Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/251

 1 834-1 The First Reformed Parliament. 237 these were, not only to the party, but to the nation. What- ever might be their power and influence for the moment in Parliament, they were men by whom the future policy of the countiy would be decided. It was by them and under their direction that those questions were introduced and explained to the people, which, after being supported by outside agita- tion, were finally forced upon a reluctant legislature. It was of the first consequence that these men, who stood at the head of the party of progress, should not only be inspired by the popular enthusiasm, but should possess such practical ability as would enable them to convert political ideas into actual working proposals, and give confidence to those who had been taught to suspect as theorists all who ventured into new and untried paths. As to the manner in which these requirements were met, there was quite as much difference of opinion amongst those who ought to have been competent to judge as there was about the numerical strength of the party. Examples of these divergent views are worth consulting. And first we may take the sublime self-superiority of the man in society, who looks upon the millions of people who are outside the ruling class as scarcely worthy of notice. Greville, the one-time clerk to the Privy Council, writing in his diary at the time, says, " In the mean time, the reformed Parliament has been sitting for a fortnight or so, and begins to manifest its character and pretensions. The first thing that strikes one is its inferiority, in point of composition, to preceding Houses of Commons, and the presumption, impertinence, and self-sufficiency of the new members. Formerly new members appeared with some modesty and diffidence, and with some appearance of respect for the assembly into which they were admitted ; these fellows behave themselves as if they had taken it by storm, and might riot in all the insolence of victory. There exists no party but that of the Government : the Irish act in a body under O'Connell to the number of about forty ; the Radicals are scattered up and down without a leader, numerous, restless, turbulent, and bold Hume, Cobbett, and a multitude such