The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-03 00:00:00

always make the best of things, and is quite equal
to any emergency. This was never more fully
proved than yesterday afternoon when he met the
deputation from the Reform League. The right
hon. gentleman was accompanied by Lord STANLEY,
who represented Lord DERBY, who was unfortu-
nately absent from indisposition. A large number
were present, and for the most part the proceedings
were conducted in a very orderly manner.

Mr. BEALES, as President of the Council of the
League, made the first speech, which was much
more moderate than his former discourses, and,
therefore, much more effective. He regretted the
absence of the Premier, and said that the reason
why they had sought this interview was on account
of the observations made the other night by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Com-
They were to the effect that the Govern-
ment was prepared to bring in a bill in a spirit of
perfect sincerity, and that the best interests of the
country required an immediate settlement of the
question ; how the deputation desired to tell the
right hon. gentleman the points in which they con-
sidered the bill before the house to be deficient, so
deficient, in fact, that even the importance of
settling the question could not sanction its passing
in its present form. On the whole, the objections
raised were not so considerable in number or con-
sequence as might have been expected; and, indeed,
it might be questioned if a good deal of this vir-
tuous indignation has not been got up for the pur-
pose of saying something, so that those who have
so long been heroes to themselves and others may
not appear as nonentities on a great occasion like
the present. At any rate we are glad to see that
Mr. BEALES and his friends can be more self-

mons.

possessed in their demeanour than many might
suppose ; and whether or not the atmosphere of
Downing-street exercised a restraining influence on
their spirits the result was satisfactory. Mr.
BEALES expressed great astonishment at the
statement which had been made as to
the Government receiving communications from
scores and scores of working men of all classes as
to the approval with which they viewed the pro-
posed Reform Bill. These opinions, he said, could
not represent the opinions of the people, as the
ratepaying and residential conditions attached
to the household suffrage were ebjectionable.
The deputation believed that these communica-
tions, of which mention had been made, merely
represented the views of select coteries. It is
amusing to notice how people can in reality
describe themselves while thinking to depict others,
for if any one were to tell Mr. BEALES that his very
extreme opinions could only please a section of the
community, how amazed he would be ; and
yet who can say that he is the exponent of the
majority of the working classes? lie told the
Chancellor of the Exchequer that those provi-
sions of the bill were loudly and generally
condemned. Had he confined his remarks to
the first description he would have been
nearer the mark, but noise does not always
represent force of argument or depth of thought,
and the opinions of those who keep quiet may have
more weight and influence in the long run than the
clamour of those who say no to everything for the
sake of showing their independence and proving
their superior wisdom. The " fancy franchises" in
the Bill could not be accepted by the League in
place of more solid and substantial advantages; but,
continued the speaker, still less would they be wel-
come in place of the " lodger franchise," which
would render the whole of them unnecessary.
Mr. BEALES expressed a hope that the
Chancellor of the Exchequer would not give up a
plan he had been the first to propose, and which
promised to afford universal satisfaction. Mr.
DISRAELI ought to feel complimented to know that
his suggestion has been so successful a one ; and it
is some satisfaction to find that on this matter, on
which such great stress is laid by the Reform
League, there is not likely to be much difference of
opinion, because the Chancellor of the Exchequer
has signified that the Government have no unwil-
lingness to it.

Mr. MANTLE, a working man, made a very
eloquent speech, in which he expressed his views,
and called upon the Government to consult their
own reputation and the interests of the country by
agreeing to the demands of the people. "If you
do us justice, you will do yourselves justice,
you will do your Sovereign justice, and history will
do you justice."

After some more observations had been made,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a brief but
most effective reply to the various Breakers. He
declared that they had listened with the greatest
possible attention and interest to all the speeches
which had been made, and they had fully appre-
ciated their ability. The conclusion to which the
right hon. gentleman came was, that the speakcis
proposed " extreme opinions ;" and he went on to
say that others in the country professed extreme
opinions also, which were of a totally different
nature. We think that Mr. DISRAELI SRC-
ceeded admirably in speaking his mind, and
defending the measures of the Government,
while he offended no prejudices and made no com-
plaints of the manner in which the said measure was
treated. The moral that be drew.from these two
opinions being represented was, that it was most
advisable for " mutual forbearance, mutual con-
cssion, mutual conciliation, and mutual compro
raise" to be exhibited. if the members of the
Reform League took this to heart, it would be a
very good thing, for, even while Mr. DISRAELI
was speaking, they gave evidence of their im-
patience. They called out "No " to his remark
that the Bill was based on popular principles, to
which he very properly replied that a deputation of
the other side of opinions would say " Yes" to such
a remark, and they might be sure that it was not
the way to arrive at a solution of difficulties to say
" Yes, yes," or " No, no." Exception was also
taken to some observations of the right hon. gentle.
man as to the patriotic sentiments of the House
of Commons, of which assembly he had had thirty
years' experience. To this he retorted that they
would not be pleased if the House of Commons
were to listen to remarks he made on their League,
and then to give murmurs of disapprobation.
" Depend upon it," said he, " when there is a better
understanding between the House of Commons and
assemblies like the present, these murmurs of disap-
probation will cease." So far as the real object of
the interview concerned the Reform measure, Mr.
DISRAELI said that he believed no "Bill could be
suffered to pass through the House without much
criticism, much alteration, and, he believed, much
improvement."

Lord STANLEY having made a few appropriate
observations, Mr. BEALEs thanked the noble lord
and the right hon. gentleman for their courtesy, and
so far we may consider the interview to have been
satisfactory. We think that some impression may
have been made upon the deputation by the words
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and we think
he spoke out very fairly on the whole. He may not
have afforded so much satitfaction to Mr. GLAD-
STONE
and his supporters, because he said two or
three times that
it was not likely any measure '
could pass through the ordeal of Parliamentary cri-
ticism without alteration and without improvement,
and this is the right
way of comijering the mat-