The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-24 00:00:00

, a good deal of light was thrown upon it by the
! former opinions of Earl RUSSELL and his proposi-
tions in 1852 and in 1860. "In 1852 he proposed
that the borough franchise should be a £5 rating
franchise, and in 1860 a£6 rental. In 1852 he
proposed a £2O county franchise, but in 1860 he
proposed a £lO franchise. That showed progress."
Since that time, as Mr. JACOB BRIGHT was careful
to remind his hearers, the House of Commons has
given its assent to a £lO franchise. Mr. GLAD-
STONE, he added, had been an assenting party
to two of these Bills, and it could not be
supposed that Earl RUSSELL and Mr. GLADSTONE,
now the two leading spirits of the Cabinet, would
retract from their openly avowed opinions. The
thirteen years which have elapsed since 1852 have,
as the speaker justly observed, produced wonderful
changes in this country, and in no respect have
they been more remarkable than in the improvement
which they have produced in the condition of the
working classes. There is much, very much, left
to do ; but the intelligence and education, the
tolerance and enlightenment of the working men
of to-day are very different from what they
were thirteen years ago. Arguing on this
view of the question, Mr. BRIGHT asked why
the Government should not face the difficulty more
boldly, and instead of fixing the suffrage at any
arbitrary limits, give a rating and household suf-
frage which would be final, and which no man
would think of disturbing. " Why should not
householders have votes ?" he asked. The
municipal franchise is of that character, so
it would be no great innovation ; and if
the Government had the courage to do
this, if they would grant a rating and household
suffrage, he believed that as long as our present
notions of representative institutions lasted all
parties would be satisfied. This would indeed
be an excellent solution of the problem, and
it is one which really constitutional Reformers
have often suggested, because while extending the
suffrage to its widest limits, it still guarantees that
the voter shall have what is termed " a stake in the
country," that he should give his fellow-citizens
hostages for his steadiness, industry, and the support
of law and order. It would be easy if this broad
basis were adopted to add clauses by which lodgers
of a particular class and considerable minorities
should be represented, but so long as the question
of a pound more or less rental, or the distance of a
few miles more or less from a town, makes the
elector or the non-elector, we shall have no effectual
settlement of the constitution of the country.
The meeting at Bradford on Wednesday evening
was a very large one. The requisition for calling
it was declared by the Mayor to be unequalled in
the borough, being signed by 2,500 inhabitants, in-
cluding many of weight, character, and position.
Mr. FORSTER, M.P., addressed the meeting at some
length, and declared his confidence in the new
House of Commons, the Government, and the
Liberal party. Mr. FonsTEn, however, shrewdly
added that the real danger was that many M.P.'s,
just safely landed at St. Stephen's after a sharply
contested election, would not favour the introduc-
tion of a bill that should disturb their seats. There
is, however, one counterbalancing consideration,
which is, that, if from the pressure without a Reform
Bill becomes inevitable, these gentlemen will not
dare to oppose it for fear of losing all favour with
their constituents. Mr. FORSTER, while advocating
the lowering of the franchise, objects to its
lateral extension being made a principal ob-
ject ; but the excluded. members of the middle
classes, the lodgers, and others who are understood
in this term, have as good a right to demand
electoral rights as the working-man. Mr. FORSTER,
however, refrains from advocating any particular
measure, saying, very truly, that it is best to throw
the responsibility upon the Government, and to
give them a fair hearing in whatever they propose.
The Bradford meeting concluded by addressing a
memorial to Lord RUSSELL, assuring him of their
confidence and determination to support a compre-
hensive measure of Reform.

Another meeting was to be held in Birmingham
last evening, principally composed of working men,
whose objects are to recommend the adoption of
residential suffrage and vote by ballot. Mr. BRIGHT,
however, has been forced to excuse himself, as he is
already pledged to attend a similar meeting in the
same town next week, but he encouraged the
leaders of the movement to obtain a demonstration
of the wishes of the unenfranchised. All these
various assemblies are significant of the times, and
former experience has proved that when the sturdy
men of the North take up a notion strongly, they
very seldom abandon their efforts until theory has
become practice and the Legislature has endorsed
their wishes.

