The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-22 00:00:00

THE FRANCHISE 81LL77-THE COMPROMISE.

Lord Kimberley moved the second reading of thi
Franchise Biil, and said: As there is a very general
feeling in favour of the principles of this bill, and the
extension of the franchise which it proposes, it is quite
unnecessary that I should trouble the House with any
advocacy of its principles, and with regard to the
measure itself, it is precisely the same as the measure
which was before the House during last session. The
bill, if it passes into law, will come into effect on
January 1, 1886, as regards the power of the voters to
exercise the Franchise; that is to say, the bill applies
to the registration of the coming year. As no notice has
been given of opposition to the second reading of this
bill, I presume it is not to be opposed. With regard to
the other very important question as to when and how
the bill is to pass into law, and the question of the
Redistribution Bill which has engaged the attention so
much of noble lords both in and out of the House, I
need scarcely say I have nothing whatever to add to
the declaration made by my noble friend last night, and
I could not of course take anything from that declara-
tion. I trust, therefore, your lordships will think
I need net detain you longer, and I will therefore
move that this bill be read a second time. (Loud
cheers.)
The Marquis of Salisbury, who was received with
Opposition cheers, said he entirely. agreed with the
noble earl that there was no occasion to enter into a
discussion of the principles of the bill. As a general
rule bills which were unopposed did not require discus-
sion. This bill had been discussed in both Houses of
Parliament, and for a longer period on the platform
than most other measures. Therefore he would not
enter into a discussion of the principles of the bill, for
in the main both sides of the House agreed to it. If any -
question had arisen with regard to its passing, or any im-
pediment hall been thrown m its way, they resulted from
matters whih were extraneous to the chief question, and
did not come within the scope of the four corners of the
bilL He would therefore pass from the :question of
the second reading to one which had arisen out of the
important statement which was mad') by Lord Granville

yesterday. In doing so he could not but congratulate'
the noble earl on the conciliatory tone of his speech,
which was calculated to enable their lordships to arrive
at an amicable conclusion. However' he had taken
exception to the matter contained in that speech, as
from it he gathered that before any communication
could take place between the leaders on both sides of ,
the House it was indispensable that the Franchise Bill
should be passed this year. He would not dwell on the
many objections which arose in his mind against this
proposal, for it assumed that this House was to
put aside its liberties until such time as the
Franchise Bill was passed, and before having an
opportunity of discussing the principles of the
Redistribution BilL Under these circumstances he
consulted his friends with regard to the statement of
the noble earl, and a statement which had been made
in another place by the Prime Minister. He therefore
called in the aid of a relative of his—Mr. Balfour—to
communicate with Mr. Gladstone as to whether the in-
terpretation he had placed on the statement of the
noble earl was correct or not. That was, was they to
surrender their liberties and let the Franchise Bill pass,
on condition that at some time or other it was to be
followed by a Redistribution Bill? The question he put
to Mr. Gladstone was whether it was an essential part
of the arrangehient that the leaders of the Conserva-
tive party should pledge themselves to pass the Fran-
chise Bill during the present session and whether that
pledge would precede the introduction by the Go-
vernment of a bill for the redistribution of seats.
Mr. Gladstone had replied through Lord Hartington,
that the Government would regard any request for
consultation in a spirit of trust, and, assuming that it
was the intention to come to an agreement, they would
not ask an adequate assurance beforehand. That im-
portant statement it was impossible to misunderstand,
and accordingly it was now possible to enter into com-
munications on the subject. He observed that Mr.
Gladstone had said he would receive the request in the
spirit of trust. He thought it right to say that that
spirit was entirely reciprocated on the Opposition
side. The Opposition entered into these negotia-
tions with a sincere and earnest desire to find
a common ground for the two parties. The
Opposition had no reserve of any kind that would
hinder or impede that desire being brought to
a fortunate issue. He should, under these cir-
cumstances, make no opposition to the granting
of such time as would be reasonable for that purpose.
He would propose on Thursday that the committee be
adjourned for a fortnight. If the House would carry
its mind back to the controversies of last July, they
would remember that the objection taken to the course
the Government then took was the fear that there
might be no Redistribution Bill, or not a Re,distribution
Bill that would accompany the Franchise Bill. The
Government met the Opposition by very emphatic
assurances that they intended to legislate. The Oppo-
sition replied that that answe red for the Government's
good will, but it did not answer for their power or for
the quality of the bill. He would dismiss the question as
to the quality of the bill, because they were now to enter
into negotiations as to that, in the hope that there
would issue a bill as to whose quality they would not
differ; but if by any misfortune they did not come to
an agreement, the Opposition would stand in the same
condition as to acting that they stood in now. But as
to the power of the Government to pass the bill into
law, the security the Government gave them was of a
very important kind, and he and his noble friends near
him thought it an adequate security if they understood
it rightly. It was that the Government would press
the bill forward when it was agreed upon with all
possible speed. He thought Lord Granville said "in
die in diem.
Lord Granville: I did not use these words. _ _

