Lord F. Cavendish addressed his constituents in the West Rid-
ing, at Sowerby Bridge, on Saturday. After a plausible defence of the Ballot, which we have quoted elsewhere, he told his audience that the Liberals had held power for forty years, and had abolished government by a caste, and had substituted for it govern- ment by the people, who were wiser in the aggregate than their governors. The result has been, not the apathy of which Mr. Disraeli recently spoke, but a sound and healthy public opinion, which has enabled the people, as one example, to do what no other people had ever done, to make vast ecclesiastical concessions to those who differed with them on vital questions of religion. People said Ireland was still disquieted, but he would point to this fact,—that whereas in all previous disturbances, the Irish had educated leaders, not a man whose name was known beyond his own village now professed hostility to England. He might be a Home Ruler, but he professed profound loyalty to the Sovereign. That is true and good, but it will not help us much to have con- ciliated the great, if we have not also conciliated the masses of the people. We believe we have by the Tenure Law begun that work, but there is much yet remaining to be accomplished,—for one thing, the establishment of a magistracy in whom the people can trust.
