The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-01 00:00:00

LEEDS.

Last night a very large meeting of Liberals of all
shades took place in the Town-hall, Leeds, to con-
sider the Government Reform plan.
Alderman TATHAM moved a resolution strongly
disapproving the delay caused by the course Govern-
ment had pursued, declaring Mr. Disraeli's scheme
unsatisfactory as to the redistribution, inadequate
as to the occupation franchise, and highly objection-
able as to the fancy franchises, which would afford
facilities for fictitious voting.

Mr. T. ALLEN, insurance agent, seconded the re-
solution.

Mr. BAINES, M.P., supported it, and said he
could not speak with confidence as to the future,
which depended on what should be done with the bill.
Nobody had confidence in it or the Government,
which did not know its own mind. The unhappy
choice of the Government was either to bring in a
good bill and split up their party, or a bad bill and
be forthwith turned out. But what would the Libe-
ral party do? Some wished to keep its authors in
office and compel them to make it what they liked.
But Mr. Bright said, "I distrust the Tories for this
work. I summon the Liberals back to power to com-
plete their own work." (Cheers.) He said that the
proper place for the Liberal party, who were a ma-
jority, was on the Treasury benches. He (Mr.
Baines) stood as independent as Mr. Bright, and
said the same thing. (Cheers.) To amend, liberalise,
and popularise the Constitution should not be left
to the open enemies. But there were Liberals in the
House of Commons—he could not say how many—
who would be glad to see Reform settled with the
smallest concession to the people's demand. (Cries
of " Shame.") But he (Mr. Baines) turned to the
people. It was by such meetings as this, of those
who valued the justice of their cause and its wisdom,
and appreciated the necessity for carrying it to a suc-
cessful completion, that they must look for a larger,
a more generous admission within the pale of the
English Constitution of multitudes of those who would
be its strongest and most loyal defenders. Therefore
he was for a generous and a bold policy. (Cheers.)
In conclusion he reiterated the words of the
great Edmund Burke in reference to the Ame-
rican War of Independence,—" Tell me how you
are to govern a people who think they ought
to be free." If that with wisdom could be
said of the three millions of men who then lived
across the Atlantic, with how much more weight
might the same question be asked concerning the
thirty millions of English now uneufrauchised ?
(Loud cheers.)

The foregoing and other resolutions were adopted,
and the meeting concluded most satisfactorily.

BRADFORD.

On Wednesday evening the following resolution
was passed by the committee of the Bradford Re-
form Union : ^<< Considering that there are in this
country about five millions of adult males who have
no voice in the election of representatives of Par-
liament ; that the measure of Reform sketched by
Mr. Disraeli will enfranchise about 418,000, of
whom, at the utmost, no more than 150,000 will be
working men ; that the proposed redistribution of
scats is wholly inadequate to redress the existing
anomalies in the representation—this committee is
of opinion that the Reform scheme of the present
Government is wholly unworthy the serious consi-
deration of any section of Reformers, expresses its
indignation that any Government should presume
to trifle with the just claims and desires of the
people, and pledges itself to resist the scheme to
the utmost ; and that whether it be passed or not,
this committee will not for a moment relax its
agitation for a substantial and honest measure.
This committee is further of opinion that no bill that
does not give a much more liberal extension of the
suffrage than the bill of last Session will be satis-
factory to the people. That for the purpose of more
effectually carrying on the agitation, the members
of this committee will double their subscriptions to
this association, and will invite the whole body of
members to adopt the resolution at the annual
meeting on Monday next."