The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-18 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1869.

As the time fixed for the opening of Parliament
draws nearer and nearer the movement in favour of
the Ballot gathers strength and consistency. We are
glad to find that some notable additions have been
made to the ranks of its supporters, and that the
question is no longer scornfully put aside, openly
ridiculed, or passed by with absolute indifference, but
recognised as one that merits the deliberate attention
of all thoughtful and public-spirited men. The most
conspicuous among the recent converts to the Ballot,
conspicuous alike from his ability and his position,
is the Home Secretary. In addressing the electors at
Paisley, on Thursday, Mr. BRUCE naturally touched
upon the chief topics of the day, an .l entered at
some length into his reasons for now supporting the
Ballot. Up to this time, he said, he had never
declared himself on either side with respect to it.
He saw what he considered to be material ob-
jections to it, while at the same time he was
forced to acknowledge that the existing system was
in many ways faulty. The institutions of a country
ought, in his opinion, to be such as would foster a
truthful and fearless spirit in the people, and SYDNEY
SMITH, who has been, contrary to his usual influence,
a formidable obstacle in the way of this much-needed
reform, supplied him with eloquent and emphatic
protests. MILTON, too, expressed the principle on
which Mr. BRUCE, like many other conscientious men ,
founded his opposition, when he spoke with contempt
of the " fugitive virtue" which shrinks away from the
combat without facing the adversary. What, then,
it may be asked, has been the reason for Mr. BRUCE'S
sudden declaration in favour of the measure which he
has hitherto always opposed in words, if not in
action ? The last election, with all its drawbacks, has
done some good by its very evil. Mr. BRUCE has little
hope that the ballot will greatly improve our
position in respect to bribery, neither is he sanguine
of its effects in checking the intimidation practised
by the rich towards the poor, which he thinks the
growing public feeling is more calculated to mode-
rate. But the four months of the election have shown
him so much bitter political intolerance, so much
angry feeling and dangerous excitement, that he can-
not believe the continuance of the existing system to
be desirable. Some small tradesmen, he remarks,
have, during the four months of the election, been
subjected to constant harass by threats of the with-
drawal of custom not only from their rich
customers, but from their poorer ones also. As
Mr. BRUCE justly observed, there are occasions on
which it is right and just for a man to be put to the
test, when he is called upon to sacrifice his interests,
his private feelings, and Lis duty towards his family,
but it is doubtful whether the election of a member
for his borough or county comes in everyday life
under this head. " I am satisfied," observed the Home
Secretary, in conclusion, " that to permit of your
having orderly elections, in order to protect the more
quiet and peaceable of our population, of those who
are not very staunch politicians,.it is necessary that
we should have a system of secret voting." We may
hope, therefore, that Mr. BRUCE will use his influence
in the Cabinet in favour of this long-delayed but
necessary' measure. If his colleagues are wise they
also will throw themselves into the advancing force,
and not cling to the system which has proved in
every respect defective, which has fostered corrup-
tion and permitted intimidation, and which,vvhile, pro-
fessing to encourage a high tone of political morality
in practice, exposes our electoral system to the
contempt and the reproach of all who look
beyond the surface.
At the great meeting in Arundel-street on Friday
several impressive speeches were made in support of
the ballot. The Chairman, Mr. MILNER GIBSON,
declared that scarcely any one who had taken part in
the late contest could he'p being perfectly conscious
that many voters had been forced to vote against
their wishes and opinions, whilst others had abstained
from voting for fear of giving offence. Mr. MILNER
GIBSON is sanguine as to the prospects of the ballot.
He admits that the Liberal majority is not identical
with a ballot majority, but still be believes that a large
proportion of the Liberal members are absolutely fa-
vourable to the measure. The Government, he believes,
is neutral, but the First Lord of the Admiralty was a
staunch supporter of it, and the Home Secretary,
as we have seen, bas pronounced clearly on its behalf.
Mr. GIBSON thinks that the best men of all parties
are interested in maintaining purity of election, in
putting an end to intimidation, and in extracting a
genuine and independent expression of opinion from
the electoral body. Some years ago Mr. GIBSON
heard the present Lord Chancellor, then Mr. PAGE
WooD, speak on this very subject, and his arguments
were clear and conclusive. The whole case, said the
present Lord HATHERLEY, lay in the question whether
the constituencies could or could not be trusted. Mr.
MILNER GIBSON supported this view of the case, and
declared it to be his conviction that, having shown
confidence in the people by giving them votes, we
were now bound to give them protection in the
exercise of the newly acquired franchise. Mr.
REED, M.P., and several others of the new members,
spoke strongly in favour of the measure, while Mr.
BUXTON, who only half likes the Ballot after all, de-
livered an interesting speech. Mr. ONSLOW, M.P.,
who has himself an election petition hanging over him,

