The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-01 00:00:00

assurance of their support, and to convey to the
Chancellor of the Ex,;hequer the thanks of the
working men for his noble vindication of them in

the House of Commons. He added that had this

meeting been a little later he should have been able
to represent double the number he then did.

Several other speakers stated their views, among
whom Mr. Hoer ES, of Greenwich, repudiated, on be-
half of the compound householders of that borough,

the professed sympathy of the leader of the Opposi-

Lord DERBY, on rising to address the meet-

ng, was reccived with most enthusiastic cheers, be-

gan his remarks by stating that the deputation was

at first intended to wait upon the Chancellor of the

Exchequer, and to him, indeed, such a mark of
honour was justly due. The noble lord

paid a just tribute to the zeal, energy,
and efficiency with -which Mr. DISRAELI had
carried on affairs in the difficult circumstances in
which he had been placed ; but he added that he had

come up to town for the express purpose of being
present at the meeting, understanding that it would
afford satisfaction for him to be there. The noble

Lord spoke out frankly and fairly on the subject of

Reform in general, and after the perusal of his
speech none can be justified in going over the old
story of the Conservatives being opposed to Re-

form. We would direct particular attention to
that passage in Lord DERBY'S speech, in which he
declared that it was the object of the Government
not to include so many of this class or that class,
but to admit to constitutional rights so many of
all classes as shall be capable of " intelligently and
correctly" exercising the franchise. "As to work-
ing men," said he, " we are all of us working men.

Some of us work with our brains, some with our
tongues, and some with our hands. We have all
duties to perform, and we are bound to unite our
best service for our common country."

We feel firmly convinced that there is more ex-
clusiveness in the ranks of the Liberals, as they call
themselves, than in those of the Conservatives,
because the latter really take up the matter,

are far more downright and sincere about it, and
express themselves more frankly. Lord DERBY
alluded to the line of distinction deemed necessary
to be drawn, and declared that the ten-pound line
was an " arbitrary " one, and that a man who paid
only nine pounds might fairly ask what difference
there was between him and the man who wasa ten-
pound householder, and so on. This is, indeed,
as the Premier justly observed, a false mea-
sure upon which to proceed, and this false
measure is that which the present Opposition
is endeavouring to uphold against the Government
Bill. The factious course which Mr. GLADSTONE
has pursued was most plainly expressed in the course
of the speeches delivered at this meeting ; and after
the lapse of time his doings really seem worse than
they did at the time, if that be possible. It is
worthy of notice that Lord DERBY did not pin
down the Government to any fixed time for resi-
dence, but said that the principle was to have a
certain period, "be it one year, be it a year
and a half, or be it two years, so that
the franchise might include all those who
are ' permanent householders.' I exclude
those mixed and migratory population, which are
not permanently connected with the towns." Among
other details of the measure Lord DERBY said that
the arrangements about the " compound house-
householders were very simple, and there was no
inequality' in it, and, as the late Chancellor of
the Exchequer said, any fine' in the proposal."
The noble lord concluded by expressing his
satisfaction at the fact that " the feeling
of the country is arousing itself, and
looking at the measure, as it was in-
tended by the Government, as an honest and a
bona fide attempt to settle the question."
This is exactly the truth in regard to the mea-
sure, and Lord DERBY has expressed the right feeling
of the country, for the people in general have ar-
rived at the conclusion that the Ministers ought to
be treated with fair play, and are indignant at the
factious manner in which they have been dealt with
in some quarters. Mr. DISRAELI made a few re-
marks, in which he said that he felt con-
vinced, notwithstanding the difficulties they
had encountered, that the measure in ques-
tion would "become the law of the land."
The good sense of the House frustrated the factious
attempt that was secretly made, and the spirit of
this country sanctioned the course thus adopted.
The right hon. gentleman then referred to the many
letters which had been lately written by certain per-
sons, but added that he always observed that when
a "party takes to letter-writing it is in difficulties."
Ile expressed the greatest hope and confidence in
the House of Commons, and declared that no
"partial defeat would induce Lord DERBY to
withhold his efforts to consummate the
great work ho has undertaken, and that he would
not rest from his labours until they had a measure
which would conduce to the happiness of the people
and the greatness of the empire." This meeting
was a very gratifying one to the Ministers, and the
more so because it was an earnest and indication of
what the people thought of their measure, and a
full assurance of the sympathy and support which
they may hope for in their earnest efforts
to carry the Bill now before Parliament.
We are the more gratified at the numerous
indications of good will which the Govern-
ment have met with from all parts of the coun-
try, because we are firmly and fully convinced that
they are most sincere and earnest in their efforts
to promote the passing of the measure. They have
done more than commands success, for they have
deserved it ; and we trust that they will also meet
with it, for the welfare of the country is intimately
connected with the immediate passing of a measure
of Reform.

The debate on the Purchase System in the Army
last evening will be read with great interest and
attention. There has long been a growing con-
viction that our military administration stands in
need of a through reform, though, like most other
comprehensive reforms, it is very difficult when we
descend to details to decide how and where to
begin. The discussion last night set forward the
pros and cons of the system fairly and ably, and
although the result of the division was, as might
hare been expected, adverse to the motion, yet it
was well that a question which is agitating the
public mind should have been brought under the
consideration of the House of Commons. Perhaps
it would have been wiser on the part of Mr.
TREVELYAN if he had refrained from pressing his
motion to a division, as there were many who
were undecided on the subject who were thus
forced to commit themselves by vote. Sir J. PAK-
INGTON himself, although naturally unwilling to
commit himself, as head of the War-office, to a
wholesale condemnation of the purchase system,
was evidently only half inclined to defend it, and
he confessed that it would be impossible tc carry
into effect the recommendations of the Royal Coin-
mission without considerable changes in our policy.
Mr. TREVELYAN had, as Sir J. PAKINOTON ad-
mitted,
good right to introduce the subject to the
House, since he is the son of Sir CHARLES
TREVELYAN, whose excellent pamphlet on the pur-
chase system has recently attracted io much atten-
tion,
and seta forth ko forcibly the erawbac)i and