The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-31 00:00:00

THE WERKLY PRESS.

TIM MORN But.

The Saturday Review admits that for a variety of
MIAOW it Is desirable 'hat the franchise should be redocad,
and for a variety of other reasons it is desirable that a con-
siderable number of the smaller boroughs should have their
political pawls decreased or takes away. A good reform
bill would he a bill that, wale boldly reducing the franchise,
distributed the setts so that *very class of Beglish 'misty
should be fairly an 1 ads:lately represented, but the
language in which the hill is defended is more then
idle ;it is wild end extravagant. Mr. Bright's letter to
his Etinniaglum orowit mats la a masterly example of all
that a politician at such a (aisle as the present ought not to
' say. In the first place, ths bill is declarei to be an honest
bill. It dye maim( but fix ea • figure for the franchise,
' and Mr. Bright acknowledges that the figure fired mamma
Sublet the wrong one. Bat then this simple fragment of
reform, doing nothing but fix on • wrong figure, has •
subtle metal virtue strut it. It is apo ,r thing in itself,
bat ethically it is l'eantdul. The only attempt that Mr.
Bright mates to eve • meaning to his words is by styles
that what he likes about the bill is not its contents, but
the reeo'nf on of the ministry to stand or fall by it.
He can coax or be ma threshes, es well se abuse.
Within a few hours after his letter was tai at Birming-
ham, he wee at Kaschesiter, protesting that, so far as Lord
oforegear was semereed, he only called him a dirty eon.
'minter in the Pickwieldan muse, and meant by it that he
was • meet estimable ram Rol:4mm of sound liberal
pebetples and desosuded from a grandfather who had sap-
ported Orr Act -Co,n-Lsw League. And if coaxing fails,
as well as abuse, the, the last, the intrast, and the abgrpsit
' means megithe used. Mr. Hight ill sal RPM his !` leashg."
Let him only hem enough of them to lice the advisees to
Westminster on the voting day, sad he will engage that

MATURDAT

'6, bill is onsied, u 'WOO Sir Robert Clifton was returned
'for Noildriblim, In Oho talon of the dnionfey Review the
Mune adopted by the government affords a loophole for
a large number of members who WWI to keep the
ministry in, provided that a mere Franchise Bill does not
become law. They are to vote for the second reading, end
then the government will so complicate and hamper the
question by bringing in dummy bills for redistribution that
no one need fear that the Franchise Bill will paw. Mr.
Oliphant and Mr. Binglake were charmed with this pro-
posal. It saved their principles, and restored them to their
party, and reassured them in a v.riety of pleasant ways.
The Saturday Review does not quarrel with them for
this, but does not me why a man like Lord Grosvenor
should be celled a dirty conspirator became he prefers
saying what he mesas, and noting on what he thinks.

Earl Grosvenor, speaking for all, whether crypto-toriss,
like Lord Eloho, or sincere liberals, like the Spectator, who
desire to see the Reform Bill made complete, had &ie.n
wiles of a resolution pledging the house to accept no im-
perfect measure, and the government felt itself in danger.
It was perceived in a moment out of doors as well as inside
that the member for Chester spoke for the whig territorial-
lets, and without their aid a composite cabinet like the pre-
sent is, on a bill such as it has produced. oertain to be defeated.
It was necessary to bend. and Mr. Gladstone in a towering
rage offered the house a compromise almost se imbe-
cile as Peter Simple's promise in place of cash. He would
have a bill drawn up express:ng the government view on
the subject of redistribution, and after the great division
would lay it on the table, net tabs debated or even discussed,
but to be looked at and talked about in lobbies. He would not
consider his bill even u a promise, but simply as a " view."
Now between this session and the next Napoleon may be
'dead, snd reform mean manhood suffrage; or we may be
at war, end reform mean a philosophies dream of the past ;
or some new question may have arisen, before which
reform will have lost even the little interest it now' ensiles.
.Mr. Gladstone certainly would not aosept a bell at twelve
months' sight on a firm which may not be in existence
as sufficient payment of tame, yet that is what he is
asking his empanels!, to accept. Indeed he demands
cash down before he signs his bill, for e►erybody is to vote
the seceed reading of the Reform Bill, that is, to "affirm the
principle" of a blank reduction of the franchise before the

