The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-21 00:00:00

re: ILZFORM DCRLTI LART NIGHT.

Estimating highly for its intellectual merits the
speech Nat night of Mr. Lowe, the Times disputes, never-
theless, his accusations and predictions. But it would not
do to confine the defence to the line Mr. Henley adopted,
which was in substance that reform bad become
inevitable through Queen's speeches and the mani-
festos of party leaders—an argument which wee
one of what the lawyers call "contagion and avoid-
&nee ;" the Tines gem further, and believes that
the wisest statesmanship would uphold what has been
proposed as a measure of enfranchisement which ought to
COMO. Let Mr. Lowe relinquish an untenable position,
and address himself to what is really practicable—to pro-
vidhig that the new voters shall not wholly overbear those
now enfruichised. The defence of our mixed constitution
lies in the redistribution clauses, and in setting the voters
in each constituency free to vote as they like. The
variety and character of the House of Commons—the pre-
sence within it of advocates of all opinions— the security
that unpopular wisdom shall have a voice and always be
beard—can be best maintained by giving each voter liberty
to dispose of his votes as he pleases, and in stoutly re-
sisting all recasting of the representation which would
prejudice this end.

The Daily New. congratulates Mr. Disraeli not only upon
accepting the substance of the terms proposed by the libe-
ral party, but acquiescing also in their demands as to the
manner of doing what is really their work. He deserves
great credit for his judgment and tact, but he is unduly
exalted by his solitary triumph. He has simply succeeded
by a fluke, his bill being the result of a series of blunders.
His proposed safeguards have disappeared, and the lodger
has come in in deference to the opposition. Avowedly all
that he knows about the compound householder he bas
learnt from Mr. Gladstone ; nothing is Mr. Disraeli's in
the bill except the sacred principle of personal rating.
Mr. Gladstone's conduct last session first made the ques-
tion of reform vital and practical, and his suggestions,
backed by popular agitation, have made the present bill
tolerable. His reservation of all the credit to himself is
in disadvantageous contrast with Sir Robert Peel's mag-
nanimous disclaimer on the repeal of the corn laws. The
borough franchise, subject to parliamentary approval of
the clauses which Mr. Disraeli is to lay on the table on
Thursday, is now settled, and steady progress with the
measure may be looked for.

The Pout thinks the Chancellor of the Exchequer is en-
titled to great praise for having overcome the opposition of
his supporters, not by persuasion, for he did nut take the
trouble of consulting them, but by skilfully inveigling
them into a position from which there was no escape. The
conservative party have at least one consolation ; there
is no lower stage to which their leader can ask them to
descend.

The Standard takes the ground of Mr. Henley In his
reply to Mr. Lowe. People, it says, want something
theoretically better than the present electoral system ; and
it is impossible to satisfy a householder paying 9/. a year
when be asks for a vote by telling him things are managed
very well now. No doubt we are to a certain extent leap-
ing into the dark. It is probable that this large enfran-
chisement will vastly modify the character of the House
of Commons, and perhaps not for good; but it was
unavoidable.

The Tekgraph records with great satisfaction the fact
that last night Mr. Disraeli's candour and directness more
than equalled any estimate his friends or enemies ever
ventured to frame. The triumph, so far as the borough
franchisee concerned, obtained by the liberal party, is
complete. No part of the " old original policy" survives
save the personal payment of rates ; and, compared with
what we have won, that is but a slight grievance. The
tory party by the act of last night solemnly and before the
world committed the happy despatch.

Tim concession made hi the government was certainly,
admits the Star, complete enough.

THE POLITICAL ENFRANCHISEMENT OP WOMEN.

The Tires describes Mr. Mill's speech last night se ela-
bor►te but not effective, and as unlikely to gain fresh
converts. If the advocates of female suffrage ground
their claims on theoretical right, then it roust
be allowed that woman is fit to serve on juries,
to be a magi.trate or sheriff, to be admitted to
the civil service, and to sit in the House of Com-
mons. The tendency of inch schemes as Mr. Mill's is
simply to obliterate political and social distinctions be-
tween men and women, and the Times would rather wait
and see what position the women themselves take in the
matter. If there were a general movement of the women
of the country in (senor of political freedom, beaded by a
few women of manifest political genius—if it were proved
that the sex really desired to be represented by the

maiden and widow householders who belong to it,
or asked for a still larger enfranchisement, the
case of Mr. Mill would be much strengthened.
But ever since the world has existed, the great mass of
women have been of weaker mental powfra than men,
and with an instinctive tendency to submit themselves to
the control of the stronger sex. Their destiny is marriage,
their chief function Is maternity, their sphere is domestic
and social life. This is their condition now, and political
rights may well be settled in accordance with it.
The Daily News speaks :of Mr. Mill's speech as yet more
remarkable than Mr. Lowe's for its perfect English, its
calm lucidity of mental atmosphere, its cogent argument,
and its hopeful and generous spirit. Mr. Mill is, on this
question, but a pioneer. The fact that 73 members went
with him into the lobby, a number far beyond what could
have been expected ron a question so new to the intelli-
gence of the house, and so hampered by social prejudices,
was probably due almost as much to As incredible weak-
ness and, in some cases, the positive silliness of /the
speeches of its opponents as to the :rex* power and merit
of his own.

The Hrrald says, on the contrary, that the debate on the
4th clause was opened by Mr. Mill, in a speech as feeble
and halting as his proposal was abhorrent to the almost
universal instincts of mankind. The doctrine of masculine
supremacy and female subordination is not so utterly °bac-
lete as he seemed to suppose, and the Herald thinks it
somewhat surprising that 7:1 members should have been
found willing to gratify Mr. Mill by voting for a motion
which is hardly mentioned with gravity in any assemblage
of rational men.

The Star speaks of Mr. Mill's speech as a composition
of remarkable ability—abounding in humour and in
pathos, and exhibiting all the breadth and delicacy of
sympathy for which all his disquisitions are so remark-
able. The record of the opinion of a minority in favour
of female suffrage—even if regarded as over chivalrous—
must exercise a softening influence on the public mind.