The Press.
London, England, 1856-11-01 00:00:00

THE PttESS.

CprztsponDtitte.

ELECTORAL INEQUALITIES.
TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."

Sir,—The letter of your correspondent J. A. G., as
given in your impression of the 1 lth ult., seems
to indicate a new feature in the world of politics at
this crisis of political parties (if such a designation
can be applied to any section of the State at the
present time); but be that as it may, such a state of
things cannot last long. The tenor of your corre-
spondent's letter seems to aver:-Ist. That the Re•
form Bill was incomplete, and that a further equali-
sation of the right of franchise and representation
is needed; 2nd. That this equalisation is attainable,
provided it be undertaken by a party having the wel-
fate of the State at heart, and having the confidence
of the country ; and 3rd. That the party best adapted
to enter the breach is the Conservative. In other
words, he proposes that the Conservatives should
hoist the banner of Reform, and effect it in a con-
servative spirit.
Permit me to second this proposal, and at the
same time to state that the views of your able corre-
spondent do not contemplate a change at all impos-
sible or extraordinary, when we look back at the
change which has taken place in the sentiments and
measures of parties during the last half-century.

In support of this view, let us ask,—What resem-
blance do the Conservatives of the present day bear
to those of the reign of George IV.? or, What Liberal
of the present day would not repudiate the Bristol
riots, the chartist harangues, or the monster meet-
ings ? These changes have, as it were, fused society
into a different form.

Under such circumstances, an opportunity may
soon be afforded of calmly considering the best
metho,l for preventing revolution, and effecting useful
improvements in our representative system generally ;
and the Conservative and Liberal Conservative legis-
lators of the empire should, during the portion of
the recess that yet remains, put to themselves a few
queries such as the following
. _

Since it is inevitable that a reform must come at
no remote period, may I not be instrumental in pre-
venting the enacting of revolutionary measures, by
at once declaring myself a Reformer on Conservative
principles, and acting up to this declaration by my
advice and example ?
Since war has now been replaced by peace, may it
not be the best time for effecting a permanent reform,
by equalising constituencies, extending the right of
franchise to the humbler classes, and giving a
guarantee to property by a plurality of votes to the
high and middle classes?

Since the spirit of Conservatism is the protection
of institutions connected with property and rank, may
not I, by promoting such a reform, establish the basis
of both, and at the same time conciliate and establish
the claims of the humbler classes of society?
And, lastly,—Wera such to appear and demand
my assistance, could I not rank myself under the
banner of a leader called a Conservative Reformer?

By such interrogatories a satisfactory answer may
be evolved, which would prepare our legislators for
entering on the duties of the coming session, with
new views and hopes for the improvement of our
parliamentary and national institution.—l have the
honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
A CONSERVATIVE REFORMER.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."
[Second Letter.l

Sir,—l can anticipate the answer which will he
made by the Whigs to my attempts to expose the in-
equalities of the electoral system. It will be some-
what in this fashion :

" We admit that the right to elect members is un-
equally distributed among those having the fran-
chise, though by no means to the extent stated by
your correspondent, EI S a simple calculation would
easily show; but whatever it may be, it is the best
practical solution of the problem in ovr power—like
all practical solutions, far from being perfect, but
yet tolerably answering the objact in view. But
even if the compromise of 1832 were more anoma
lons than it is, we must recollect the passions which
its adjustment provoked in the country, and not
rashly awaken them, merely because it appears to us
that the practice might be brought somewhat closer
to the theory. For any sake let the matter rest, and
don't let us have any more organic changes. More-
over, the existing system, if indefensible on capita-
tion principles, is a fairer representation of the intel-
lect of the nation than would be arrived at if the
country constituencies returned as many members
as the towns, for in the towns intellect is colleen-