The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-25 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 1867.

THE RIVAL FRANCHISES.

TO THE IDITOR Of Till =PRIEM
SIR' —While various liberal members of parlia-
ment have, in or out of the house, defended or
explained the votes they gave for or against Mr.
Gladstone's amendment I have not seen any state-
ment of the reasons which weigh with a very large I
section of the liberal party out of doors in making
them on the whole approve of the rejection of I
that proposal. As these have an important bearing I
on the policy still to be pursued, I ask your leave
to set them forth in the briefest possible exposition.
It need not be remarked that the whole body of
the liberal party is at one in respect to the objec-
tionable nature of Mr. Disraeli's restriction to per-
sonal rating. Of the abstract principle, then, I
expressed in Mr. Gladstone's amendment, they are
agreed in approval.
But that amendment, though technically moved
by itself, was, in its author mind and avowed
intention, only part of a larger scheme. Had
that first clause been carried and acquiesced
in by government, it was to have been fol-
lowed by other amendments, which are in sub-
stance identical as regards restriction of the fran-
chise (except in the matter of two years' residence)
with those which now ~stand in Lord Grosvenor's
name. By these there would have been esta-
blished a uniform 51. rating franchise, and the
fixity of that limitation would have been secured
by prohibiting any occupier at lower rental from
being either rated or registered. Now had the
first part of the amendment been carried, the
result would have been to set up for a moment in-
discriminate household suffrage, but as neither
Tories nor Whigs would have allowed that to re-
main, both would have next united in favour of
Mr. Gladstone's restrictions, and hence the restric-
tion to a Si. rating franchise, fixed and permanent,
would have been the inevitable result.

But such a franchise is peculiarly dis-
tasteful to many liberals. They object to
any permanent line being drawn, such as
shall prevent modification as the country ad-
vances. They particularly object to the attempt
to make the line permanent by holding out a pecu-
niary motive to the unenfranchised to remain con-
tent with exclusion. They utterly dislike the idea
of saying to the working classes, Avoid the fran-
chise, for if you seek it you will not only have to
pay higher rent, but also parish rates." ' They
think such a system would be a far more severe
" fine" placed on enfranchisement than any Mr.
Disraeli proposes. They fail, moreover, to see
why a man who pays imperial taxes should be
debarred from imperial pnvileges merely because
he is, for convenience of the parish, exempted from
its humble local burdens. These, and many other
reasons, lead them to the conclusion that Mr. Glad-
stone's scheme. as a whole, was objectionable. And
as the effect of carrying that first clause of his
scheme' which was laudable would have been to
have made absolutely certain the passing of those
latter clauses which were fatally unsound, they ap-
prove the rejection which obviated that danger.
But government had already announced that it
would not have accepted even the first clause.
Hence, if it had been carried the bill would have
been lost. There must have been a now agitation,
with every point still indefinite, and no principle
established. Granting that there must, if the bill
passes, be still agitation to obtain :he repeal of its
objectionable features, the liberals of whom I
speak believe an agitation with that object will be
confined to simpler issues, and will obtain an easier
success, than an agitation for a new Reform Bill
from the beginning, with the Whip in power, and
the Tories in opposition, and no statesman pledged
to anything in particular.
But a dissolution might not have given the Whip
• majority. Whatever the leaders of parties may
say, it is firmly fixed in the minds of the people
that the tories are ready to concede the principle
of household suffrage. With the principle ,con-
ceded, they trust to themselves to achieve the
details. 'Hence in many liberal constituencies a
supporter of the Derby government would have
beaten a follower of Mr. Gladstone. But if thus a
Tory majority had been returned, should we have
had any reform bill 1 That may be doubted, and
wo think it was best not to risk the experiment of a
dissolution with such a possible issue.
. . • .

