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March 21,1857.] THE LEADER. 277
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THE TRUTH ABOTJT NAPLES. We are in a pos...
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POLITICAL ASPIRANTS. A genetial election...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Tory Manifesto. Lord Derb Y Has, Thr...
Some have thought that Mr . Diseahi is rather outgrowing the satisfaction of his chief ; there has been a talk , even in this session , of his being superannuated by his party , on a retiring allowance ; and if Lord Palmerston has outgrown the ardour of youth , he has a chance of becoming the successor of Mr . Diseaeli .
March 21,1857.] The Leader. 277
March 21 , 1857 . ] THE LEADER . 277
The Truth Abotjt Naples. We Are In A Pos...
THE TRUTH ABOTJT NAPLES . We are in a position , -we believe , to state the actual facts connected -with the recent operations of British and French diplomacy at Naples . It is often the fault of those who attack the Government in or out of the House of Commons , to overstate their case , as Mr . Disraeli overstated his when lie
declared the existence of " the secret treaty , " thus converting a discovery into a blunder . The simple truth is , that when Great Britain and France undertook to exert a pressure upon the Government of Naples , it was felt , as lias been correctly stated by the Morning Star , that the Neapolitan people contemplated a change of government , and ¦ would probably take advantage of the allied demonstration to break into general insurrection . The question then arose , ¦ ¦¦ -what , course
Prance ^ and England should adopt in the presence of such an eventuality . It was distinctly intimated by Louis Napoleon" that he could not permit a llepublican Government to be established in Naples ; but it was suggested that the Neapolitans should accept Prince Murat as their constitutional king . Lord Palicerston would not countenance this scheme ; and we believe it -will be found he expressed himself to the effect that , opposed as Great Bxutain
must be to the creation of a Muratist kingdom in Italy , she preferred Constitutionalism to a ilepublie ; there was no promise given or implied , that British force should be employed to suppress an Italian revolt anywhere . Of course , there was the formal expression of a hope that the Neapolitans would not proceed to extremities ; - "but the point at which the French and British Governments parted , was that at which Louis Napoleon disclosed his Muratist scheme ,
a project lying at the bottom of all his Italian diplomacy . Lord Paxmebston resisted it with the utmost decision ; he saw that it was impossible to advance another step in conjunction with Ifrance ; Louis Naioleow understood clearly enough that without engaging England he could not hope for success ; and thus , when , the expedition had been prepared , and Naples expected the coming of the fleets , a difference of policy between the two cabinets neutralised all the measures that had been taken .
It will bo seen from this that the versions hitherto published have been substantially incorrect as well as incomplete . Lord Palmeeston did not undertake to suppress a ^ Republican movement in Naples , he never ottered to bombard the capital ; he merely objected to a Muratist conspiracy , and exchanged some diplomatic notes on the probability of a ltepubliean insurrection which resulted in no pledge being given on either side . " We even doubt whether French intervention in N / aples would ho tolerated by Lord Palmeuston ' s Government .
The moral of this narrative is identical with that which we have frequently deduced from events arising out of tho Anglo-French alliance . Two Governments based on totally hostilo principles can never co-operate with any advantage to mankind ; in tho present instance , the empirical action of England lias barel y sufficed to check tho imperial action of France ; but it is of no advantage to any principle or party to misrepresent
circumstances in themselves sufficiently deplorable . It is enough that Naples has been agitated and disappointed by tbe diplomacy of the allied Powers ; we predict the failure , however , of every attempt to implicate Lord Pai > meeston in an act of positive treachery . He may not be a Liberal ; he may not declare all his opinions ; but he lias the heart of an English gentleman , and the grounds of his differences with Louis Naw > leon , in connexion with the affairs of Naples , were rather honourable than otherwise to his judgment and to his personal character .
Political Aspirants. A Genetial Election...