boldly came forward in defence of secret voting. His
speech was chiefly noticeable for a very just remark.
He said, in allusion to the common complaint that
the Ballot is " un-Engl'sh," that the old soldiers at
the battle of the Nile would infallibly so condemn the
ironclads of the present day. We must move with
the times, and so moving the Ballot was inevitable.
We shall be glad to find that it is inevitable, for the
public mind is not yet thoroughly awake to the vast
importance involved in it, and we must not forget
that however urgent is the demand for a better sys-
tem of voting, it does not proceed from those large
sections of the community who are themselves impli-
cated in the questionable transactions which it is the
office of the Ballot to prevent and to counteract.

CORNWALL is the only divided county in England
which returns an unbroken phalanx of Liberal
county representatives. It is in this westernmost
county that the question of agricultural legislation
is being most seriously discussed. Though not so
essentially an agricultural county as Norfolk, in the
extreme cast, though the interest felt in cereals and
roots has to be divided with pilchards and copper, not
the less are Cornubians taking the lead in a very
important movement. And verily there is no lack of
subjects for agriculturists to consider. Until lately
they have discussed, if at all, to little purpose; for,
having no proper organisation, they were unable to
make themselves heard in the councils of the nation.
No doubt the county squires were numerous, and
not seldom vociferous. But the interests of the
squires and the tenant farmers are not always
identical, are sometimes even antagonistic, just
as the interests of bankers and directors may
be opposed to those of traders. The last have
for several years had their organisation in the

shape of Chambers of Commerce whereat some of
the most important of recent legislative Acts have
been framed. The farmers are naturally a slower
race than the traders, and, living in the country, have
fewer opportunities of conference. But at last they
too have formed associations called Chambers of
Agriculture. These are of a more useful kind than
the old farmers' clubs, for they were little better than
drinking parties. The result has been remark-
able. Low, inarticulate grumbling' have de-
veloped into loud and articulate complaints ; prayers
to HERCULES that he would help the cart out of the
rut have been succeeded by vigorous efforts on the
part of the carter to help himself. Vague aspirations
after improvements have strengthened into definite
proposals for bringing those improvements about.
Thus it comes to pass that in the far western county
which was almost the first to establish Chambers
of Agriculture, a vigorous movement is now going
on for agricultural reform.
The most prominent subjects before agriculturists
at the present moment are county financial boards,
local taxation, and the management of highways.
With regard to the first subject, it is announced in
the Chamfers of Agriculture Journal that the Govern-
ment are preparing a bill for the establishment of
county financial boards. This is probable enough,
and would be only a redemption of the pledge which
Mr. GLADSTONE gave during his election tour in
South Lancashire. At least three private members
of Parliament, as we gather from the speech
delivered a few days ago at Truro by Mr.
ST. AUBYN, have measures of their own for
carrying out the same change. The principle
of all of them will doubtless prove the same, that
representation and taxation should go together.
Hitherto, a few gentlemen, wholly irresponsible to
the ratepayers, and checked in their expenditure only
by the consideration that heavy rates affect them-
selves, have had sole and entire power to levy what
rates they pleased, and to expend them as they
thought fit. In many cases, doubtless, the rates have
not been excessive, nor has the expenditure been
otherwise than judicious. In many cases there will
be little, if any, economy effected by transferring the
taxing power from the magistrates to the ratepayers.
But at least the principle which we have mentioned
will be respected, and all cause of grumbling will be
taken away. Moreover, it must be admitted that
the magistrates are not always discreet, and they are
sometimes tempted to expend the county revenues
upon any of their friends who happen to hold official
posts. Even a fair and just payment is criticised
now by those who have not been consulted with
reference to the making of it. In the details
of the several measures there will be room for
a good deal of diversity. For instance, it is still a
matter of controversy if the proposed Board should
consist wholly, or only in part, of elected representa-
tives; if magistrates should sit there by virtue of their
magisterial office, or be compelled to ask for the
popular vote.
Far more important than the question of who
shall tax are the questions who shall be taxed,
and for what purposes shall they be taxed.
Present arrangements are by no means
satisfactory. If we take the poor rate, for
instance, we find repeated evidence in history and
in modern Acts of Parliament that this rate is one
which ought to be levied on every description of pro-
perty, and that every man should pay it in propor-
tion to his ability. And yet, as a matter of fact,
there is many a parish in which the person able to
pay most pays almost nothing. Being a non-resident
he escapes almost untaxed, although his income may
be as large as that of all the residents put
together. There is no reason to suppose
that this escape was intended. The original Act
of ELIZABETH orders the taxation of " every in-
habitant parson, vicar, other, and of every occupier."
The word emphasised has been interpreted to mean
being, so that the inhabitant is liable only provided
he is also an occupier ; a rendering which seems to do
violence to grammar as well as to justice. There are
also certain kinds of property, as well as certain
kinds of property-holders, who have hitherto escaped
taxation. Such are mines and woodlands. It is
certain that they will not escape much longer. Of
no less importance is the question as to the objects
for which ratepayers shall be chargeable. Local
taxation has increased, is increasing, and, there are
many to add, ought to be diminished. It could pro-
bably be shewn that there are many burdens, under
which the county ratepayer is crouching, that
might fairly be throvin upon the broad
shoulders of the nation. The police rate is
one of these. But it will be necessary to shew
that any real advantage will accrue to the ratepayer,
and that, too, without a larger gross expenditure,
before the change is made. That done, the prin-
ciple of substituting national for parochial rating may
be extended to the important category of the poors
rate. This radical measure has, in fact, just been
advocated by the Devonshire Chamber of Commerce.
A national rate of this description is undoubtedly
the most just; before we adopt it we must be quite
sure that it would be the most expedient. Local
checks upon extravagance are a guarantee for
economy, which should not be given up without the
certainty that they will no longer be wanted.

