LORD BEACONSFIELD'S EARLY POLITICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4916, 23 December 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

LORD BEACONSFIELD'S EARLY POLITICS.

' i As a curious personal and political reminis-, cence of the early career of the Prime Minister, possessing considerable interest at present, we reprint the full text Of the famous so-called Radical address, -which he issued to the electors of Marylebone in 1833, when soliciting the suffrages of the constituency : •' To the independent electors of the borough of Marylebone. " Gentlemen, —A speedy vacancy being generally anticipated in the representation of your borough, I have the honor to announce my determination to solicit your suffrages on the first occasion that offers. Although supported by neither of the aristocratic parties, I appeal to you with confidence as an independent member of society, who has no interest, direct or indirect, in corruption or mis-government, as one of a family untainted by the receipt of public money, and who can prefer no olaims to public consideration but those, that are founded on public sympathy. I claim your support as one who has already fought the battle of the people (referring to his previous contest at •Wycombe), and as one who believes that the only foundation on which a beneficent and vigorous Government can now be raised is an unlimited confidence in the genius of the British nation.. With this conviction, I am desirous of completing. tho ; machinery of the Constitution by two measures which can invest'the people with what was once their birthright, and with a security which I hope their- children will inherit. These measures are triennial Parlia-. ments and election by ballot, : and ; uiileas these ; measures be conceded, I cannot apprehend how the conduct of the Government can ever be in harmony with the feelings of the people ; because I am of opinion that those who are invested with power should be qualified for its exercise.' I would support the abrogation of those stamp duties which Eventually act as taxes on knowledge. Believing that unless the public burdens are speedily and materially reduced a civil convulsion must occur, I am desirous of seeing a Parliamentary committee appointed to revise the entire system of our taxation, -with the object of relieving industry from those incumbrances, which property is more capacitated to endure, and I especially pledge myself to exert all my energies to obtain the repeal of the assessed taxes-a repeal which, from the state of the constituency of your borough, is as necessary as a measure of constitutional privilege as of financial relief. Opportunities will soon occur for me to express to you my opinions upon all those subjects which engage the attention of a man who aspires to be the representative of the people. It is sufficient for me to observe that I shall ever be found a sup. porter o£ the system which consults great interests of general happiness, and that I shall promote every measure -which elevates' the moral and improves the physical condition of the people of England. With these views, gentlemen, I solicit your attention. I hope soon to acquire your confidence. I have the honor to subscribe myself,, vour faithful servant, ■. . : , • "Bknjn. Diseaeh. . "Bradanham House, Bucks, " April 9, 1833." It is also interesting to recall lha reasons which he gave for opposing 'the Whigs when

he first entered'Parliainent for Maidstone, arid for at the same time refusing to join, the Tories. " I so acted," he wrote soon afterwards, " because I found the Tories in a state of ignorant stupefaction. The Whigs assured them that thev were annihilated, and they believed them. They had not a single definite or intelligible idea as to their position or their duties, or the character of their party. They were haunted with a nervous apprehension of that great bugbear 'the People'—that bewildering title under which a miserable minority continues to coerce and plunder a nation. They were ignorant that the millions of that nation required to be guided and encouraged, and that they were their natural leaders, bound to marshal and to enlighten them." . . ;