The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-05 00:00:00

G. a LEWIS ON PARLIAMENTARy
REFORM.

At the annual meeting of the Radnorshire Agri-
cultural Association, held at Knighton,
Sir G. C. LEWIS, on rising to return thanks for
drinking his health, said—Gentlemen, I return
you my most cordial and sincere thanks for the ex-
tremely kind manner in which this toast has been
proposed and received. I may also take the oppor-
tunity of expressing my entire concurrence in the
sentiments -which my hon. friend Sir J. Walsh has
so ably expressed as to the advantages of these as-
sociations, and the satisfaction I have felt from the
time I had the honour of representing the Radnor-
shire boroughs, in attending your meetings, and
contributing, as far as I have been able, to the suc-
cess and continuance of the association. I can enter
into the views of those who think that even in the
more advanced and improved parts of the country
than that in which we live, which, from the charac-
ter of its soil and climate, is certainly not amongst
the most advanced agricultural districts, agriculture
has derived essential benefits from associations of
this kind. Much more may we expect that the in-
terchange of ideas, the suggestions of experiments
and other advantages that are derived from meetings
of this kind must contribute to remove those ancient
and obsolete ideas which naturally grow up among
the cultivators of the soil when they are left to
themselves, and where the population is so scanty
that there is little communication between persons
engaged in the same pursuit. The proposer of my
health has been kind enough to advert to my con-
nection with the late Administration, and although
this is a meeting from which political party topics
are banished—and I would not say a word which
would in any way offend the feelings of persons
who might differ in politics from myself—yet I may
be permitted to observe that, 100 kin,,,, back to the
state in which this country was when Lord Pal-
merston acceded to office, the state in which the
army was placed, the condition of that army, and
the uncertainty of the issue of the contest in which
it was engaged within any limited period, I cannot
but think that that Government may congratulate
itself upon the manner in which that frightful
struggle was terminated and by the conditions of
the treaty which was signed at Paris. (Cheers.)
I also think, whatever differences of opinion may
exist with respect to the conduct of our agents at
Canton—l have no wish to revive-a subject which
gave rise to such angry feelings and so much ani-
mosity—but I say that all persons, whatever may
be their political opinions, must concur in regarding
the treaty which has recently been made public as
a great advance in our commercial facilities, and as
having settled a question of great difficulty, and
one which all persons who look to the progress
of our affairs in the East have admitted to be an
object of undoubted gain to the country—namely,
the opening of China to English and European en-
terprise. (Hear, hear.) Well, gentlemen, there
is another subject, which, looking, not backward,
but forward, might naturally suggest a few re-
marks at the moment, and which, having formerly
been a subject of the most intense party interest
and violent party contest, seems now to have be-
come one of those questions upon which all political
parties are agreed. I refer to the subject of Parlia-
mentary Reform, for I observe from the reports of
some late meetings of a similar description to that
at which we are assembled to-day, it has been vir-
tually announced by some of her Majesty's Minis-
ters that they contemplate, at all events, proposing
in the next session of Parliament a measure of Par-
liamentary Reform as a Government proposition.
Well, if that party of which the Administration
now in office forms a portion, proposes a measure of
Parliamentary reform, that of itself must be taken
as an indication that Parliamentary Reform is no
longer a party question—(hear, hear)—inasmuch as
in former times they were connected with a party
opposed to Parliamentary Reform. I may say thus
much without trenching upon political controversy,
that those who propose a measure of Parliamentary
Reform at the present moment must propose it with
a view of remedying some distinct mischief, some
defined political evil. (Hear.) They must have a
distinct view of some evil which they propose to
remove. Now, I would ask those who propose, at
the present moment, to bring forward a systematic
plan of Parliamentary Reform, to state distinctly
what is the exact evil they propose to remedy ?
Those who proposed the Reform Bill of 1832
had, I believe, in their minds a distinct con-
ception of the evils which they proposed
to remedy, and the country had a clear notion of
those evils. At that time there were large towns
in this country which were wholly unrepresented
—such towns, for instance, as Leeds, Birmingham,
and Manchester, had no representatives. Some of
the largest, the most populous, the most wealthy,
the most important towns in the kingdom were un-
represented. On the other hand, there were certain
individuals who, by, their power of nomination in
small boroughs having scarcely any electors, were
able to return to the House of Commons a consi-
derable number of members. Putting these two
things together—observing that there were towns
which were unrepresented and particular indivi-
duals able to return a considerable number of mem-
bers—we found that the House of Commons did not
accurately and faithfully represent the general
opinion of the country. Well, the change was made ;
and I think it may now be fairly said that on all
great questions, all important subjects, the House
of Commons for the most part fairly represents the
general opinion of the country. It may not always
be the faithful exponent of the opinions of particu-
lar individuals, or even of particular districts ; but,
looking at it generally, it is, I think, a very faithful
exponent of the general sentiments of the country.
Then it is said that the circumstances of the times
demand a systematic plan of Parliamentary reform.
I am not disputing that proposition, but I only
say that any Government which brings or proposes
to bring forward a plan of Parliamentary reform,
is bound to state distinctly what is the evil they
profess to remedy, and what are the defects in our
present system which they intend to remove. I
must be permitted to remark that those persons
who think it is possible by some process of ingenuity
to propose a Reform Bill which shall increase the
power of a particular party, which shall throw an
increase of influence into the hands of a particular
class of the community, arc entirely mistaken in
their supposition than any measure, any contrivance,
any device of that kind, will impose on the general
intelligence of the country, or influence the decision
of Parliament. In my opinion, in whatever form
a Reform Bill may be introduced into the House of
Commons, it will come out of that house a real Re-
form Bill, increasing the popular character of the
Legislature. It will give greater weight to the
voice of the people in the councils of the House of
Commons, and if any Government should entertain
different views, and propose a Reform Bill not hay-
ing that object, in my opinion they will not only be
grievously disappointed in their expectations, but
will attempt to pass off a deception upon the coun-
try. That must, in my opinion, be the necessary
result of any proposal which may be made at the
present time for Parliamentary reform, and I wi

