The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-23 00:00:00

LONDON, 7 UESDAY, JULY 23, 1867.

Lord DEIII3Y had a proud task to perform last
night in moving the second reading of the
Reform Bill in the House of Lords. Indeed
the noble lord, with the leaders of the Op-
position, found himself in peculiar circumstances,
since it is seldom if ever that the same men
are engaged twice in a lifetime in the consideration
of so important a question as that of Parliamentary
Reform. It was curious also to find that the son
of the Minister whose Administration carried the
first Reform Bill should have been prominent last
night in opposing and seeking to hinder the progress of
the second Reform measure. A generation has passed
away since the exciting scenes which took place at
the former period, and it is interesting and impor-
tant to dwell upon the changes which have been
wrought in public opinion since that time. Lord
DEBBY, in a masterly speech, dwelt upon all the
topics that were incidental to the subject, and criti-
cised the various attempts that preceded the present
effort in the direction of Parliamentary Reform.
An unusual interest attached itself to the observa-
tions which the noble lord made upon the circum-
stances which attended the passing of the first

Reform Bill, since he did not speak from hearsay,
but had himself taken part in the stirring scenes
alluded to. As he remarked, it was difficult for the

younger members of that House to realise the state

of things at that time, when the voices of Manches-
ter, Leeds, and Birmingham were unheard ; the

question, in fact, involved a social revolution in th©

country. The excitement which prevailed was of
course great ; but, as the noble lord said, it was a
somewhat doubtful advantage that enabled the Go-
vernment to carry their measure chiefly through

the popular enthusiasm of the hour. The
details of the measure were little cared for so long
as the bill itself became law. The great measure
of 1832 was carried in the heat of political

passion," and not after the calm and deliberate
attention suitable to the introduction of so impor-
tant a change and so comprehensive a scheme. In
referring to this bill as a whole, however, Lord
DERBY said that he believed it had " contributed
more than any measure of recent times to place the
Government and the people of this country upon a
footing of amicable relations, and to promote the
prosperity and wellbeing of the country at large."
Some amusement was created by Lord DERBY'S
comments upon the course pursued by one of the
champions of Reform, Earl RUSSELL. He began
by stating his conviction that it would be desirable
to consider the question settled for a long time
after the passing of the measure ; because, he added,
England could not bear a revolution every quarter
of a century ; but, strange to say, he himself did
not wait for the period he had prescribed, and
abandoned those doctrines which gave him the name
of " Finality." The noble lord paid a tribute to the
character of the House of Commons as it
had existed since 1832 down to the pre-
sent time, and expressed his conviction that
the measure he then proposed would not produce a
body of men more intelligent and more devoted to
their duty than that which at present represented
the people in the House of Commons. Still, as the
noble lord added, it is not sutllci mt that the instru-
ment should work well : it is necessary that those
for whom it does work should be convinced that it
works well. In the course of his remarks, Lord
DERBY said with perfect truth that the Go-
vernment of last year would have carried
their measure had not Mr. GLADSTONE
adopted so dictatorial a manner, and declared
that no alteration would be permitted in the plan
they proposed. The noble lord's defence of the
Conservative party was a very successful one. lie
declared that they had never shown any wish to
prevent the passing of a Reform Bill, as was evi-
denced by the second reading of the various bills
not being contested by them. A different course
was, however, pursued by the other side, for in 1858
Lord RUSSELL had defeated the second read-
ing of the Bill of that year, and again this
session Mr. GLADSTONE had sought to arrest
progress at the same stage. Respecting the
changes which had taken place in the present
scheme the noble lord explained that they were
rendered necessary by the earnest desire that pre-
vailed for the settlement of this great question, and
their intention to study the wishes of the House
of Commons. Some of the objections which have
been made against the measure were ably met by
the noble lord, particularly those concerning the
borough franchise and the redistribution scheme.
Ile concluded in a passage of great eloquence
by alluding to the amendment of Lord
GREY, which he emphatically declared was unne-
cessary. As he said, it was perfectly true that their
lordships' house had a right to criticise the details of
the measure, but it was not a suitable mode to
adopt to stamp the measure beforehand with con-
demnation. ",Do not," he added, " stultify your-
selves by condemning the measure in the first in-
stance ; contemptuous treatment such as this is not
the treatment which a measure that has received
the unanimous assent of the other House hasa right
to expect at your lordships' hands. I believe that this is
a bill at once large, extensive, and Conservative,
and that if it should receive the sanction of your
Lordships' House it will effect a settlement that will
for a long time to come be considered satisfactory
of a question which, while it remains unsettled, will
be a source of perpetual agitation, an obstruction
and impediment to all other useful legislation."
It was an advantage that Lord• DERBY spoke
first last night, for he evidently made an im-
pression on the House by his brilliant and
comprehensive discourse that none of those
who succeeded him could remove. Lord GREY
seemed against the chief points of the bill, and ad-
dressed himself to his task in rather a crotchety
spirit. So general was the opinion that prevailed
respecting the second reading being carried with
no amendment that we should not be surprised if
the noble lord should seek to withdraw his amend-
ment. Whether he do so or not, however, there
is no doubt as to the result that will be arrived at.
The Government are certain to carry their point by
a large majority, if it is
receptionpreed
to a
division ; and the cordialgiven
to the noble lord at the head of the Government in
his speech last night fully proves that without the
numerous remarks subsequently made, we may then,
with no undue expectation, consider the question of
Reform safe for this year, and those most interested
in the cause will rejoice in such a belief. The dan-
gers have been great and the work arduous, and
only the greatest courage and caution combined
have succeeded in achieving the desired end. We
have all along watched the course of this bill with
the greatest interest, and that interest was increased
by the recollection of the part which this journal
took in the stirring days of the first Reform Bill.
There is no inconsistency iu this Government pass_
ing this second measure, because the present head of