On the whole t hen we conceive it best to secure
from the tones all that can be got this year, so that
next year our task shall be lighter than if we had to
start with nothing at all. Let us have the two-
year residents enfranchised; it is better to have
them alone than to have none. Let us have the
120,000 now voters Mr. Disraeli gives positively,
and the 400,000 more he gives potentially, we
shall in a year or two obtain them all on equal
terms. Nor is it fair to charge us with want of
party faith in thus arguing and acting. Certain
rights which we conceive we are entitled to are
denied us. Our opponents offer them in
..part, and
they admit our title to the whole. Our old friends
offer them in larger part, but only on condition
of our entering on a prolonged struggle, and with-
out admission of our ultimate title to the rest.
Where is the breach of faith in accepting our bare
due from the party which we conceive offers it
most favourably ?—I am, &c., J. B. K.
April 22.

LORD F. CAVENDISH, M.P., AND THE RZFORX
QuinrrioN.—A letter has been received by Mr. Alderman
Carter from Lord F. Cavendish, one of the representatives
for the Northern Division of the West Riding, in which,
after referring to his vote in favour of Mr. Gladstone's
amendment, he says:—" I never gave a vote with less
hesitation. I believe that not only is the government bill
wrong in requiring the personal payment of rates, but
that it is based on an unsound principle in connecting the
franchise with the payment of rates in any manner what-
soever. The working of that principle is clearly shown in
the electoral returns presented to parliament, by the pro-
portion of the number of burgesses to the number of male
occupiers in the various municipal boroughs. I was sur-
prised to hear from many county members the argument
that there was no injustice caused by thew in-
equalities, as suay householder might place himself on the
register by claiming to be rated ; for county members must
be well aware, that even with they present high county
qualifications, few, if any, county voters ever place them-
selves on the register, but are, as a general rule, so placed
through the means and at the expense of the party
registration associations. Had Mr. Gladstone'' first
amendment been carried, I should also have voted for the
5L rating franchise; but I accept the decision of the house
against what is now called ' the hard and fast line,' and
look with confidence to the good sense and moderation of
the great proportion of the new electors to obviate the
inconvenience which might arise from the ignorance and
dependence of the lowest class of householders. I would,
however, if practicable, make it a condition that all votes
should be given in writing at the polling booth, so as to
exclude from voting all who are totally uneducated." In
conclusion, be expresses his confidence in Mr. Gladstone,
and his earnest hope that all reformers throughout the
country will unite to strengthen his (Mr. Gladstone's)
hands, and enable him to ript with due effect as leader of
the liberal party, for the hood of the cause, and the true
interests of the country.
PROPOSED Reroasi MERVIN° IN HYDE-PARK.—
Last night a meeting of delegates from trade, friendly,
temperance, and other societies, and branches of the Re-
form League, was held in Sussex hall, Bouverie-street, to
consider the present position of the reform question.
There was a large attendance of delegates. Mr. Beale',
who was in the chair, referred to the recent demon-
strations at Birmingham and Leeds, which he said
showed that an agitation had been commenced, or
rather renewed, of the most vigorous and earnest
description, against the so-called Government Reform
Bill. Attempts had been made in sonic of the news-
papers to depreciate these demonstrations, but nothing
could be more absurd than to say that they were not
characterised by great earnestness and by great unanimity.
As a resolution had been unaniniously conic to to hold •
meeting in Hyde-park on the fith of May, be called upon the
members of the League to make that demonstration worthy
of the metropolis. It was looked forward towitb the greatest
interest by the people in the provinces, and if anything of
an unsatisfactory nature occurred it would not be the
fault of the people, who would go to the park
merely to express their feelings on this moat important
question. Mr. Howell (secretary to the League) moved a
vote of thanks to Mr. Robertson Gladstone, for having ad-
vocated in a speech recently made by him the principle of
manhood suffrage and the ballot. A long discussion on the
Hyde-park meeting ensued, in which the feeling generally
expressed was to hold it at any risk, the impression being
that the government would not interfere with it.

*parting , Intelligence.

FIRST SPRING MEETING.
WZDNEBD4T.

