Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/309

 1841.] Accession of the Queen to fall of Melbourne. 295 it is in nearly every other country where constitutional government exists. The phantom which was conjured up, therefore, like all such creations of diseased fancy, lost its terrors when it was calmly faced ; but whilst its effects were new it did what the enemies of progress most desired it separated the friends of reform, and alienated the sympathies of the middle and lower classes and of their advocates in Parliament. The leadership which was thus declined by the bulk of the Parliamentary Radicals, was to a great extent assumed by the most violent section of the Chartists men like Feargus O'Connor being able to frustrate the policy of wiser and more- moderate advisers, such as Leader and Attwood inside Parliament, and Lovett and Vincent outside. The consequence was seen in the listlessness and half-heartedness which for years marked our Parliamentary history when Whig and Tory rule alternated, and culminated in the absolute political stagnation which characterized the last premiership of Palmerston. Throughout this long and dreary period, the Radicals did the work of originating and agitating for every proposal to ameliorate the social condition and increase the liberties of the people ; but they could not arouse the full force of popular enthusiasm, because for years they did not propose any definite scheme of reform which could take the place which the charter had held in the estimation of the working classes. At the close of the session of 1838, the position of the party seemed almost hopeless. The Whig Ministry, suffering from the disgrace of the surrender on the Irish tithe question, was yet as much as ever determined not to seek for strength by any concession to popular demands. They were as decided as the Tories in resisting the repeal of the corn laws, and yet were dependent upon the advocates of that repeal for their existence. The Radicals had either to preserve a Government which would do little that they wanted, or allow it to be replaced by one more actively opposed to all reform. During the recess there had been agitation on both the great subjects which were engaging the attention .of the country.