The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-06 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6, 1867

It may safely be said that it is long since we had
so excellent a Speech from the Throne to inaugu-
rate a Parliamentary Svs,ion ; and, indeed, without
thatery, it nay be affirmed that it would be difficult
to improve upon it. It was at an anxious period that

Lord DERBY assumed office, and he and his frF Lends
could not say that the lines had fallen to tb em in
pleasant places. At home and abroad then„ were
complicated questions to decide upon, a'ad many
domestic matters required anxious investigation.
The result of the deliberations of these autumn
months through which we have passed se ems to be
highly satisfactory, for her MAJESTY'S Ministers
have presented themselves before Parliament in a
spirit worthy of the occasion; and, to judge from
the several paragraphs of the Royal Speech, there
will be work in plenty for all to do. More espe-
cially does the allusion to Parliamentary Reform
afford matter for rejoicing, and the more so because
doubts had been thrown upon the intention of Go-
vernment to advert to the subject at this period.
Had they not done so an opening would have been
made for the dissatisfied spirits of the Opposition,
and great hindrances to the transaction of business
would have been the consequence. The few words in
which the most important intimation in the Royal
Speech is conveyed to the house are admirably well
chosen, and are emphatic from their very moderation.
After the ranting language with which we have been
so familiar during the recess, it is indeed refreshing
to meet with a temperate expression of opinion, and
a declaration that the great work in question will
be attempted in a manner likely to ensure success.
To " freely extend the elective franchise without
unduly disturbing the balance of political power" is
the desire of the majority of the community ; and
whatever may be affirmed to the contrary by inte-
rested parties, such will prove to be the fact by ex-
perience.

Mr. GLADSTONE has commenced his career this
Session as leader of the Opposition in a manner
worthy of his high attainments and of his exalted
position. The voice of faction has not intruded
itself into his discourse ; and indeed, on the con-
trary, he seemed inclined to do his utmost to pro-
mote the furtherance of those questions which most
deeply concern the vital interests of the people. It
is a satisfactory sight at the commencement of a
Session to witness such a treatment of great political
subjects ; it elevates the tone of a debate from being
the mere expression of party views into the higher
position of representing the feelings of the master
minds of the xation assembled to consider the
real interests of the people. Regarding Par-
liamentary Reform, Mr. GLADSTONE emphati-
cally declared that it was very essential that
no time should be lost in the settlement of that
weighty matter. "It is our duty to accept," said
the right hon. gentleman, " whenever we can get it,
a measure which will be adequate to meet the just
expectations of the country." This is very straight-
forward and sensible language, and contrasts very
favourably with the prejudiced remarks that have
abounded in some quarters as to the folly of think-
ing any Reform Bill which the present Government
may introduce could be supported by the Liberals.
Mr. GLADSTONE takes a higher view of his position
and accepts in a truer sense the responsibilities
thrust upon him ; and we hope his great influence
will not be exerted in vain, but that the intolerant
spirits of faction may be comprised in very few
numbers, and occupya verysmall space in the House
during the discussion of this most weighty matter.
The right hon. gentleman also said that the time
when the question of Reform was debated was
nearly as important as the substance of the measure
itself, and in this we also agree with him. He con-
siders it quite impossible for legislation to proceed
in its orderly and accustomed course ultil this
measure is disposed of. "It stops the way, it dis-
turbs and impedes, and it not only disturbs and
impedes, but it embitters every attempt to deal with
other questions of difficulty," he concluded—
trusting that the time was at baud when public men
might dismiss from their minds this source of
anxiety and apprehension, to " remove from our-
selves and out of the way this obstacle, and to re-
move from ourselves what threatens to become, if
we do not remove it, a standing discredit to Parlia-
ment and the institutions of the land, and so give
to all the other vast and diversified interests of the
country that attention which they so imperatively
solicit at our hands."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer soon satisfied
the house as to the manner in which the Govern-
ment intended to deal with the matter, and declared
they would take the earliest convenient day to state
what course would be pursued, and generally to enter
upon the subject of Reform. This is certainly
prompt action, and it must convince the House and
the country that there is no wish to shirk the
matter on the part of her MAJESTY'S Ministers. We
are glad to find that the Government have thus
resolved to come forward at once, and to begin with
the arrangement, at any rate, of the most important
subject that now engages their attention, and
awakens the interest of the country. Under these cir-
cumstances the Chancellor of the Exchequer naturally
desired that no further inquiries should be made
into the mode of procedure which the Government
had in contemplatbn. Mr. DISRAELI spoke confi-
dently and cheerfully of the prospects before them;
and, while he admitted the pressure of business
which it would be necessary to attend to, he said
that considerable devotion on the part of the house
might accomplish it all satisfactorily. " Reaction
is the law of life, and it is the characteristic of the
House of Commons. Complaints have been rife of
late as to the indolence which has been exhibited by
the House of Commons, and to these its Leader
referred when he urged upon hon. members the im-
portance of redeeming their character and of making
the activity of the future atone for the shortcom-
ings of the past. " Here, in this session, an admir-
able opportunity will be afforded to the House,"
he said, " and if they only follow the example which
the Government are prepared to.set by the devotion
of their time and labour to the pursuit of these pro-
positions, I think we need not be frightened by the
quantity of business before us, but may rather look
forward to the end of a session which will redound
to the public advantage and to the character of this
assembly." If we rightly interpret the meaning of
the debate of last night in the House of Commons
we think we discern the promise of a session which
will produce happier results than those of the last few
years have done. On the part of the Government
there seems no lack of desire to do their work fully and
faithfully, and on the part of the Opposition there
seems a wish to meet them half way, or more than
half way, in their laudable endeavour. So far all
is satisfactory, and we may trust that time will not
be lost, energies wasted, and talents abused in the
pursuit of a factious policy, and the attempt on the
part of authorities to tide over the dangerous epoch
without really effecting any beneficial works. Much
will depend upon the course pursued by those whern
it is the fashion to call independent members,
and they must remember that a heavy respon-
sibility will rest with them if through
their agency the great task of settlinc, the
vexed question of Parliamentary Reform be left over
to another session. Patriotic sentiments should
have more weight than the temptation to appear
something unusual and particular, and now before
any exciting agency is at work, before the inevit-
able hurry and confusion of a great debate or an
important subject commences, let these gentlemen,
who belong to no particular party, resolve that they
will rise superior to the petty influmeea And mean