Anonymous

“ A dispassionate perusal of all that has occurred during the past eighty years, which few of our people ever study—an acquaintance even with the proceedings of Congress during the last four years, would shew that no tyranny can surpass that of a radical majority. The unscrupulous means adopted to secure its success in the impending Presidential Election have compelled even their own organs to express their shame. ”

“ It is a melancholy thing to see services of this sort rewarded with large sums of money, and to reflect on the encouragement which such a proceeding is sure to give to the most vulgar and reckless forms of agitation, and to that vilest of all tyrannies—the tyranny of a mob towards which they lead. ”

“ Politicians who depend upon the breath of popular applause, find the true duties of the statesman irksome, uninteresting and uninviting. Such labours besides are unaccompanied by the gratification of political excitement. Any fanciful crotchet likely to beguile the unthinking—any subject that offers the chance of agitation is therefore eagerly embraced by them. ”

“ The love of novelty arising from the race for popularity, leads these guides of the people to prefer experiment to experience, and to ignore the salutary lessons it would teach them. The tone of many articles of the press, and of many election addresses, induces the inference that the triumph of Democracy among us ought to be a subject of the warmest congratulations! ”

“ During the long period of Liberal power, what member of the party has proved his claim to the title? Our wretched tenements, our miserable poor, our social curses and the ignorance of our lower classes with all its attendant evils, remain as abundant proof of the zeal of the poor man's friends. ”

“ Influences of various kinds contribute to fix their allegiance to a party symbol or a party cry, and prejudice, false shame, or moral cowardice in presence of loud opinion restrain many, who, if they but heeded the voice of their convictions and steadily reflected upon the principles and practices of their political associates, would find their true position to be rather with those, whose aim is to unite rational progress and well ordered liberty, with the preservation of all that is dear to the memory and love of an Englishman. ”

“ Those however who regard political professions simply as devices for the hustings prefer the practical test of performances. Nor can anything be more a propos just at present, than to review the long term of office enjoyed by the Liberal party, and to ascertain what grounds, if any, exist for the self satisfaction that prevails among its adherents, and what grounds there may be for most serious reprehension. ”

“ It is a blessed thing that the annals of our country do not furnish a history of the doings of such a party during a period of well assured triumph. If the past could furnish us with such a record, we should probably now be enabled to appeal to a bitter experience which would do much to mitigate our fears. We can however with confidence appeal to our next door neighbours and to our own kindred in the far west. ”

“ Frantic Radicals have often ripened into cautious Conservatives, and the effect of official life on political creed is so well known, that the comparative mildness and moderation of Mr. Bright's later effusions have been generally set down to his desire to prepare for the responsibilities of office.
The mode in which the Liberal party has all along dealt with Reform is an apt illustration.
Had sincerity been an ingredient in their professions, there is no excuse whatever for a party in office so long, with such a majority, not having realized this among others of their political aspirations. ”

“ I am confident the result of his unbiassed judgment will be—as a patriot to rally to the defence of all that is dear to an Englishman at home and abroad—as a practical man to enrol himself with the great constitutional party, under a banner, on which is inscribed the sum and substance of all good principles—"Fear God, Love the brotherhood, Honour the King." ”

“ But it is not only the principles of Radicalism which dismay me, but its conduct in support of them, nor does experience of so called Liberal administrations engender confidence in Englishmen jealous of their national glory and welfare.
On these grounds then we are opposed to Radicalism because of—
its want of cohesiveness. its unfairness. its incentives to unprincipled ambition. its false and deceptive professions. its sacrifice of principle to popularity. its restlessness and love of novelty. its contempt of experience. its illogical and inconsistent conduct. its impatience of opposition. ”

“ Then by the most factious conduct and abuse of the forms of the house he impeded all legislation, and vindicated his reprehensible conduct by justifying a minority in the use of unscrupulous means. Time would fail to dwell upon the characteristic repugnance of radicalism at all times and in all places to fair argument and free speech. ”

“ To menace the Legislature with hordes of the lowest of our people—to stop traffic and commerce—desecrate the Sabbath, and double the work of the Police Courts on the following day is called 'Peaceful agitation,' To copy the faults without the experience of foreign nations is deemed—'Political wisdom'—To assault principle after principle of our noble constitution, the accumulated wisdom of our forefathers, is regarded as the true characteristic of a 'Friend of the People. ”

“ But whilst not one Liberal Candidate deems it prudent to draw attention to our Foreign relations as they have been, and as they are, most of them are not ashamed to charge the effects of the Abyssinian blunder, and a year of terrible commercial panic and depression upon the financial department of the Government. A brief Statement of the budgets of ten years will prove whether the so called Liberals have any more claim to a speciality for Retrenchment than they have for Reform. ”

“ This is the history of the rise of these puffing demagogues, and sad as it is, men are not ashamed to follow a Finlen shouting Reform, which he at least could soon find to his heart's content for his peculiar social and domestic virtues in the nearest House of Correction. The influence obtained by such men will necessarily be exerted for their own purposes. Secretaries and Delegates must live, and Trades unions must support them, and exist for this purpose if for no other. ”

“ It is the duty of a sensible man at such a time as this, not to be guided by party symbols or party cries. These may remain the same, while the principles they represent rapidly fluctuate. It is his duty to weigh well not only the particular points at issue, but their tendency—to review the antecedents and composition of the party to which he inclines. ”