POLITICAL ASPIRANTS . A genetial election invariably brings forward two classes of aspirants , — -independent men , animated by public spirit , and desirous of giving effect to general liberal opinions , and men who , having carried on for some years a retail business in politics , are desirous of trading , for the future , on a parliamentary scale
. There is a third class , composed of individuals whose candidature is not serious , but who , haying an interest in publicity , take advantage of a general election to publish a personal advertisement calling attention to themselves ; but these gentry may be dismissed very -summarily in a ' supplementary paragraph . It is observable that , since the announcement of the
dissolution , several names of untried aspirants have been brought conspicuously under the notice of the Liberal party . Among the most ... ¦ ' prominent is that of Sir Aethub Hall am Elton , who , in 1852 , contested the eastern division of Somersetshire . This gentleman is an independent Liberal , who lias thought out his opinions , who seeks to enter the House of Commons with no personal object save the honourable ambition of public life , who has never trafficked in-politics , or
concealed his opinions for the sake of popularity . Such a man would materially add to the strength of the Liberal party in the Legislature—to its moral influence , and to its intellectual authority , and therefore to its chances of success . Surely , a nondescript Mr . " Wat , whose sole qualification appears to he a near relationship to a young man of fortune , can have no chance against the man who fought the battle of Free-trade when Protection was in office . " We do not wish to institute
offensive comparisons , but it is a duty to warn our more impetuous friends against those stock-politicians who advocate constitutional changes which they know to be impracticable , and social theories which all rational men know to be impossible . Place thorn in Parliament , and Parliament would extinguish them , exactly as it extinguished poor Fjeaiigus O'Connor , and Mr . Gkokge Thompson-, neither the ono nor "the other cvei * making
the slightest figure in that assembly . Even Cohbett was comparatively ineffective in the presence of Sir Kobeut Pjsel . And what would be the fate of Mr . Henry Vincent , were tho electors of Bath to do that which , of course , they will not dream of doing , and constitute him their representative , burgess ? Ho would , to the end of his parliamentary career , be a dumb and wasted man , utterly unable to cope with tho spirit of tho Houseof Commons , deprived of his real vocation ,
so honourable in itself , and devoted to another in which it would be impossible that he should succeed . Tho constituent classes in America , which mny be supposed to understand well ouough the workings of Liberal institutions , never commit tho mistake of qualifying for the Legislature , by their votes , tho parallels of Mr . Hknjiy Vincent and Mr . Bknest . Tonks . If these politicians have a sphere of usefulness , as lady lecturers call it , that sphere lies outside of tho House
of Commons . These remarks do not apply to Mr . William Coningham , who , with many prospects of success , is canvassing Brighton against Lord Alfred Hebvey , whose Liberalism is of a tepid and Treasury fervour . Mr . Coningham is already an accepted representative of the forward Liberal party . In 1847 he polled nearly nine hundred votes at Brighton , and in 1852
nearly eigliteen hundred votes for "Westminster . At one period we should have hesitated to describe him as a practical politician . From his recent conduct , . however , and the language of his addresses , it is evident that , without sacrificing the intensity of his convictions , he is prepared to recognize in Parliament the political exigencies of the day , and not to rush at chimeras for the sake of consistency . It
cannot be fairly inferred from Mr . Coning-HAii ' s language that , he offers any homage to Lord Paltmlerston ; he supports his actual policy , but at the same time is an advocate for an extended franchise , the ballot , and the other measures included in the Liberal programme . We wish all success to Mr . Coninghiam , and we would remind the electors of Brighton that ho is the man to raise their constituency to an important political rank .
Lambeth , appears to be perplexed by the candidatures of-Mr .-Wilkinson ,. ' 'Mr . William Williams , and Mr . HourELL . It would be satisfied ,. ' . perhaps , to elect all three , but that being impossible , it is necessary to make a selection . Mr . Williams has been more assiduous than Mr . Wilkinson in attending to his Parliamentary duties , but both are Liberals . Then why not re-elect both ? it maybe asked . Because we believe Mr . Wilkinson has too often by his votes or by his absence neutralized Mr . Williams . Because we should like to see Mr .
Rotrpell returned to the Parliament of 1857 . lie is a local man , of considerable practical experience , a known Reformer , active , intelligent , devoted to his principles , and likely , we think , to render good service to the Liberal cause in the House of Commons . Moreover , Mr . Uoxjpell is gaining ground in Lambeth , and is likely to outstrip at least one of his opponents at the poll .
We attach no importance to such a candidature as that ait ' ected by Mr . Jatvos Hawnay in an address to the electors of Dumfries . His sole claim upon , their . confidence is that he was born there ; but if that be a claim there might be a good many candidates for London . As far as we know anything of Mr . Hannay ho is addicted to genealogical studies , and to voyages of discovery among the classics , a very genial occupation for an
adult student . Most men , however , havo forgotten all that the now candidate for Dumfries seems to havo detected in Pjj itsius and Maiitiai / . However , Inn feudal and classical principles may have conciliated tho Mansfield , Quhknsijehri ' , and BuoCTjEuair influences , though ' we rather doubt it . Twice , in former days , did a gentleman of t ho same name start far Dumfries—in 1832 and in 1835 — and on both occasions he was particularly well beaten .
But avo were referring to politicians , to candidates whoso pretensions aro serious . Mr . Cox and Serjeant Paury , in . Pinsbury , have tangible claims upon the electors , who nro still amused , however , by tho fantastic syntax of Major ltisisD , though ho might ainuao" * tlicm still more by describing how he was returned as a Conservative by a hundred and twenty-five British frco and independent , at Abingdon . They heard of that fact , howover , from { Serjeant Pa it it r . Mr . John Stapltcton ia a promising Liberal aspirant at Berwick ; at Canterbury Mr , Pubtojs
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 21, 1857, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21031857/page/13/
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