The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

(From the Times)
The attention of the House of Commons was un-
duly occupied last nightthe claims of the by
com-
pound householders. More important points for
consideration were slurred over in an elaborate dis-
play of familiarity with the incidents of rating, and
an opportunity was afforded to the Ministry of
putting aside the true questions at issue. The
house is thus in danger of encountering the risk
Mr. Gladstone very
properly foreshadowed, of
being forced to accede to the proposal to go into
committee without the securities for the amend-
ment of the bill which are imperatively demanded.
As far, for example, as anything was said last night,
we might almost suppose that the dual vote was to
be defended. We do not, indeed, believe the Ministry
capable of so misunderstanding the temper of the
house and of the country as to insist on a pro-
posal which would at any stage
insure the rejec-
tion of their bill, but they were able by the course
taken in discussion to defer its abandonment. Mr.
Hardy even professed a desire to have the ques-
tion argued, and if the House of Commons were a
mere debating society, we might be interested in
the array of reasons which could be marshalled
against this most invidious and irritating proposal.
The lodger question also was left almost wholly
untouched ; yet nothing can be more certain than
that without a lodger franchise the prospect of a
settlement is hopeless. The electoral returns from
which Mr. Gladstone quoted so lengthily conveyed
a lesson beyond those he drew from them—that any
reduction of the occupying qualification must, in
the metropolitan districts, be nugatory. The
alone, is
is the man who
hard-headed artisan,
London. The educated
bachelor,lnoedegd
ser ,e
nafnrtadhne
fthrhiusege
mal
loedflteerrikn,
come within this category. They are the men
whose enfranchisement Mr. Roebuck rightly de-
clared was a principal object of Reform. Why should
not all these be enfranchised? Mr. Hardy faintly
suggested that they would be enfranchised as tax-
payers, but we do not understand why a simple
qualification should he put aside in favour of
another open to all kinds of abuse. Still less is it
easy to conceive why, on the grounds of the balance
of power, there should be any hesitation in conced-
ing a franchise which, beyond most others, would
meet the wishes of the classes who desire the privi-
lege of voting. The necessary qualification of resi-
dence must always keep the number of Lodger-
voters within moderafe limits ; t 'ley would be found
only in the largest borougha ; and we should not be
disposed to look upon it as otherwise than a gain
were the number of artisan lodger-voters in a
metropolitan constituency numerous enough to ex-
ercise a direct influence on the choice of a mem-
ber. These cardinal points of the Dual Vore
and of the lodger franchise were unfortunately left
to amateur debaters and professional advocates.
Lord Atnberley, indeed, " without presumption,"
wished the house "to treat the question on
broader grounds" than had been attempted, but
he charmed in vain. When. the debate was ad-
journed to this evening the intention of the Go-
vernment was as obscure as ever, and mainly, as
we conceive, because the policy of the Opposition
was not clearly defined. We should be the last to
suggest any factious or indiscriminating antagonism
to the Ministerial proposals. We desire to see the
question which has agitated the country for years
settled on a firm and endUring basis. But, because
we desire this, we must insist on the necessity of de-