The Fenians seem resolved to lose no opportu-
nity of defending themselves, and spare no efforts
to avert the consequences which their rashness and
presumption have brought upon them. However
skilfully they may plan, and however ably their
cause may be pleaded, it will all be of no avail, and
they must reap as they have sown. A more com-
plete defeat could not have been than theirs, morally
as well as legally, and no doubt the scorn and con-
tempt which they have met with irritate and exas-
perate them almost beyond endurance. The last
attempt which they have made has also proved
a failure, although it was most certainly a
clever device to gain time, which is gene-
rally the last resource of the despe-
rate. It is satisfactory in every sense that the
motion was lost which was made in the Queen's
Bench yesterday, to remove the indictments found
against certain prisoners at the Special Commission.
The reason alleged for such a demand was that it
was impossible for a " fair and impartial" trial to
take place inDublin. At any rate it is a testimony
to the loyalty and good sense of the inhabitants that
such assertions should be made by these conspira-
tors. No doubt they thought that, if unsuccessful,
they
would still be counted as heroes who
a noble fell in cause, even if they were
not raised to the glory and dignity of
martyrs in the work of freedom. Archbishop
CULLEN has declared the iniquity of their doings,
which has given them great offence, and likewise
the newspapers have condemned them. Ingenious
as these excuses are at first sight, a little reflection
will soon show how false is their argument and un-
founded their basis. It is not at all requisite or
desirable in cases like that of the Fenians for the
organs of public opinion to abstain from criticism.
Every one is agreed beforehand as to what the result
of the inquiry will be, although it is highly
desirable that all be conducted in a fair and open
manner, and that every advantage which
the law allows be afforded to the prisoners who are
on their trial. There is no opportunity for preju-
dice to intervene, nor is there any cause why it
should do so. The general verdict of the public
has decided against the perverse and mistaken
persons who carried on this mad attempt, and de-
nounced in terms of the strongest reprobation the
far more responsible and guilty parties who con-
cocted the design and sent others forward to
do the work. The most perfect unanimity
exists in Ireland regarding this Lubject. All
ranks and classes of whatever religion and politics
they play be, are agreed in. condemning the Fenians.

It must be a bitter mortification to those who have
made such a parade about their grand doings to
find the complete and utter failure which they have
made. A greater mistake has not been made in
the memory of the present generation, and vexa-
tious as the length of the proceedings in the trials
and their complication must prove to the authorities,
the public watch them with interest that is unmixed,
with doubt as to their termination. Whether mali-
cious or mischievous, whether originators or fol-
lowers, the prisoners must pay the penalty of their
acts, and no one will pity those who have shown so
little regard for peace or propriety.

The Diet of the Province of Lower Austria has
now been opened, and the proceedings will naturally
be looked forward to with interest. A resolution
was read 'which condemnedjthe September Patent in
strong terms. There was great justice in the re-
marks made concerning the matter, and it is satis-
factory to meet with so spirited and outspoken an
address in the centre of the interests so materially
affected by the vacillation of the Imperial Govern-
ment. The resolution was adopted by a large
majority, which renders its remarks all the more
significant. Nothing could be more decided and
really stronger in effect, if not in expression,
than the terms employed in this resolution.
It is said that the September patent is likely to
overthrow all " feeling of right" in the popular
mind, and also that it prevents the consolidation of
the Empire and the material welfare of the people,
since it retards their progress and injures their true
interests. This is in sum and substance exactly
what the independent nations of the world have
been declaring since the extraordinary step was
taken in September. All intelligent and experienced
persons foresaw the evils that would inevitably
follow upon the adoption of such a retrograde course,
and time has fully realised their expectations
and fulfilled their prophecies. It is proposed to
appoint a committee to take into consideration the
" reactionary effect of the September Patent upon
the welfare of the country, and to draw up a report
thereon, and make the necessary proposals." Baron
SCHMERLING voted against the resokition, which is
a tribute to its merit, and shows that it militates
against the mischievous tendencies of the Go-
vernment.

The consequences of the Gastein Convention
are becoming more and more apparent, and
conspicuous among these tokens we may men-
tion the recognition of Italy by Bavaria and
Saxony. These lesser states think that they
may follow their own inclinations, and do not give
themselves any concern as to what Austria may
desire or dislike. All this is very distasteful to the
authorities at Vienna, and may finally bring about
a rupture between the allied powers of Germany.
Neither Austria nor Prussia will consent to forego
any cherished schemes, and therefore it is impos-
sible that they can go on much longer without
coming to a disagreement, especially when we take
into account the many secondary interests that are
at work, and the additional causes of dispute that
are sure to arise owing to the complication of cir-
cumstances.