add that, as it seems to me, it is the only legitimate
basis upon which such a proposal can be made.
(Cheers.) lam very much indebted to you for the
kind manner in which you have listened to the re-
marks which I have offered on this subject, and I
thank you cordially for the manner in which you
have drunk my health. (The right hon. baronet
resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.)
The toast of " Prosperity to the Radnorshire
Agricultural Association" was then given from the
chair, and the list of prizes having been read, Sir
J. IVALsH rose to propose the health of the Chair-
man.

Sir G. C. LEWIS, after returning thanks for the
honour done him, said,—l must apologise for hav-
ing called your atention to subjects of more general
interest than even that of agriculture, but there are
not many occasions upon which Sir J. Walsh and
myself, the representatives of this county, have the
opportunity of addressing so large a body of our
constituents. There is one sentiment to which my
hon. friend has given utterance, and which I think
will meet with general concurrence, namely, that
we are not necessarily to identify democracy with
liberty. We are not necessarily to suppose that
progress in the direction of democracy will of itself,
without proper guards and securities, increase our
public liberties. (Cheers.) He has taken you across
the Channel, and asked you to contemplate the
political condition of the kingdom of France. I will
ask you to look across the Rhine—to look to Ger-
many as well as to France—and say whether the
hasty and ill-considered rush they made a Lim years
ago in the direction of democracy has not ended in
riveting despotism on their necks. Nothing is
more obvious than that a hasty and ill-considered
attempt to run by a short cut to the goal of demo-
cracy will land you in the very opposite goal.
(Hear, hear.) I will, however, add one remark to
those which Sir John Walsh has made, and that
is that hitherto, in my opinion, all advances which
we in this country have made in the direction of
democracy have likewise been advances in the
direction of liberty. (Hear, hear.) That has been
owing to the cautious manner in which the progress
has been made, and to the manner in which public
measures are proposed and considered in this coun-
try. (Cheers.) That which has been hitherto will,
I sincerely trust, continue to be the case. It is with
a view of contributing my small mite to that con-
elusion that I have ventured to throw out my sen-
timents with respect to the coming Reform Bill.
I trust those who propose it will form a distinct
idea of what it is they seek to accomplish. I trust
also they will make an honest and sincere proposal,
and that they will not attempt to accomplish one
thing under the mask of another. If they do they
withaye the certainty of detection before their