Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/371

 1850.] Resignation of Sir Robert Peel to his Death. 357 was another instance of the action of the law of development which has been seen in operation so often in the course of our political history. It was, however, a position which for some time to come, whilst it removed any danger of reaction, made progress almost impossible ; and it had the inevitable effect of convincing a constantly increasing number of earnest people that the one way to insure healthy national life was to effect some change in the character of the constituencies. Unfortunately, there was a want of sympathy between the most active reform agitators outside and the majority of the Radical party inside Parliament. The Chartists generally had, unfortunately, rallied to the leadership of Feargus O'Con- nor, and although comparatively few of them accepted seriously his wild talk about physical force, the character of the whole movement was seriously affected by it. In the course of this and the following year, attempts were made to originate an agitation which, aiming at less extreme objects, and dissociated from the violent party, should com- bine the middle classes with the artisans in a demand for reform, under the leadership of some of the popular members of the House of Commons. The election of O'Connor for Nottingham was one of the events which affected the personal composition of the party in Parliament. A few other changes also took place. O'Connell had died on the I5th of May, and there was no one who could act his part as a connecting link between Irish and English Radicalism. He had not been able to effect this completely, the repeal agitation keeping alive a cause of alienation ; but after his removal from the scene the division became constantly more complete, to the injury of both nations. Roebuck was again lost to the party by his defeat at Bath, and this may be looked upon as almost the final separation ; for, after his return for Sheffield in 1849, he never heartily united himself with his old friends. A new member, W. J. Fox, who was elected for Oldham, was useful as an eloquent exponent of extreme opinions, although he did not exercise any wide influence ; and a similar addition was made