The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-18 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1867.

The Redistribution of Seats is always one of the
most difficult and unsatisfactory parts of a Reform
Bill. The electoral franchise is, indeed, more im-
portant and more exciting, and has oftener occa-
sioned the downfall of a measure, but there is some
definite principle to guide the Minister with respect
to the voter's-qualification, there is something to
arouse sympathies and to create animation, whereas
the Redistribution of Seats is at best an invidious
and uninteresting task. If disfranchisement is in
question the Government is certain to excite a strong
opposition in all the places to be disfrauchised. Cela va
sans dire. But even if actual disappointment is
ingeniously evaded, as in the case of the bill now
under discussion, there are still some awkward
obstacles in the way. The very apportionment of
new seats is of itself a difficulty, since it is impos-
sible to give satisfaction to all the applicants for
increased privileges, all the aspirants for political
honour. Our population has increased so rapidly,
and our villages have sprung into towns with such
marvellous celerity, that unless some considerable
addition is made to our Parliamentary members,
every place which for business and population de-
serves a representative cannot hope to obtain one.
The great cities and the counties that think they
are now inadequately represented cannot all be
satisfied, and thus it is almost as unsatisfactory a
task to apportion new members as to take away old
ones. Then comes the boundary difficulty—no in-
considerable one when the variations of population
and other circumstances are taken into account.
The Government are evidently anxious with respect
to the formation of the Boundary Commission, and
desire to have, if possible, a list of names to
which no exception can be taken by either side of
the House. The names are not yet given, as Mr.
LAING'S motion took precedence of the Govern-
ment motion last evening ; but they are, it seems,
ready, and the Government are prepared to give
them very extended powers. With the exception
of diminishing the existing boundaries of boroughs,
which would involve disfranchisement, they are to
have carte blanche, to add to or alter in any way
they may think fit. In answer to a question from
Mr. GRIFFITH, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
said he thought it desirable that the Commission
should be represented in both Houses of Parliament.
The object of this is that if the decisions of the
Commissioners should be questioned in either
House, they would have a representatite to explain
their conduct and conclusions without depending
on the Government for an advocate. Lord
EVERSLEY has, we are glad to find, accepted the
office of President of the Commission, and will re-
present the Commission in the Upper House. This
is in every respect an unexceptionable appointment,
and we trust the names of the other members of the
Commission will be equally calculated to inspire
confidence in the House and the country.

The Government met yesterday with a series of
successes, and the Reform Bill has made great pro-
gress in many respects. Not that it was all smooth
work either, because some objections were made to
the proposals of the Government, and in certain
quarters great excitement was displayed. Mr.
LAING made a mistake in pushing his advantage
too far, and had better hare been contented with the
success he had already met with, for, by trying too
much, he has only reaped disappointment and
failure. A majority of eight decided against the
proposal of the hon. member, and so eager had
been the expectation of some concerning the matter
that it is not to be wondered at that loud cheering
bailed the announcement of the majority in favour
of Government. Taking all things together the
arrangement of the Ministers respecting the redis-
tribution scheme seems asrational as can be desired,
and any alteration of adecided character is unneces-
sary. Mr. DISRAELI, in an elaborate speech,
showed the fallacy of the arguments of the
various speakers in favour of Mr. LAING'S
proposal to give a third member to six
towns, and explained the circumstances relating to
the county representation, as by the new places some
of the county representation will be done away
with, and hence the proposal to give the counties
twenty-five members was a direct compensation for
the rather indirect representation that had hitherto
existed. The right hon. gentleman showed the
futile nature of Mr. LAING'S assertion that the
Government had taken forty-five seats from the
boroughs only, and put it to the committee that
this interpretation was not a just or a wise one ; on
the contrary it has been shown that the said
representation by these boroughs of " urban in-
terests" was quite a farce. A great deal of the mis-
conception that has taken place in this matter has
arisenfrom the notion that hon. members have taken
up that that particular scheme can be carried out,
instead of taking a comprehensive view of the ques-
tion, and looking at it in the general aspect of
affairs. As Mr. DISRAELI said, it is only by de-
grees that it is possible to adapt the representation
of the country to its wants. " how," very
naturally asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
" are we to provide for the rising urban popula-
tion if we accumulate the representation
among the large boroughs which are already
represented? It is no argument to contrast Bir-
mingham, with its two members, with some small
town which has also two members. You might
as well contrast some great county, with its two
members, with one of its small boroughs having
a like representation. You might as well take
North Durham, with its great industrial popula-
tion, which is represented by two members, and
compare it with four boroughs it contains, whose
aggregate population, not exceeding one half that
of the county, returns eight members to Parlia-
ment. Why, there is a flagrant anomaly,
according to what I may term the super-
ficial reasoning of the day." This passage is worthy
of notice, because it tends to expose one of the
fallacies which are apt at the present day to become
current, and to gain credence with many. A new
numerical arrangement can never answer altogether,
and the scheme now before the House is far more
likely to became popular if too much is not ex-
pected from it, and if " strong philosophers" and
others do not seek to make it perfect.