“ In no other way can we account for the great blunders of Democracies hitherto, which have proved just the reverse—that the best men do not come to the front—that the noblest talent is not enlisted in the service of the state—that wherever salutary checks are withdrawn, and strong incentives are offered, unprincipled men make politics a trade. ”

“ In practice we find exactly the reverse of our expectations. Mr. Bright does not hesitate to justify an agitation for the repeal of the union, if the verdict of the nation be favourable to the Irish Church. Mr. Ayrton's conduct during the debate on the Cattle Bill is an instance more truly typical. Defeated in some whim he petulantly threatened the county members who happened to be in the majority with a curtailment of their rights by some future Radical measure for Redistribution. ”

“ They seem to have always taken an optimist view of things—to have fancied that noble and patriotic men would always be rushing to shed their blood, or spend their lives for their country—that their fellow countrymen would always be so discerning as to choose men of ability, virtue, and excellence for their leaders, and that such men would always be the embodiments of self sacrifice and self denial! ”

“ Some of us have a reason for the political faith that is in us; nor will it be a profitless task at the present time to exhibit it, by giving you a brief and simple review of the principles of Radicalism. ”

“ This endless excitement nourishes a race of unscrupulous politicians, selfseekers, covetous of their own aggrandizement and possessing the two essential requisites of a ready tongue and great assurance. Such fellows talk themslves and their hearers into anything, and their fluency possesses an influence in direct proportion to the ignorance of their audience. Whether they talk sense or nonsense is not the question. So long as they denounce with fierceness, and declaim with volubility, they are credited with all knowledge and become leaders of the people! ”

“ With respect to the third—It will be time to consider the rate paying clauses,—a grievance, when those most interested deem them such, A future agitation may be rewarded by their repeal, so as to admit to the franchise that 'residuum' which to Mr. Bright is most obnoxious. And to the last, I would say—it is a matter of some national importance that England should retain the proud position she at present occupies, and which no one will have the hardihood to ascribe to the merits of a Liberal administration. ”

“ How far this laudable motive is real may be gathered from the fact, that influenced by the terrible history of past Elections in Ireland, anticipating also, that in presence of enkindled religious animosities, intimidation and violence would be more rife during the impending contest in November, the government proposed to protect the voter by largely increasing there the number of polling places—a course often adopted among ourselves after any signal riot. ”

“ Angerstein your candidate for West Kent in his address, admits the Irish Church 'has faithfully preached the truth' and resolves to contribute to the triumph of a Church which according to him must preach falsehood!!
Mr. Bright is especially remarkable for a forgetfulness which renders him often inconsistent. In this Irish question he deals as all his party do with Ireland as a separate nation, and not as part of our common country as we maintain it to be: so when it suits his purpose he deals with Welsh or Scotch interests. ”

“ Can it be that on religious grounds you will indentify yourself with a cause which is supported by a Pusey, a Spurgeon, and a Bradlaugh? Which will muster among its forces every returned convict, and lawless man, every one faithless to his duties, as well as the enemies of all religion? ”

“ Odd enough, nearly all the great questions of importance, such as Catholic emancipation, Free trade, and Reform, which are claimed as Liberal triumphs have awaited their solution at the hands of Conservative administrations. ”

“ As a spurious popularity is the basis on which Radicalism must rest, it is not surprising that principle should be subordinated to it. When the Conservative administration inherited from their predecessors the vexed question of meetings in the Parks, did Lord Russell and Mr. Gladstone by word or sign interpose so as to vindicate order and authority, and a course of action, which judging from the out spoken sentiments of Sir G. Grey they would have adopted themselves? Bad as was this behaviour on the part of the Liberal leaders it was nothing when compared with Mr. ”

“ That with the possession of power for nearly twenty years past, with an ample working majority, and the cry of Retrenchment everlastingly on their lips, our Liberal friends have not done much to curtail extravagant estimates, or reduce expenditure.
2. It is certain Mr. Bright has never worked to check within the House of Commons the extravagance he denounces out of it.
3. Mr. Gladstone with his majority of sixty [6] is more to blame than the minority for any increase in the budget, he chooses to criticise solely for electioneering purposes. ”

“ For 700 years according to their own account they have had a preponderating influence, and to their door it must be laid. What good has been accomplished has been due to the counter-persuasion. Yet with this stern fact before them Radical policy tends to augment this pernicious influence, and to rivet the papal chains more firmly. ”

“ Gladstone who with his boasted majority of 60 or 70 can charge the government with extravagance in the face of his own controlling power! Others have not been slow to imitate their leaders by raising false issues. In the face of the fact that Messrs. Gladstone and Bright dictated to their followers at Carlton Terrace to throw out the Conservative Reform Bill on the second reading (a proceeding which led to the tea room party!) ”

“ If time permitted, we might profitably review his conduct in perpetually fastening upon the aristocracy of this country the stale reproach of Protectionist sympathies, and ignoring the fact that they are only to be found now a days flourishing in all their vigour among the Radical Republicans of his favourite America. Radical Papers which harp upon the fancied grievances of Ireland have no word of sympathy or remonstrance on behalf of the down trodden Southern states. Men who like Mr. ”