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 speaking was compulsory, the Ballet
might be supel flaous, but as things at present
stand, such implicit truth and confidence are not
likely to exist per se among electioneering
voters with itching palms. But agents and
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 ! But 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
has good cause to complain of its representative.
The eltension 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 most 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 wisely
eschewed at this gathering, but the reference made
to 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.c3urse," said Lord PALMERSTON, and then set
out to illustrate his meaning, and carry out his
simile. " First of all, parties go there 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 enco-anter," This is
true 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 fa;se
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 o

everyday existence. Amid the monotony of officia