CONFIDENCE IN MINISTERS.
A GOOD illustration of the nature and degree of the unpopularity of Ministers, has been furnished by a great meeting of' electors and inhabitants of Lambeth, which took place on Monday last. The declared object of the meeting was to consider of a petition to the Commons for Peerage Reform. The Members for the bo- rough were present, one of them having come to town for the pur- pose of attending ; and a more numerous assemblage could not have taken place within doors, since the largest room in the borough was quite full. As to the only purpose for which the meeting had been called, there was not the slightest difference of opinion—all present, without a single exception, being for a thorough) reform of the obstructive part of government. Yet a scene of greater discord, confusion, and uproar, has been seldom exhibited. No speech, except the opening one of the Chairman, was beard even with patience ; most of the speakers were not beard at all ; and after hours of tumult the rioters dispersed, having passed the resolutions indeed, but in a state of languor and dejection. The whole may be explained by a few words. After the Chair- man's introductory speech. somebody requested that all the pro- posed resolutions, which had been prepared by a committee, should be read at once. One of these was to the effect, that the meeting reposed entire confidence in his Majesty's Ministers. This was the apple of discord; leading to amendment after amendment from those who objected to the resolution—to angry shouts from its supporters, directed against its opponents—and to a &term:. nation amongst those who were first refused a hearing, that the others should not be heard. All the mischief arose from the bungling of a somewhat Whiggish committee. No disturbance would have taken place but for the proposed affirmation of uncon- ditional confidence in the Ministry. It was this hardly fair pro- posal of a resolution not announced beforehand, and not properly relating to the announced purpose of the meeting, which really defeated the main objects of these Lambeth Reformers,—namely, to give an instructive expression to their feeling upon the subject of Peerage Reform, and to set an example which should be fol- lowed by the other Metropolitan constituencies. The very dif- ferent result of this meeting, however, is not without its lesson.
As the mere partisans of Ministers are exceedingly desirous just now to make out that the Government is as popular as ever, why do not they call public meetings in some large towns for the express purpose of declaring confidence in the Ministry? Is there one such town in England or Scotland, where a resolution to that effect would pass without so much opposition as would deprive it of all value ? We put these questions to those who object to our views of the public feeling towards Ministers. There are differ- ences of opinion on this subject no doubt ; but where is the evi- dence of that enthusiasm in favour of Ministers which could alone
procure useful votes of confidence The prevalent feeling, we repeat, of Reformers towards the Whigs—stopped and insulted as they are by the LYNDHURST-led Tories—is one of indifference, mixed indeed with a suspicion and a painful fear, that they will not "take up a position bearing more saliently upon the enemy, and resting upon an extended popular basis." How should those who are supposed to be incapable of helping themselves, expect to be vigorously helped by others?
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