With respect to cumulative voting, Mr. DISRAELI,
on behalf of Government, declared that they were
against it, and would not hesitate to state their
objections to it in due time. There was a good deal
of truth in the closing remark of the right hon.
gentleman on this subject, to the effect that it was
needfal to pause and consider their ways before
changes took place in the principles upon which the
opinions of the people of England have been
represented in Parliament. In adverting to these
plans, Mr. DISILIELIsaid that they had been asked
to give six members to Manchester, but it needs
littlt to show that confusion instead of order would
be the result of this, as the right hon. gentleman

~. :.

i
ously, " The probability is that too
amdadneyd
artistse n tt e
would not improve the broth."
Mr. GIJ tDSTONE followed Mr. DISRAELI, and
strove ha' :d to make out his view of the matter to
be the 'best. lle began by declaring that the
bill w: is that of the Mouse and not that
of the Government, adding a few ingenious
comm( nts upon the Government seeking to
exemplify the fable of " straining at a gnat and
swvllo wing a camel." Lord CRANBORNE was
strongly in favour of the cumulative voting, re-
gart hug it as a means of checking the evils of the
prep ent scheme. Mr. LOWE was very much against
the proposition to include the University of Durham
with that of London, but, notwithstanding the per-
suasior s of the right hon. gentleman, the Committee
dividetl against him by a majority of eighty-two;
but 'the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
agreed to a subsequent attempt to report
progrers. The boundaries that were inter-
posed .called forth a fitting rebuke from Lord
ELcHo, who said that he was sorry to see the course
pursued, and that it was not an edifying spectacle
to see Liberal members endeavouring to stop the
progress of a Liberal measure. Mr. DISRAELI also
said that if the manners of the London University
were to be judged of by the specimen of courtesy
which they had had from hon. gentlemen opposite,
he must say that he thought that the union of that
institution with the University of Durham might
possibly affect the recommendation in that
respect. It may be observed that whether this
proposed junction is desirable or not there was no
need for hon, members to be so excited on the
matter, and it seems a pity thus to have hindered
time in so factious a spirit. The Government have
every reason to be well satisfied with the result of
yesterday's debates, and although there was observ-
able in the course of the discussion more bitterness
of tone than has of late happily appeared, still
the main thing was theirs, for they were
successful in their divisions. The fact is,
that they are now so strong that it matters little
what is said against the measure by prejudiced
partisans and disappointed opponents. A few
more delays must inevitably occur, and a few
more obstructions be got over, but no real cause for
fear exists, and the promoters of the scheme have
only to persevere, and they will assuredly attain
their object of passing through Parliament the
most comprehensive and satisfactory Reform Bill
that has yet appeared before the public.

