The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-27 00:00:00

NATIONAL REFORM UNION.

A public meeting called by this association was
held on Saturday night at St. James's Hall ; Mr.
S. Morley in the chair. Among the gentlemen pre-
sent on the platform were Mr. Mill, M.P. ; Mr.
Gilpin, DLP. ; Mr. Deputy Reed, Mr. J. Torr, Mr.
Partridge, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Williams, Colonel
Dickson, Mr. Probyn, Dr. Tomkins, and Mr.
Brooke. The hall was densely crowded. Letters
of apology were read from Mr. Bazley, M.P., and
Mr. Schofield, M.P., and other members.
The CHAIRMAN, in commencing the business,
said the meeting had been called before the decision
of the Government with respect to Mr. Hodgkin-
son's amendment was known. The council had no
idea that men, who, a few short months ago, were
full of dismal apprehensions of the result of the ad-
mission of 200,000 to the franchise, would be will-
ing, without a word of debate or reason for so great
a change of opinion, to admit of the opening of the
gates to nearly a million. (Hear, hear.) When
this announcement was made the council took
counsel as to whether the meeting should be held,
and he was glad that the decision had been in favour
of hiding the meeting. He was most anxious
that the people should not after all be cheated.
(Hear.) In conclusion, lie referred in terms of
eulogism to the great friend of reform, Mr. Bright,
and urged upon the meeting the importance of the
saying of the hon. member. " Party having failed
let us try the people." (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GILPIN, M.P., moved the first resolution—
" That this meeting congratulates the Reformers of
the country upon the concessions wrung from the
Government in favour of the establishment of
household suffrage, and on the improved position of
the reform question." The hon. 'gentleman, in
speaking of the position of the great bulk of the
Liberal party, said—Let those who have separated
themselves explain their own conduct. We
have demanded that there should be a
plain and unmistakable measure of re-
form, equally open for the acceptance of all.
(Cheers.) We will not have difficulties thrown in
the way of the poor while they are swept out of the
path of the rich. We will stand on one level, and
there we will stand until all are put upon an equality.
The next point to which I have to refer is the county
franchise. A great many of you may, perhaps, ask
why we had that division the other night. (Hear.)
It was a most important division, involving a great
point, and we must stick to it. (Cheers.) I confess
that I would rather throw out the bill altogether
than leave the question unsettled. We demand that
while the franchise shall be practically extended
every scrap of land for which a vote is claimed shall
have a dwelling-house upon it. (Cheers.) Cannot
you fancy the county squires hugging each other in
a state of alarm, saying to each other, " `5
are
we to do ? We cannot cut up a piece of 500 acres
for the manufacture of votes if we are to have a
dwelling-house upon each piece of it." Carrying
the bill without some such provision would be to
carry a clause for the creation of faggot votes, and
we will have nothing of the kind if we can help it.
(Cheers.)
Mr. C. REID seconded the resolution, and admired
the plain and straightforward propositions which it
contained, and especially so the words the " conces-
sions wrung from the Government."
Mr. MILL, M.P., who was warmly cheered, said
—Brother and sister Reformers —(a laugh)—since
I had the satisfaction last week of looking upon you
from this platform, upon you and other Reformers,
equally numerous and equally honest, many things
have happened. At the beginning of the week it
really seemed as if the greatest of the objects for
which you are agitating had actually been attained.
It secured as if we had got hosehold suffrage, real,
honest household suffrage, and that there was very
little for us to do but to sit down and congratulate
one another. It is very fortunate that you did
not think so, and that you stood to your guns, for
here is our friend the compound householder up
again and as strong as ever. We have the whole
battle to fight over again from the beginning. We
hope that we shall fight it out successfully, and we
shall have you to thank for it. I will explain how
this matter stands. It is not we who object to the