DANGEROUS TORY INFLUENCE AT THE HORSE GUARDS.
IN the Minority who voted with Ministers on the Irish Tithe Bill, we mark the name of the Commander of the Forces. No one sup- poses, however, that this is any evidence of the desertion of his party by Lord Hiss. It is merely one of the tricks by which the Conservatives strive to embarrass the Ministry. Had Lord Hiss voted with his friends and according to his avowed party politics, Lord MELBOURNE would have had a good plea with the King for his dismissal. It was therefore determined that his Lordship should vote against his patron, fin- the good of the party. All this is perfectly well understood ; awl the apparent coopera- tion of Lord Hiss with the Government, on this single occasion, should not lead Lord MELBOURNE to suppose that he will not as- siduously labour by every safe method to render his post subser- vient to the purposes of that section of the Aristocracy to which, by birth, family connexion, and personal habits and inclinations, he is decidedly attached. Moreover, even if he were disposed to waver, there is one constantly at his elbow who will keep him steady to the point. Lord FITZROY SOMERSET is a guarantee that the Horse Guards will thwart the Reform Ministers by every feasible and prudent means. That the Government (if it can properly be termed a Government being without the command of the Army) has already been successfully opposed in their plans for reforming the military department, we have more than once been informed by Mr. ELLICE ; who, even in the financial matters which belong to his office, is forced to manage, and sooth, and procrastinate, instead of resolutely using his authority.
But it is needless to dwell longer upon the notorious fact that the Duke of WELLINGTON has more power at the Horse Guards than the responsible Minister of the Crown. The late vote of Lord Hies, so far from creating any doubt of this fact, tends to confirm it ; seeing that for the good of his party only he was induced to vote against his known opinions. His Lordship, we think, occupies a most contemptible position, and degrades him- self by such conduct. But that is his concern. Our object is to press Upon Ministers the necessity, in the present posture of affairs, of depriving their political enemies of the control of the Army. It is plain that military force is the main reliance of the Tories, in case any accident should enable them to seize the Government. Lord MELBOURNE may be sure that the Duke of WELLINGTON would not be such a simpleton as to stiller a Whig to control the administration and patronage of the Army, were he Prime Minis- ter. Intimations sufficiently plain were given in the Tithe de- bate, of ;he manner in winch the Army would be employed in Ireland by the Tories. A military despotism would at once be established in that country ; and no one can see the end of the misery and bloodshed that would ensue. There is no reason to believe that, under its present commanders and system of ma- nagement, the Army scould hesitate to become the tool of a des-
pstic government. In all its ramifications, from the Commander at the Horse Guards to the youngest Ensign who abuses the Whigs at the United Service Club, it is Tory, with rare exceptions. We have lately shown, on the authority of Mr. Eesies, that it is in a shockingly demotalized state. It is impossible to think wahout serious alarm of the consequences which may ensue from the employment of such an instrument in Ireland. Its reorga. I ; nization then, should be one of the first duties undertaken by
Ministers. The removal of Lord Hiss. and Lord FITZROY SOMERSET from the Horse Guards, is an indispensable prelimi- I nary to future proceedings. As long as they are in possession of I their present posts, it is vain to expect any improvement. No of- Iricers should be intrusted with influential commands who will not cooperate with the Government in their plans of retrenchment and ' reform. Once let it be seen that Ministers are determined to pro- ceed with vigour, and to dismiss or neglect those who prefer their politics to their duty, and we doubt not the difficulties in the way of Military- Reform would speedily be lessened, and the Tory blood of many fiery Colonels and Generals become cool and placi;l, No Government is thwarted and despised by its subalterns, unles it richly deserves such treatment by its own imbecility.
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