ARCHBISHOP MANNING AND THE
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL.

A pastoral letter was read yesterday in all the
Roman Catholic churches throughout London from
Archbishop Manning, which dealt exclusively with
the Ecumenical Council to be held in Rome towards
the close of the present year. lle says that during
the last few months the Pope has written three
Apostolic letters, of vital importance to the Ca-
tholic Church and to the whole Christian world.
The first is the Bull convoking an Ecumenical
Council to be opened in the Vatican on the Feast
of the Immaculate Conception in this year ; the
second is a paternal invitation to the patriarchs,
archbishops, and bishops of the Eastern Churches,
now, unhappily, in schism ; the third is a loving
appeal to those who in the Western world have
been separated during the last 300 years from the
unity of the faith and of the Church. Dr. Man-
ning solicits the prayers of the clergy and laity of
his diocese for the happy issue of the Ecumeni-
cal Council, and enjoins the clergy to hold
special services each week for the same purpose.
The council will, it appears, be called the " First
Council of the Vatican," as it will be held in the
right transept of St. Peter's. The transept will, it
is said, accommodate upwards of 2,000 persons,
and will be so arranged that the voice of each
speaker may be distinctly heard throughout the
whole council chamber. The stalls erected for the
accommodation of the prelates will cost £9,000 or
£lO,OOO, and to make up this sum, as well as to
meet the other enormous expenses which the Pope
will incur, subscrip ions are being actively raised
in many Continental nations, and also among the
Roman Catholics of England. The labours before
the council are so immense that it is considered six
months will not suffice to complete them.

THE VOLUNTEERS.—The St. Martin's division of
the Queen's (Westminster) have just concluded a competi-
tion, which has been carried on at Wormwood Scrubs
range during the late inclement weather, for a challenge
cup, value 52 guineas, presented by the ladies of the
Royal parish represented by the division. The ranges
fired over were the usual ranges—namely, 200, 500,
and GOO yards ; and Corporal Leete, who was one of
the representatives of England in the International En-
field Match, made nineteen out of a possible twenty
at the standing (200) range, on a Wimbledon target; Pri-
vate Cheeswright, another well-known good shot, mak-
ing 18. The best scores at the close of the match were
Sergeant Hooper (who was also a representative of Eng-
land in the International Enfield Match) and Corporal
Leete, each 42 ; Sergeant Hunt, 41 ; Private Cheeswright,
33; and Ensign Starkie, 3G. The tie between the first
two was decided by the ranges being fired over again,
when Corporal Leete win with 41, as against Sergeant
Hooper's 40.

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