The Express.
London, England, 1860-03-21 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21.

Looms° at the result, we cannot but regret
that Mr. BIUMELRY should have persisted in
bringing forward his motion on the Ballot last
night. No doubt he had a perfect right to do so,
having given notice of his intention at a
time when it was impossible to perceive that his
motion would clash with the adjourned debate on
the Reform Bill. But on Monday evening, when
it was clear that this must be the result of
going on with the motion, he might with
advantage to the cause have waived his right.
We quite appreciate the honourable gentleman's
motives in rejusing to give way. He justly
reckons the Ballot an essential element in any com-
prehensive scheme of reform, and as the Govern-
ment Bill takes no accoont of it, he felt speciaßy called
upon to vindicate its importance at the present
moment. The very circumstance that would
have led a more prudent and wary advo-
cate to adopt the Fabian policy of delay,
determines Mr. Bum LLEY to go on. He
is in fact not only the friend but the
apostle of secret voting, burning with a missionary
ardour to proclaim that political truth, and deter-
mined to do his duty, whether men will hear or
whether they will forbear. Indifference, indeed,
only stimulates his seal, and scorning all consider-
ations of mere expediency, he emphasises his
righteous appeal at the very moment when he
knows his hearers are least disposed to listen.
Now, all this is in many respects very ad-
mirable ; and Mr. BiII[LIAY'S consistent and
untiring devotion to this question is cer-
tainly worthy of all praise, especially at a
time when there is so much time-serving,
vacillation, and timidity amongst public men on
the subject. But as sincere friends of the Ballot,
we cannot but wish that Mr. BLIIZZLIT'S disin-
terested seal were tempered with a little more
discretion. Something more than seal, or even
knowledge, is necessary to the successful conduct
of a measure that has to encounter so much oppo-
sition as the Ballot. Tact and practical
sagacity are indispensable in order to secure
the beet method and the right moment for
urging its claims. "AU things by season
seasoned are," and a good came suffers by being
forced inopportunely on public attention.

This was the case with the Ballot motion last
night. What good could possibly come of dis-
cussing the subject under such circumstances

The debate on this Reform Bill having been ad-
journed the night before, this naturally occu-
pied the attention both of members in the
House and of the public oat of doors.
The attempt to create a diversion by a routine
motion on the Ballot would neosayrily be to •
great extent unsuccessful. It could do the Ballot
no good, and might do the Reform Bill some harm.
One thing at a tune is enough, and the best way
to serve the cause of the Ballot is to help the
Government measure through Parliament as
rapidly as possible. No friend of the Ballot
need fear that a temporary delay in advo-
cating its claims will be any permanent
loss to the cause. On the contrary, the Reform
Bill once passed, the Ballot must inevitably soon
follow. But, instead of. doing this, the motion
last night only damaged the cause it was intended
to serve. A whole night was lost, absolutely
wasted, that might have been employed in ad-
vancing ibe Government measure a stage. What
actually happened T Incredible as it may
at first sight appear, the house was
counted out at half-past eight o'clock, on
the night when the Reform Bill stood for
discussion. This is • phenomenon that
needs explanation, but the true explanation we fear
will show that Mr. BULIILLEY is himself mainly,
though indirectly, responsible for the result. 'Metros
rationale of the Count-out seems to be this. There
were so many motions ou the paper that unless some
of the independent members gave way there was
little or no chance that the discussion on the
Reform Bill could come on at all. But Mr.
lii.ns LLZY havingdeclined to give way, all the other
members having notices on the paper naturally
followed his example. Some of the motions
were of no great public interest, and the
Government dues not feel called upon to keep a
house for independent members. If the
subjects they have to bring forward are
of much public interest there will be no
danger of empty benches ; but if not, the force of
other attractions will naturally prevail, and mem-
bers will gradually disperse at the melancholy
pr. erect of a tedious statement and • dull debate.
This happened last night. As none of the
notices on the paper were withdrawn, there
was no prospect that the debate on the Reform
Bill would be resumed, and Government therefore