The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-06 00:00:00

matter of Reform. Early in the autumn Lord
DERBY wrote to Mr. DISRAELI, and declared
that after grave and due deliberation he had
arrived at the conclusion that it was " absolutely
necessary to deal with the question of Parliamen-
tary Reform, and that it must be dealt with in no
niggard spirit." It is very satisfactory to find the
right hon. gentleman say that this opinion of Lord
DErary is the one he is now prepared to act upon.
We agree with him in the remarks he made con-
cerning the modification of views which all states-
men must from time to time experience under the
pressure of circumstances, and after considering the
various obstacles in the way of the original plan.
Neither is the house nor the country to think that
the measure introduced by Mr. DISRAELI on the
25th of last month was a bad and im:natured
scheme, for it engaged the attention of all the Cabi-
net, especially of Lord DERBY himself. While he
spoke of this measure with impartiality, the right
hon. gentleman said that it was not the one he lihn-
self should have proposed. The Ministry, more-
over, received no encouragement from the Conser-
vative party to pursue this scheme. This, coupled
with the rumours that reached them about the policy
of the Opposition, seemed to assure the Ministry
that they would sink into the same state which
befel the Government of last session. No one
has any right to question or gainsay the course
pursued by 'Ministers throughout all these transac-
tions, for it is quite evident that they fully appre-
ciated the importance of the case, and realised that
this Session was not exactly like the last, and that
if the " question of Reform were not seriously, and
earnestly, and vigorously grappled with, it would
not be for the honour of Parliament or the advan-
tage of the country." What followed is now well
known : the Cabinet met together to consider the
new phase of affairs, and Lord DERBY expressed
his opinion that they must return to their
original plan, and the consequence was that
three of the members of the Government felt com-
pelled to resign their positions. Connected with
this part of his subject, Mr. DISRAELI declared
that he considered it one of the most painful in-
cidents that can befall public meu, and be said
emphatically that if his resignation could have im-
proved matters it was at the command of the noble
earl at the head of the Ministry. " Whether I
have sat on this side of the House or on that, those
who know me best know that I have always said
that no personal sacrifice on my part should
I hesitate to make to maintain a united party
and a united Cabinet." As for the measure
of Reform which it is their intention to lay before
the House, the right hon. gentleman declared that
it would be brought forward as the definitive
opinion of the Cabinet, and that by it they would
stand.

General PEEL made some remarks, as did also
Lord CRANBORNE,upon the subject of their resigna-
tions. The former observed that he thought every
one was responsible for the maintenance of his own
honour, whether personal or political. Lord GRAN-
BOP.NE'S explanation was very satisfactory ; he said
that no detailed or definite agreement had been
come to, as he thought, concerning the fatal
fifth Resolution. On the whole, we think that both
General PEEL and Lord CRANBORNE have modified
their views somewhat since last year on the subject,
and the noble lord expressed himself very fairly, in
conclusion, when he said that he hoped that during
the present Session they would pass a measure which
would remove from the arena of politics a matter of
such fierce and such dangerous controversy. After
considering the matter, we think that all who give
their attention to these Ministerial expla-
nations will agree with Mr. DISRAELI'S re-
marks, that every member of the Cabinet
of Lord DERBY, whatever opinions he expressed
or whatever the course he took, was actuated only
by a sense of duty and of honour. Mr. LowE was
most extreme in his remarks on the subject ; and
although he addressed himself to the question with
his usual ability, he failed to make good his case.
He considered it to be a dreadful thing that the
Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. BRIGHT had
come to the same conclusion respecting household
suffrage. The one approached the point from
below and the other from above. " We have now,"
said Mr. LOWE, " an alliance of a new kind," going
on to compare it with the description of MACAULAY.
We hope that it may be a good augury, and
although the quotation was made in jest it may
turn out to be earnest :
" Safe comes the ship to haven,
Through temp.;sts and through gales,
If once the Great Twin Brethren
Sit shining on its sails."
Mr. LowE made an impassioned appeal to the gen-
tlemen on the Ministerial side as to whether they
would sanction such a course. Mr. lionsmAx was,
if possible, more vehement in his indignation, and
declared that his respect was given to those mem-
bers who had retired from office, and " aban-
doned their places for their principles, rather
then continue members of the Government,
who have retained their places by the abandonment
of their principles." 'We really think it is to be re-
gretted that members of such eminence in the
House should talk after this fashion, and it is quite
unworthy of Mr. HousmAN to say that the present
Government are not Ministers, but auctioneers,
who knock down the Constitution to the highest
bidder.

Lord STANLEY'S few observations were very
much to the point, and he brought the best aspect
of the question before the Ifouse very plainly
when he said they were discussing a measure
concerning which they had as
.yet no
definite notice. He asked for ordinary
fair play, which remark was received with loud
cheers. Mr. BRIGHT spoke more sensibly than he
has done for some time, and had the best of it in
his argument with Mr. LOWE. Ho urged that if
the House could not go so far as he wished that
they should be definite in their policy. On the
whole we think, as we said before, that the posi-
tion of the Government has greatly improved, and
that they have a fair chance of settling the
question of Reform in a very satisfactory
manner. Lord DERBY has evidently consi-
dered the matter in a very proper spirit,
and has resolved to do all that he can conscientiously
towards the fulfilment of the task. Mr. DISRAELI
has long been in advance of his party in the matter,
and hence we may hope that this year will see the
weighty question satisfactorily settled. It is im-
possible to overrate the difficulty of the task, but
commensurate with the effort will be the reward
of those who accomplish the work, and the credit
due to those who aid them in so doing.

It is disappointing to hear of a fresh outbreak
of Fenianism in Ireland. The results may not be
serious to any one but the parties concerned, still
the agitation and disturbance kept up in the coun-
try are very much to be regretted, and the con-
duct of those agitators who persist in fomenting
discontent and organising rebellion cannot be tco
strongly condemned. The worst of it is that in
this case, as in many others, the ringleaders escape
and leave their miserable dupes to bear the penalty
of their offences. It is never very difficult to enlist
a band of enthusiasts among zn excitable
people like the Irish, and a few tirades
about national independence, th gloried of