The Present Position of the "Liberal" Party (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1862 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. THE LEADERS OF ENGLISH "LIBERALISM."--LORD RUSSELL. It will take a good deal of showing, whenever the illustration may be demanded, to reconcile the public necessity that is just now held to be sufficient, with the Ministers who have lately chiefly insisted on vindicating the necessity of weakness becoming permanently insincere. But "English Liberalism" could probably very well afford to illustrate this, and safely indicate the variety of its opportunities, if there was anywhere the reality of trust in its own leaders. The competition to keep clean was certainly too wide. At the very first there were those who conceived, that the chance of even leading might be something, if scruples were to be sometimes admitted, and if a passionless belief was to be yet allowed. These were un tainted auxiliaries for which English " Liberalism" had not in the least provided. There were those coming on, with an immoral pledge to suit every want, who were to lead without one scruple, if there was to be only the guarantee of place without end. Such a political future was cheap with only such a moderate guarantee. It was never very hard to find pretences in a competition, where those who would do the best for themselves would be those who took in the most of their kind. Humanity has benevolently decided that every one at least is fit for this who chooses. If the qualification was considerately set at the meanest, it was probably because a higher standard might have been a risk, and because Lord Russell had been already some time in view. It would be hardly saying too much that " Liberalism " was the rather got up for Lord Russell than was Lord Russell provided for " Liberalism." He had led the Whigs until the following was only supplied by his own family, to be rep...