As Is frequently the case at Newmarket, several Important
transactions took place after the telegraph oece had been closed,
consequently the betting which appeared is the nerapappee this
morning requires some comment, as It underwent cnmfdeesalde
change must as the moms were about to close. Archimedes, who
It wan reported had In • gallop bit himself, which accounted for
the demoustration against him at clubs on Saturday, was exten-
sively Invented upon for the Chester Cup, opening at 26 to I, and
closing at 100 to taken with freedom. Lucifer also came In
for additional support, closing at a price equal to that of Lord
Stamfonts hone. Moment supplanted her stable companion In
the early part of the evening, Lecturer becoming friend-
lies at 28 to 1, which caused no small consternation to
those who believed that the horse was made for the race and
the race for the horse A reaction, however, soon set in from
the fact of the noble owner of the " Iktle (outer ale " coming
forward, and laying 3000 to 100 against Comers, after which 100
to 6 was taken betty about the former. The feature of the Derby
betting was the support awarded to Vauban, Dragnn, and Her-
mit the Two Thousand winner befog backed at 1000 to 300,
Hernial coming In for • big het of 11000 to 1000, while the French
representative wee 1,00 much in demand at 8 to 1, that 7 to I be-
came his ultimate price. Plaudit exhibited some feeble signs of
animation at to 1. Marksman was freely backed at 20 to 1
during the early part of the evening. The last noticeable trans-
action wain thumping bet made by the Marquis of Bastian of
ZlO,OOO even 00 the Rake, Vauban, and Dragon &gang the field
for the blue rthand. Concerning the great race of Tuesday,
although Vuitton was a had horse for the bookmakers
generally, it would have been ever so much worse if Plaudit
or Julius had won, and reaping the benefit of the overthrow of
the two latter, they were filly up to time In the settling which
took place. ranting now to this day's sport, the less said about
the weather the better, to begin with. It was a perfect ante.
dibmtan day, especially tower& the latter end of the afternoon.
Liter mature experfeace in the vagaries of the English climate,
we have come to the coaclusion that nothing can look so black
al • Newmarket sky or ppoour such torrents as Newmarket
clouds ; for the corrnhoratloa of which we appeal to the large
number of individuals who cowered under every available shelter
all over the course, like • brood of drenched barneloor fowls.
The weather was simply horrible, hut the items disposed
of were not devoid of interest. Without entering here very
minutely Into the day's proceedings, we may offer some
brief remarks on the results of those events which seem
to have a future forecast. Passing Ly the Brat race, therefore,
we come upon D'Estournel as the easy winner of the Plate of
100 son. Truly he vanquished nothing of an extraordinary
calibre, but it must be borne in mind that the Amanda colt
can gallop occasionally, and D'Fatoumel'a victory should there-
fore inspire his hackers for the Derby with the hope that he will
be In as good a mood as he was to-day, when It would he Just
possible for him to run away with the " blue riband." In the
succeeding race Suffolk, with the extraordinary odds of 6 to lon
him in so large • field, won " anyhow." Alter ft was over we
heard • northern Leviathan offer Baron Rothschild,
the owner, to take 1(000 to 1000 that Suffolk won
next year's Derby : at which the Baron shook his
heed. A more brilliant performance than that of the son
of North Lincoln was never witnened : and we sincerely trust
that the long disappointed colours of the "Moe and yellow
eap" will at last carry off the much coveted Epsom prise In
link A "ual k over" succeeded: after which perhaps the grandest-
looking 7-)told In England—Pripannier—completely cantered
away with the Sweepataken of 10 sews. each (T. V.C. , heating a
well tried and splendid public performer like Pericles, in the
commonest of canters, by ten lengths, which might have been
forty If wanted, and thereby rendering it more than ever a pity
that the horse is engaged in none of the great events of this
year. The other items call for no special comment.
TRI PRINCE or WALES'S STARES of 160 soy'. each, It ft. and
25 only If declared, for fourlrolds ; colts, Set Olb and Miles.
eat 41h; penalties and allowances. Commerttclt Course 2 miles
furlongs and 28 yards). 'l2 stilml
Lord Stamford'. The Peer, by Newruinster—Mainbrace,
Bet 1111 b (Inc Sib en)
lord eshritige's Black Prince, Olb ,Po rdhr

