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

EXPRZSS,

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

THE WEST REDDIO REFORM DEMONSTRATION.

The Times does not accept Mr. Bright's reply to
his critics, who have complained that his speeches show
no new arguments, and reiterates the charge that he con-
fines himself to stock commonplaces, and never alludes
to the arguments which have had the greatest force
with the educated classes, and which swayed the decision
of the House of Commons. Our contemporary considers
all real discussion to be at an end until February next.
If anything has been made clear by the agitation of the
year, it is the immense superiority of parliamentary over
platform oratory, not less in genius than in usefulness.
The present agitation, too, is confined to a single class,
and therefore the West Riding demonstration, however
multitudinous, cannot claim the weight accorded to it by
Mr. Bright. The agitation has gone far enough
to show its character and strength, and to con-
vince us that, though a moderate Reform Bill
may be accepted, no demonstrations, however imposing,
and no platform eloquence, however vigorous, will make
parliament—and the higher and middle classes who sup-
port it—give the power of the country into the hands of
the slaves of the trades' unions.

The great movement, observes the Daily News, gathers
force and strength. The proceedings are necessarily me-
notocous, and nothing but an earnest purpose could
bring the men together. If Mr. Bright's speeches
have been less eloquent than in former agita-
tions it is because the situation is changed, and he
is showing an instinctive sense of the requirements
of the occasion and of his audience. The mere fact that
the recent is occupied with an agitation which has reached
the formidable dimensions of the reform movement is itself
proof of a defeat in our political arrangements. As a govern-
ing assembly, the mechanism of the House of Commons is
perfect ; but on its representative side its defects are
signal. It should be, in fact, simply an instrument for
bringing the national mind and will to bear upon the exe-
cutive ; but under our restricted electoral system a genuine
appeal to the country cannot be made. The constitutional
mechanism which enables the House of Commons to check
the executive does not enable the nation in anything like
the same degree to check the House of Commons. The
consequence is what we all know. There are bitches in
the working of the machine. What is needed is a read-
justment of our political system such as shall make the
action of the national opinion and will upon the House of
Commons as easy and instantaneous and precise as the
action of the House of Commons upon the administration.
When this is done, when any honest step towards its ac-
complishment is attempted, the abnormal and undesirable,
but perfectly legal and necessary agitation of the labouring
Glasses will cease.
The Post insinuates that Mr. Bright reported progress to
the meeting in order to stimulate the subscriptions. The
organisation of these " great meetings" requires some pecu-
niary resources ; there are travelling expenses, tavern bills,
and the like, to say nothing of testimonials.
The Herald limits itself almost entirely to strong denun-
ciations of Mr. Bright. As a liberal, it says, his career
has been nothing but a fruitful source of ridicule and
damage to liberalism. As a reformer he has appealed to
physical force. He is not even an Englishman in any
proper sense. The Herald denies that good qualities and
good deeds of the working men establish a necessary
claim to the franchise. A man may be sober, and honest,
and even intelligent ; it does not follow that he should
have a rote for the election of a member of parliament,
or that the House of Commons is an imperfect represen-
tation because he does not directly take a part in its con-
stitution.
The Telegraph dwells upon the opportuneness of Mr.
Bright's remarks that reform must be won by a union be-
tween all the grades of society. The passage, it says,
should be learnt by heart to serve as the guiding
memento for all genuine and earnest liberals.
A movement like the one which we now witness was
carried to triumph 34 years ago, when only 100,000
Englishmen met in the same earnest way at the Bull-
ring. Now, district after district is exhibiting a mightier
assemblage, and success has therefore become a mere
question of time and insistance.
The Star regards the speech as probably one of the most
argumentative that Mr. Bright has ever delivered. Can
those who revile him gainsay his statements or answer his
arguments? The people follow him because they have
faith in his leadership, and he is the le►der of the reform
movement because he has faith in the people. To alienate
his followers is as impossible as to answer his arguments.