The Weekly Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868. ENGLISH POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 86, 24 August 1868, Page 205

The Weekly Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868. ENGLISH POLITICS.

The recent bold experiment tried by the great Tory party in Great Britain to outdo the most advanced Radicals in its concessions to the demands of the people rather than 4 lose place and power, will, it seems, now shortly' be productive of practical results/ Ardently as that party may desire, to, avert or delay the' appeal : to the new. and enlarged constituencies, it will be found impossible; and it seems that a; direct vote will 'be taken- from a con-

stituency which practically embraces the whole male adult population of the British Islands before the end of the present year. The rrisriiLpf; such an appeal cannot "he doubted for a moment. The passing of the Tory Reform Bill was the death warrant of that party, and the appeal to the enlarged constituency will be in effect its execution, lt is not a new, thing for the Tory or.: Conservative party to make .greater concessions to popular clamour' than the advanced Liberals were willing to do, and thus by a higher bid. to obtain andretairijoffice ; but up to the present lime the result has been rather favorable than, other: wise to ; the interests 'of that party. The Liberals .have been uniformly too 'slow, and marching in the rear of popular opinibn gave every chance. to. a bold statesman of•' .the Peel genius to step before them and reap the harvest of popular favor-which was theirs by ri&htj in < good time sures which they saw > must ultimately prevail* Thus it was with -the corn lawSi&nd other restrietionsdntraileand wejs£d|llying o ver the degree of con* c&ssions it wouM* -fa'rth^rsseing leaders of fhe obstructives—-

■(-: 4 y»- ■■ .- ; whose party, had up .that time uniformly opposed all',concessions, of: whatever degree-r-perceivihg that’ l a-certain result was inevitable, stepped before 5 those to., whom . the nation > looked for for,, a . redress of: its grievance3,and abolished. ,>n> tofo- what »the other party would- biit 5 have modified, thereby gainitr|f-greatly in popuiar' favor, and throwing upon its opponents; that disgust which itself should rightly have borne. >*t This move it has - successfully played again and agaiii -'until'it seeihs to have deVeloped 'ripr i ueipie of which .is the exponent, and which seems to; be to hold office at anyiapd every expense of principle; 'sothat after introdueing- a measure of quasi reform it.; permitted^-that treasure to be.shorn of. all its. vital features,'and to-become the expression of the views of its .bitterest opponents before it would yield up the reins of power; for it cannot be denied that the measure actually passed by the House and adopted by the Tory party as their own, is the most democratic in its principles ever passed through a House of Lords and assented to by a-British Sovereign. However, it may be simply asserted that, by so doing that party has reached the limits of its elasticity. It can go no further ; and its retention of office for a brief period has been gained at the expense of its existence.