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

t-bt

,LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1854.

7' • 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.
Ho BEniumuy, Mr. BRIGHT, and Sir WILLIAX
MoLEswonru without arriving at a distinct and.
positive conclusion on the issue raised. And yett,
other influences prevailed. The motion was ne-
gativek 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" wiill
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 realty Liberal constituencies. Such
persons should not deceive themselves into fancy-
ing that there is any degree of coldness or lake-
' 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, butt
that is solely ascribable to the all-absorbing
interest in the events of the contest in which
we are engage& -...,
' the long-promised w e must remember that
Reform Bill was withdrawn
on that account that Lord JOHN Russ x,
whose sincerity cannot be questioned, consented
to the postponement of his favourite measure, and
that the different bribery bills were all shelved
forbe
anticipated
same
that the " Ballot" could
" secret voting" become rartestaant
lished, and
parcel of
efuthe land, during i
supposed that thlleeqpureessteil3t
question
t3hreanlaywevo
session.
whose
would not be "ventilatedH;o"n.buote,ntthlaenmksen
:4
,w
honest enthusiasm of the
name will ever be associated
ie surprisedttlherewith,of the it has
been heard in Parliament, to
timid, the lukewarm, and the vaaedillactoinngsc—i-entotiothuee
• heartfelt joy of every sincere n
reformer.
We fully and cordially concur
BERKELEY in the opinion that, of all thewiptohintMT
points n.
which modifications or ameliorations are required,
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 operation 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
S Tr- ......_ penalties are introduced to punish corrupt consti-
tuencies, or to disfranchise men who had proved
rht-414- Tr '-tkie na selves unworthy of the trust. Why should
t 2)
.t.', '-'' .
_.:ltXiot that be adopted which would totally abolish
‘,1,. ~
.._!,1:.,,, 4
..,-,-.;,' the grievance and prevent the temptation from
‘. 4: ,)4' . ining either offered or aces tad-..the unhallowed
t..
, v -let-, .-:., t• -
I,\,_

.._/

Ila•-clvaSA,,qw