The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-29 00:00:00

The Nationhl Reform Union.

Last evening a very crowded meeting, called by
the National Reform Union, was held at St. James's-
hall, "to protest against the Government scheme
of redistribution, and to demand adequate repre-
sentation for the great borough Constituencies."
Mr. Wilson (of Manchester) was to have taken the
chair, but be was unable to attend, and Mr. Jacob
Bright was, on the motion of Sir Henry Hoare,
unanimously voted to preside over the meeting.
When, at a subsequent period of the evening, Mr.
John Stuart Mill came on the platform he was re-
ceived with loud and enthusiastic cheering.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said
he hail not before had the honour of assisting at a
London meeting. He was familiar with the great
meetings which had taken place in the North, of
which the northern people were very proud. Front
what he had seen of the enthusiasm of this meeting
he could tell the Londoners that they favourably
compared with their country brethren. The meet-
ing need not now discuss the borough franchise—
not, at least, so far as related to England and Scot-
land, for the household suffrage and the lodger
clause were generally satisfactory to the whole com-
munity. (Hear.) But he trusted the county fran-
chise would next be dealt with, for, if the money
qualification was not needed for the boroughs it was
no more necessary for the counties. (Cheers.)
With respect to the question which the meeting was
more directly called upon to discuss—the question
of arrangement of seats—there was a universal
feeling that great injustice had been done on this
embarrassing question at every turn. (Hear, hear.)
Now, whatever there had been of beneficent legisla-
tion, that legislation had found its chief support in
large populations, and if these large populations had
been anything like adequately represented in the
House of Commons, the legislation so much required
would have been completed in one half the time.
(Cheers.) Mr. Disraeli and his friends endeavoured
to confuse the question by saying that the boroughs
had the larger representation. But this was not a
question of county against town, but it was a ques-
tion of large constituencies against small constituen-
cies. (Cheers.) In America large territories were
represented in Congress by members who had a
voice, but no vote, and just as the wilderness was
treated in America so the large towns of England
were treated. The power was given to villages
where cattle were to be found, and not men. (Hear.)
This state of things did not exist because our Legis-
lature knew no better, but because they had party
and not national objects in view. (Cheers.) If
this bill Should pass with the present scheme of
redistribution of seats, he should be able to refer to
some 30 small constituencies of from 10,000 to
20,000 in each which would be represented in such
numbers that, if Manchester had the same propor-
tion of members to her population, she would be
represented in Parliament by 50 members. (Cheers.)
Then there would be ten villages so represented
that, if Manchester were represented in like propor-
tion to them, she would have 90 members in the
house. He spoke upon other points, and, after re-
ferring to the want of a Reform Bill for Ireland, he
resumed his seat amid loud cheers.
Mr. MASON JONES stated to the meeting that the
resolution which was to have been proposed third
would be proposed first, in order to give some
Irish members the opportunity of addressing the
meeting.
Mr. ISAAC HOLDEN, M.P., then proposed, in a
speech of great length, which was listened to
before its close with some impatience, a resolution
to the effect that the meeting deeply regretted
the Government refuse to redeem its pledge
respecting a Reform Bill for Ireland during the
present session of Parliament.
Mr. S. POPE seconded the motion in a speech
which was greatly applauded. He held that the
Government bill, if carried,would only be the signal
for a more combined agitation than had yet taken
place ; and he asserted, amid loud cheers, that the
people of England would never be contented until
Ireland had at least the same amount of Reform
which was being given to themselves.
The resolution was carried amid acclamation.
Sir J. GRAY, M.P., who was received with loud
cheers, then addressed the meeting on various points
connected with the Reform question, and declared
that the Irish Reform Bill would not have been
withdrawn had the Ministry known of the true
union between the English and Irish peoples, and
he asked to be allowed to bear the resolution just
passed to the Ministry, so that he might show, he
said, amid loud cheers, that the people of England
had the warmest feeling towards oppressed Ireland;
Mr. LAYARD, M.P., then came forward and was
received with cheering, which was again and again
renewed. He said he was unwilling to attend this
meeting for more than one reason. Mr. Mill—
(cheers)—had shown a devotion to the cause of
Reform that might well be followed by other metro-
politan members. One reason why he (Mr.
Layard) had abstained from taking part in these
meetings was that he felt in a different position to
Mr. Mill from being a member of the late Govern-
ment. He felt unwilling to give rise to any sup-
position that he was desirous of throwing impedi-
ments in the way of the Government, or, in other
words, to be factious. Whatever might have been
his opinions, what he had seen during the last few
days had convinced him that, unless the agitation
which had gone on of late were continued, and unless
the full pressure of public opinion were kept on the
Government, the bill which was now going through
Parliament would be in its main features and essen-
tially a restrictive bill, and not a bill of Reform, but
opposed to Reform. On the question of redistribution
of seats it was said that there was to be a compromise.
Now, he thought that the present anomalies were so
great that the country would not put up with them,
and be, for one, should advise the people not to take
any half measure, because, then, the weak-hearted
Liberals who had hitherto deserted their party would
say, " They have met you half-way, and it will be
as well to give this up." (Hear.) This question of
redistribution of seats was as vital a part of the Re-
form question—no less vital than the reduction of
the franchise itself, and the Government must be
forced to concede a full representation to the large
constituencies. (Cheers.) He was not in the secrets
of the Conservative party, but he believed that they
deeply regretted already rejecting the moderate pro-
position made a short time since on this question.
But he really pitied that party. (A laugh.) They
were rejecting one day a proposition which they were
ready to support the next, and proposing things
which they were readily brought to throw over. But
the party had been brought to begin a work which
they must continue. They rejected the moderate
but honest measure—(cheers)—of the late Govern-
ment, and he himself was received with those noises
which Mr. Gladstone called the " inarticulate ex-
pressions of opinion," noises which were like nothing
so much as the sounds issuing from the Zoological
Gardens. (Laughter.) If he had devised means
of revenge for this treatment he could not have de-
vised a more effective revenge than the appearance
of the country gentlemen in the house now, for they
were in the position of persons upon whom a peculiar
Japanese ceremony of twisting a sword into the
bowels was being performed, so much did they
writhe while engaged on this bill as in the utmost
agony and extremity. (Laughter and cheers.) Since
the passing of the Reform Act the most liberal mea-
sures had been brought forward, and it must be a re-
sult of this bill that the franchise must be further ex-
tendel so as to take in to a certain extent the agri-
cultural population. (Hear.) Ile then proceeded to
speak of Mr. Gladstone,at the mention of whose name
the whole meeting rose and cheered, and he bore testi-
mony to the earnestness, the consistency, and sincerity
of that gentleman, who, he said, was well entitled to
be looked to as leader of the Liberal party. He then
proceeded to say that the manner in which cer-
tain members of the House had acted in opposing
a measure of Reform one year, and then, in de-
ference to excitement out of doors, proposing one
the next, was sufficient to destroy the faith of the
country in the character of public men, for he
said the Ministry had only brought in this bill
when they found that they must give a Reform
Bill or abdicate. One thing must be said for Mr.
Disraeli, though he was acting to the country party
as if he had really sworn, as it was said he had,
to be their ruin for the discouragement they cast