The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-04 00:00:00

MR. BRIGHT AT ROCHDALE.

ROCIIDLLE. WZDIRUIAT EVllin3o.

A public meeting for the purpose of discussing
the goodies of parliamentary reform was held in the
Theatre Royal of this town this evesing ; Mr. B. Brow,
Mayor el Boolidate, to the chair. The theatre was densely
crowded, amid maims those present epee the stage were Mr.
Bright, M.P., Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P., Mr. Alderman Ash-
worth, Mr. H. Befall, Mr. Alderman Heaps, Mr. Petrie, ha
The CILUIMAX briefly opened the proceedings. He
explained that the meeting had been warmed in pursuance
of a requisition signed by nearly a thousand of the inhabi-
tants al the borough who were nodose to give *spondee
to their Whop is regard to parliamentary reform beton
the meeting of the new parliament.
Mr. H. Biandx, with a few appropriate remarks moved
the tint resolution, "That in the opinion of this mediae
it is imperative on the present government to introduce a
reform bill, is the approaching @amnion of parliament, which
is its provisioos shall fully satiety the just expectations of
the people."
Mr. PIT= seconded the resolution, in supporting which,
Mr. POTTIII, M.P., expressed his belief that it the liberals
were sew united, a real measure of reform would be passed
by thopreeent parliament. He entertained far 'rester
hopes ben the ministry of Lord Russell than that el Lard
Paltosesten, hat he should have bad eves more coafidesce
is the mini movestest If the great leader el the reform
party in lliigkad (Mr. Bright) now held a seat la the
cabins!. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Hamar, M.P., ou Habig to support the resolutios
was received with loud sod prolonged cheering. He com-
menced by alluding to the sadness with which he was filled
by the recollection of speeches delivered there by Mr.
Cobdse, and then proceeded to dines the subject of per.
Ibunstitary retorm. Pointing out the wide difference between
the present time and 1832, he expressed his belief that ft
would be necessary aid advaatageons to proceed step by
step. Ho was sot, fortunately, perhaps, as his hon. friend amid
some of his ill-advind friends there would apparently have
him, one of the ended sod sacred 'umber of the states
MOD who were advisers of the Queen ; but still every
honest man who stood before his oonotrymea to din
sow intelligibly and hossetly public quettions was
necessarily at the same time both an adviser
of the Queeo and of the people ; end in that
ehoractee he should urge that to give completion to the con-
stitution of this oiuntry no clam should be sr:eluded from
the suffrage, the shelter of the ballot should be given,
and • more equal distribution be made of parliamentary
power in the distribution of the seats. The meet pressing
of the three, however, was the question of the
euffrsee,which wu a class grievance, and upon which public
opinion was more snide up. A suffrage bill pure
and simple was much more easy to carry through parlia-
ment than one proposing to &strewth's* 90 or 30 small
boroughs ; while any distribution of seats you could
now make must necessarily be trifling and nomtis-
[weary. This was the opinion he gave to the govern-
ment in 1859. The hoo. member then proceeded to
show what aumerous classes of working men are excluded
at present from the power of voting. He should not one-
plain of the goverament if they adhered to the proposition
in the bill under Lord Aberdare' government that gave
the borough framable, to •54 rating, which was nearly as
possible a 61. rental, or in the bill of 1860, which proposed
• recital franchise of 61. Still, if its were asked for his
advice, he should say that the franchise which
is established generally I. the corporations of Eng-
ird and Wales, namely, %leasehold suffrage, would be
better. To 'dm% the great body of the people to the rank
of citizens would create is them • feeling of wilf.respect.
As to the county franchise, public opinion seemed to have
decided that the occupation franchise shoed no tomer stop
at 60/. rental. but be brought down to 101. This was proposed
by Lord Derby, and how Gould he now have the face to oppose
it? He should, therefore, propose to Moro the county
franchise to 101., with the provision that so occupier at
land should be onfrasehised limier it whose harms was sot
of a certain real value—say, 61. The mod difficult part
of the question was that of lodgers, who in Lon-
don are so numerous. He thought that the govern-
ment, though he hoped their bill would be as
simple as possible, would topsider whether some
moderate rental and moderate residence might not be fixed
so as to admit this class. If the bill failed parliament
would certainly be immediately dissolved, but if it passed
supposing it to be a purely suffrage bill, that step would not
he at all necessary. The nee vote would not come on the
register until August or September, and the register itself
would not come into operation until next January.
