The Elder Statesman

Abstract

The General Election of 1852 proved that the basic problem of mid-century politics — the personal and often emotional groupings which prevented the restoration of two-party domination — remained unchanged. Though the historic parties had never been tightly organised, since 1846 their place had been taken by more fluid alliances in which personalities were all- important. The result was weak Governments resting on transient ‘arrangements’; party disintegration involved compromising on party legislation. In January the Radical Sir William Moles worth, though expecting a Tory alliance with Palmerston, had correctly forecast to John Delane of The Times that a Derby Government would face the electorate and ‘make use of [its] decision to give up the cry of Protection’. He thought ‘a strong Government’ was vital and that ‘a strong Tory Government (supposing Protection abandoned) would be a less evil than a weak pseudo-Liberal Government’; and he despaired of a strong Liberal Government,

for [which] … there must be a combination of Whigs, Peelites and Radicals, but where was the leader to bring about such a combination? Lord John would never agree to it, Graham had not courage for it, Cobden had not had [enough] administrative experience … Palmerston alone had courage and ability for anything, but the Peelites wouldn’t have anything to do with him …