TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE COMING MAN!
IT is an old belief that the ripening of a nation for great events is sure to call up a man to work them out ; yet, although this faith is doubtless a true one, its recognition just now brings some per- plexity. That we are on the eve of great changes, no one pretends to deny ; but it is impossible to point out an individual with whose career they can be prophetically identified. It is not remarkable that England is without a statesman ; for statesmen, like poets, are lights that do not rise in regular succession along the road of time ; but that she is without even a pretender to the title. At all former periods, each of the three great classes of politicians—those who would pitch us back, those who would stand still, and those who would advance—have at least been able to flatter themselves that they could name a man who if suffered to take the helm would soon work us into favouring seas : but now, turn where we may, no candidate appears ! As if all genius for political leadership had departed from our shores, the three contending parties seem to possess but soul enough among them to animate one body ; the combination of these neutralizing elements—these spirits of the past, the present, and the future—being utterly incompatible with the recognition of any one distinct principle, and producing only a vague idea of infinity—or nothing ! There are symptoms, however, that this balance of power, al- though the emblem of eternity, will not last for ever. Throes have been observed which would seem to indicate that the third or Pro- gressive party begins to warm into activity, and to entertain some thought of setting up with a soul to itself. When this happens— when the dissolution takes place of that arrangement which now unites the spirit of each in Sir ROBERT PEEL—where is the pro- gressive principle to lodge ? Will Sir ROBERT cast off the other two, and, confident of its vitality, boldly step out of himself to in- dividualize its greatness ? (and in such case will the said principle consent to animate him as its instrument ?) or will some young ambition start up fresh for the career, with sinews unstrained by the cramped and crooked ways of old diplomacy ?
The cause of the present insignificance of the "Liberals" of ancient breed lies upon the surface, and will partly serve to indicate the characteristics which may be looked for in the man by whose influence they shall be superseded. They made politics their trade. When they served a cause, it was that it might serve themselves ; and so, instead of holding to it through evil report and good report, as to an enduring truth, which despite all existing shadows must shine out at last, they were ready to palter with it the moment its light was dimmed. They would share its glory, but not its shame.— go with it into power, but not follow it into retirement. What won- der, then, that in brighter days they are in turn cast off? No one feels that the old party Liberals in the Legislature re- present the Liberalism of the time. They are tolerated, not followed ; their mannerisms are understood ; they make the old " points " at the old places, and draw from habitual admirers the usual modicum of applause : but there is not one among them with genius to create a belief that his efforts are real, or that they are exerted otherwise than as a routine means of profit and self-aggrandizement. They have no idea of Liberalism except as something in opposition to Government ; and so when they become a Government, they have no other task than that of resisting their former selves. They rest upon no common end; and when reverse occurs, they have no rallying-point for their supporters.
From the characteristics of the present Government and its pre- decessors it is easy to speculate on that which is approaching. That it is to be one of retrogression, perhaps even Colonel SIB- THORP would hardly be fond enough to hope ; and the idea that it is to he one of fixity, or compromise, is forbidden by the supposition that it is to be different from the present. It must, therefore, be one of advance ; and in that case, as we have seen, it can only find vitality in the sincerity of its leader. He must be surrounded by those who shall feel that they are agents of one predominating in- tellect acting towards an avowed and definite purpose, and sustained in its course by the conviction, without which there can be no en- thusiasm, that the long day will bring success.
To this end, the want of the age is a statesman who shall take his stand upon the great fact that the course of the world is onward, and who shall thus draw round hint as adherents the advocates of each minor amelioration comprehended in the general progress. There are few even among the most Liberal who apply their Liberal- ism to every point. Some are Liberal on commercial, some on theological, some on political, and some on juridical questions ; but, beyond the pale of their own peculiar subject, they are often as intolerant as ignorance can make them. We want a mind that shall gather and condense these fragments of truth, and that, being consistent with itself, shall apply their living principle to every subject that comes within his range. By this means, and this alone, he may become the leader of a nation ; since, being followed by all those who are respectively earnest apostles of some isolated truth which has given interest to their lives, be will never be deserted so long as they can look upon him as its leader. All virtuous energies would thus permanently gather round him, and it would be his task to give them coherence and direction.
