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    OUB, E7ELA.TION TO TRACTARIANISM " It is...

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    * Letter to Lord Hhaftonbury, in the Moi...

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    The Eligible It Is Possible Tliat Next W...

    irreversibly settled , that the Conservatives break down and become a laughing stock in the mere pretence of _contravening it , and assume what disguises they may , without any contest they have given up the question . It must be finally set at rest at the general election , we admit ; but it will require no more than such a _u expression of will as the English people may make , without an exclusive absorption in that one issue .

    The Parliamentary Reformers have a much more definite and applicable programme . Their difficulty lies chiefly in the wearied , enervated , and , to a certain extent , demoralized condition of the people , which can recognise a necessity , a public right , without feeling the impulse to work it out . Reform has been so prostituted to paltry collateral objects , that the people has neither a faith nor interest in it . The mere fact that it is a " reform" tends to hinder the progress of the " Parliamentary Association . " The Parliamentary Reformers are the active , thinking , and , we believe , the practicall y sincere party of the middle class ; and they will be able to represent that class when the country revives for political action , and they have pre-occupied an effective

    position . These names and measures , these figures of prominent actors and organizations , pass away before the sight like the departing scene in a moving diorama , which , ceasing to hold the eye , becomes nothing but a tedious obstruction , hindering the sight of the more brilliant picture looming in the future , towards which we are now looking . We have not yet had time to form definite ideas of that new picture . We know , indeed , that some of the questions which have passed will re-appear , but on a new stage ,

    and , most likely , with new aspects . We know , for example , that the broad question of the suffrage will again present itself through the inevitable abuses of the present clumsy and illcontrived system , which even the Times exposes without apology j but we cannot distinctl y foreshadow to our minds the exact shape in which it will appear . We know that the labour question awaits attention . We know not only that the vast and momentous subject of national independence may force itself upon international notice , by renewed conflicts after a peace of almost

    unprecedented duration , but that it may come home to us in a still more formidable and pressing shape . The war of principles which Canning foresaw is already engaged . The present lull is not a termination , is not a peace ; and there are statesmen already looking forward to the measures that may be necessary in the next stage . None of these immense questions , however , are " yet ripe for practical discussion . Woi'oannot even ask pledges or declarations from the candidates , so cloudily do those momentous previsions loom in the future ,

    without any present shape . Tho ono thing we know is , that we aro now about to shape the House of Commons upon principles for guidance applicable only to the past ; that our classifications are wrecks of the past ; that political parties are worn out even in their names , their passions , and their interests , and that the election , which may usher us into ono of tho most eventful and critical epochs in the history of tho world , will be a paroxysm of confusion and stultification

    The electors who aro about to vote tho new Parliament have no views , or only such conflicting and trifling views as to neutralize each other . _l he great ignored body of the people , not _possessing the franchise , bus no power , scarcely any responsibilit y . Tho ruling class , which influences , if it does not dictate to the middle class , is perplexed and indifferent . The Parliament which Ave are about to have must represent nothing more nor less than that universal confusion and

    perplexity . It will bo an organized confusion and perplexit y . Tho most that we can hope is , that amongst the select mob about to fill the benches of St . Stephen ' s , may be some men so possessed with the elements of the future questions to which we have alluded , that when the time arrives the people may at least havo some spokesmen for tho occasion , some intellects capabhi of dealing with eventualities .

    It will bo most desirable , for example , to have m that next Parliament , whatever may be the inere party results , the best representatives of all the larger national views , old as well as now . •'• he Parliament would be imperfect as a national _co uncil , if it did not contain Lord John Russell , •> s the representative of tho Whig class ; Mr .

    The Eligible It Is Possible Tliat Next W...

