The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-01 00:00:00

the question for any length of time without th
lodger franchise.
Mr. GLADSTONE said be had hopes that such a
settlement would be come to as would close the

question for a generation as before. But it was
hoped that whatever settlement was come to would
lead to an extension of the constituency from the

enlarging power of the franchise which he hoped
would be granted. (Hear, hear.) He now had to

speak to the deputation upon another question—
that of holding a demonstration or Reform meeting
on Good Friday. He had communicated with several
friends on this subject, namely, with the Earl of

Shaftesbury, the lion. William Cowper, the Hon.
Arthur Kinnaird, and with Mr. Stansfeld, and they

all agreed that it would be unwise to hold such a
demonstration or meeting on such a day as that.
He bad requested Lord Shaftesbury, Mr. Kinnaird,
and Mr. Cowper to be present, and as they were
now in the house he would request their attendance
in the room.

The Earl of Shafkabury, the Hon. W. Cowper,
and the Hon. A. Kinnaird, were accordingly in-
troduced, and

Mr. GLADSTONE, having explained that an im-
portant misprint had occurred in the letter which
he had forwarded to Mr. Howell, and in which
he had stated that he should address them on the
subject, and which had been published in the public
papers, it having been printed as the proposed" place"
of meeting, instead of "plan," then said that it had
become known to him from various quarters that if
there were a great assemblage or demonstration on
Good Friday such as had been intended with refer-
ence to the subject of reform, a great deal of offence
would arise, and thinking that the desire of all
friends of reform should be to avoid giving such
offence, especially at such a conjuncture, he had
thought that if they could do so even by waiving
what they considered a perfect right, it would be
wise for them to choose some other day than Good
Friday for the purpose. The right hon. gentleman
further said, "I do not wish at all to enter into any
question of a theological or religious character, or to
lay it before you as an obligation, but rather as an
act which lamquite confident would be most favour-
ably interpreted, and would do a great deal towards
reconciling those who are estranged, and towards
preventing any additional estrangement, because it
is most desirable that with this question of reform
there should not be mixed up any elements of dis-
cord where it can be avoided. Accordingly, on my

own part—and it is the opinion of my hon. friends
—I would very earnestly, very respectfully, and
with many apologies—because it is an interference
which I have no right to attempt, and which I can
only excuse by the intention—suggest that, having
regard to the feeling I have stated which exists in
many quarters, and which is entitled to much re-
spect, it would be a wise plan to alter that design
and fix some other day."
Mr. BEALES asked if the objection was raised to
the proposed day only ?
Mr. GLADSTONE said he should limit his objection
to the day.
Mr. BEALES then explained that it bad been pro-
posed to have a " promenade demonstration." -in.
Hyde Park on Good Friday, and opinions were
divided as to whether the day should be Good Fri-
day or Easter Monday. He was against Good
Friday himself being the day, as he thought that
nothing should be done to hurt the religious views
of the community. (Hear.) But there happened
to be a demonstration at Birmingham on Easter
Monday, and many of the League wished to attend
that. But as this objection had been made, and so
handsomely made, he would at once say that an-
other day should be selected.
After a few words from the Earl of SHAFTESBURY,
who stated that he concurred in what had fallen
from Mr. Gladstone,
Mr. BRADLAUGH said that, speaking individually,
he considered that it was necessary to remember
that if the working men held demonstrations ou
other occasions it would be at a pecuniary loss to
themselves. But
Mr. BEALES said that he felt certain the deputa-
tion would not gainsay the course he had stated
should be adopted ; he should feel very sorry if all
his friends of the League did not give up the point.
The deputation having thanked the right lion.
gentleman for his courtesy then withdrew, it being
understood that the proposed meeting should not
take place on Good Friday.

Reconstruction—Temper of the South and

its Friends.

The opinion of the South on Reconstruction has
been carefully gathered from its press, and is thus
given by the Springfield Republican:—
The public question of present interest is, will
the South reconstruct under the Sherman bill ?
The chances seems to us to favour the hope that they
will. It is not a little curious that, of the two
opposing organs of opinion in the metropolis, the
Democratic World is labouring earnestly to persuade
the South so to reconstruct, and the Republican
Tribune assumes it to be already settled that it will
not do so, and seems to rather rejoice in that deci-
sion. Judge Comstock, of Syracuse, has written
an able letter advising the South to stand aloof and
take no• action at all. But the World contends
that this is bad advice, because "the negro suffrage
monster is let loose among them, and no choice is
left but to manage it or to be devoured by it."
Orestes A. Brownson has also given his opinion of
the Reconstruction Bill. His general conclusion is :
" There is no people in any of those States worth
naming after disfranchising the people who made
and carried on the rebellion. Hence I hold that if
these States are to be reconstructed at all, it
must be with that very people as the political
people of the State. If you do not so recon-
struct them, they will be able to stand only as
upheld by the general Government, as sus-
tained by military force, which will tend to
weaken, not to strengthen, the Union, and end
in revolutionising our whole American system of
government. * * * But with all these objec-
tions lam glad the measure has been adopted. It
might have been far worse. Besides the evils it in-
volves are temporary, and not beyond repair. It
does hold out a prospect of a return of the rebel
States, and the resumption of their representation
in Congress." We quote some further indications
from the Southern press of the first impression
made by the bill :—" Can the President, consistently
with his oath of office, execute this measure ? We
confess we do not see how he can. If he can he
could with the same consistency execute a measure
formally abolishing the Constitution, and conferring
upon him absolute power over the life, liberty, and
property of every citizen in the Republic. The
South can afford to submit to military rule ; she
can afford to submit even to the rule of negroes and
loyal' whites sustained by military rule; but, in
our judgment, she cannot afford to consent to the
one or the other. If she stands firm, the Northern
people, to save themselves, will speedily rescue her ;
if she falls, sinking into the state of voluntary sub-
mission to Radical despotism, there will be no resur-
rection for herself and no salvation for the North,
unless amid the shock and roar of civil strife. Such,
at least, is our deep-felt conviction."—Louisville
JoUrnal.

Unless the people of the South will surrender
every political tight, and give their country up to
the rule of the negroes, and at the same time pro-
scribe all of those who have heretofore been
their leaders in the forum and in the field, their
property is to be taken from them and divided
among negroes and Feleral soldiers. The South
will be justified in looking for any iniquity
which malice can invent and the thirst for spoils
can stimulate to be perpetrated upon them, and
may not hope to conciliate their ungenerous and
sordid oppressors by giving their saction to their
despotic and extra constitutional conditions and
terms. Let them, therefore, stand firm, submitting
to what they cannot help, but not aiding in any way
in dishonouring themselves or in bedaubing their
fair escutcheon.—Louisville Courier.

We will not insult the people of Georgia by ask-
ing them to open their mouths and take into their
bowels the abomination contained in the last pill
compounded by the political quacks at Washington.
If - our people were mean enough to bid for repre-
sentation on such debasing conditions, they have no
guarantee that additional degrading terms will not