The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-28 00:00:00

THE BALLOT.

Now that two out of the three reforms necessary
to make the representation of the people in Parlia-
ment full and efficient have been taken in hand by
the Government, what prospect is there that the
third will get its fair share of attention in the com-
ing session ? The extension of the franchise and a
more rational assignment of seats to constituencies
are the chief elements of the bill which Lord John
Russell is shortly to introduce ; but in the eyes of
a majority of reformers these measures, urgently
necessary as is their adoption, are not one whit
more so than the ballot,while in the intelligent judg-
ment of many of the soundest and sincerest mem-
bers of the Liberal party the ballot is not so much
their complement as their prime and indispensable
condition. Yet in the promised Reform Bill it is
quietly ignored. How much longer will the Go-
vernment of the day be able to deal with the ballot
as an open question ? Not long, we should think,
judging by the extent to which the chiefs of the
Liberal party are compelled on taking office to avail
themselves of the assistance of members of Parlia-
ment who openly profess their conviction of the
necessity of providing this protection for the voter.
Any one who will take the trouble to examine the
composition of the present Administration will find
that as many as 13 of the members of the House of
Commons who hold office under Lord Palmerston
and Lord John Russell are supporters of the ballot.
In the country, the friends of the ballot, it is noto-
rious, are the life and soul of the Reform party.
Nothing can more forcibly demonstrate the spirit of
concession and forbearance which distinguishes
Englishmen in their political dealings than the fact
that a section of reformers so numerous and power-
ful should wait so patiently as we now see them
waiting on the steps of their halting and hesitating
brethren.

But whatever reluctance to move in favour of the
ballot may be felt in high places, we have the grati-
fication of announcing that the old flag of the ballot
will be seen flying in the coming session, and that
an opportunity will be given for testing the new
Parliament on this important subject. We cannot
suppose that any earnest friend of the cause was for
a moment deceived by the announcement—the capri-
cious indulgence of a wanton wish—made by its
most inveterate opponent a few weeks ago, that it
would be deserted by the leaders who have gallantly
fought for it year after year in Parliament. In ad-
vocating the Ballot we have always been anxious
that it should never be so presented and urged in
Parliament as to endanger the success of other parts
of the Reform question, upon which a greater una-
nimity of opinion prevails. We are glad, therefore,
to know that the Council of the Ballot Society,
sharing this sentiment while determined to claim
for it a prominent and early place in the business of
the House of Commons, have resolved not ti make
it occupy an obstructive place. This public-spirited
determination enhances their claim to the respect
of all reformers, and cannot fail to give strength to
thucause when the hon. member for Bristol brings
it once more before Parliament. Instead of moving
a resolution on the second reading of the Govern-
tnent Reform Bill, or moving ballot clauses in com-
mittee, Mr. Berkeley will, as early as possible, ask
for leave to bring in a substantive measure, a bill
enacting that the votes at elections for members of
Parliament shall be taken by the Ballot. The whole
question will then be brought fairly and fully be-
fore Parliament on its own merits, and it will be
for the Government and the house to resolve in
what manner it shall be dealt with. That it can
be ignored year after year, as heretofore, is simply
impossible. The settlement of the other elements
of the Reform question, however they may be
dealt with, will only make the adoption of the
Ballot more urgent and imperative. The reduc-
tion of the qualification for the franchise, which
no statesman of any party will tell us can be
averted or delayed, will enlarge our constituencies,
and, as a thoughtful and experienced correspon-
dent shows in another column, will augment the
necessity of providing new securities against inti-
midation, and of offering encouragement to vote to
large numbers, who without the Ballot will never
come to the poll. Liberal members, compelled in
the exercise of a sober judgment to admit the ne-
cessity of conferring the franchise on classes who
silo shut out, are bound to look ahead and consi-
der what safeguards should accompany the privi-
leges they extend. The Goverment which intro-
duces these changes cannot avoid the responsibility
which they will entail, except by taking the means
of averting intimidation and bribery into account.
If it is not prepared at once to acknowledge all
the arguments by which the Ballot is recom-
mended, let it at least grant that means of in-
quiry whith scarcely any Parliamentary subject
is now deemed too unimportant to warrant, and
acquiesce in the appointment of a Select Com-
mittee on the Ballot.—. Daily Hews.

[invnartsummturd—lir. Benson, Ludgate-hill, has just
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tion as to --What watch to buy 1 where to buy it ! Rad how to
use it 1