    Disraeli , as the representative of the future party into which the Tory-Protectionist party , now writhing in the benumbed and _convulsive impotency of a chrysalis state , is about to transform itself . It would be incomplete if Mr . Cobden were not there , as the representative of the ceconomical radicals . It would be incomplete if Sir Joshua Walmsley were not there , to represent the active politicians of the middle class , men comparatively uncontaminated by the corruptions of semi-official routine and electioneering , and prepared to lead their class in the proximate future . The council would be still more

    incomplete if it did not contain men like William Newton , capable of speaking straight out , in their own person , for the class most vitally interested in the labour question;—men of ardent , selfdenying devoteaness , like William Coningham . and Lord Goderich , who , like all the best and truest friends of the people in all times , have come out from among the thousand dissolving influences

    of ease , rank , and station , to be the champions of their disinherited brothers—men thoroughly informed , by a painstaking study , of the deepest social questions , and prepared to deal with them comprehensively and in detail . It should contain men like Palmerston , capable of conceiving , as he showed that he did on Tuesday night , a remodelling of the map of Europe—an arrangement of alliances and active measures to maintain

    national independence for England as well as for other great countries now sunk in national slavery . The electors who have the interest of their country and of their kind at heart , who can forget old party distinctions , will concentrate their efforts in securing the return of men like thesethe salt that is to give savour to the tasteless mass , the leaven that may quicken it . The country , as it is called , is going to elect a mob , and the individual composition of that mob can be but slightly _affpcteid .

    It is the election of the few that , as we write , hecomes the measure of practical and permanent importance .

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    Oub, E7ela.Tion To Tractarianism " It Is...

    OUB , E 7 ELA _. TION TO TRACTARIANISM " It is singular to remark , said Lord Shaftesbury , some time since , " the tenderness with which _Tractarians look upon infidelity , and the organs of infidelity upon Tractarianism . " But he was not content with uttering this general accusation . He proceeded to the perilous task of giving a reason for the belief that had come out of him . He said , they had a bond of union " when set in opposition to evangelical sentiment , which they looked upon as the great bane of society—the great pest of the present daysimply and solely because it was the only thing that stood in irreconcilable antagonism to that detestable union" : that is the uniou between

    " Tractarianism and infidelity . We have no hesitation in saying that this accusation is as inaccurate as it is important ; that it as little became Lord Shaftesbury to make it , as it would become us to pass it over unnoticed . But first , we must do justice to our imputed allies , the Tractarians . Pr . Pusey , as their champion , has taken up tho matter in the most admirable spirit , and has clearly shown , first , that Tractarians do not look with tenderness upon what Lord Shaftesbury vulgarly calls infidelity ; but he says , " Tenderness for individuals , who

    aro unhappily perplexed about their faith , or havo lost it , all must have who believe that our Lord died for all , and that even these may be won back to him . " Observo , Dr . Pusey , who is a gentleman as well as a priest , docs not employ the offensive epithet , " infidels , " in writing of those " who aro perplexed about their faith , or who havo lost it . " lie leaves to Lord Shaftesbury the use of insulting and vulgar words . Secondly , he denies that the alleged tenderness to infidelity

    has arisen out of a blind hatred fo Evangelicalism ; and thirdly , ho is shocked , as well he might be , when he reflects that Lord Shaftesbury should assert that the ground of the alleged opposition to Evangelicalism and alliance with infidelity was that said Evangelicalism was antagonistic to the union . So far Dr . _lNisey ; he has shamed down his accuser not less by his arguments than hy the gentle yet manly spirit of his reply . Let us turn to our share in the transaction .

    We assume that the first half of the accusation was directed against us . In tho outset , therefore , wo deny that the Leader is au organ of infidelity . To whom , to what , havo wo been unfaithful P

    Oub, E7ela.Tion To Tractarianism " It Is...

    Simply , we advocate convictions on religion differing from those of Lord Shaftesbury , and from those of Dr . Pusey , as Dr . Pusey and Lord Shaftesbury believe creeds differing from ours . Who are unfaithful , we or they ? But perhaps abusive epithets suit the genius .. of the low church , and , if so to low churchmen we leave them . The entire accusation is just as false as the low epithet which is intended to be its . sting .

