The Press.
London, England, 1858-05-08 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MAY -8, 1858.

former Leader, and will brook no delay. This
was to be expected, and of it we do not complain.
Lord JOIIN RUSSELL again supports Mr. Loom
KING, but, for the, rst time, bases his argument upon
the principle of the measure. Lord PALMERSTON
conveniently absents himself from the House,
while the bulk of the ex-Ministerials, headed by
Mr. LABOUCHERE as their mouthpiece, swell the
numbers of the more legitimate opposition. It
is to the conduct of the late Colonial Secretary
and his friends we would more particularly direct
attention. Last year, aided by the Conserva-
tives, they defeated Mr. LocKE KING, appealing
to their unwonted allies on the ground of
principle alone; this year they discover that the
question admits of' no delay; they will not even
wait for the introduction of the promised Reform
Bill ; but press on, heedless of all risk, forgetting
their own recorded declarations, for the sole pur-
pose of embarrassing a hostile Administration.
Mr. LABOUCILERE entered upon his own explana-
tions in the debate that ensued; and, with a
candour which some might call effrontery, pleaded
guilty to the charge of faction. " When we voted
" against the Bill,' he said, "a Liberal Ministry
" was in power; now that a Government in
" which we repose no confidence has succeeded
" it, our votes must vary with the change of cir-
" cumstances" ! Such an unblushing avowal of
opposition for opposition's sake was hardly ever
made within the walls of the House of Com-
mons. How can Mr. LABOUCHERE and his asso-
ciates justify to themselves the course adopted
by them in 1857 and that followed in
1858? Either they were right in the one
instance or in the other; in both they
cannot be ; and thus they stand convicted out of
their own mouths of reckless partizanship and
unparalleled faction. One word upon the in-
trinsic merits of the measure before us ; we have
done with the motives of its supporters. Practi-
cally there is no good reason why the occupants
of ten-pound houses in the country should not
possess an equal share of political power with the
residents within the limits of Parliamentary
boroughs, for they are an important and substan-
tial class, with quite a sufficient stake in the
country to be trusted with the privileges proposed
to be intrusted to them. This was frankly ad-
mitted by Mr. DISRAELI ; but there is an objec-
tion, and a very sound one, to the passing at the
present moment of an isolated measure which,
however good, would by itself aggravate existing
inequalities. A change, wise and good as an ele-
ment in a comprehensive measure, would become
partial and indefensible were it to stand separate
and alone.

The Whig Leaders probably foresaw all this,
and, apprehending all the party advantages re-
sulting from it, pressed on the measure with an
eagerness which betrayed their secret object. Mr.
DISRAELI was too acute not to penetrate the trans-
parent veil; but, favourably contrasting in this
respect with his Liberal predecessors, he resisted
the Bill on the legitimate plea of delay—and delay
alone. There he may safely and honourably take
his stand, and if, misled by faction, or blinded by
party zeal, his opponents still urge forward this
partial, and therefore ill-timed measure, public
opinion will still do justice to his manly protest.