The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-13 00:00:00

purpose was the improvement of the representation of the
people, yet its hidden and more substantial element was
the consolidation of Whig power. (Cheers.) To the great
surprise of the world, seven or eight years ago, the most
distinguished member of the Whig party, who had intro-
duced the original Reform Bill, announced his intention of
introducing a new one. From that moment I looked upon
myself—and I believe the same was the case with every
gentlemen with whom I act, not merely in the Govern-
ment, but in political matters generally—es honourably
emancipated from the engagement made by Sir R. Peel.
If the Reform Bill was to be altered, if the settlement of
1A33 was not adhered to in spirit and truth, if another
Whig Reform Bill was to be brought out, I thou. t that
we might all, as Englishmen, as well exert our critical and
constructive faculties, that we might give our opinions as
to the principles on which such a measure ought to be
framed, and the methods by which the means to be attained
ought to be worked out.
From that time I have never concealed from you my
sentiments upon this subject; instead of avoiding, I have
rather sought occasions for making a frank exposition of
them. The second Reform Bill of the Whigs was pro-
mised in IMO and 18.51, and it is now 1858. The delay
certainly has not been occasioned by us. (Cheers.) It
is not the Tories who have been the obstructors in this
case. (Cheers.) There has not, hitherto, been any cry
in the country for " The bill, the whole bill, and nothing
but the bill," but, on the contrary, nobody among the Whigs
themselves would listen to the question when it was
brought forward, and on two occasions the bill was with-
drawn, not because of any opposition from us, but from a
sense entertained by those by whom it was brought forward
of its utter inadequacy, and from a total disrelieh for the
article on the part of the great body of the Liberal party.
(Cheers.) And so we have gone on year after year—we
have had an inefficient Government, we have had a coali-
tion Government, and we have had a Government of pure
elements and materials ; but we have never had any Go-
vernment which has really had any hold upon the confi-
dence of the country, and whenever they were disturbed
or distressed they, every one of them, cried out—" Only
let us stay in a little longer and you shall have a Reform
Bill." Lord John Russell brought forward not one but
two Reform Bills. When Lord Aberdeen formed his Go-
vernment, the condition of his being supported by the
Liberal party was that he should bring in a Reform Bill ;
but we did not get a Reform Bill from Lord John Rus-
sell, nor did we get a Reform Bill from Lord Aberdeen.
When Lord Palmerston came into power he was to carry
on the war with energy, but the moment peace was con-
cluded he was to give us a Reform Bill. Year after year
a Reform Bill has been promised, year after year the pro-
mise has been broken. First it was to be brought forward
next year, then we got to the year itself when it was to
be brought forward, and then we were told " it will be
brought in--after Easter." ( Laughter.) Everybody
thought we were really going to have it at last. I thought
so myself, and I looked into the almanack to see if it was
an early Easter this year. It happened to be an early
Easter, a Reform Bill was certain, and—the Government
was changed. (Laughter.)
I ask you in a common-sense and a purely serious spirit
is it decent, is it politic, is it honest and honourable, that
a question of such a nature as this, a question which con-
cerns the representation of what we believe to be a free
and intelligent people, eminent for their love of liberty
and progress in knowledge. should be made the stalking-
horse of factiono—(cheers)—that it should be hung up
ar.d taken down according to the exigencies of a distressed
Minister, and that the highest principles of policy should
be part of the stock in trade by which a Government is
to shuffle through a disgraceful and discreditable existence ?
(Loud cheers.) No, gentlemen, lam convinced that it
is the opinion of the people of this country that this ques-
tion should be settled, aye or no. If a Reform Bill be
necessary it must be produced, and it will be carried, and
if it be unnecessary, the Minister who is not prepared to
grapple with the question ought frankly to state that that
is his conviction. (Cheers.) Remember that a Reform
Bill has been twice brought forward by her Majesty's Go
'eminent. Remember that only two months ago the
attention of Parliament was called to the subject in the
gracious speech from the Throne; and in my opinion, and
in the opinion of those with whom I act, it is totally im-
possible that a question which has been introduced to the
notice of the country by the proposition of the Minister,
and by recommendation to the consideration of Parliament
front her Majesty herself, can any longer be trifled with.
We shall therefore give to it our earnest and serious con-
sideration. (Hear, hear.) But then we are asked,
" When are you going to bring forward your Reform Bill
—after Easter ?" Those gentlemen who have been seven
years playing with the question—who have postponed,
procrastinated, and delayed year after year—as many years
as my learned friend, Dr. Lee, had questions to put to me
—now tell us that we are not sincere reformers. " Where
is your bill?" they say. " Haven't you got it ready ? An
impatient people is not to be baulked of an object for
which it has such a ravenqus desire." (Laughter.) We
have, if possible, to effect a reconciliation with our great
ally ; we have to conduct negotiations upon which the
peace of Europe may depend; we have other tasks before
us most difficult to fulfil; we have to put down a revolt in
India which will yet demand from this country no com-
mon efforts; we have to carry a bill through Parliament
for the government of that country based upon principles
which I hope will recommend it to the national approba-
tion ; we have to introduce financial measures of no ordi-
nary gravity, and yet we are told we are not sincere re-
formers, because our Reform Bill is not immediately
to be brought forward. The course which we shall take
will be this : —We shall give to that subject our most ear-
nest and serious consideration, with the view if possible of
bringing forward a measure which shall not be a mere
party measure—(cheers)—which shall not be devised
merely to prop up a faction—which shall not be invented
merely to increase the political influence of a political