    We show no tenderness to Tractarianism ; when Tractarianism comes before us we deal with it as we would with that " ism" professed by Lord Shaftesbury;—we criticise it , and manfull y speak out our opinion upon it . But , and this it is which has so galled the low church , or , as they prefer to be called , the Evangelical party , we have treated the polity of the Tractarian party , not with tenderness , it is true , but with justice !

    Let us be accurate . "Tractarian party" is not the correct descriptive to apply to those we have called the High Church party . The correct epithet would be—and let Lord Shaftesbury ponder it—the Church party in the Church ; for Lord Shaftesbury is a living witness that there are other parties in the Church , not properly defined as Church parties . Having cleared up this subsidiary question of names , we may proceed to show that Lord Shaftesbury ' s reasons are as incorrect as his accusations . That we have entered into no union

    with Tractarianism , we have declared ; we havo now to assert that we do not value " evangelical sentiment" so high as to consider " it " as the only thing that stands in irreconcilable antagonism to the alleged " detestable union . " Evangelical sentiment , Evangelical polity , Evangelical advocacy and action , are not the doctrines nor the polity incumbent on true members of the Church of England . That , however , is not a _question we intend to discuss . We only mention it to show that we do not regard the clerical professors of Evangelical " sentiments" as true and faithful members of the Church of England ; _„ --, ai _* rr _^ . _„„„„ i , „ j-i , _^ _„ j- i "ai „ . 1 ... 1- ai . 4 ___ /

    UU . VL ITIJ ) _OUO KJJ \ JX 1 _IIXC VI / UC 1 D 1 UC , U U . O W _C _UAJ _J-Cgard the Tractarians , or High Churchmen , or whatever Lord Shaftesbury may please to call them , as the _ true , legitimate and logical members of that Church ; we do regard them as honest , outspoken advocates of a certain polity ; we do see them stating their views , and willing to take the consequences of carrying those views into action ; and honest , earnest , and outspoken ourselves , we sympathise with honesty , earnestness , and outspeaking in them . On the other hand , we do not sympathise with Erastians , State Churchmen , Compromise-men , nor with falterers of any kind . Therefore , we do not sympathise with Lord Shaftesbury and

    Evangelicalism . In fact , our relation to Tractarianism—or , rather to tho Tractarian party — the " common feeling , " the " bond of union" between us is , that we , as well as they , believe in honestly professing and honestly acting out our principles . We hold that members of a Church which they believe to be divine , betray it when they talk of " compromise ; " betrayitwhen they humbly subserve tho State ; betray it when they submit to temporal fetters ; betray it while they indolently connive at lax discipline , and worse , divergence in belief . For tho sake of truth in word and deed , for tho sake of national

    wholeness in spiritual health , we have supported tho comprehensive and honourable ecclesiastical polity of what is called the Tractarian party . And while we havo supported them , wo havo not neglected others , but for every party alike , even for every individual , havo we constantly and consistently claimed the fullest right of

    _self-development , the fullest measure ol liberty m speech and action , consistent with what is due to the self-development and liberty of others . That is our sin in the eyes of Lord Shaftesbury , and one source of self-respect in our own . The con-Boquoncos of that course we aro prepared to take , and the advocacy of that claim wo are prepared unflinchingly to continue . ,,

    Eor the rest , with Dr . Pusey , we say , we " believe that ; , in proportion as we lovo one another , we shall understand one another . For the glow of love draws up those mists which hinder people from seeing each other , or the truth , clearly , and mostly refract and distort the form of both . " *

    * Letter To Lord Hhaftonbury, In The Moi...

    * Letter to Lord _Hhaftonbury , in the Moirning Chronic . lo of June UOth , which all who _winh to understand ohoiild _ri'iul .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 3, 1852, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_03071852/page/13/