The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-11 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 11.

TIM Resolution to be moved by Lord Joins Res-
MILL, 011 the motion for the second reading of the
Government Reform Bill, is now before the public,
having been read in the House of Commons last
night. It is two-fold ; the first half strikes at aid
will destroy that part of the Bill which would
eliminate 100,000 votes of independent freeholders
from the county constituencies, where the landed
interest already predominates ; the second cle-
mencies the attempt to evade in a pretended
Reform Bill those claims in which the necessity of a
Reform Bill originates,—the claims of the industrial
OWNS tisa large share in the suffrage. When Mr.
DISILSZLI has moved that the Bill be read a second
time, Lord Joust Roams will invite the He to
declare that " it is neither just nor politic to inter-
" fere in the manner proposed with the freehold
" franchise as hitherto exercised in counties in
" England and Ws,es,” and, further, " that no re-
" adjustment of the franchise will satisfy the House
" or the country which does not provide for a greater
" extension of the suffrage in cities and boroughs
" than is contemplated in the present meanie."
When we urged yesterday that a plain declara-
tive like this should be embodied in Lord JOHN
RUSSELL'S Resolution, we did so on the ground that
it would afford a pledge such u the country had a
right to expect. But last night's experience shows
that it wee also wise to dose considered u a point of
Parliamentary tactics. For Lord Joint Annul, had
not resumed his seat more than two minutes after
reading his resolution when Mr. DISRAELI rose in his
place and gave the Home to understand
that his proposal to dishenolus' e the borough
freeholders in respect of their county votes
would undergo some essential modification.
What it is that the Government are ready to eur-
rendee the Great /dasher of Mystery, of course, did
not clearly state. It will be safest to quote his
words :—" With respect to the notice given by the
" noble lord, it is not the intention of the Govern-
" ment to propose the disfranchisement of any
" borough freeholders, whether they exercise the
" suffrage in hundreds within the limits of parlir-
mentary boroughs or not. The subject has been
" under the consideration of the Government, sad
" I will take an opportunity of placing clung
"on the table in which, I trust, we shall re-
" candle the main principle of the measure which I
0 introduced, which is the identity of suffrage between
" county and borough, with the recognised rights of
" thou freeholders whose freeholds are within the
" limit at present of parliamentary boroughs. When
"we go into committee I shall propose clauses
with that object, and I will lay them on the table
" of the House before the second reading of the Bill."
Already, then, Ministers make signs of retreating
from one of their positions se coon as it is menaced.
The CHANCELLOR of the Bloom= evidently
thinks he sees hie way to a compromise respecting
the first half of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'. Resolution
bat the second half must surely bring Toryism to bay.
It is difficult to see how Lord DE/BY can make any
concession on the subject of the borough franchise,
for the very menu of his Bill is the uniformity of
the franchise in town and county, and the county
quill:ellen cannot well be set lower than ten
panda.

The battle of Reform mast be fought somewhere,
and why not on this Resolution P It is pomade that
Lord DEIST may have made up his mind to take his
stand en the 101. borough qsalifioation, and struggle
far its maintenance. Such a determination would
explain the warnings that were yesterday sent
in the name of the Government throughout the length
end breadth of the land, warning the faithful of the
attempts which, it is alleged, an Ming made to revolu-
donne the country, and entreating them to hold fait
to Cone/restive principles. The announcement, con-
tained in the same communication, that "a general
" election will probably take place in a few weeks,"
seems to Indicate the intention of Ministers to try their
last clams on the ousting*. But in the has Of a
tarp saline majority they can hardly maintain
suit a radiation.

Hownvin desirous to see the Italian question set-
tled, we should hesitate to move sea peeeefel solu-
tion the proposal of Lord Cowurr, as it is interpreted
by the Journal des Dante. Awarding to the French
journalist, Austria is besought no longer to consider
itself the exclusive guardian of order in Italy, the
united Powers of Raropehaving proposed to undertake
that teak. As these united Powers have substituted
themselves for the sole action of Russia on the
Dawdle, so they are prepared to substitute them-
selves for Austria south of the Po.
We cannot be blind to the immense evils of
such an arrangement. If the Italians are thus
placed in the tutelage of a new Holy Alliance, their
present divided sad miserable condition will be
in a manner stereotyped. If the great Powers of
Europe am to undertake to provide forthe pease and
the polies of Italy, revolatios is impossible t end in-
stead of the Port and the Ring of Harm being
compelled, by the departure of French mid Austrian
tulips, to est their boom In order, they may either
snivel sr Sail to do so with perfect impunity. Bush
is Oil esimtrestlea pat by the Journal des DK,*
qss Lord PaMintrron's words, a oesistraetisM
white, me think, they will net bear. To guarestee
the pease and provide the police of any essatry is
•imptidtly sad neoresarily to guarantee its pretest
territorial dasaareatioo, and this England mama de
in Italy. The English public would not tolerate,
acs would Parliament permit it.