Radicalism in America has, it seems, set a
practical example to Radicalism in England, and
the gentlemen who have so long been exalting the
political constitution of the United States at the
expense of everything English may well be satisfied
to find the programme of Mr. ASHLEY and
General BUTLER accepted unreservedly in
London. If there is one thing more than another
which an American Radical objects to it is allow-
ing his opponent to speak for himself. If there is
one trial which is altogether too great for his
patience and his forbearance it is when
he is expected to accord to others the
licence he demands for himself. This dif-
ficulty is the origin of the present compli-
cations, financial and political, in the States, and
effectually bars the way to Southern reconstruction
and representation. The Radical theory received
a striking illustration shortly before the break up of
Congress, when, on a party fight, the Democrats
appealed for one hour's debate, which was unhesi-
tatingly refused by the Radicals. This affair ex-
cited a good deal of interest in America, but it did
not occasion much surprise in London. If the
fashion of intolerance and of forcible suppres-
sion of your adversary's opinions is to come
across the Atlantic, it is time we English folks left
off talking about free speech and free political
action.

The scene at St. James's Hall last evening was
certainly not what we have been accustomed to at
public meetings. Setting aside any political merits
or demerits of the parties it was simply a discredit-
able riot, occasioned by a body of persons forcing
themselves into a meeting held for a distinctly
avowed purpose, with the intention of inter-
rupting the proceedings and breaking up the
meeting. The Metropolitan Working Men's
Conservative Association had for some time
past announced their intention of holding a
meeting at St. James's Hall last evening, which
undoubtedly any body of mon, whatever they chose
to call themselves, had a perfect right to do, so
long as they conducted themselves with propriety.
The members of the League, or some of them at
least, seem to have thought otherwise, for they
organised a strong body, took possession of the
front seats, created a great uproar, endea-
voured to force Mr. BAXTER LANGLEY into the
chair in place of the Conservative Chairman,
and finally succeeded in producing a whole-
sale riot, in which heads were broken, tables
overthrown, and which was finally only dispos2d of
by the appearance of the police. There can be but
one opinion of such conduct, and we are only sorry
to find the names of gentlemen who have put them-
selves forward, however mistaken, of public rights
and popular privileges, mixed up with such discre-
ditable proceedings. We might have supposed that
the whole affair was a mere device of the roughs
to produce confusion and pickpockets, had
there not been a " method in the mad-
ness "—had not Mr. LANGLEY, Mr. MAN-
TLE, Mr. LUCRAFT, and others put themselves
prominently forward, and manifested an evident
determination to allow no speeches, no reporting ;
in short, none of the ordinary forms of public
meeting to be gone through. Mr. LANGLEY, in-
deed, in a final attempt at an address, congratu-
lated the Reformers on the victory they had won,
and advised them to disperse quietly, without
seeming to beat all aware that the " victory" referred
to was a wholesale defeat of Liberal principles.
The rights of public meeting, of free discussion,
of equal political rights for all parties,
majorities and minorities alike, are among
the chief stronghold of our boasted liberty, and
if we are to admit that any party or faction
whatever has a right to interfere with the free expres-
sion of another's opinions, we sink at once to the
level of the harshest Continental despotism. But
there is very little fear of such a theory even ob-
taining any strength in this country : it is too
entirely opposed to the national love of fair play
and open speech. Neither need we waste much
indignation on the roughs, who were summarily
marched off by the police, since they will probably
receive their deserts for the infringement of public
order. 'The matter that is most worth notice is the
conduct of members of the Reform League, who
had better begin their reforms at home. It would
be ludicrous, were it not lamentable, to see men
who have so loudly clamoured about the right of
public meeting, and who have pushed their claims
on its behalf to the furthest extreme, acting so un-
scrupulously in defiance of their own professions.
Admission to the meeting was only obtainable by
tickets, and it was under cover in a comparatively
retired place. There must therefore have been a
preconcerted determination to break up the meeting
and disarrange the order of the proceedings—an '
attempt which, however successful at the time, will,