The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-24 00:00:00

THE REFORM BILL AND THE LORDR.

The Times reviews the debate of last evening,
speech by speech. Though the house has assented to the
second reading of the bill, the debate has brought out very
clearly the unfavourable opinion of the majority on the
measure. Lord Shaftesbury expressed the real sentiments
of the conservative peers outside the charmed circle of
official life, when he repudiated all conSdence in the con-
servative sympathies of " the residuum," and his practical
acquaintance with the class gave his words an authority
which many would fain have denied them. What effect
the discussion will have on the action of the committee on
the bill remains to be seen. The Times does not apprehend
much will or even can be done, and neither shares the
alarms nor the fond hopes the bill has excited. It will
produce some Immediate effects and will do some per-
manent good in abating the discontent excited by the
exclusion of large classes from the privilege of the fran-
chise, but its direct influence on the legislation of the
future has been overrated both by its friends and its
foes.

Pointing out the political character of Lord Grey, whose
schemes of reform are as irrelevant to the requirements of
the time, and to the national character and circum-
stances, as his amendment was to the bill of government,
the Daily News proceeds to predict that • day of
awakening and repentance for the conservative party will
come. When the first flush of triumph is over, a sounder
moral sentiment will recur. A speedy reaction of opinion
against the authors of the artifices which have for the
moment blinded an honourable and high-minded, though
prejudiced, body of English gentlemen, is certain. Lord
Derby showed an uneasy sense of the indefensible nature
of his proceedings by leaving them, so far as he was con-
cerned, without defence in his diverting reply. Lord
Cairns, to whom he left the vindication of the
morality of his proceedings, mistakes the real accusation
against them, which is this, that for fifteen years they
have been using, and encouraging their followers to use,
language such as that which, with perfect consistency and
sincerity, Lord Grey, Lord Shaftesbury, and Lord Car-
nervon have employed this week ; and that they practi-
c►lly confess that they were acting a part, and that they
did not mean what they said. While they spoke with
Mr. Lowe, on whom they lavished their praise, they
thought with Mr. Bright, whom they loaded with abuse.
A meaner part was never played by politicians in any
nation.

It is tolerably evident to the Post from the tenor of
many of the speeches which were made that the bill will
not be pissed in committee in its present shape except in
the face of a strong opposition. The arguments employed
by Earl Grey must have weight with a large number of
peers, and under his leadership it is not improbable that
many changes may be effected in the existing form of the

In the thick of reproaches and gloomy prophecies, re.
marks the Telegraph, Lord Derby had his opponents with
him. Whatever may have been its origin, the bill of the
cabinet must pass. It is " better than its birth," and no
evil could be so great as to disaproint the country of it
now.

The Star assures Lord Beauchamp that if he chooses in
committee to carry out his idea of equalising the borough
and county franchises, the liberal peers will be most happy
to prove their sincerity by helping him to send the bill
back to the Commons with that welcome amendment.