Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/172

 158 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1820- after all, was the desire to break up the opposing ranks, and to take from the opposition that section of its leaders who were held to be able, from experience and connection, to take part in the government of the nation. The experiment was in no way a success, except that in the opinion of the exclusive official circles the Whigs were thought to be more than ever disqualified for office. The actual strength in votes was more than compensated for by the increase of disaffection and disintegration in the Tory party. It was not merely that there were men who thought that the offices and dignities conferred upon the Grenville people would have been better employed in rewarding the services of old and consistent Tories, for some who think they deserve place must always be disappointed whenever there is a redis- tribution of offices. The grievance on this occasion was more special and better founded. There was already, as we have seen, a difference in the party on the Catholic question which threatened to become a serious split. Grenville and his followers were amongst the most strenuous advocates of emancipation ; they had suffered loss of office on its account in former days, and were still firm in its support. In strengthening the hands of Canning and the other Conser- vatives who took the same view, they weakened those of Eldon and the men who represented the old thorough-going principles of Toryism, and the time was coming when this was to be a matter affecting the stability of the party and the existence of Ministries. There were other points in which a general tendency to Liberalism in domestic, and especially in foreign affairs, still existed in the minds of the Whig seceders, and in which accordingly they encouraged and supported the most Liberal section of the Tory party. The effect of the coalition on the Whig fortunes and policy was exactly contrary ; it caused a little temporary loss, but it proved a permanent gain. What the leaders felt at first was that their chance of obtaining place and power was lessened, and they were consequently angry ; but the office which would have been possible to them under the