The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-13 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

THI REFORM DEPCTATIoN TO MIL GLAISTONE.

The House of Commons having come to the
conclusion that it would be well fur the interests it
cherishes, to establish the borough franchise upon inc
quality and injustice, reormers, says the Nero,
have, in consequence, the starting point of a new course of
resolute and combined action, and those people in parlia-
ment and elsewhere who, by habitually deluding them-
selves, come at last to think that they have the art of de-
luding others may b.! commended to Mr.Glaclstone's speech
on Saturday. The proceedings at the interview in question,
will prove the beginning of a movement which is destined
utterly to defeat the machinations of those who think that
tbe people of this country can be treated as &tante of
intelligence. Speaking in the name of that liberal party
which, in spite of a thousand defeats, proclaims itself
from year to year to be the efficient controller of the policy
of Great Britain, Mr. Gladstone declares that this fraudu-
lent minister MI hill cannot be, and shall not be recognised
as a settlement of the que,tion of parliamentary reform.
Reformers must now gird themselves for the struggle. It
is their advantage that all that has been won has been
acquired unconditionally, without any kind of compromise.
The principle of household suffrage affirmed, it will be for
the libend party to insist on its full and impartial applica-
tion. The great work of reform, however, has to be done
now as always out of doors, where it can never be in
danger.
The iirrald maintains that the upper and middle classes
have held aloof altogether from the reform movement.
The day which sees the passing of the conservative bill
will see the fruition of those middle-class aspirations to
which the Manchester reformers will idly appeal. These
gentlemen know perfectly well that the present govern-
ment will never grunt household suffrage pure and simple;
they will hod that the middle classes have not the slightest
desire to oak them to swerve from that determination.
_ _

The Times, without alluding to the proesedings on
Saturday, has a general article on the virtues of the
Reform Rill, extolling the test of personal ratepaying as
indirectly securing " full scope for the influence of a man's
regular social connexion." This test, in proportion to the
rigour with which it is applied, will secure the perma-
nency, the respectability, and the trustworthiness of the
elector; but it will also secure that the influences which
ought to sway him shall have due play, as well as the other
influences certain to operate in every contested election.
The Past refers in detail to the proceedings at the inter-
view, to show that the effect of Mr. Gladstone 's amend-
ments, even though they have been sedulously represented
as being less liberal than the intentions of the govern-
ment, has been in no way to shake the confidence which is
felt in him among those who have agitated and worked
hardest in the cause they have in hand. The reason of
this is obvious. Honesty and stedfastneas of purpose will
always have the greatest weight in the end.
The Telegraph endorses the programme of the Reform
I%li= with much enthusiasm. If parliament adopts the bill
the comment which the country will offer on the " settle-
, meat " will be an ardent, universal, and narrating agita-
tion, beginning from the day that the measure is called
" law " till it be abolished, along with the chamber which
Mr. Disraeli bewildered or intimidated into adopting his
scheme.

The Star takes in the main the same view. It think,,
however, that a united and strenuous effort might even
now prevent the measure from passing.