The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-07 00:00:00

harangues to their joint constituents, as in an emi-
nent degree worthy of consideration. Mr. SCHOLE-
FIELD may be regarded as the representative of the
more moderate and mediocre of the old stead 3 -
going, jog-trot school of "Political Independents.
He is a man of moderate abilities, but of the utmost
respectability. He is the worthy son of a worthy
sire, honoured by his fellow-townsmen, in the
midst of whom his blameless life has been for the
most part passed, and justifying from first to last
the confidence reposed in him by that considerable
majority of the, possessors of the franchise down at
Birmingham, who vote for him at every election as
a matter of course—as though he were a man
possessing some sort of imperceptible and here-
ditary right to a moiety in their repre-
mutation. Mr. BRIGHT, on the other hand,
'while in his private capacity as a Citizen of the
Empire quite as blameless as his milder colleague,
rod invested (as a citizen) with quite as unsullied
a. respectability—occupies a position neither of mo-
deration nor of mediocrity among the chiefs of the
little band of Political Independents. He is there,
amongst that little phalanx, in a nominally inter-
mediate position—straddling colossus-like above
Ns fellows at the centre of the plank, midway
between the aforesaid extremes of Whig Liberalism
and Tory Conservatism ! But lurching at intervals
so heavily and glaringly from the perpendicular
that he seems apparently bent upon raising or
depressing . the beam of power according
to his fitful whim and pleasure ! As lie would
doubtless—had he a 'veritable weight in the coun-
.eils of the nation proportioned tohis individual esti-
laate of his own importance ! Mr. BRIGHT is
laappily,in that estimate, however, labouring under
one of the most astounding delusions that ever pos-
sessed the imagination of a public man. Hence,
his extraordinary intolerance of late of any dis•
)sent from his own oracular opinions. Hence
arrogance of tone and language in
dealing with the great questions of the
day, as though he were Member, not for
Birmingham, but for the whole of the United King-
dom. Hence his astonishing ingratitude to the
-very power which has afforded him the means of
puffing himself into notoriety. His hand, like that
of ISEIMIEL, has, by reason of this overweening
estimate of his political importance, been latterly
•against everybody—and this with such an air of
-wilful and wanton provocation that everybody's
hand almost has been against him in return. Such
being the wide difference between these con-
trasting colleagues in the representation of Bir-
mingham, it is interesting so far to examine the
latest revelation of their views and intentions in
the matter of Reform, as circulated now far and
wide by the Press, after having been articulated
yesterday to a considerable gathering of their con-
stituents. And referring our readers to the length-
ened report of their twin speeches given elsewhere
as nearly as possible (at any rate in Mr. BRIGHT'S
instance) verbatim by ourselves, we may indicate
the views and intentions of these two variously
" shining lights" among the chiefs of the Poli-
tical Independents ! This simple old-fashioned
" mutton truncheon" (according to Mr. DICKENS'S
wonderfully funny designation the other day
of our almost forgotten friend, the " dip" of
a past age) and its alarming companion
down at Birmingham, that loudly crackling
and sputtering flambeau which seems every now
and then bent upon setting either the Thames on
fire or the whole country in a flame (as yet, how-
ever, doing neither !)—We may-indicate, we repeat.
the views and intentions of these variously shining
lights among the chiefs of the Political Indepen-
dents, in regard to the on-coming Question of
Reform—by one comprehensible, comprehensive,
and significant word—to wit, Compromise !

It is impossible not to realise through the sounding
phrases of Mr. BRIGHT and the assumed staunchness
of his colleague, Mr. SCEIOLEFIELD, a predetermi-
nation—now upon the eve of the Parliamentary
Session of 1860—to put up with whatever this be-
loved Coalition may vouchsafe to yield in the shape
of—Reform in Moderation ! The axiom seems to
be with both now—let us take the goods the
Whigs and their motley colleagues will give us—
let us not look the gift horse too closely in the
mouth—let us content ourselves with whatever
Reform the Coalition may consent to place upon
the table of the House, even though it be a bill
in which the Whigs and their col-
leagues will no more consent to give
us the Ballot—than their Derbyite predecessors !
Now, upon this point, What says the stannch and
immaculate Mr. SCHOLEFIELD ? Why, he says
quite distinctly—" I have always voted for the
Ballot, and shall always wish to see that a part of
the means by which Members are to be returned
to Parliament. But if the resolution means that
the Ballot is to be made a sine qua non in any
Bill, that we are to reject any measure which
does not include the Ballot, 1 must reluctantly
demur to the conclusion of the resolution. I should
be glad to accept an honest Reform Bill even with-
out the Ballot, ,not because I undervalue its impor-
tance, but I wish you to bear in mind the circum-
stance that a great portion of the Government are
against the Ballot, and that you have not a pledge
that the ballot shall form any part of the Govern-
ment measure. I do not wish to see our public
men dragged through the mire so as to pledge
themselves to support opinions which they do
not entertain.. I do not wish to see the leading
members of the Government who object to the
Ballot coming forward and saving that the
argments of the public have convinced them that
the ballot ought to be adopted. I would much ra-
ther see the public make their representatives pledge
themselves, when the time comes,' not to vote for
any Ministry which will not carry the ballot."
The words we have italicised are surely plain
enough. And now what says Mr. BRIGHT upon
this same vital question of the Ballot ? Why all
that he can find courage to say on the matter in
his long rigmarole and rhodomontade about Re-
form yesterday, is just simply this, "I have seen,"
he says, " two of the most eminent members of the
Cabinet come round within the last two years, and
who have unsaid everything they had previously
said respecting Church-rates ; and lam sure if
they should turn on the question of the Ballot we
should not reject their aid assistance." Whereupon
the audience gives way to a burst of cheers and
laughter ! Of course ",laughter" for the com-
ment is quite in the spirit of Mr. HENRY BER-
KELEY, the Buffoon-Champion of this most essen-
tial of all reforms in our system of popular repre-
sentation. According to whose views upon the
matter seemingly the Ballot is only to be
talked of on the broad grin !

Happily there are a few other and more
staunch Independents in the House of Commons
beyond either Mr. BRIGHT or Mr. SCIIOLE-
FIELD. To them we look—to men like Mr. ROE-
DUCK, Mr. WYLD, and Mr. LINDSAY—for a course
more worthy of the name of Political Indepen-
dence. That course ought to bring them
directly to this one distinct determination-
-to insist upon the Whigs and their friends giving
the country the Ballot, in compensation, at the
very least, for the loss of that certainty of carrying
the Derbyite Reform Bill last year through the