The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-06 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT POLTCT ON REFORM.

The Tinica persists in representing it as perfectly certain
that the Reform Bill cannot make say considerable pro-
gress this session, but it nevertheless doubts whether Mr.
Gladstone embraced the immense difficulty of his task.
If we are to have a bill next year the sooner the whole
subject is relegated to the study the better, neither par-
liament nor government committing itself any further.
To the Daily New the assumption which is gratuitously
made in some quarters that the government is now safe,
but that the bill must take its chance, which it is dexte-
rously insinuated is a very bad one, is part of the disin-
genuous tactics pursued by the opponents of reform, and
shows how deeply-seated and wide-spread is the laxity
which of late years has crept over the morality of public
men. The character of the government is far more im-
portant even than the passing of the bill ; and all
the evils attendant upon a change of ministry
would be light and temporary compared with the con-
tinuance of the miniaters in power on terms reflecting
upon their honesty. The government may or may not
have acted prudently in entering into the engagement
which it is advised to violate or evade, but it is bound by
it none the less. It can only avoid it by quitting office.
When the time comes, which is confidently predicted, for
ministerial recognition of the fact that the Reform Bill
cannot pass this session, ministerial recognition of the duty
of a resignation or a dissolution of parliament may be
looked for with it.

The Post says the government will " doubtless" yield to
the opinion expressed by the House of Commons. Any
reference to ministerial pledges must be regarded as
wholly irrelevant to the issue. The government is the
guardian of its own honour ; but its national obligations
can only be fulfilled through the confidence of parliament.
The Herald represents all parties, including the radicals,
as pleased and satisfied with Lord Grosvenor, who
has saved the ministry and defeated the Reim ai Bill.
Each section has eaten humble pie, the government, as
beeame its position, having grovelled most. But all sec-
tions having suffered, and all feeling how near the party
was brought to destruction by the Reform Bill, a common
ground of unison is found in shelving that question. Re-
form shelved there can be no reason why Lord Grosvenor
and Mr. Bright should not work together. Both desire to
keep the government in office ; their reasons no doubt are
different. The personal ends of the one differ greatly from
those of the other, but the maintenance of Lord Russell in
power is the instrument to which both look for the achieve-
ment of their objects.
The Telegraph thinks the unconcealed insult conveyed
in the advice that the ministry should break their pledged
faith to the country may just as well not be repeated. It
Iw:11 not eery; even the poor purpose of vexing anybody,
and it no longer veils the intense desire of the enemies of
reform to get its friends to do what they themselves dare
not, and adjourn sine die the question of dispensing jus-
tice to the people.
The Star does not share in the fears or wishes of those
who believe that the government will now throw up the
. . . .

entire reform scheme. The clauses in the united bills
which refer to the franchise ought to be taken up in
committee with the resolution to pass them at all hazards,
or henourably fail in the attempt, and the clauses refer-
ring to the grouping may with great propriety be delayed
until another session. The circumstances are now even
more favourable to government than when the Franchise
Bill was originally introduced, and it has now become
known that even the extension of the franchise cannot
obtain effect until the registrations of next year, thus
saving the necessity of any immediate or even early dis-
solution of parliament.