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Evening Star, Issue 3440, 2 March 1874, Page 2

Our innocent contemporary the ‘Daily Times’ has tamed over a new leaf this morning. For some years past it has been in league with the Ultra-Radical party in England, and has libelled Her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, and the aristocracy. Eut lo ! this morning, the Conservatives, supporters of all three, are lauded to the skies, and those who believe that no Conservative Administration will long be tolerated in Greatßritain are sneered at as “oldfogies.” Amongst those sceptics we class ourselves, for we are convinced that unless the Conservatives are prepared to sacrifice their principles to greed of office, neither Mr Disraeli, nor the Derbys Marlboroughs, Buckinghams, et id genus omne, can long continue to rule the destinies of the Empire. Old-fdgeyism is generally allied to , imbecility, aud .we know no surer sign of imbecility than to hold principle so loosely as to whirl about with every change of political position. Tested by this standard, which is the old fogey? The ‘Daily Times,’ or the class who intelligently, believe Conservatism cannot rule Great Britain ? The changes that have taken place necessitated others ; there ean be no retrogression, no standing still. Nor is it desirable that [there should be. Conservatism means stagnation when applied to social dr political affairs. • It means retention of privileges by the few to the exclusion of the many ; it means domination in religion and education, repression ef progress in social life, of Ireland and the Colonies, meddlesomeness in foreign politics, and danger of war. These have ever characterised Conservative rule. For tunately Mr Gladstone’s party will be equally powerful for good in opposition as in? office, and it is to be hoped the opportunity of showing their administrative weakness will work so far well as to show up the inherent hollownpss of Conservatism.