The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-31 00:00:00

REFORM MEETING AT MAIDSTONE.

Last night, at 8 u'eluek, r7numerouely attended public
meeting of the inhabitants of Maidstone was held at ea::
Town-hall (by permission of the Mayor), to take into con-
sideration the question of Parliamentary Reform.
The chair was occupied by Mr. Potter, the chairman of
the local Reform Association, who commenced the pro-
ceedings by reading lettora from tho two memb:rs for the
' borough (Messrs. Lerrand Whatman), apologising for un-
avoidable absence, and stating that it was well known they
were strong supporters of a largo extension of the fran-
chise and the vote by ballot. They thought it advisable
to wait until it was ascertained what would be the policy
of the present Ministry with regard to the Reform ques-
tion, and then to confer with their constituents on the
subject. The chairman observed that the large attendance
of the working classes proved that they felt a deep interest
in the question of Reform, and that the men of Kent wero
determined to assist the agitation for the enfranchisement
of those masses of the people who were now unjustly de-
prived of their political rights, and were to all intents and
purposes political helots. He fully agreed with their great
leader Mr. Bright that Lord Palmerston had been for many
years the great obstacle in the way of Reform; but that
was no longer the case, and it was the fault of the people
themselves if a just settlement of the question was not soon
effected. Ho did not believe they could expect anything
in the shape of a fair and honest Reform Bill from the pre-
sent Ministry, as the old Tory spirit was still rampant ;
but the people must show that they were determined to be
deceived and cajoled upon the subject no longer.
Mr. WELLS moved the first resolution—" That in the
opinion of this meeting no Reform Bill will meet the re-
quirements of the people unless it includes registered man-
hood suffrage and the vote by ballot•" The most disgrace-
ful slanders had been cast upon the working classes by
members of the House of Commons, some of whom claimed
to belong to the Liberal party. The election committees
fully proved the fact that venality was by no means con-
fined to the working classes, for in some of the boroughs
the cases of bribery were nearly all confined to the middle
and upper classes of electors. It was a shame and dis-
grace to the nation that the working classes, who were
especially interested in a state of peace and good' order,
and had, in fact, every stake in the well-being of the
country, should ho virtually unrepresented, whilst capital
and broad acres had more than a fair share of representa-
tion in the House of Commons.
The Rev. R. E. B. MACLELLAN (Unitarian), in seconding
the resolution, observed that the same principle for which
the Americans fought and severed their connection with
England was still true, that taxation without representa-
tion is unjust and tyrannical. He had always been con-
vinced that every man who paid taxes should have a voice
in the making of those laws which he was called upon to
obey. Since the Reform Act of 1832 the working classes
had vastly improved in point of education and intelligence,
by means especially of cheap literature—that mighty
agency the cheap newspaper—and by the establishment
of the penny postage, which had induced thousands to
learn to write, in older to be able to communicate with
their friends. He maintained that the am unt of sound
political knowledge amongst the working classes was
equal, if not superior, to that of any other class. Was it
the working classes that, passed the infamous tax upon
corn, to raise the rent-roll of the landlord at the expense
of the people's bread ? No ! It. was well known that this
monstrous injustice was perpetrated by educated legisla-
tors, whom it took a long series of years to teach that they
had all along been labouring under a delusion. Mr. Lowe
might talk upon the venality of the working classes, but if
some of them committed the sin of receiving bribes, what
could be said of the base, wretched hypocrisy of those
who tempted a poor man with money and then turned
round and denounced the immorality of the class they had
done their best to demoralise? After replying to various
objections urged against manhood suffrage, the speaker
called upon the middle classes to render their aid in sup-
port of the movement. The middle class obtained their
present extent of political power by the aid of the working
classes in 1832, and there was an implied covenant that
they would assist the working classes to obtain their fair
share of representation, and they were bound by every
principle of gratitude and honesty to redeem their pro-

Mr. MANTLE, who attended as a deputation from the
London Reform League, addressed the meeting at some
length, and the resolution having been unanimously
adopted, a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proceedings.

REDUCTION OF WAGES AT THE MONDIOUTHSHIRE
IRONWORKS. —A mouth's notice bas been posted up at the
principal ironworks of Monmouthshire, and the same will
terminate at the end of February. In the other iron pro-
ducing districts of South Wales a reduction of 10 per cent.
has already been carried out without opposition, but as the
Monmouthshire ironmasters did not give notice at the same
time, the hands were beginning to hope that such an im-
provement would be experienced in the demand for iron as
the New Year advanced as to render a reduction unneces-
sary. This expectation, however, has not been realised,
dulness prevails in every branch of trade, and it is with
difficulty sufficient orders are secured to keep the works
partly employed. Under these circumstances the em-
ployers considered they had no alternative but to give
notice of a drop of 10 per cent., and the reduced scale will
come into effect at the end of February.

Edward M'Closkey and Francis Mullan, who are
described as the leaders ef the Belfast Fenians, have been
arrested in Dublin.