goverement b 4 is produeel. The cabinet SWIM to cake-
late that liberals will hesitate to oppose a proposition to
whirl they stand so deeply pledge UM astute usurers,
they call on the creditor to admit his liability for disputed
interest, and thee they will dismes in a friendly way the
possibility of arrangement. Them is muter= in that idea,
but it is not the sort of acuteness which prevails with the
Rouse of Commons.

In as article heeded "the Condemned Bill," the Press
says it is such en ill-arranged and mischievous measure that
it would be labour throws away to discuss its details. If
its author, had not stumbled at the very threshold,
by endeavooriog to separate two questions that ought
to be settled at one sad the Mae time--eareely,
those of the franchise sad the redistribution of
seats—they could hardly =past to secure support
for the nab changes which more in despair
than la sober earnest they vesture to recommend.
The Press waxes wrath against Yr. Bright for his Pr-
mingbam letter. sod says that its language cannot be
passed over in silence, sod on the reassembling of the
legislature we shall learn whether ministers have sufficient
courage to visit him with the season he deserves. No
man of truly independent mind, no matter to what party be
may belong, will submit tamely to Yr. Bright's dictation.
The appeal to physical fore* is the worst form of advocacy
that eon be advanced, and it is rather unfortunate that
woe other should have been urged in favour of the govern-
ment bill.

Not all the raking of the tinders of party ohs, says the

Examiner, prevent the steady glow of go blio opinion from
making heel felt, and beaming warmer every day. The
maloontents have dose their best to disprove beforehand
that there was any popular feeling at all for reform. Failing
in that device, they have eagerly denied the truth long
after it had grown undeniable; and by the help of sup-
pression and misrepresentation have endeavoured to
keep up the self-delnsion. Bat it will not do.
One great town after another utters its calm
but 110110k1101111 judgment is favour of the mode-
rate bill of franchise extension introdueed by minis-
ters. South Lancashire end the West Riding are sum-
moned by requisitionists of weight and influence to me.t

for the ,awe purpose ; aid in the course of the 'caning
week many sasemblages are to take place in different parts
of town and country having the like object in view. The
declaration of Mr. Gladstone on the eve of t►e
holidays cleared away all pretence of mystification
with regard to the redistribution of sesta. Unless
the principle of a cautious and reasonable expan-
sion of the suffrage be adopted, it is useless to waste time
in elaboratiog details of redistribution, mode of voting, or
correction of venal vices. But that principle ones deliber-
ately asserted by the House of Commons, it is only just
and right that the entire scheme foe its application should
be set forth and explained ; and this is what government
undertakes to do between the second reading and going
into committee on the bill. The country appreciates the
deference shown to its independent judgment, and now
speaks its mind accordingly.
In the view of the Economist the bill is expressly and
avowedly a bill with unknown supplements, and ac-
cording to the nature of those supplements will be the
nature of the contemplated change. If many new mein-
ben are given to large northern towel, and the ham:thin
also lowered, the power of the working classes will
be very greatly increased ; If only a few members
are given• to such towns, then the power of
these classes will not be much increased. Till we
know how many such orate it is proposed to create,
we are votiog in the dark. The bill cannot be ac-
cepted by the country, for the gist of it lies is appendices
not before the country. Some liberal members of parlia-
ment have been satisfied with the promise by the govern-
ment that they would during sh's rovion lay titer supple-
mental reform bills on the table of the tons.. Bat no
inch promise can satisfy the eonntry—out e doors nobody
care. what is on the table of the house. We only know
what is proposed. Who can tell what may happen
before these deposited and ante-dated bills came on for
dist:maim