The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-03 00:00:00

Reform Meeting in Manchester,

On Wednesday evening a crowded meeting was held at
the Free-trade Hall, under the auspices of the National
Reform Union. The chair was taken by Mr. G. Wilson,
the president of the union.
The CHAIRMAN said the meeting was assembled for the
purpose of calling upon the Government to redeem its
pledges, by bringing in a measure of reform during the
coming session of Parliament; and if he might judge from
the appearance of the meeting, the call they should make
would not be a feeble one. (Hear, hear.) The despised
question of reform, which had been trampled upon until
very recently, seemed to have recovered again to some-
thing like its former strength. (Hear, hear.) It might be
well to remind the opponents of reform that that question
had received the highest sanction. On six occasions in the
last 12 years the Queen had recommended the subject to
Parliament, and the Earl of Derby, Earl Russell, and Lord
Palmerston had acknowledged its necessity. The people
would not ask for a measure of reform that should meet
the views of all who sought it ; but if Parliament would
bring in a bill like that recently shadowed forth by Mr.
Gladstone, the people would give it their support. If Par-
liament did not grant reform, there were the people to ap-
peal to, and they would never fail to support those who
served them honestly. (Applause.)
Mr. T. BAZLEY, M.P., proposed " That in the opinion of
this meeting it is the imperative duty of the Government to
carry out the reform measures to which they were pledged
on accepting office." He said there were important signs
that a large measure of reform was coming to the people.
Only the other night the Conservative members of South
Lancashire were ready to concede an extent of reform ac-
cording to some undefined homoeopathic scale—(laughter)
—and he rejoiced that the promoters of reform had a new
recruit, and that Earl Russell had a son that did honour to
his father, and who would do honour to the cause in which
he had embarked. (Applause.) He should be glad if there
was spirit in the Government to propose such a measure as
Mr. Gladstone had suggested, though he had his misgiv-
ing on the subject. If Parliament did not, in the ensuing
session, propose some great and good measure of reform, he
hoped that they would dissolve and appeal to the country
on the question. (Applause.) If the opponents of reform
would only declare that the people did not deserve emanci-
pation from the thraldom under vihich they existed, he
should be glad •; but they were tantalised by sometimes
being urged to hope that reform was coming, and when
the cup was raised to their lips it was dashed away.
(Hear, hear.) He hoped that the spirit of the country
was rising, and that they would require nothing less
than a comprehensive measure, which should include
the intelligence of the country, as well as represent the
great body of the working classes. (Hear, hear.) A reso-
lute demand for reform must be urgedboth within and with-
out the Houses of Parliament. The conviction no doubt
prevailed that reform was necessary, and that the people
were quite loyal, and deserved it. The indebtedness was
admitted, but payment was deferred. Was it wise to wait
for indications of rebellion ? (Hear.) The working classes,
especially those of Lancashire, had shown their fitness for
reform, and in his opinion the safety and prosperity of the
empire could only be preserved and promoted by a com-
prehensive and parliamentary reform. (Hear, hear.) In
1832, the reform given to the people was exceedingly bene-
ficial ; it rescued the country from the precipice of political
ruin, and, acting like oil on the troubled waters, it gave
peace and concord to the people. Let another measure of
reform be given, Doubting and timid people retarded the
progress of the movement ; let them but throw aside their
doubts, and it would be shown that the people had not
warranted the fears. (Applause.) They asked for re-
form, vote by ballot, and other comprehensive measures,
such as those which worked so satisfactorily in the colo-
nies. But they needed to exercise patience under dispa-
raging circumstances and difficulties. Even a prisoner
could object to a juryman who might be asked to try
him : but the people had to submit to the jury of the
House of Commons whether they liked their jurymen or
not. (Cheers.) Under the existing state of things he thought
that the name of the House of Commons should be altered
to that of the House of Deputies of another place, and the
Representatives of the Rich. He had no fear of the re-
sults of a measure of reform. If, the reform which they
contemplated was carried, only 25 per cent. would be added
to the present number of electors. With so small an in-
crease, and with the House of Lords and the Queen stand-
ing as two to one to the House of Commons, what fear could
there be of a reasonable measure of reform. (Hear.) Though
he doubted whether Parliament would have the wisdom to
propose a bill in the coming session, ho would still recom-
mend the people to persevere, and ,to "go forth to the
struggle in the strength which is born of right." (Cheers.)
The Rev. G. W. CONDER seconded the motion. He said
that, though a minister of religion, he had no hesitation in
appearing before that meeting. He considered that it was
the business of a minister of the Gospel to make all the
great questions of right and wrong his questions; and wher-
ever a great and serious wrong existed it was his absolute
duty to use all his efforts for its removal or annihilation.
The kingdom for which he laboured was a kingdom of
righteousness, and therefore he could not stand in a more
proper place than upon that platform. (Applause.) He
looked on the question of reform as one of justice and right.
Every individual had an immeasurable interest and stake
in the character and quality of the institutions of his coun-
try, and the laws which hemmed about his life. (Applause.)
Why, then, was not reform granted to them ? They had
waited for it long enough, and he would now have them go
to the door of the Treasury and tell those who sat upon its
bench that they had been knocking at their door for all
these years. Let them knock at once, and not give the
Government the opportunity of saying they were not aware
the people were there. Let them tell the Government that
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their party, and would hoot them ignominiously from place
and power. (Hear, hear.) It had been said that it would be
easy enough to get up such a demonstration as would make
Lord Palmerston busier with his pen than ever Earl Russell
had been. (Cheers and laughter.) Without overstating or
exaggerating a single fact, it would be easy to rouse an intense
feeling in the popular mind; but they who had that reform
movement in hands were chary in resorting to such means.
(Hear.) One great difficulty in the way of obtaining reform
arose from the fact that reformers in the house had their
hands tied. (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Bazloy.) The people
had foisted a power into place that had no principle ; but
since 1832 a power had been growing in the large manu-
facturing towns to which principle was dear, and it was a
' power too which if it unhappily rose in conflict with the
classes above it, that class, and all other classes, would be
at their mercy. (Applause,)
Mr. HANDEL COSMO', of Bristol, supported the motion.
He said that the people were tenfold more fit to exercise
the franchise than they ever were before. He therefore
asked the Government to fulfil its pledges, for if it did not