The Express.
London, England, 1859-02-02 00:00:00

MR. LINDSAY, AI.P., ON REFORM.

(From the A-twee:tie CAreeick.)
•
On Monday night Mr. Lindsay, M.P., admiring
• crowded meeting al his oatetrinete at Mirk Stsfeatis.
,Having spoken at some length on the nub-jeer of Harbours
of adage and the Manning of the Navy, Mr. LIXDIAT
obeerved—Ourupied as my time has been daring Menem in
aiding to deal with these two greet national and important
questions, I have not been able to give that attention to the
question of reform which I would otherwise have desired to
do. I have not been able to wady the question so as to be
able to found any positive opinions upon it, In regard to
reform, as a referrer., my views are unchanged. lam not
one of those who have any dread of vesting the industrial
classes of this country with the franchise. I have faith
in their judgment ; I have faith in their common
sere; and I feel that the respesteble industrial
classes will never arms It. (Load applause.) lam one of
those who feel that there is a very large section of the people
who have no voice in the representation, and who ought to
be represented. I also feel that there is a gnat deal of ion n-
signory in such plum as Touter, with 300 electors, seeding
two member to parliament, and Shields, with its 30,000
inhabitants, expecting me to do all the work for them.
(" Her and loud applause.) Therefore I need not tell you
that so far as that poruon of Mr. Bright's bill is concerned I
will be very happy to give it my beet support, and I will be
very happy to have a colleague if it is your pleasure again to
return me as your member. (Loud appleuee.) But while
am not prepared to offer an opinion as to how that great
question of return can be dealt with in the best manner—for
it is a much mare difficult question then appears on the sur-
face, I think I will be only right in saying, considering
that I am one of those ercerbeach members, es we are called
—the independent members—that though I will be desirous
to see a reform, I cannot agree with trey things which have
fallen from Mr. Bright. I wont tell you that trenkly. Like
hire,l am one of the people; bat I think some of hie remarks
against another clue, to which I don't end never will be-
long, were totally unseceseary end altogether uncalled fur.
(Loud applause.) I am not come here to defend the
aristocracy of England—they can defend themselves
—but I will say this of them, as part and parcel
of oar constitution, I think it a very unwise thing
for one in the position of Mr. Bright to attack the
aristocracy the manner in which he did. I will say this for
them, that se a body they are, perhaps, as good—number for
number—se any other body of the community, and when I
compare them with the aristocracy of other countries. I say I
am proud of the eristocrecy of England. (Loud applause.)
There are good, bad, cad indifferent, amongst them, but as •
whole they are liberal-minded gentlemen, and they are a
nooreary part of a constitution which I admire. Don't
commit yourself now," and laughter). Thank you.
Than is another point on which, I am sorry to
say, I cannot agree with Mr. Bright; he referred
to the institutions of America, and spoke of the
freedom of Americo. Now, if he does not know, I know
that there is more pure and true freedom in this country
then there la in the stair of America. There can be no
pure freedom in a country where, from the lettenearrier up
to the Secretary of State, all change, with every change of
the administration, including the very Judges, with the ex-
ception of the Supreme Judges of the Court. There can be
really no true freedom in a country where slavery still pol-
lutes the soil, and contaminates the air—(applaime)—and
therefore I inn emprised to hear my friend Mr. Bright talk of
the freedom of America as at all equal to our own pure end
really true freedom ; end, therefore, I think that by using
arguments such as these, ha is not doing that good to the
cause of pure freedom and true reform which he might have
done had he not referred to each matters as these. (Cheers.)

MB. H. B. BiIBRID.AN N.P., AND HIS
CONSTITUENTS.

On Monday evening a public meeting was held in
the Lem:esteem School Room, Ststrordcorert, Dudley, to
teeM Mr. H. B. Sheridan, M.P., who had intimated his in-
tention of giving en reposition of his poli:ical Mem, end
also hi. opinions with reference to the proposal new reform
biU. Or the platform was Mr. J. S. Pakington, Mr.
B. GRANGER was elected chairmen.
Mr. SHERIDAN, on rising, Wel loudly chtersd. Though, he
said, be did not entirely go with Mr. Bright's measure, be
thought it would do good. Although the bill which would
probably be pared would not go so far, it would do good,
marmuch as it would point the road to which tbo promised
government measure meet tend. Oae good feature in Mr.
Bright's scheme was that it would, if passed, diefranchise some
boroughs that ought never to have been entranchieed, and
bestow the privilege on others which wero mire entitled to It.
It seemed pretty certain that Dudley would have two mem-
bers, as he had seen no selaree yet midrib did not contain a
provision of this kind. Whether this would condom to their
interests or not remised to ke seen, but ho should any it
would. (" Hear, hear," and chum) He might WM that
enhierst by rentarking that none of them could doubt Me.
Bright's musty. (Loud cries of " Hear.") Ho had to
cope with those metal interests reprerenled by the /ism,
and it was undoubtedly a difficult thing for a man, however
powerful, to fight with that groat organ; but he trusted,
liming as b did that all who were connected with the maw
were -Liberals at heart, that the Tiass would turn mad
and help them. (Cheers.) One thing was certain—is any
new Ketone Bill thee, mist be a redistribution of the
franchisee. It was monstrous that so many pieces should be
unrepresented whilst others were enjoying privileges in this
respect to which the oomparattro extent of their population
did not entitle them. Take Chelsea, foe instance, where
there were 4,700 rated householders, and they bad no mem-
ber, though this constituency win equal to this of Abingdon,
Raiford, Marlborough, and Richmond (Yorkshire). (Hear.
hear.) This must be altered ; sad though they might think