The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-13 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 13, 1867.

We expect that, by this time, the public have had
nearly enough of Mr. GLADSTONE'S speeches on
the subject of Reform ; but, be this as it may, they
seem liktly to have plenty of them. The course
pursued by the National Reform Uuion is also very
much t() be reprehended in every respect, In fact,

the best proof of the inconsistency of their conduct is
that they could have done no more if the Government
had decided not to introduce a measure of Reform at
all this year. It requires very little reflection to ar-
rive at the decision that theremnst be prejudice in the
case, and that jealousy exercises a great influence
upon those who keep putting themselves forward
so persistently as the opponents of, the scheme be-
fore the House. It is really too bad, and shows
that there is no real love of Reform for itself in
their hearts, but that all they want is to do the
thing their own way, or else to have it left alone
altogether. If Mr. GLADSTONE were wise be would
hold himself aloof from all these manifestations, in-
stead of being so eager to mix himself up in the
affair; he, however, thinks differently, unfortunately
for his own reputation at present, and his future
prospects as the leader of a party and an aspi-
rant to the service of the State. Last Satur-
day the right hon. gentleman received at
his residence a large deputation, which was
appointed at a Conference of the National Reform
Union at Manchester, and which came for the pur-
pose of presenting him with addresses, assuring him
of their confidence respecting the Reform question.
Mr. WILSON read the address to Mr. GLADSTONE,
and it was couched in most extravagant terms
throughout, commencing with the declaration that
the revision. of the Constitution was in the " un-
friendly hands of the opponents of all progress,"
and concluded with the assertion that the
people would continue to demand Reform,
and that " imperishable renown " would be
the portion of Mr. GLADSTONE for his
strenuous efforts to support their cause. In one
part of this address Mr. GLADSTONE is exhorted to
disregard those who have failed in their Parliamen-
tary allegiance, and to turn his thoughts to those
outside the walls of Parliament. The right hon.
gentleman had better take care that he does not do
this once too often, for he will materially injure his
position in Parliament if he thus identifies himself
with those who are always wild for agitation and
such like manoeuvres. It is curious to notice the
various reasons which are assigned by those
zealous and devout Reformers for the course
pursued by those members who deserted their chief
in the late momentous division. We learn that
some went away from " error of judgment, some
from weakness, some from the conceit that comes
from ignorance, and some, perhaps, for worse rea
sons." This is looking upon motions and actions
in a very illiberal sense, but for one-sidedness of
judgment, and a harsh intepretation of the views
of those who differ from them, no one can exceed,

if he can equal, a regular out-and-out Radical
and thorough-going Reformer. The world
must be mended their way, or else woe betide
those who presume to attempt the task.
After more remarks from previous speakers had
been made, in the course of which Mr. MASON
JONES suggested that the best thing to be done
would be to try to throw out the Bill altogether,
Mr. GLADSTONE made a short reply, in the course
of which he reiterated his arguments against the
Government Bill, with which all are already quite
familiar. We learn what is the impression pro-
duced upon the mind of the right hon. gentleman
by the events that have lately taken place in Parlia-
ment, and it is a most unfavourable one,
for he feels " pain, astonishment, and disap-
pointment." It is now very easy to ar-
rive at the exact meaning of the speeches
of the right hon. gentleman, and the present is no
exception to the rule, but if anything definite is to
be gathered from it he would like to regard the
present bill as a nonentity, and to direct all their
objects to obtaining a " sensible, liberal, but, above
all things an equal, just, and impartial measure of
Reform." While the enactments of the present
scheme are on the floor of the House of Commons
Mr. GLADSTONE will, he declares, continue to offer
an unqualified and unhesitating opposition. "If
they become law, they will, as I have said, have
of course all the authority of law, but they
will be those portions of the law of the land
which I shall continue to regard as those to which
every good citizen should offer a strenuous opposi-
tion, and which he should use every legitimate
power which he possesses for the purpose of bring-
ing them to a speedy end." This is a curious defi-
nition of the manner in which good citizens should
respect what comes before them with the authority
of the law, but we suppose that anything and every-
thing must be permitted to those who are actuated
by such exalted notions. We really expected better

things of Mr. GLADSTONE than that he should
thus make such an exhibition of himself
as he is doing. It is quite out of character,
and almost unprecedented that a man of his position
should persist in expressing his opinions so freely
to those outside the walls of Parliament, and decry
the House of which he is so prominent a member.
It appears that when Mr. DISRAELI'S motion was
proposed Mr. GLADSTONE said to himself that it was
impossible for a House that had been returned with
a Liberal majority to agree to it, but the result
proved him to be false prophet. "The minority of
twenty-one which, as we had hoped, was to have
been converted into a majority, fell into a minority
of sixty-six. It is not for me to examine the com-
position of that minority. The result serves to show
that the Liberal party is but a little 'un.' "

In short, Mr. GLADSTONE has displayed a bitter-
❑ess of spirit and a want of toleration that are
quite unworthy of a man of his abilities ; and not
only his party, but the country generally, has a
right to demand something better from him. Mr.
BRIGHT made a few remarks, in which he strongly
advised the preparation of petitions against the
Government measure. Cau anything be more
ridiculous than this ? But it shows how
perverse people can be when they get a
crotchet into their heads, and pursue it

r,Tkless of all consequences. Both Mr. BRIGHT and
Mr. GLADSTONE will find that they have made a

great mistake in this matter, and that the people of
England do not desire a repetition of their meetings
and their petitioning, but would be glad to see a
settlement of the Reform question. After these
speeches we have referred to we really believe that
nothing which the Conservatives might have pro-
posed would have met with their approval or their
sanction, for they set out by determining to find
fault, which is a very dangerous thing to do if thero
is any desire to act with fairness.

The Atlantic Cable brings us the news, dated
May 10, that the Government has ordered the writ
of habeas corpus in the case of JEFFERSON DAVIS to
be obeyed, so that there is every prospect of some
change in the prisoner's condition before long. The
arrival of the Scotia from New York on the Ist,
with full intelligence of that date, confirms this im-
pression, since the friends of Mr. DAVIS were then
actively renewing their efforts to produce his re-
lease on bail, and Mr. DAVIS himself was reported
to be in good health, no doubt revived and en-
couraged under the influence of renewed hope. The
political situation seems to be unaltered, and the
Radical party are not inclined to moder Ate their
tone. THADDEUS STEVENS has wiitten a letter,
openly advocating the confiscation of rebel property,
and denying the right of Senator WILSON to pro-
mise the South representation upon their conform-
ing to the Reconstruction Act. So that the prin-