Parliament, therefore, might be allowed to retain inch an
existence as the course of events may render proper. The
more anlistantial danger in the way of the bill was whether
the government would have the force and courage, the proli.
fic energy, as Burke called it, necessary to make their bill
an act of parliament. The prophesying Brahmins of Brooks's
Club might foretell all porta of evils from the passing of the
bill ; bat their counsels, if followed, would be perilous to the

•
government. Every opponent (continued the hon. member)
of this measure will be emboldened, every conceited and
treacherous foe will be stimulated to oppose this measure.
The confidence of the people throughout the country,which
is now healthy and growing, will be lost, and the end of the
present government may be easily predicted. (Hear, beer.)
There are two facts that have lately occurred which fill my
mind with some apprehension. I hope they are accidents)
and exceptionaL Toone of them my hon. friend haaalready
referred, namely, the question of what has been transacted
in the island of Jamaica. I think I observe a deplorable
feebleness in the oourse which hen been taken. Many of
you have read the long despatch of I know not how many
scores of paragophs sent home to the Culonial.offios by the
governor of that unhappy island. I vesture to say that
the very hour when that despatch was reed
by the colonial minister be should have Leaned
summon's fur • cabinet meeting, to take it into
consideration ; but it appears that for *bout three
weeks literally nothing passed before that great
deputation waited no Mr. Cardwell, when he did sot feel
himself able to tell them anything the government had
done. They tell us that we are to wait. Well, Mr.
Cardwell waited, and, apparently, nothing has come from
bin waiting. I am told that one of the great actors in this
great tragedy has come from Jamaica, has had an interview
with members of the government, and that even he has
nothing further to communicate. Theo what was the
object of waiting? If facts were admitted, the illegal
putting to death of subjects of the Queen and citizens of
the empire was minutely and accurately deecribed by
the very pen and hand of the governor himself.
(Chong.) Nothing that he could say afterwsrds could
nosey or undo that which had been said and done with re-
god to the execution of Mr. Gordon. I believe there
is not • judge in this kingdom at this hour, there is not •
law officer of the crown in the three kingdoms, there is not
• lawyer in practice in the three kingdoms, who will differ
from the opinion that I now express—that the execution
of that unfortunate man Gordon was, in all its parts, in
his transference from the place where he was arrested, is
hie being handed over to a court formed (it is said) of two
lieutenants and an ensign, or some such inferior officers,
in the manner in which he was treated before that tribunal,
In the manner in which he was treated after his
: mock trial—l say, from the beginning to the end.
it is • mass of illegality ; and I believe there
' is not a judge who sits upon the bench, in
this United Kingdom, who, speaking in his private
capacity, would doubt for • single moment that Gordon
• was murdered. (Cheers.) You have all read that letter
which he wrote to his wife within an hour of his execution.
I know nothing in letter-writiog that surpasses it. When
I read it my exclamation, my first thought was, why this
reminds Ins of the temper and the language of the martyr
Stephen ; and since that martyrdom I have read nothing
in which the language and the temper were so beautiful as
the expression contained in that melancholy and wonderful
epistle. And yet I am told, I hope my authority is not good
—that when parlismeot meets there will be a desperate
cuelaught on Mr. Cardwell and the government because
they have suspended the governor, and have sent out a
commission of inquiry. One of these tory gentlemen said,
" Aye, if soondho had been prime minister he would not
have given way to the clamour of a hundred dimming per
eons." (Derisive cheers.) I inlet believe that that patty
which calls itself conservative will make this quashes of
Jamaica a battle ground in the issuing stoics. Mr.
