The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-15 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL
Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Coolie.
THIS EVENING, Jrrgz 15,
Will be produced the new Grand ti 511 itary spectacle, en-
titled 'III4 COSSACKS; or, Vlve la franca.
Followed by a total changl of tha :3.•,mi,s in the CIRCLE.
To conclude wi h a naw Groteirrie ExtravaXanza. c t11,(1 THIS
HORSE svtLL BE, SOLO -pxy ExTENSES IF NOT
CLAIMED WITiiI>I FOURTEEN' DAYS.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGIC.tL GARDENS.

Open for the Season.

THIS EVENING, Jux IS,

Will be repeated an entirely NEW and BRILLIANT PIECE
of FIREWORK on a gigantic scale, represent!ng the British Lion
and 3aliic Cock Tram,.ling on the Russian Eagle. All the numerous
attractions of the gardens as usual, including the beautiful Panorama
of Chusan, by Dancon•—the extensive and interesting Menageta—
Vocal and Instrumental Concert : Miss Poole, Miss Ransford, and
Mr. Manvers, &c. Concluding with the attack of the British Fleet
on Chusan—Explosion of the Batteries and ships, and final Grand
Display of Fireworks, by Southby. Feeding the animals, Half-past
Five. Concert, Half-past Six. Fireworks, Quarter to Ten. Ad-
=ission to the whole, Is.

HlOll WATER AT LONDON BRIDOK.
Tot-, DAY —Morning 56 rnin.after 4 I Eivenin2 24 rnin.aft. 5
To•Nionnow--Morning 49 tnin.after 5 Evening 17 ininAft.

CII WEATHER.--SUN °MOB, Jun 15.
TEIIIIIIIODIIITZR, IN TUE SIIaDE•
68— highest since noon yesterday.
53—lowest this morning and during the night.
59—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 29'77—falling.
WIND, E. to S.E.—Light breeze, with dull weather,
and drizzling rain.

QM Via'
c„.
p -`3/-

LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1354.

Faithful to the important and arduous duty
which he had undertaken, the Honourable Gentle-
man the member for Bristol on Tuesday evening
again brought forward his annual motion in favour
of the Ballot. Truth and justice were on his side.
The most convincing arguments were adduced in
favour of his proposition. Indeed, we know not
how any unbiassed or unprejudiced person could
have listened to the magnificent speeches of Mr.
H. BERKELEY, Mr. BRIGHT, and Sir WILLIAM
MOLESWORTH without arriving at a distinct and
positive conclusion on the issue raised. And yet
other influences prevailed. The motion was ne-
gatived, and leave even to introduce a bill was
refused by the representatives of the people. The
majority was not, however, large—one hundred
and fifty-seven consistent reformers, followed by
Mr. BERKELEY, while a motley group of one hun-
dred and ninety-four members, high Conserva-
tives and impracticable Protectionists, associated
with seeming Liberals in preventing the attain-
ment of purity of election, and checking, if not
altogether preventing bribery, corruption, intimi-
dation, and other abuses that have sprung up and
flourished to such an extent as to bring discredit
on the whole representative system.
Mr. BERKELEY need not be discouraged by his
temporary defeat. Even in the debate of Tues-
day he may find the most auspicious auguries of
future success., He may, indeed, rejoice at the
efficient support which he received in the House,
and, at the almost complete unanimity among
all classes of reformers out of doors on the inte-
resting topic. Public opinion is, unquestionably,
on his side. The " pressure from without" will
be speedily felt, and professing Liberals will be
obliged to act in accordance with the spirit of the
age, if they desire to obtain a renewal of confi-
dence from really Liberal constituencies. Such
persons should not deceive themselves into fancy-
ing that there is any degree of coldness or luke-
warmness on the subject—that the public are
indifferent to its success. Owing to the war ex-
citement there may not have been as many de-
monstrations on the matter as heretofore, but
that is solely
ascribable to the all-absorbing
interest in the events of the contest in which
we are engaged. We must remember that
the long-promised Reform Bill was withdrawn
on that account that Lord Jonx RussuL,
whose sincerity cannot be questioned, consented
to the postponement of his favourite measure, and
that the different bribery bills were all shelved
for the same reason. It was therefore scarcely to
be anticipated that the " Ballot? could be %tab-
" secret voting" become part and
lished, and
that the question
,
parcel of the law of the land, during the present
session. but, thanks to the
Many even supposed
would not be "ventilated ;'
Gen tlema n, whose
honest enthusiasm of the lion.
name will ever be associated therewith, it has
been heard in Parliament, to the surprise of the
timid, the lukewarm, t
and e vacillating—to the
heartfelt joy cf every since hre and conscientious
reformer.
We fully and cordially concur with Mr.
BERKELEY in the opinion that, of all the points in
which modifications or ameliorations are required,
Even
the Ballot is by far the most important.
the extension of the suffrage sinks into insignifi-
cance when compared with its independent and
Conscientious exercise. If we greatly increase the
number of electors, we only subject a larger num-
ber to the overation of those flagrant abuses—
those degrading and demoralising influences which
are so painfully notorious—that none can be
found with sufficient hardihood to question the
extent of the wide-spread evil. Bills of pains and
penalties are introduced to punish corrupt consti-
tuencies, or to disfranchise men who had proved
thernselves unworthy of the trust. Why should
not that be adopted which would totally abolish
the grievance and prevent the temptation from
being either offered or accepted—the unhallowed