Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 71, No. 438, April 1852Various
History
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 71, No. 438, April 1852
Various
England -- Periodicals; Scotland -- Periodicals
We write strongly, because we feel strongly. Far be it from us to decry
that noble ambition which, for hundreds of years, has inspired the most
gifted men of the nation to take part in public affairs, and to act for
the public benefit. Often has the occupancy of office been to those who
filled the highest and most influential situations a burden rather than
a benefit; often, but for the sake of their country and their sovereign,
would they have been disposed to resign their trust, and resume their
simple habits and congenial pursuits in that private sphere which they
were so well calculated to adorn. But the sense of duty prevailed over
inclination, and they remained as STATESMEN, not as precarious
politicians. Principle was to them all in all. Their pole-star was
honour. They guided the vessel of the State with a firm hand, conscious
of their great responsibility, and of the magnitude of their trust. They
were no blundering navigators. They did not run the ship upon the reef
and forsake her; and then, when better and bolder men were engaged in
extricating her from the danger, attempt to embarrass their efforts for
the sake of regaining their position. But we live in different times.
One eye of Palinurus may be directed to the stars, but the other is
gloating on his perquisites. The great question is not the safety of the
ship, but the permanency of the appointed helmsman.
Setting aside those who are directly interested in his success--the
members of the family compact, the officials, and those who expected to
become officials--who are the uncompromising vindicators of Lord John
Russell's past policy? We can find them nowhere. One short month ago,
the Radicals had no confidence in him. To the Chartists--if we except Mr
Feargus O'Connor, who lately manifested some unrequited marks of
affection--he was peculiarly obnoxious. The Country party were in direct
opposition to him. The Peelites rejected his overtures. The Church
regarded him with dislike. The Protestant Dissenters put no faith in
him. The Irish Roman Catholics denounced him with more than usual
fervour. The colonists abhorred him. The shipping interest stood afar
off. Even the Jews mistrusted the genuineness of his efforts in their
behalf. Such was the situation of "the child of expediency," towards the
end of his official career; and can he now make it better? Only in one
way. By carrying into full effect the alliance which he has already
commenced, and by becoming, as we said before, a bold and uncompromising
democrat.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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