Damn is a ass* a imsadimsdi &salamis Millar lima sII

those who sit about him or follow him. in all intellectual
saimmanship, and I do not and I will not believe, until I
see it, that Mr. Disraeli will ever permit the shocking
atrocities committed in Jamaica, or • defame of them, to
be in any way smookted with his public character and
weer. (Cheers.) Besides, suppose, which I should
think highly probable, suppose that Mrs. Gordon
were to retire from the island, so sad to her
hmsoeforth, and some to England. &saw she
came to the bar of the EOll/111 of Commons to ask
for justice, is there any man in that house who dare
get up to deny that judos to that woman ; aril she should
make her way as • suppliant to the steps of the throne,
that the widow of the murdered Gordon will ask in vain
ter justice at the heads of England's widowed guess
(Load cheers.) There la ~ne other fat which has
given me some approbation also. It is said—sad
I believe with truth that Lord Russell hie
asked Lord Stanley to join his government. Lord
Stanley knows quite well that I shall asy nothing to
depreciate him. He is informed moth abo►e the aver-
age public men, be is without union, he is impar-
tial, and in matters at least which do not masa
his order he is liberal and just. In fact he is remaak•ble
for nearly all those qualities is which Lord Derby te sin.
gutsily deficient. (Laughter and cheers.) But it appears
to me to be • Week* on the part of Lord Russell to seek
strength from the opposition. Lord Palmerston did the
same this,, but• without sweeps so far as muds Lead
Stanley ; but Lord Palmerston thought every ma had his
price. and that he knew his price. It was at likely that
Lord Stanley, standing in the relation that he dose
to the leader of the tory party, and bound up by political
and personal emaciation with its leader in the House of
Commons—it was folly to suppose that he would step from
his old friends en that side and take his plea among their
persistent opponents on this side ; but I complain of this,
and I lament it, because it appears to me like a confession
of maws. It appears es if Lord Russell acknowledged
to the world that his weak party, as far as statesmanship
was concerned, was nearly worn out. If it be so it must
be by their own policy. It has been • complaint
against them, as long as I have known any-
thing of them, that they have not acoursged
young teen arable men, except just • few men of their own
particular party, sad it is thus that they Dow God them.
selves in great difficulty in filling up the offices of the
government. Now, there are 360 liberals. it is said, in the
present parliament, and yet it appears that Lord Russell
and his colleagues cannot find one among them all who can
josa him government, or who would be so advantegemui to
it as some one—in this can Lord Stanley—from
the opposition. Suppose that all the old whip—
sod I do not speak of them without respect—be-
cense, in past times, the country has had great
navies from many of them—but suppose the old whip
were quietly deposited with all ;symbols of national respect
in Westminster Abbey--(laughter)—does any man believe
that you could not form a pveronseet out of these 360 mem-
hers of parliament ? (Cheers.) Switzerland forms administm-
Mem and there is now a general admission in Europe that
the United States even can produce statesmen. (Cheers
and laughter.) If that be so, is it not within the bounds
of probability or credibility, that out of the 360,
or rather 354, for 6 of them are already in the cabinet—
that out of the 364 who are not in the cabinet,
a cabinet might be formed that would conduct the
affairs of the country just as satisfactorily as the cabinet
which now exists I say that this appears to me to be a
symptom of weakness. I luosat it only on that ground,
because I am quite of opinion that cabinets sometimes
come to pieces or come to an end—just as the
human system, without any specific complaint, except
that which all the old women who look on say is
• sort of weakness which they can't noderstad.