But it may be asked—" In what way can the man who recognizes the various truths brought forward by small sections of Reformers hope to realize for them the accomplishment of their ends? If one of these minor sections, for instance, should desire but an experi- ment towards a better course, what would the recognition of a Minister do for them, while the various other sections of Re- formers were, in conjunction with the block-like resisters of all change, passively or actively opposed to them ? " Thus much he could effect : he could state his own conviction of the goodness of the design, and he could pledge himself to use all available means for its promotion—to advocate it by his argu- ments and his vote : and this is all that could be required of him. It would be felt that he had means of ascertaining all the strong features of the case, of presenting them favourably, and of softening -down difficulties, which no one else could possess. He would not be expected to convert by his mere will a minority into a majority ; to force the passing of the measure ; or even to bring it mechani- cally forward at unfavourable intervals, with the certainty of rejec- tion. It would be enough that he should let it stand upon its simple merits ; that he should never conceal his own conviction of its truth ; and that he should facilitate by every means within his reach the progress of opinion in relation to it. Again, it may be urged—" It is very fine to talk of a man who shall collect around himself all the fragments of truth which are floating in society, and with the aid of one broad principle grasp them as a consistent whole. If the doctrine means any thing, it means that he is to pander to the passions of every little knot of men who stimulated by envy or ill-fortune are desirous of change, by holding out to them the prospect of gratification if they will bide their time." But he who takes up the doctrine of human advance- ment knows full well, that it is only to be achieved by promoting the harmonious exercise of all the faculties of man ; and that they who seek a gain which cannot be attained except by the injury of others, outrage the highest of those faculties, and retard that aim. No statesman can long hesitate as to measures which may safely be encouraged, who shall take as his guide the simple belief that it should be the object of every government to promote the gratification of every desire of the people, stopping short of that point where the enjoyment of the individual interferes with the like enjoyment of his neighbour. To discern such desires and opinions in all their stages within the human mind—latent, nascent, matur- ing, and matured—to direct and foster them, is the privilege of the philosopher ; to recognize them when they attain the fulness of con- viction, things willed to be done, and practicable, is the office of the statesman. With this clue, his course is plain; and although, to the extent to which it insures the protection of all individual rights, it is obviously fatal to every exclusive privilege, it would still authorize no steps, even to remedy existing wrong, save those which would be consistent with benevolence and justice, and the calm determination of the national will.
To keep men from encroaching upon one another, and to aid the gratification of their just desires, is, then, the simple duty of a statesman. To what a concise point may the principle be brought, from which should arise all those innumerable details, the practical working of which must occupy and consume his life! And, out of heart and sickened as the best men are with the in- difference or contumely which Truth must bear from politicians— tortured, encumbered, clipped and disfigured to meet the unhealthy fashion of their thoughts, before her homely form can be permitted to intrude within their councils—is it to be hoped that, during the days of men now alive, a statesman will appear, who, content to stand upon one simple principle of universal justice, shall seek no aid that would contaminate his cause; and who thus discarding the long-estimated advantages which pompous reserve, indefinite pro- mises, court intrigue, public patronage, and private interests may offer, shall rely only on the force of reason, and, openly proclaiming his honest creed, challenge the world to prove him in the wrong ?
Although his course could promise but a distant fame—a stormy day, brightening towards the close, yet settling in sunshine only on his grave—it may be that such a spirit would even now find suc- cour from a host of constant hearts. In England, at all events, the direct of purpose ever command respect. Let the wide influence of the Duke of WELLINGTON bear testimony to this feeling; and let us believe that it would be no less shown towards one who should unite with the straightforward honesty of the Duke a quality to which he has no pretension, and which he would regard as foolishness,—namely, the faith in the advancement of mankind which we have imagined as essential to secure among the names of history a place for that of "the coming man."
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