The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-03 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

=
ouse of Commons has returned to
the discussion of the Reform Bill full of good sense
and good temper. Last night the Committee re-
sumed its labours, and, after a &mit and business-
! like debate, itdecided, byan overwhelming majority,
against the condition of two years' residence to
which it was proposed to subject householders in-
habiting houses below £lO in annual value. Mr.
and
dhhos hfoaudoadb2a7n-
a
Ayrton, as has been announced, moved the amend-
ment reducing the term of residence from two years
thMerr.pGrolpadjosatil,ea'
aban-
doned noeTi t
supporters against 197 who voted with the Govern-
ment. This decisive majority must compel the
adoption of the change, even if Mr. Disraeli bad
intended to do more than test the feeling of the Com-
mittee upon the question by submitting it to a formal
vote. He moved, indeed, that the chairman report
progress immediately after the division was taken,
on the ground that it was necessary to consult his
colleagues upon it, and Mr. Gladstone admitted the
propriety of this proceeding ; but we cannot suppose
there will be any hesitation in accepting the clearly
expressed opinion of Parliament. One of the
gravest blots in the
Ministerial
scheme has been
thus easily removed, and the practical ability and
honesty of the house of Commons have been once
more vindicated. It can no longer be denied that
the Committee of the House is thoroughly in ac-
cord with the people in treating the Government
Bill as a substantial measure of Reform to be
amended in details, but as a whole worthy of
acceptance. The passionate invectives of provin-
cial oratory and the exaggerated resentment of
disappointed opponents, have alike failed to make
House or country swerve from their purpose to
bring Reform to a legislative settlement this year.
The Easter recess has done much good in stilling
the angry feelings engendered by the critical Divi-
sion which immediately preceded it. We can now
afford to forget the false issues raised in the
earlier part of the session. Mr. Bass last night
defended himself with great effect from the asper-
sions cast upon those who declined to follow
Mr. Gladstone three weeks since ; but he must by
this time be well aware that the victory has been so
completely with himself and those who went with
him that they may without scruple disregard the
angry epithets lavished upon them. Outside the
world of officials and of agitators every one is now
persuaded that the proper plan of dealing with the
Government scheme is by alterations of detail like
that carried last night. Lord Grosvenor began the
practical work of yesterday by withdrawing his
proposal of a £5 rating limit, and he took occasion
at the same time to repudiate the wonderful charge
of collusion with the Government which Mr. Stans-
feld had brought against him at Halifax, and on
which we took occasion to comment at the time as
a singular manifestation of suspicion and credulity.
The discussion on the term of residence to be re-
quired of the borough voters to be enfranchised by
the bill thus came (ILA onee, and it may be ad-
mit tot that the Government showed some discretion
in the weakness of the defence they made for their
two years' limit. Sir J. PAKINGTON—ready as is
his wont to encounter any difficulty—argued the
case of the additional 12 months ; but his manner
was that of an advocate speaking for another rather
than that of a man upholding his own sentiments.
Indeed, he acknowledged that the question was one
open to discussion, and avowed, for his own part,
regret that it was impossible to concede at once the
modification demanded. This language was in per-
fect accord with the tone adopted by Lord Derby
in addressing the deputation which met him at
Downing-street in the beginning of the week, and
may justify a regret that the Ministry had ever been
persuaded to recommend a residence of two years
as a qualification for the voters to be admitted.

by their bill. It is plain that a distinction in
the term of residence of different classes of voters

ought not to be adopted without the gravest reasons
for its justification. A variation of this kind is in
the highest degree invidious, and in pt actice would
produce constant resentment. Under any circum-
stances it would be obnoxious to criticism, but when
it is proposed to make it dependent upon whether
a voter lives in a house above or below the value of
£lO it is manifestly untenable. The suggestion is
inconsistent with the main principle of the Minis-
terial Bill, since it sets up a "hard and fast" line

yitt that
in its worst form, and no one ventures to sdam
anft be
eo of a
itihltoe
tphoeorrearnkheoeufsehvoeltederrs
wrheqouiinrehsa additionaluases
twelvemonths' purgation before he
inhabit
pound or two higher value. Sir Roundell Palmer
• made an unanswerable demand when he asked for a
draw justification of the attempt to an invidious
line of distinction between old and new voters.
We believe the effect of this ill-considered proposal
would have been found ctorhmtparatively trifling had
it been
lavdooupldtedf
0.
rmMar.rßesrti
restriction
with great justice
thhoewveovteerrs,
that Mr.
dB
rtioghtthee
ayo.ngeon the quantity of
Registerrated
the without
ceptilly affecting their qualit It seems probable,
who would be denied theprivilegel of voting by p
numbers
theer
-
restriction of second year's residence. .He assumed
the condition of two years'
that as the 1,800 ten pound
residence
just double that of the twelvemonths'
Roch-
dale are reduced to 1,500 voters by the limit;fitoanhd
householdersneocessitycof
a year's residence, they would fall to 1,200 if two
vfears were required. In truth, however, householders
o migratory habits are a peculiar class, whose tenure
of residence is to be reckoned by months, and the
number of • persons who have inhabited the same
dwelling
between one and two years would be prac-
tically found much less than those who have not lived
jin one place for a single year. We are not with-
out sonic evidence upon the subject. There are
boroughs where the municipal and Parliamentary
limits are coincident,—where we can compare
' the effect of the condition of two years residence
necessary for the Municipal Franchise with that of a ,
year required of Parliamentary electors and the
comparison shows that the effect of the additional
year is on the whole unimportant. The strongest
arguthent against the proposal of the Government
was that it would keep largo numbers off the Re-
gister, but that it would be vexatious and irritating.
11'e can entertain no doubt as to the course the
Government will follow with reference to last
night's division. Mr. Ayrtoo's amendment was
dealtmov e d,
with and o Invea s
ofh
tos
acceptedeq'uLsesa practical matter. It
questions upon which Mr.
Disraeli has always expressed the wish of the Go-
vernment to act in accordance with the opinion of
the house. bird Derby hail spoken of it as open
to discussion, and Sir John Pakington yesterday
limited the resolution of the Ministry to a desire to
test the opinion of the Committee by a cry
sion. The division has been taken, its
liytst
,on struck out,
re-
sult is unequivOc &I, and theree
bci done, and •
When thea-One consequence which can follow.
has been so for sat' '
mittee resumes the discussion of the b'll, Con_l
bill has
which
the two years' residence, which has beene
,tititlitelme to spare.
of 12 calendar mouths will be insert ,d the ..itnit
bftal 1
oini
coodtikol
though
si e,
ts
inttl amendmentieehlitxlinertirtbererieonorgisswrpoedilfssrieetdtolsefi
e 1 will co m instead of
conside-
ration. There is, indeed, much to
the bill through
doubt as
throught o the maynoticeha
committee lgi
olaiftmfiittrhesdet eight Tlte
i.ntis
at the •
Possibi-
lity of carrying
nights remaining
will disappear Government. Many
of disposal
as Lord G the amendments
and others stand rosveno ' d•
r s isappeared
of one • or fall together, so '
that a discus-
sioninvolves the fate of many. We look
discussion of last night—at once brief
and exhaustive—
of the -as an earnest of the future temper
committee, and
of feeling between the Gas a promise of that unison
Government and Parliament
which makes a legislative
settlement of Reform _
wafter of reasonabl4 cor ' •
tat
. uty.