NEWS OF THE WEEK.
" A PERIOD of prosperity is beginning "—such is the growing cry ; yet the agitation of the Anti-Corn-law League also begins to look more formidable than ever. An improvement in trade has for some time been perceptible ; and this week the principal Whig journal, finding it at length impossible to avoid recognizing the fact, proclaims that the " distress" is passing and " prosperity " dawning. The admission no longer being forbidden to Liberals, the whole country echoes the announcement. The Chronicle even acknowledges that the improvement began last year; and the Ministerial Standard exultingly accepts the confession as an ac- knowledgment that PEEL'S measures have succeeded. Many, no doubt, will be ready to seize upon the event as making out that the foreseeing Premier's calculations have been verified, however tardily. Some beneficial influence cannot fairly be denied, in the admit- ted absence of positively bad results ; but, assuredly, far grander agencies have been at work. Two plentiful harvests have secured, first, sufficient bread for ,the poor man without dealing out his purse for that one item of expense f ulteriorly, it is ascertained that, as there will be no large importation of grain, and conse-
quently no drain of bunion, the Bank will not be driven to act Upon the currency and make money scarce. So, what with easier cir- ,.cumstances, commercial confidence, the draining-off of old stocks during the " crisis,"—with an improved state of affairs, too, for our great customer the American Union,—there is a genuine de- mand or goods, and trade is really in motion again. Nay, specu- lation is getting up its steam; and in the throb of thousands of machines we already hear the coming whirl of exuberant "pro- sperity," that is once more to hurry us forward—Heaven knows whither.
Carpe diem. Last winter was extraordinarily mild, and in our climate the chances are that the next will be at least of average in- clemency; but many a cold-nipped creature will feel less miser- able—will feel strong against the hard season—for not feeling also the sinking pangs of hunger. Political agitation too, on economical subjects, must lose some of its bitterness. Public meetings may still agitate Free Trade, but not with the anger of desperation. Ministers will be released from the most embarrassing and alarm- ing kind of pressure from without : the greater scope will be afforded for the calm consideration of measures in order to a con- tinuation of the prosperity which is now intermittent, and for yielding to conviction without the odium of seeming to yield to fright. Whether Sir ROBERT PEEL is the man to improve the opportunity, is to be seen : he has made no promise either way. The Morning Chronicle calls for a Government strong in " prin. ciple,"—which of course cannot mean the Ministry that used to crave "pressure from without " : but certainly a Ministry strong in principle, by whomsoever furnished, would be opportune. If materials exist, such a one may be called forth by the times.
The new agitation of the League is the most imposing enterprise that they have yet undertaken; They calculate, that in the entire body of electors a real majority is in favour of free trade; and their object is, by placing the dissevered fragments of that majority in free communication with each other, to give it unity, strength, and efficiency. At the same time that by such means, and by a magniti. cent scheme of canvassing, they endeavour to evoke the truiopinion of the constituent body, they are to check the influences that dis- turb and oppose it in Parliamentary elections ; calling bribers and Intimidators to account before the law, with a strictness never em- ployed heretofore. Their arrangements have a completeness and a
• business-like aspect that promise much. Their strength will be all
the greater if they totally abjure the common electioneering tricks prattised by some of their allies of the Liberal boroughs, which have imparted to their agitation an air of puffing, of "humbug," and hollowness, much beneath the pretensiens of their leaders. , The scheme now propounded appears sufficient to try the real working and,mettle of our " constitution "; to test the vigour and intelli- gence of the electoral class, the worth of the administrators that our aristocracy can furnish, and the understanding and power of the legislating body. If the League do justice to their own device, every class will find its repute and influence at stake.