is)
dp's— a, Bst 00. (rox...am)
Belting: 0 to 4 na The Peer, who made play throughout, and
wen In a canter by Owes lengths.
PLATE of 100 sort, I r titre..-year-olds; colts, gat 10Ib and
11111 es, gat 7.b; winners extra. Rowley Mlle it mile 17 yards;.
Mr. Rayne's D'Eadournel, by Parmesan—Clairvoyant's
dam, net Inc a ex. 'Customs.) I
Mr. (loadings's c Rataplan—Ammula, 10Ds ,T. French% 2
Mr. Fleining's Nancy, hat 71b (II. Covey; 3

ilinotaaralsomn:

Betting: d to I on uW 100 to 30 agst the Amanda
eolt.
lIANDICAP PLATS of g5O, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. Bretby
Stakes Course 7 furlongs'.
lair F. Johuatone's Charles 11.,by Monarque—Frolic, S Ira,
Cot fill, (II. Clark) 1
Baron Rothschild, Jasper, 3 yrs, ist 11l (Peak.)
Mr. Bowles' Kate Kearney, S yes, 3st 10Ib Boylan) S
Eleven other, also ran.
Betting : 7 to 2 agst Jasper, 5 to 1 agst Reigning Beauty. Ito 1
mat Confederate, S to 1 Agit Kate Kearney, and 10 to 1 ear.hanst
Charles I 1., Busby, and the Rector, and BM to 8 east Volunteer.
NEWMARKET TWO YEAR OLD PLATE of 200 son., colts,
Set 101 b : Mks, Bat SM : winners extra. Last five furlongs of
Rowley Mlle. ,80 entries.)
Baron Rothschild', Suffolk, by North Lincoln—Protection,
Alt 111, eine Mb extra,
Kr. Bavile's Slater to Mald Marian, Sat 811, . tlimmnood 2
Lord Stamford's Privilege, bet Mb
Twenty-one others also ran.
lord Manuard .clseimed to
.1 lusrith yeltell.fla

letting opened at even, and closed at b to 2 on ouffolk, and
to 1 bar one was offered.
Bwgium7ag6Y of fa) soya. each, It ft, for 3-yr-olda, °alto,
let loll,: fillies, fist nlb, certain allowances. Ditch Mile. 5 autos)
Mr. Watts* Bore, by Thormanby—Souvenir, 3 yrs, Oat 311,
:Snowden) w.o.
BWEIPSTAKE4 of 50 soh. each, h ft, fur 3-yr-014 and upwards.
1..Y.C. '5 furlongs 136 yards'. ;7 nubs.)
Mr. Pryor's IMponnier, by Chevalier eladmotrie—Ten-
sion, 3 yrs, Tat 9lb
Duke of Itewcatle'■ Pericles, S yrs, Sit nib ..(A. Edwurds, 2
Ceptain Machell's Volunteer, aged, Ast llb Custance) S
Betting: 0 to 4 on Priponnler, and 7 to 4 eget Pericles.
Sieltersr E. 4 of 10 soya each, fur two and 3-yr-olda ; selling
allowances. T.l- C. (7 Naha)
Mr. Hodgman's Vice, by Famoletto—Helm (g2oo', 3 yrs,
Ilst Alb
Lord Westmorland's Fernley 'ttoor. 2 yes. Ost 9th (Kenyon' 2
Mr. Lowther's Assinebolue fiat*. 2 yit, dot gib Mann) S

Your olbers YLu rru.

