The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-18 00:00:00

ad .ded sententiously, " The probability is that too
se any artists would not improve the broth."
Mr. GLADSTONE followed Mr. DISRAELI, and
-.strove hard to make out his view of the matter to
Ihe the best. He began by declaring that the
lill was that of the House and not that
of the Government, adding a few ingenious
coi nments upon the Government seeking to
exi amplify the fable of "straining at a gnat and
sw allowing a camel." Lord CRANBORNE was
sti ongly in favour of the cumulative voting, re-
rding it as a means of checking the evils of the
pre sent scheme. Mr. LowE was very much against
the proposition to include the University of Durham
with that of London, but, notwithstanding the per-
sursions of the right hon. gentleman, the Committee
divided against him by a majority of eighty-two ;
but the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
agreed to a subsequent attempt to report
progress. The boundaries that were inter-
posed called forth a fitting rebuke from Lord
ELCHO., who said that he was sorry to see the course
pursued, and that it was not an edifying spectacle
to nee Liberal members endeavouring to stop the
progress of a Liberal measure. Mr. DISRAELI also
said that if the manners of the London University
were to be judged of by the specimen of courtesy
which they had bad from hon. gentlemen opposite,
he must say that he thought that the union of that
institution with the University of Durham might
possibly affect the recommendation in that
respect. It may be observed that whether this
proposed junction is desirable or not there was no
need for hon. members to be so excited on the
matter, and it seems a pity thus to have hindered
time in so factious a spirit. The Government have
every reason to be well satisfied with the result of
yesterday's debates, and although there was observ-
able in the course of the discussion more bitterness
of tone than has of late happily appeared, still
the main thing was theirs, for they were
successful in their divisions. The fact is,
that they are now so strong that it matters little
what is said against the measure by prejudiced
partisans and disappointed opponents. A few
more delays must inevitably occur, and a few
more obstructions be got over, but no real cause for
fear exists, and the promoters of the scheme have
only to persevere, and they will assuredly attain
their object of passing through Parliament the
most comprehensive and satisfactory Reform Bill
that has yet appeared before the public.

Radicalism in America has, it seems, set a
practical example to Radicalism in England, and
the gentlemen who have so long been exalting the
political constitution of the United States at the
expense of everything English may well be satisfied
to find the programme of Mr. ASHLEY and
General BUTLER accepted unreservedly in
London. If there is one thing more than another
which an American Radical objects to it is allow-
ing his opponent to speak for himself. If there is
one trial which is altogether too great for his
patience and his forbearance it is when
he is expected to accord to others the
licence he demands for himself. This dif-
ficulty is the origin of the present compli-
cations, financial and political, in the States, and
effectually bars the way to Southern reconstruction
and representation. The Radical theory received
a striking illustration shortly before the break up of
Congress, when, on a party fight, the Democrats
appealed for one hour's debate, which was unhesi-
tatingly refused by the Radicals. This affair ex-
cited a good deal of interest in America, but it did
not occasion much surprise in London. If the
fashion of intolerance and of forcible suppres-
sion of your adversary's opinions is to come
across the Atlantic, it is time we English folks left
off talking about free speech and free political
action.

The scene at St. James's Hall last evening was
certainly not what we have been accustomed to at
public meetings. Setting aside any political merits
or demerits of the parties it was simply a discredit-
able riot, occasioned by a body of persons forcing
themselves into a meeting held for a distinctly
avowed purpose, with the intention of inter-
rupting the proceedings and breaking up the
meeting. The Metropolitan Working Men's
Conservative Association had for some time
past announced their intention of holding a
meeting at St. James's Hall last evening, which
undoubtedly any body of men, whatever they chose
to call themselves, had a perfect right to do, so
long as they conducted themselves with propriety.
The members of the League, or some of them at
least, seem to have thought otherwise, for they
organised a strong body, took possession of the
front seats, created a great uproar, endea-
voured to force Mr. BAXTER LANGLEY into the
chair in place of the Conservative Chairman,
and finally succeeded in producing a whole-
sale riot, in which heads were broken, tables '
overthrown, and which was finally only disposed of
by the appearance of the police. There can be but
one opinion of such conduct, and we are only sorry
to find the names of gentlemen who have put them-
selves forward, however mistaken, of public rights
and popular privileges, mixed up with such discre-
ditable proceedings. We might have supposed that
the whole affair was a mere device of the roughs
to produce confusion and pickpockets, had
there not been a " method in the mad-
ness "—had not Mr. LANGLEY, Mr. MAN-
TLE, Mr. LLCRAFT, and others put themselves
prominently forward, and manifested an evident
determination to allow no speeches, no reporting ;
in short, none of the ordinary forms of public
meeting to be gone through. Mr. LANGLEY, in-
deed, in a final attempt at an address, congratu-
lated the Reformers on the victory they had won,
and advised them to disperse quietly, without
seeming to beat all aware that the " victory" referred
to was a wholesale defeat of Liberal principles.
The rights of public meeting, of free discussion,
of equal political rights for all parties,
majorities and minorities alike, are among
the chief stronghold of our boasted liberty, and
if we are to admit that any party or faction
whatever has a right to interfere with the free expres-
sion of another's opinions, we sink at once to the
level of the harshest Continental despotism. But
there is very little fear of such a theory even ob-
taining any strength in this country : it is too
entirely opposed to the national love of fair play
and open speech. Neither need we waste much
indignation on the roughs, who were summarily
marched off by the police, since they will probably
receive their deserts for the infringement of public
order. The matter that is limit worth notice is the
conduct of members of the Reform League, who
had better begin their reforms at home. It would
be ludicrous, were it not lamentable, to see men
who have so loudly clamoured about the right of
public meeting, and who have pushed their claims
on its behalf to the furthest extreme, acting so un-
scrupulously in defiance of their own professions.
Admission to the meeting was only obtainable by
tickets, and it was under cover in a comparatively
retired place. There must therefore have been a
preconcerted determination to break up the meeting
and disarrange the order of the proceedings—an
attempt which, however successful at the time, will,