The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-08 00:00:00

THE FRANCHISE AND TEE BALLOT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE 2i N.

SIR,—On the eve of a Reform Bill I beg to crave
your indulgence while I briefly ()all attention to the
subject through your columns.
In my vocation I have laboured for some years for
the good of others, and have seen the great necessity
of encouragement. In a word, to interest the work-
ing man in his own behalf is to stimulate his
hope.
It appears to be the desire of the nation that edu-
cation should make progress in the lower ranks of
society. To accomplish this on a larger scale than
is at present being effected by Government expen-
diture, it will be necessary to create a desire for
education, which Government grants have hitherto
failed to do amongst those we seek to benefit.

Those grants tend to promote a thirst for learn-
ing in the middle class—amongst traders ; but the
labourer has not been reached. What, then, do we
want in order to attain an object so generally ac-
knowledged as beneficial to the working class ?
I maintain that the surest, the most effectual,
and the cheapest way, is as follows :-
1. To every man (being twenty-one years of
age) not having been convicted of crime within
three years last past, nor having received parochial
relief within the same period, on producing his re-
ceipt as having paid poor's-rate, and BEING ABLE
TO READ AND WRITE, grant the privilege of the
Franchise.

This would encourage the parent and en-
courage the child ; this would create a
thirst for education ; this would stimulate the
young man, instead of squandering his pence
in the alehouse, to spend them:on a night school,
in order to raise himself from ignorance and de-
basing pursuits to the required standard whereby
he might have a voice in the government of his
country, _ .

This would put it into the hands of the people to
have almost universal suffrage, satisfying the Libe-
ral on the one hand, and the Convervative on the
other hand, by confining the franchise to the intel-
ligent ratepayer.
2. Negatively. I would by no means give a
vote to lodgers, or those whose names are not on
the rate-book.
It is only just and equitable that the stake one
has in the country, together with knowledge, should
constitute the balance of power.
Having said so much on this point, ono word
upon the channel by which such votes should be
recorded. The whole masonic fraternity—loyal,
ancient, and conservative as it is—transacts its im-
portant business by the Ballot. It is just, perfect,
and regular in its working. Why, then, should we
not have vote by Ballot in political elections ?
The trader and the labourer demand protection,
to secure to them freedom of thought and action
in their political rights. Why not let them have
it, if we are moral and consistent P
Giving a place to this letter in your valuable
journal will greatly oblige
Your obedient servant,
PERICLES.

Feb. 7, 1860.

71118 DAY'S' MARK'ET'S.

CORN EXCHANGE.
Fresh up to .day very little English wheat came to hand
coastwise or by land carriage. The attendance of buyers
was by no means numerous, yet the demand ruled steady,
and Monday's prices wore well supNrted.
Only 60 quarters of foreign wheat have arrived this
week ; but the show of granaried samples was large. The
business done was by no means extensive ; nevertheless,
the quotations ruled firm.
Floating cargoes of grain were a slow sale, but not
cheaper.
There was a good consumptive demand for all kinds of
barley, at extreme quotations.
Fine new malt was steady in price, but old parcels were
very dull.
There was a steady consumptive inquiry for oats, beans,
and peas at Monday's currency.
Flour sold to a moderate extent on former terms.