The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-03 00:00:00

been made, yet the result somehow is not so satis-
factory. I sincerely trust we shall have in the next
Session of Parliament an extensive and thorough
Reform Bill, one that will re-arrange the distribu-
tion of seats, which will extend the franchise to a
great degree both in towns and counties, and which,
last but not least, will give to the voter the protec-
tion of the ballot. (Loud cheering.) If you dome
the honour to select me as one of the Liberal candi-
dates for the representation of Dover, and if I
should be so fortunate as to be returned, if I see no
signs of a more matured Reform Bill coming from
the next Parliament, I shall, on the old adage that
half a loaf is better. than no bread, vote for Mr.
Baines's bill. (Cheers.) We are told that this is a
revolutionary measure. We are told that the whole
of the representation of the country would be merged
in one class. Now, gentlemen, this appears to me
to be nonsense. I do not believe that one class
would by any possibility entirely govern the repre-
sentation of the country. (Hear.) But we are
gravely told that the working classes of this country
are revolutionary; and who tell us this, pray ? The
people who know least about the working classes.
We find some gentleman living in the country with
two gardeners and a footboy, and he arrives at the
conclusion that the working classes are revolutionary
because the footboy goes to a Methodist meeting-
house. (Hear, and laughter.) You do not find our
great employers of labour in the manufacturing dis-
tricts obstructing Reform. No, because they know
the working classes are not revolutionary. I have
myself for some years employed a great number of
workpeople ; but I am not afraid of their revolution-
ary tendencies, because, indeed, I know such ten-
dencies do not exist. (Applause.) I alluded to
the ballot as being a necessary supplement of any
Reform bill. I have not an implicit faith in the
ballot curing all evils. Ido not believe that it will
put a stop to all bribery and corruption ; but I
believe it would put a stop to a great deal. Mr.
Smith then stated that, although a member of the
Church of England, he desired to see church-rates abo-
lished, all attempts at compromise having failed.
He desired to see strict economy exercised, but at
the same time to maintain the army and navy so as
to preserve our position as a great European Power.
It was to him a source of great satisfaction that there
was at the head of our financial department a man
who had shown himself to be the greatest financier
of his day. There was one matter connected with
foreign affairs to which he should like to allude, and
that was the misunderstandings which existed be-
tween England and America. The American Go-
vernment was making claims which he believed un-
just and unfounded ; but he was certain there was
only one thing wished on both sides—that the sub-
ject of these claims should be impartially and legally
settled. Whether this was possible depended a great
on themselves. If they returned representatives
favourable to the Government now in office, to that
Government which during four years of unexampled
difficulties had maintained an impartial neutrality
between the two contending Powers, he believed
that this would be possible. But if the result should
be contrary—if the people should determine to put
the reins of power into the hands of those who had
always exulted in the misfortunes and laughed at
and ridiculed the mistakes of America, what could
they say then ? What could' they expect ? He
had no hesitation in saying that if they were to have
a Conservative Government within six months they
would be at war with the United States. (Cheers.)
On the motion of Mr. Alderman ROBINSON,
seconded by Mr. Alderman WORSFORD, a resolution
adopting Lord Bury and Mr. Eustace Smith as the
Liberal candidates, and pledging the meeting to
support their return to Parliament, was unanimously
adopted; and after voting thanks to the Mayor for
the use of the hall, and to the chairman for pre-
siding, the meeting broke up.