The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-03 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—The House of Commons has returned to
the discussion of the Reform Bill full of good sense
and good temper. Last night the Committee re-
sumed its labours and, after a short and business-
like debate, it decided, by an overwhelming majority,
against the condition of 'ti to years' residence to •
which it was proposed to subject householders in-
habiting houses below £lO in annual value. Mr.
Ayrton, as has been announced, moved the amend-
ment reducing the term of residence from two years
to one, instead of Mr. Gladstone, who had aban-
doned it with his other proposals, and he found 278
supporters against 197 who voted with the Govern-
ment. This decisive majority must compel the
adoption of the change, even if Mr. Disraeli had
intended to do more than test the feeling of the Com-
mittee upon the question by submitting it to a formal
vote. lie moved, indeed, that the chairman report
progress immediately after the division was taken,
on the ground that it was necessary to consult his
colleagues uFon it, and Mr. Gladstone admitted the
propriety of this proceeding ; hilt we cannot suppose
there will be any hesitation in accepting the clearly
expressed opinion of Parliament. One of the
gravest blots in the Ministerial scheme has been
thus easily removed, and the practical ability and
1 honesty of the house of Commons have been once
more vim heated. It can no longer be denied that
the Committee of the House is thoroughly in ac-
-1 cord with the people in treating the Government
Bill as a substantial measure of Reform to be
amended in details, but as a whole worthy of
acceptance. The passionate invectives of provin-
cial oratory and the exaggerated resentment of
disappointed opponents, have alike failed to make
llouse or country swerve from their purpose to
bring Reform to a legislative settlement this year.
' The Easter recess has done much good in stilling
the angry feelings engendered by the critical Divi-
sion which immediately preceded it. We can now
afford to forget the false issues raised in the
earlier part of the session. Mr. Bass last night
defended himself with great effect from the asper-
sions cast upon those who declined to follow
Mr. Gladstone three weeks since ; but he must by
this time be well aware that the victory has been so
completely with himself and those who went with
him that they may without scruple disregard the
angry epithets lavished upon them. Outside the
world of officials and of agitators every one is now
persuaded that the proper plan of dealing with the
Government scheme is by alterations of detail like
that carried last night. Lord Grosvenor began the
practical work of yesterday by withdrawing his
proposal of a £5 rating limit, and he took occasion
at the same time to repudiate the wonderful charge
of collusion with the Government which Mr. Stans-
feld had brought against him at Halifax, and on
which we took occasion to comment at the time as
a singular manifestation of suspicion and credulity.
The discussion on the term of residence to be re-
quired of the borough voters to be enfranchised by
the bill thus came on at once, and it may be ad-
mitted that the Government showed some discretion
in the weakness of the defence they made for their
two years' limit. Sir J. PAKINGTON—ready as is
, his wont to encounter any difficulty—argued the
I case of the additional 12 months ; but his manner
was that of an advocate speaking for another rather
than that of a man upholding his own sentiments.
Indeed, he acknowledged that the question was one
open to discussion, and avowed, for his own part,
regret that it was impossible to concede at once the
modification demanded. This language was in per-
fect accord with the tone adopted by Lord Derby
in addressing the deputation which met him at
Downing-street in the beginning of the week, and
may justify a regret that the Ministry had ever been
persuaded to recommend a residence of two years
as a qualification for the voters to be admitted
by their bill. It is plain that a distinction in
the term of residence of different classes of voters
ought not to be adopted without the gravest reasons
for its justification. A variation of this kind is in
the highest degree invidious, and in practice would
produce constant resentment. Under any circum-
stances it would be obnoxious to criticism, but when
it is proposed to make it dependent upon whether
a voter lives in a house above or below the value of
£lO it is manifestly untenable. The suggestion i
s
inconsistent with the main principle of the Minis-
terial Bill, since it sets up a "bard and fast" line
in its worst form, and no ane ventures to say that
the poorer householder requires an additional
twelvemonths' purgation before he can be admitted
into the ranks of voters who inhabit houses of a
pound or two higher value. Sir Roundell Palmer
made an unanswerable demand when he asked for a
justification of the attempt to draw au invidious
line of distinction between old and new voters.
We believe the effect of this ill-considered proposal
would have been found comparatively trifling had
it been adopted. Mr. Bright said with great justice
that it would form a restriction on the quantity of
the voters admitted to the Register without per-
ceptilly affecting their quality. It seems probable,
however, that Mr. Bright exaggerated the numbers
who would be denied the privilege of voting by the
restriction of second year's residence. lie assumed
the condition of two years' residence would be
just double that of the twelvemonths' limit; and
that as the 1,800 ten pound householders of Roch-
' dale are reduced to 1,500 voters by the necessity of
a year's residence, they would fall to 1,200 if two
years were required. In truth, however, householders
of migratory habits are a peculiar class, whose tenure
of residence is to be reckoned by months, and the
number of persons who have inhabited the same
dwelling between one and two years would beprac-
tically found much less than those who have notot
in one place for a single year. We
with-
out some evidence upon the subject.dParliamentary •
boroughs where the municipal an
limits are coincident —where ;.we
n --compare
are
eTnhere are
reaidence
the effect of the condition of two yam that of a
elector—and the
necessary for the Municipal Franchise with
year required of Parliamentary
t of the strongest
year shows that the e
The strongest
al of the Government
year is on the whole
argument against the pro
numbers off the Re-
was that it would keep
unimportecnt.
as to the course the
We can entertain no doubtwith
gister, but that it wouldbare
reference to last
Government will followA vgeicatiousand irritating.
trton,ons'a
night's division. Mr.
ed Ys a practical matter. It
amendment was
dealt with one of those q ezbi upon which Mr.
ed the wish of the Go-
moved, and was accept,
Disraeli has always exp
mss
accordance with the opinion of
vernment to act in acrcb
had spoken of it as open
the house. L Ds y
ier John Pakington yesterday
to discussion, end
resolution of the Ministry to a desire to
limited the f t
he Committee by a divi-
test the opinion o
ben taken, its re-
• The division has c
mon. and there is only one
suit is unequivocal,
follow.
When the C
consequence which canof
the
on-
inittee resumes the discussion. bill, the limit
of 12 calendar months will be inserted instead of
the two years' residence, which has been struck out,
and the next amendment will come on for conside-
ration. There is, indeed, much to be done, and,
though the progress of the bill has been so for satis-
factory, there is little time to spare. Th
e notice
book is still crowded with amendments, which
at first sight inspire some doubt as to the
may
ie possibi-
lity of carrying the bill through coi • nmittee in the
limited number of nights remaining at the disposal
of the Government. Many of
will disappear as Lord G the amendments
rosvenor's disappeared,
and others stand or fall together, so that a discus-
sion of one involves the fate of many. We look
upon the discussion of last night—at once brief
and exhaustive--as an earnest of the future temper
of the committee, and as a promise of that unison
of feeling between the Government and Parliament
which makes a
legislative
settlement of Reform a
matter of reasonable •
certainty.