Lord Salisbury: Well, with all possible speed; and it
was a matter of importance that the Government
should regard the bill as vital to their existence. That
was the pledge, and it was with respect to that that he
earnestly asked for information from the Government.
His understanding of such a promise was that the
Government would regard the bill as vital, not only
as to the second reading, but as to all the provisions of
it which both parties agreed should be vital, that the
Government would not be driven from provisions by
the Opposition considered important, and agreed upon
by both sides. The other was that the Government
would consider the passing of the bill in 1885 as an
important provision. He urged the noble earl to
include that in his definition of full vitality.
He held that these two conditions were essen-
tial to the meaning of the word vitality. He
did not think he was urging any exaggerated claim, for
it was an interpretation of the word that would occur
to most persons. He welcomed with great satisfaction
the disposition the Government showed to meet the
Opposition. He could only hope that their negotiations
would commence at an early period, and that the
Government would act up to the full spirit of what they
said last night. If any difficulty arose, it would not be
on the side of Opposition, as there was penetrating the
minds of all parties an earnest desire that this ques-
tion would be brought to a harmonious and successful
issue. _ _ _

Lord Granville fully acknowledged the spirit in which
the noble marquis made his remarks on this occasion.
He trusted he (Lord Granville) had done nothing since
this question arose that would prevent a settlement
honourable to both sides. In making the declaration on
the subject yesterday he ustd almost the same words
that it was settled by his colleagues should be used in
both Houses. Mr. Gladstone was most willing, after
the favourable reception given to the proposal he made,
to put the most favourable construction on it; and he
thought the willingness of Mr. Gladstone to put that
favourable construction had been more than justified
by the assurance the noble marquis gave. (Hear,
hear.) As to the passing of the bill next
year, he did not know anything he could add
to the words used in both Houses with regard to the
Government being pledged and engaged to use every
possible means to push the bill through at an early
period next year. With regard to their power to do
that, there could not be the slightest doubt in his mind,
if the Government were seconded, as he was sure they
would be, by the Conservative party. He was autho-
rised by Mr. Gladstone to say that nothing he said last
night was intended to widen the assurances given to
their lordships and the Conservative party. He antici-
pated after what had passed a final settlement of this
great question.
Lord Salisbury asked whether the meaning of the
word vital would extend and apply to the details and
provisions agreed on as well as to the principle of the
Redistribution Bill.

Lord Granville did not think he could answer any
questions of importance on his own responsibility with-
out consulting his colleagues; but his personal view
was that he had not slightest doubt the Government
meant to make vital the passing of the bill with regard
to all its characteristic provisions. The Government
did not pledge themselves not to admit any amendment
that might be reasonable.
The Marquis of Salisbury understood that the ques-
tion was a vital one of passing the Redistribution Bill
in the next session of Parliament. not only as to its
defeat, but as against protracted delay. (Hear, hear.)
Lord Granville thought the Government ought really
not to be suspected when giving so solemn a declaration
because they had pledged their personal and political
honour that they would do everything in their power
to secure the passing of the bill. With regard to the
committee stage of the bill, perhaps the noble marquis
would confer with hini as to the exact time of the ad-
journment.
The Marquis of Salisbury: I will give notice that I
will propose to adjourn the committee for a fortnight.
The bill was then read a second time amid cheers.

GENERAL GORDON.
Lord Milltown asked whether it was true, as stated in
the public journals, that a letter had been received by
Lord Wolseley from General Gordon, dated on or about
the 4th of November; and, if so, whether the Govern-
ment, having regard to the intense anxiety which pre-
vails on this subject, would communicate the contents
thereof to the House. . .

Lord Morley said that such a letter had been received,
dated November 4th. As to the contents of that letter,
as far as the public interest would allow, they had been
given with fair accuracy in the press. In addition to
the information already given he might add that
General Gordon had informed Lord Wolseley that he
had received three letters—one from Sir Samuel Baker,
one from his sister, and a third from Mr. Stanley.
General Gordon stated that the Mandi was quite aware
of what was going on, and therefore it was extremely
undesirable to publish any letters of a confidential
character coming from General Gordon which might be
of assistance to his enemies. (Hear, hear.) He
thought the House would support her Majesty's Govern.
ment in refusing to give any further information.
(Hear, hear.)
Their ),,rdahips adjourned at a quarter past fin.