is sinking; and all who have a chance of escape join in the cry of sartve qui peat. The only wonder is that it did not happen sooner.

The present position, however, of the Independent Reformers in Parliament, cannot be long maintained. Theirs is a policy of transition. They are but taking precautions to secure their own importance when they shall sit on the Opposition benches. This is the only rational aim of their proceedings ; and it necessarily con- templates a Tory Government. Standing aloof from the Ministry, voting with it occasionally, but oftener tigainst it, damaging it by their speeches, ashamed of even their slight connexion with it, and

always incapable of giving the least effect to their own principles,

this new party would, but for the prospect of speedy change, be placed in tin intolerable position. From the hour of proclaiming

their independence, they have had the deepest interest in a break- up and reconstruction of parties. To become the leaders of a Re- tbrm Opposition, must now be the sole aim of every able and am- bitious man amongst them. It behoves them for their own sakes to defeat the PEEL policy of keeping out the Tories. Despite el whatever some of them may say, or even at present think to the contrary, they will be more and more bent on this object with every day's endurance of their present truly uncomfortable posi- tion. The Tory Leader, therefore, can no longer reckon on their aid for enabling him to delude his followers by pretended at- : tacks on the Government. It can hardly be expected, that by the 1,5th of April they vill have gained the wit to force him into office Oil an Orange question; but the day cannot be distant when ; they will have both the sense and the courage to do that which : shall (liable them to take thew proper place on the front bench at' Opposition. Until they. cross the House, though they may use- full- pursue the mm inswhich they have adopted of providing for thew own consequence: when on the other side, they will have no ; political import:mess no definite character, no hold on the country., no is.rt v to call theirs. no chance of accomplishint: y mate of their

• ;

pu,Ite objects. Next week we ILlLll return to Ls last of these

considerathins.