The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-20 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

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Though Lord Russell gave no inkling of such a
cheap in his reply to the deputation yesterday, the Times
is told, mad is glad to beer it, that simultaneously with the
Franchise Bill a second bill will be introduced dealing with
the question of redbAribution. The spectacle of timidity,
of embarrassment, and of indecision which ministers have
presented has, it cannot be denied, weakened their position ;
bat if they are now determined to sot worthily of the sub.
jest and of themselves, they may yet present a scheme of
reform to the Legislature which may be :waived with
rational satisfaction. The gravest defeat in our parlia-
mentary government is the unequal representation of in-
termits, and it is not easy to acquit of incapacity
• government which could have dreamt of a
measure which did not attempt to remedy it.
They are possibly as yet in the dark themselves as
to the particular proposals, but if nothing else can be dose,
recourse may be had to the simple expedient suggested in
Lord Renall's BOOM Bill of 1850. Neighbouring
beraeghe may be grouped together—Totnec, for example,
may be associated with Ashburton and Dartmouth ; and If
• ample of members be given to the four towns there will
remain two to be bestowed on more worthy constituencies.
It was torten that a maze franchise bill could not peas, and
it may be that their better resolutioa is now too late, but
even though the venture be desperate, it is better to fail
in making a sincere attempt at legisistion than to be de.
hated after a pretence of attack oe existing abuses.
Earl Russell's reply to the Glasgow deputation yesterday
manta to the Star to clearly indicate that the Reform Bill
will be limited to the reduction of the franchise. Rol
Russell pointed oat that the defeat is our political system

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which would be oared by a rediatatatiou of seats is not
"so obvious and so immediately requiring a remedy" as
OM which would be removed by a lowering of the amount
of the voter's qualitioatioo. The Star cannot but assume,
although Lord Rumell did not so pat it, that this remark
conveys an aunounomasot of the p3licy which the govern•

meat will plum, end the Star is satisfied that on the
whole swat a wane is reasonable and prudent.
The TelegrapA repudiator the rsactioaary doctrine which
is to be found in the lea ling artillcs of many of its eon-

saporartes, sad with which the lobbies of iheHonse of

Conanotis sn voeal—that reform should be put aside for
Jamaica or Fenlanieni, the Irish ehurob or the cattle
plague. The Jamaica question will be adjudicated by far
Henry Storks and his 1181100i1141, rather than by the
House of Commove. The imported, up-Irish, agi-
tation of Menisci= ie eviscerated by the ens-
passion of habeas wrens. So far se legislation goes,
the cattle plague question will be !settled in a few days.
It is the intention of Mr. Clay, this evening, or upon an
early day, to introdnes to the homes a reform bill based
upon an educational tart. That snob a bill might with ad-
vantage be appended as a corollary to the government bill,
is possible ; that it can displace, or be accepted ea a substi-
tute for the government measure, the Telegraph emphati-
cally denies. To the full height of their promises and pro-
fessions, this House of Commons will be called upon to
amend.