The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-27 00:00:00

intimidation, since landlords and employers will
ask which way the elector is going to vote, and
treat him accordingly. The on:y wonder is that
persons of such remarkable good faith on the one
side, and such singular confidence and simplicity
on the other, should have anything to do with such
questionable work as bribery and intimidation at
any time. If everyone always kept his word with
such undeviating fidelity, and if we lived like the
residents in the famous Palace of Truth, in a spot
where plain was compulsory, the Ballot
might
bes speakingupeifiu
eus, bat as things at present
stand, such implicit truth and confidence are not
likely to exist per se among electioneering
agents and voters with itching palms. But
if our present arrangements are so immaculate,
what need is there for election committees and the
cumberous machinery of the Corrupt Practices Bill?
Such solecisms should surely be done away with,
when an elector's word is as good as his bond, and
every candidate a modern Bayard ! Bat this un-
lucky Reform is no question of party. It has no
more uncompromising opponents than the noble
lord at the head of her Majesty's Government, and
the noble lord the Secretary of State for Foraign
Affairs. The City of London has not yet forgotten
or forgiven its former member's conduct towards
the Ballot; and many another Liberal constituency
hes good cause to complain of its representative.
The extension of the franchise is, without doubt,
a question of considerable moment, Large bodies
of the people, intelligent, conscientious, and patri-
otic, are excluded from the exercise of political
rights, but until we have some reform in the system
of election, the lodger, the £6 householder, and
other excluded classes may be admitted within the
pale, but we shall have no actual representation of
the people, Very certainly we have not such a re-
presentation now as Denmark can vouch for. How
shall we obtain it ? Mr. BERKELEY quotes the
words of Mr. BRIGHT, who says, that "When a
man is hungry he eats, when he is cold he goes
to the fire, when he needs shelter from bribery
and intimidation he goes to the ballot box." This
plain and forcible language points out the cure
which every one abuses, but which no one will con-
sent to try. However, when Parliament is installed
for another term of six years, Ministers and mem-
bers may possibly be more willing to conciliate the
country, as electioneering will be temporarily
over.

Lord PALMERSTON'S remarks on racing were
most amusing, and it was a very happy idea which
suggested itself to him of drawing a comparison
between the rules of the " Turf" and the rules of
Parliament. It might not have occurred to every
one, and it could not hive been carried out by any

one more likely to make the moat of it than the

Premier. His aptitude for the joking style of dis-
course is certainly equalled by few and surpassed
by none, and his hearers must have been gratified and
surprised at the illustration. Politics were widely
eschewed at this gathering, bat the reference made

:o Parliamentary proceedings was of course in keep•

ing with the rule, since it was conducive to mirth
and harmony rather than discord and disquietude.
" The House of Commons very much resembles a
race-course," said Lord PALMERSTON, and then set
out to illustrate his meaning, and carry out his
simile. " First of all, parties go thero and run for
the Queen's Plate." No wonder this produced
shouts of laughter and shouts of applause. Of
course this came well from one who stood before

the assembly as the winner, par excellence, of that
much coveted prize. " Then, again, there is the
match, and he is a lucky man who does not meet
with his match ; but almost every one does, and is
not at all contented in that encoanter." This is

:rue enough, and aptly characterises the prevailing

feature of that assembly, in which, it has truly been
said, that every one finds his level. There is no
place like the House of Commons for putting
down undue assumption, and proving false
expectations. Among so many individual
attainments are soon reduced to their just
level, and while extreme talent can rise to the
height that is due, mediocre capabilities are lost in
the crowd. Then Lord PALMERSTON went on to
illustrate the rest of the parallel by saying that there
was the good feeling in the House which gave
weight for age ; but then, he added, it was true that
the young ones sometimes trotted out of the course.
It is not likely that one of the noble lord's experience
has not had several practical illustrations of this
truth during his long and active parliamentary
service ; and, indeed, if report speaks true, only this
session one of his own colleagues played him that
trick, thereby causing much confusion and misun-
derstanding. The " dead heat" is similar to the
"tie," and that has frequently occurred of late years,
particularly in the debates on Church Rates. Lastly,
the noble lord mentioned an occurrence that is about
to take place both on the turf and at St. Stephen's.
" It often happens that a very good-looking horse
breaks down." Thus did the Premier make a great
deal out of what at first sight appeared to be very
little, and succeeded in drawing a picture of politi-
cal life at once humorous and suggestive. It is well
occasionally to go out of the beaten track and find
something new or unexpected in the dry details of
everyday existence. Amid the monotony of official
existence there are occasionally some brightening
gleams to be -witnessed, and some peculiar features
may furnish a field for the introduction of wit and
repartee. They are to be applauded who can find
entertainment in such everyday occurrences, and like
Lord PALMERSTON
not only enliven their own
existence thereby, but at the same time diffuse a
feeling of hilarity around.

Agricultural meetings and gatherings of all de-
scriptions will now be the rage for some time to
come. Lancashire seems to be particularly active
in these affairs just now. It was only the other
day that Lord STANLEY presided at the Southport
meeting, and there made an excellent discourse on
various topics connected with the subject before
them. Last Wednesday there was the annual dine
ner of the Royal North Lancashire Agricultural
Society, and some noticeable remarks were made
during the course of the evening. Colonel PATTEN
took the chair, and he fulfilled his task very
efficiently, although he apologised on account of his
long absence, from various causes, from that part of
the country. He concurred with Lord STANLEY as
to the propriety of giving leases. It will be greatly
to the advantage of all concerned when the preju•
dices entertained by many against them are done
away with. It is the surest mode of inducing im-
provements to be made, and, as Colonel PATTEN
very properly put it, "whenever a tenant wishes to
have a lease, and shows his caracity for working a
farm, it is to the interest both of himself and his
landlord that he should have one." One who has
done so much for Lancashire as the gallant Colonel
has a claim to be listened to, which should not be
passed over, end there was great truth in his ex-
hortations not to neglect the society which he then
discoursed upon, on account of the smaller ones
starting up in various directions. Being on a more
comprehensive scale, it can do more effec-
tual service to the cause than local ones,
however estimable in their way. Of course,
much that is said at these meetings is
of a local character, and is not of much interest to
the general reader ; bat, at the same time, it is satis-
factory to know that due attention is being paid to