44 ULTRA RADICALISM. 



confusion, many of the Radical Party, indeed almost all the promi- 

 nent and most active spirits, were forced into political intimacy with 

 the Ultras. It will take more than a little time ere the Radicals can 

 graciously shake off this connection ; nor till they can do, and have 

 done so, do we think they could occupy official station, without se- 

 rious impediment to their effectiveness from the Ultra Parties. The 

 Ultras, on either side, are voracious and insatiable as the abyss. They 

 know not what it is to have enough. Such writers as the True Sim 

 and Examiner, are, through instinctive good sense, deterred from ex- 

 treme abuse of the present highly deserving ministry. They know 

 the country feels they have done more than could be expected from 

 essential Aristocrats ; and that the country is grateful to them ; and 

 that they, the Ultra Organs, could not hope to materially impair their 

 credit for principle and consistency. But, were Radicals now to 

 come into power, turn illce turbos farent ! then what a clamour would 

 the greedy Ultras raise ! how would they, like harpies, hover about, 

 and pounce upon, and defile the banquets provided by the Radicals ! 

 Not a sentiment would be uttered by a Radical ministry, or a measure 

 proposed, but the flight of dire and obscene Ultras would intercept 

 the popular gratitude, and mar its enjoyment. Nothing, however li- 

 beral, which the Radicals could offer, would be enough. The quota- 

 tions of Radical sentiments and assertions, under the excitement of 

 fraternization with the Ultras, would be so heaped upon them, as to 

 throw suspicion upon their integrity ; would destroy their credit with 

 the lower orders, whilst the higher would be so totally estranged from 

 them, as to leave no chance at all of their carrying their measures into 

 effect. 



It is a further objection, with us, to the speedy admission of our 

 own party to official power, that it would be subject to unduly rapid 

 impulse from the Ultra Radicals. We feel conscious our own desire 

 for alteration and improvement would expose us to grievous temptation 

 to hurry onwards, had we the whip and reins in our hands ; and we 

 would not trust any Radical, we know of, in a situation to be at once 

 excited into vain-glory and over-confidence by the Ultras, and to 

 have the power of pushing his intemperance to consummation. 



The systematic and unqualified perseverance against national opi- 

 nions and wishes, of the unreformed government, was certainly 

 grounded upon a false principle, namely, that nothing should be yielded 

 as long as it could be maintained. This false principle is at an end ; 

 but the wisdom of the trite old sayings of our school days, <( Est 

 modus in rebus," " Ne quid nimis, &c." is still unimpaired in the esti- 

 mation of true philosophy. We maintain, that with our unexampled 

 facilities for discussion, enlarged too, as they soon will be, and through 

 the increasing intelligence of the masses, the country will be better 

 managed by a government a little inclined to hold back, than to lead 

 the way. The public want ministers who will be open to national 

 convictions, not ministers who would force convictions on the nation. 



