The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-10 00:00:00

MR. OLADSTONZ'S SPEECH AT SALISBURY.

If, the Times argues, Mr. Gladstone is right in
asserting that the Reform Bill was not rashly framed,
it was at any rate partial and in its scope imperfect.
The very simplicity of the measure was an objection to
it ; as it was ascribed to a concerted scheme for making
parliament swallow piecemeal what it might decline to
swallow whole. If extraordinary preparation was
bestowed on the bill it was expended with very little
success. It is true that the number of electors it
would add to the register could not be regarded as
extravagant, but still it studied solely one single class
interest, separating the working men from all other classes
and caring only to enfranchise them. It follows from Mr
Gladstone's very assumption—that reform has now no open
enemies, but only secret foes—that a well-considered,
equitable, and comprehensive measure of reform could he
carried without any material difficulty, and the sooner it is
carried the better will it be for all interests together.
Mr. Gladstone, the Daily News observes, has the right,
by the position he so nobly took up last summer, to choose
unquestioned the line of his personal action, and to leave to
the people the exposition of their own interests. His
words, however, will supply incentives to duty for all
who are not restrained by responsibilities akin to his.
While Mr. Gladstone abstains from out-door excite-
ment, he notes its progress and foresees its results.
There is a feeling in the minds of the people that the sub-
ject has been trife I with, and Mr. Gladstone shows the
tendency of this feeling to drive the working-classes into
separate organisations. The mob of triflers who, as re-
formers, got into parliament in 185;1, and then upon the
first occasion turned round and lau7lied in the face of the
people, have done infinitely more to destroy the faith of
class in class than has been done by any honest expression
of Tory sentiment. It is one of the greatest services which
Lord Russell and Mr. Gladstone have rendered to have
restored faith in public men. How, after what wo saw
three months ago, tho present government is to satisfy
public expectation without a shameful display of political
profligacy, is not easy to perceive. But the question will
not wait upon personal convenience, and will not be laid
aside by Earl Russell and Mr. Gladstone until a satisfac-
tory settlement has been effected.

The Poe ciitieises both Mr. Gladstone's speech and the
Reform Bill, and is driven to the conclusion that the
present system of representation absorbs the best men
available for the purpose, and that no extension of the
franchise would improve the composition of parliament.
The Herald accuses Mr. Gladstone's speech of being
characterised by studied reticence and elaborate mystery.
If ever a man was treated indulgently by thole who bad
grave cause of offence, it was Mr. Gladstone in the late
session of parliament. And ii ever an adverse vote on •
test question could be justified by the merits and by the
manner in which they had been discussed, the vote which
displaced the Russell-Gladstone administration was that
vote.

The &ar loots to the establishment of a new era by Mr.
Gladstones well-sustained endeavours, and predicts that
in a year or two the men who at present so contemptu-
ously oppose reform will be eulogising its results in happy
forgetfulness of their prophecies of evil.