Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/337

 1846.] Sir Robert Peel's Administration. 323 by Ward, and which received 157 votes, a considerable majority of the whole Liberal party. The session closed on the 1 2th of August. It left the new minister with an increased reputation for practical ability. His financial proposals had been designed upon a broad and effectual scale, and they were so framed that they could be carried successfully through Parliament and put into immediate operation. This feature of the Government policy contrasted strikingly with the feeble and inefficient method of the Whig Administration, and the opposition could make no way against it. The people who really faced the Ministry with a power which was to grow were the Radical free-traders, who were encouraged by the fact that the Conservatives had been com- pelled to touch what was once considered the sacred ark of protection. They were not strong in numbers in Parliament, but they had behind them the force of popular opinion increased to vehemence by the pressure of the distress which even the occurrence of a good harvest had been unable to remove. During the recess, indeed, the suffering increased rather than diminished, and the commercial reforms of the past session had not had time to effect the improvement which they were calculated to produce. There were everywhere gloom and despondency, so that Parliament, which met on the 2nd of February, 1843, had its whole attention drawn to what Carlyle called the condition of England question. The Queen's speech referred to " that depression of the manufacturing industry of the country which has so long prevailed ; " and on the 1 8th of February Lord Howick moved for a committee of the whole House to take that part of the speech into consideration. In the debate on the address, Peel had declared that the Government had not in contemplation any amendment of the corn laws, and the motion of Lord Howick was framed so as to ensure the support of the whole of the Liberals, who all wanted some change, the Whigs adhering to their idea of a moderate fixed duty, and the Radicals demanding entire repeal. As obtaining support from all sections of the party the proposal was successful, but