The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-31 00:00:00

BEFOR3I MEETING A2' HULL.

On Monday evening, in compliance with a very
numerously-signed requisition, the Mayor (M.
Samuelson, Esq.) convened a public meeting at the
Town-hall, Hull, on the subject of ParliaMentary
Reform. There was a very large attendance. The
chair was taken by the Mayor, who was supported
by Mr. Clay., Mr. Harvey Lewis, and many other
gentlemen o local influence.

A number of gentlemen addressed the meeting,
and resolutions were adopted in favour of the ballot,
triennial parliaments, and a petition to Parliament
was adopted embodying the sentiments of the

meeting _ _.
Mr. CLAY, M.P., who was loudly called for, and
heartily applauded, then addressed the meeting as
follows :—Mr. Mayor and gentlemen. I congratu-
late you on having given one more contradiction to
the nonsense which is so freely spoken, so freely
written, to the effect that no one wants reform.
(Laughter, and hear, hear.) Are we here—wers the
men at Edinburgh, at Manchester, at Glasgow, and
'at Birmingham, were they at their meetings be-
cause they did not want reform ? The reason that is
given to us is because there is no longer the same
excitement, approaching to revolution, which pre-
ceded the original Reform Bill. Of course there is
not, because bad as things are, still we have nothing
like the absurdities, the atrocities to redress which
were redressed by hose who went before us. Am I
to refuse to believe a man is ill because he does not go
about the streets doubled up in anguish, and fright-
ening the neighbours by his shrieks ? There is
another way in which I have frequently guessed
whether a man or no was seriously ill. When I
have heard of a consultation among many doctors
at his house I have taken it for granted that there
was something serious the matter with him.
(Laughter.) Now, if there is danger in a multipli-
city of doctors, surely our poor constitution is at
present in a critical state. It is the object of eon-
.o, ultation by all the most experienced State physi-
-clans. We havefirst of all the old legitimate prac-
titioner, Dr. Russell—(laughter)—well acquainted
with the disease ; he has treated it, we are bound
to say; sagaciously, and with liberality. There is
also Dr. Palmtrston, who recognises the disease of
our constitution, and who promises us his remedy;
but emptOyed lain he never found time to
compound his drugs. (Laughter.) There is a younger
practitioner—Dr. Derby. (Laughter.) He for a
very long time denied the existence of the disease-
lie acknowledges and will prescribe for it now, but,
as is generally believed, on homoeopathic principles.
(Loud laughter.) And besides these we have the
great water cure doctor=John, Bright—(laughter)
—and his is the remedy which we are disposed
to think will be most efficacious, and likely
to work a radical cure. Now, to lay aside this
Metaphor. When we see that every leader of every
party in the country—those who have held office
,Jong since, those who look to it again, all find them-
selves equally obliged to introduce a reform bill,
can we suppose for a moment that it is not abso-
lutely required ? (Hear, hear.) For what is par- •
liamentary reform ? I take it to be the admission
to the governing power of the working classes, and
the extension of the political power of the people.
Now, it is not in human nature, much less is it in
Tory' nature, or in Whig nature, that the posses-
sors of power should part with it short of compul-
sion. (Hear.) By. compulsion Ido not mean physical
force—l mean that sort of compulsion which every
sagacious statesman must feel when he sees that
concession can no longer be withheld without
general dissatisfaction, and without danger to the
state. (Hear, hear.) Let Us hear no more, then,
of this frequently repeated cry that no one wants
reform. Not only do you want it, but you have
said so in very precise terms, in the different reso-
lutions which you have carried unanimously.
Your first resolution is as to an extension of the
franchise; and I congratulate the sagacity of this
meeting—l must congratulate the wisdom of
the people in Hull, that we have not had any
amendment moved in favour of that which-I know
has manysupporter's here2—of that which is a very
taking term—registered manhood suffrage—(hear)
—because I am convinced that in asking for it —it
is no.use now going into the argument that it is a
natural right--you'wonld have been asking for that
which you could not get ; that to which at present
all the governing classes are opposed, and for which
the inj.ddle classes are not ready. (Hear.) Again,
with regard to the resolution you have come toigs
to: the distribution of the. franchise,_youl.a.v6 Wen
-very wise in not asking for that which is
indeed
also a popular and taking phrase—" equal electoral