Betting: t! to 1 ngefieniZnan 'a Prlde, 4 to 1 agst Earnley,
and 4 to 1 eget Ilaymarkot.
SWERI.MAIMS of 100 110/5. each, h ft, for all ages penalties
and allowances. T.Y.C. (4 whs.)
W. Tballturon's Odreur, 6 yrs. 9st 11.11, (Fordham) 1
Captain llawkaley's Mrs. Straton. 4 yrs, Bst 71b ~Lasts) 2
Betting: 100 to 12 on Ostreger, who mute away and won u he
liked by Az kuttba.

iiirlotYsTAUM of 50 sows. sub.
Mr. J. H. C. Wyndham'. Ardbeg, by Olenntamon-Bs.
brina (Maidnient)
LATEST nerrnia ON THE COURSE.
CM:6TM CUP.
100 to V art Archimedes 3)
DERBY.
100 to 30 agst D'Estouniel off after his victory today;
DERBY, 13,5.
100 to 6 agst Suffolk It and off, 30 to 1t t)
BETTING
-AT MIDNIGHT.
- -

The wretched wet night which sielliTiWntany away from the
moms, It was therefore late before any transactions took place.
The One Thousand speculation was completely paralysed by
Achievement, on whom 4 to 1 was laid mud thou sto I being
offered, 12 to I bar our meeting with no response. Appended
are the quotations:
ONE THOUSAND.
4 to 1 on Achievement laid'
12 to 1 sgst anything bar one soft
DERBY.
_ .

to 1 agst Vauban 'd to 1 nit Hermit (t to
5 to 1 The Bake ,t to £2OOl
£100) 20 to 1 Marksman (MII
0 to 1 Dragon (On
CUBIST= CUP.
10 to I met Archimedes offl I 20 to I rest Rama (V
20 to 1 mat Tormentor (1 to £5OO, attar which site receded to
1000 to 50, oft,.
Mr. Sutton laid a " monkey " even on Achievement winning
the One Thousand and Oaks. and .itered to accept 1.000 to 1,000
that she won these two events and the St. Legsr.

BETTING AT NANCHESTER.—WEDNESDAL
CHIME& CUP.
11 to 1 not Lecturer ,t) I 20 to 1 mat Ndile. Cleo.
100 to H Locher 't patre (06)
100 to 7 Arclttruelleo tt) nth 1 Holstein t)

100 to 6 Promerpine ,t., . I 25 to 1 Wentber ' Star
100 to 61— Tormentor ,t; kt and offj
20 to 1 Rama ~t) 25 to 1 Gomrra ~a)
20 to 1 Iloulsey (t) 100 to 3 Beesning (t &
off

ALARXINO FIRE ON THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.
—Yesterday evening, shortly before 8 o'clock, a fire, which
at the outset excited the greatest alarm, broke out on the
Thames embankment, at the bottom of Norfolk-street
and Arundel-street, Strand. That pert of the embank-
ment on which it occurred is under the contract of Mr.
Ithaca, and is covered with sheds containing horses, the
workmen's tools, and a variety of mechanical appliances of
great value. It was in one of these sheds that the fire was
first seen. In a few minutes after it was discovered the
flames shot out in all directions, and as the workmen had
left for the night, and there was much difficulty in getting
the gates opened, the fire raged for some time uncon-
trolled. At this time fears were entertained that some of
the adjacent wharves would take fire, and as Mr. Macey's
wharf is filled with timber, and ethers an very old, there
was an intense amount of excitement amongst the inha-
bitants of the district. Their anxiety was lightened
by the arrival of three or four engines, the firemen of
which very soon obtained access to the sheds, and com-
menced their operations. For some time they appeared
to make little impresion on the Raines ; but after working
vigorously for half an hour, and having received assistance
from other firemen, who had arrived meanwhile, it was
seen that there need be no further apprehension. Before
9 o'clock the fire was completely extinguished. From
what cause it arose no one of COWS° at present knows.
CRYSTAL. PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAY.—
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ditto by season tickets. 2,182: ;Mal visitors, 7,42 G.
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