We have good reason to hope that the threatened
Chilian difficulty has passed over, and that the
active measures taken by the European Powers, as
well as the vigorous resistance to aggression offered
by the Republic itself, have produced the hoped-for
effects. It is asserted that Spain has notified to
the British and French Governments her willingness
to accept the mediation of the Europerin Powers.
and the Patrie of last evening states that instruc-
tions have been sent to Admiral PAREJA not to
attack the Chilian forts. The Spanish Govern-
ment, indeed, could hardly fail to discover their
mistake. The influential representations made
to the British Government urged the Foreign-
office to the display of unwonted promptitude
and energy, while it appears that the French
EMPEROR has assured the deputations from the
trading towns that his Government will take " effi-
cacious measures" for the protection of French
commerce in Chilian waters. This significant sen-
tence coming from a Power which does not allow
its interests to be disregarded with impunity
may well startle the arrogant Spaniard.
They are likely enough, however, to regret their
unwarrantable proceedings, for before the matter is
arranged their commerce may have suffered from
Chilian allies, while they will even- in this short
period have inflicted considerable damage on the
trade of Valparaiso. Fortunately the crisis has been
short, and the Chilian Government has proved
equal to the occasion. But it seems to be the fashion
in this highly moral and enlightened nineteenth
century for a strong Power to attack a weak one
with no better excuse than the difference of their
respective forces. Let us hope the failure of Spain
will turn the tide of diplomacy another way.

REFORM MEETING.—A great Reform meeting was
held at Bradford on Wednesday night, the requisi-
tion for calling which was actually signed by upwards of
2,500 pea-Sons. The speech of the evening was delivered
by Mr. W. E. Forster, the member for the borough, who
expressed his strong conviction that the Government would
submit a Reform Bill to the new Parlioment. A memorial
praying that Lord Russell would frame a thorough measure
of Reform, and protesting against any further postpone-
ment of the question, was unanimously adopted, and a
deputation appointed to present it to the Premier.
A PRACTICAL JURY.—At an industrial exhibition
recently held at Vienne (Isere), a variety of artificial legs,
constructed on an entirely new principle, were exposed to
view. The jurymen, whose duty it was to decide on the
comparative merits of the instruments, were much per-
plexed ; at last they bethought them of assembling half a
dozen Crimean and Mexican amputes and starting them
over a half mile course equipped with the rival legs. The
prize is stated to have been won by an invalids, both of
whose legs had been taken off at the knee, but who never-
theless went over the distance in nine minutes.

CHURCH-RATES IN LAMBETH.—An ingenious plan
seems to have been adopted by the Lambeth vestry for
paying a church-rate in disguise. Some revenue is derived
from land known as Pedlar's Acre, and it is the custom to
vote money from this source for the use of the church-
wardens of St. Mary, Lambeth, for the repairs of the
'church, bell-ringing, and other purposes. At the meeting
of the vestry yesterday, a motion was proposed to grant
£4OO out of the funds to the churchwardens—the proposer
saying that the money was to be taken from the Pedlar's
Acre Estate Fund. It was objected, however, that the re-
venue from the Pedlar's Acre was paid over to the general
fund, and that the vestry had no power to grant the money
for church purposes. This view was supported by a legal
opinion from Mr. Bennet, of Sergeant's-inn, the eminent
authority on all church-rate law. The vestry, however,
by a majority of 45 to 14, voted the money. The parish-
ioners therefore pay a church-rate in disguise.

How THE PUBLIC ARE DECEIVED BY ITALIAN
ORGAN GRINDERS.-At a meeting of the Middlesex magis-
trates yesterday Mr. E. W. Halswell drew the attention of
the court to the case of two Italian organ grinders com-
mitted to Coldbath Fields Prison from Clerkenwell Police-
court for begging. One of them was Augustine Guytani,
committed for 14 days, and on being searched the follow-
ing money was found upon him :—.£l3 lls. 3d. in English
money, and ten gold coins, viz., two French coins of 1001.
each, two Italian coins of about equal value each, ono
French coin value 50f., three French coins of 20f. each,
and two ditto of 10f. each. The other grinder was An-
tonio Perino, committed for five days for begging, and
there was found on him 16s. 6d. in English money, and
forty-three gold coins of the value of 20f. each. These
large sums of money would be returned to them at the ex_
piration of their sentence, but a portion would be deducted
for their maintenance while in prison.

THE BLOCKADE AT VALPARATSO.--AdviceS from
Valparaiso, via New York, state that the blockade con-
tinues. The Nauphante arrived and was warned off on
the 18th ; the Burns reported put into the Falkland Islands.
All the minor ports of Chili have been opened by the
Chilian Government to foreign commerce, and all import
and export duties taken off. Martial law has been de-
clared all over the Republic. Disturbances have com-
menced among the miners, and several mines have been
already aband9ned.