(Laughter.) Now, I venture to say here that a greet
deal depends upon Lord Russell himself. I lament deeply
that Lord Russell is not at this moment a member of
the House of Commons. I think in that house on this
question of reform, he would have had much more in-
fluence than any other man can have, and infinitely more
balance than he can have as a member of the House of
Lords ; but unh►ppily he is in the House of Lords. Much,
however, depends upon him, and I am not sure
with regard to the measure which is oomiug that
everything does not depend upon him. He m►y if he
chooses gather fresh strength. If be looks to the ancestral
voices which speak to him of the past, or if at times he
seems to listerkta the memories of his future fame, he may
draw an inspir►tion and • tire that will give him strength in
this most critical period of his public career. There are
times when what is called caution is feeblesueso and ruin ;
there are times when the highest boldness is the highest
prudence end the greatest wisdom. I believe this is a time
when if Lord Russell will take up this question with the
firmness; which distinguished him 30 years ago, and wall rely
upon the good feeling, the good sense, and the generous
support of parliament and the people, he will carry this
measure to a triumphant success. (Chsers.) But two things
are possible—l am not sure that they are not clear : one is,
that if this question is treated with a feeble band
the government will fall; and the other is, that
if this government fall, presided over by the most
eminent statesman now living of the whin party, we are
likely to see the entire extinction of the whip as • govern-
log party in the affairs of this country. But whether the
government are equal to the time or not, the cause which
we espouse and which I am endeavouring to defend is
nevertheless quite safe. (Cheers.) It has within it an
indestructible life. Feebleness or treachery may retard
it for a time, bat (scoot prevent its final and its early
triumph. (Cheers.) There is in an old poem that I reed
with great pleasure many years ago—the " Faerie Queens"
—in which is a lime I think may teach us something in
our present position :—" No fort is fencible. No wall is
strong, but that continual battery may rive." I feel certain
that thefort of selfishness and mosoply canard be held for
ever, and that the walls of privilege cannot through all
time resist the multitude that are gathering to the emelt.
(Lond cheers.) le all the nations of the world at this day
I believe the powers of good are gaining steadily on the
powers of evil. I think it is eminently and happily so in
this country. Let us take courage then. We are endea-
vouring by constitutional means to compass • great con-
stitutron►l end—to make the parliament not only
the organ of the will, but the honest and faith-
ful guardian of the interests of all classes in the
country. It is a great and able purpose which we have
set ourselves to do, but it is • purpose which ascot tail if
we are true; to it and to ourselves. (Loud and pro-
longed cheering, amid which Mr. Bright resumed his seat.)
The resolution was unanimously adopted, as also was a
petition praying for an amendment of the Reform dot, ►nd
the proceedings termin►ted with a vote of thanks to the
, mayor for presiding.
•

GREnswics MILAN Thu.—Captains of ships and
others engaged in navigation are generally anxious with
respect to obtaining the accurate Greenwich mean time.
The following notice with respect to this subject WAS tester-
day leaned by Professor Airy, the Astronomer Royal :
" Time Boll—Royal Signal 'tower. Deal—The ball will be
raised half-mast high at a few minutes before one, nearly,
and will be raised at the top three minutes before one
nearly every day. It will be dropped by an instantaneous
galvanic current from the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,
exactly at one. The time to be noted is the instant at which
the ball begins to fall from the cross arms of the vane. If,
in consequence of galvanic accident, the ball is dropped too
late or too soon, a black gag will be hoisted, and will be
raised till fifteen minutes before two tbe ball will again
be dropped by bend at two. If the wind in very heavy tbe
ball will not be raised. (Signed) G. B. AULT, Astronomer
lionaL”
Tim CULPRIT Romwsori. —Yesterday a memorial
was being offers t foe signature to the ironmasten assembled
on 'Charge io Wolverhampton, desiring the mitigation to
confinement duiiog life of the young man Christopher
Charles Robinson, who was sentenced to death at the last
Staffordshire Anises for the murder of his sweetheart. The
memorial prays that this alteration may take place upon
the plea that the act was not premeditated, and was there-
fore unaceompanied with "malice aforethought." For
murder unpremeditated, it shows the commiseionen upon
capital punishment recommend that the punishment
should be that which the memorialists now desire ; and
inasmuch as this woad be the award of the judge is a
@iodise we after the noommendations of the commis-
sioners have become law, the snemorialists ask in subetenee
that legislation may be anticipated in Rebhan:oB'e ease. To-
day has bees appointed for receiving this menneial, with
ens else from the marderseo relatives, sad ose with addi-
tional ssedisil evidence am to the isopposod state of his mud
at the time that Its wrwinitttal the murder.