The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-12 00:00:00

THE StLN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 12, 1867

plexed it of late. We hope, then, that to-morrow Mr. WHITBREAD, in a few terse and temperate senti-
all virtual difficulty concerning the passing ments, expressed more accurately the sentiments of
of the Government measure will be over, and that genuine reformers, within and without the House.
the work after Easter will be to consolidate and He declared himself to be one of theso who had clung
improve its features, and no more of these vexatious to the hope that the present Government might
stoppages occur. Mr. GLADSTONE'S speech, last settle the question for two reasons : one being that
night, was a complete failure, though he evidently having themselves failed in dealing with the
question, he felt that his own party were bound to
meant to be very impressive. It was quite a need-
give the opposite side the fullest trial; to be ready,
less piece of information on the part of the right
hon, gentleman to tell the House that the para- in short, to sacrifice everything but great points of
principle. The second reason which Mr. WHlT-
secondary but still important objects were to pass mount object was a good Reform Bill, and the
BREAD declared made him anxious for the imme-
that Reform Bill during the present year, and by diate settlement of the question was the existence
the aid of the present Government. lie was not, of differences in the Liberal party, which made it
however, prepared," he said, "to sacrifice the more probable that a really liberal measure could
"
paramount object to those of secondary importance." be obtained from the Conservatives. Mr. WHIT-
We all know that by this time it is to be presumed, BREAD also strongly opposed the adjournment of
but perhaps few were prepared for the extreme the debate, and, like the member for Bir-
length to which the right hon. gentleman went in mingham, he urged the advisability of
the course of his excited speech, beginning by de- putting the whole case fairly before the
cluing that a " vital mistake" would be committed country prior to the recess, in order that public
if they hastily pieced together the clauses of a feeling might express itself clearly upon the most
Reform Bill, and sent forth to the country that important points. Mr. DISRAELI, after an animated
which could lead only to fiercer agitation, and discussion, decided, t.s he could hardly have avoided
concluding by affirming that the present pro- doing, in favour of immediate progress, and we
visions of the bill respecting the franchise were hope that the experience of last evening will have
most odious, and would inflict a wrong on a portion convinced all malcontents how deep and general is
of the community, " which wrong will inevitably the conviction of the necessity of earnest progress,
be avenged on the community at large in the shape how strongly men of all opinions and parties are
of trouble, strife, and controversy, and in the shape opposed to further trifling with a question daily

of renewed and continued agitation—agitation
which will begin from the day which sees such a law
placed in the Statute Book, and never cease until
the last vestige of senseless legislation becomes a
rc]ic of the past." It is really quite ridiculous for
a man of Mr. GLADSTONE'S time, abilities, and high
position to indulge in such a hyperbolical strain, and
to use language which would be more suitable to a
platform orator than a speaker in the House of
Commons.

We consider it a sure proof that the right hon.
gentleman's arguments are bad, when he is obliged
to have recourse to the force of epithets, and to ex-
change sarcasm for denunciations. There was really
nothing new in his speech, and no new light thrown
on the subject ; it was perfectly evident to all parties
that his object was to substitute a bill of his own
for that of- his opponents, in the form
of his insidious amendments. No particular
encouragement was given by the House to the right
hon. gentleman, and with the exception of Lord
CRANBORNE, who announced his adhesion to the
amendments, he made no convert worthy of com-
ment. Doubtless the noble lord's declaration took
no one by surprise, as he has been civilly abusive of
the Ministry ever since he ceased to honour the
Cabinet by his presence and add to it by his wis-

dom. Mr. ROEBUCK will resume the adjourned
debate to-night, and we expect that he will make a
brilliant speech that no doubt will represent
the opinions of a number of the Opposition.
It is time, indeed, that a real Liberal should speak
his mind on this subject, and show the great im-
portance of aiming at a speedy settlement. With
all the bombast and terrorism of which he was

capable Mr. GLADSTONE laid down Lis law, but

we confess that he appeared very much in the un-

enviable position of the man who " could tall

spirits from the vasty deep," but could not make
them comply with his requests. All things taken
into consideration, the Government have met the
House more than half way in this matter of
settling the Reform Bill, and the manner
in which Mr. GLADSTONE has treated them has

been most unfair, as unfair. indeed as Lis conduct
on the question of reform itself has been false and

For the sake of its own reputation let Par-
ament to-night put a decisive stop to these un-
warrantable interruptions to the progress of a de-

ckle.

bate of great importance and interest, and teach
Mr. GLADSTONE in a manner he must comprehend,
that it is resolved to persevere until the work is

satisfactorily accomplished. We had hoped, in com-

mon with many others, that the worst was over, but

since a struggle is to be forced upon us, with brave

spirits and true hearts we may go on to the worst

growing in public importance.
There was one point of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer's speech in reference to this motion
which deserves attention. He distinctly repudiated
the charge brought against him by Mr. Os-
BORNE of having refused to listen to any amend-
ment. Such a charge is indeed contradicted, not
only by the words of the Leader of the House,
but by the whole conduct of the Government from
the beginning of the Session. They have shown

before us, never doubting that the patriotism of

Parliament will separate with an unerring instinct

and right discernment the prejudices of faction
from the interests of a popular measure. Then the

Reform Bill of 1867 will be put into fair working

order, and we shall indeed have cause to congra-
tulate the Ministers upon having accomplished their
task to the satisfaction of the country and the credit

of their own reputations.

The discussions which last night followed upon
Lord GROSVENOR'S motion for the adjournment of
the House proved very clearly that there is not on
either side any disposition to postpone the Reform
Bill unnecessarily. The general anxiety to proceed
with the measure was unmistakeably shown on both
sides of the House, and it would not have been pos-
sible for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to have
misapprehended the feeling. Lord GROSVENOR,
indeed, said he understood there was a strong

feeling in favour of the postponement of the
debate until after the Easter holidays, but no
signs of such a sentiment were perceptible.
Lord ELCHO supported the motion on the
ground that a compromise was absolutely necessary
to the settlement of the question, and that compro-
mise could be better effected if the debate were
adjourned. But, as Arr. BRIGHT pertinently asked,
when they were all scattered homewards who was
to effect the compromise ? No doubt the noble lord
is substantially correct in saying that the settle-
ment of this question must be a matter of give and
take, imposed with more liberal public spirit
and less of party spirit ; but the hon. mem-
be

no obstinacy as to points of detail, no determina-
tion to retard legislation and provoke op-
position by a rigid adherence to crotchets.
The amendments of Mr. GLADSTONE, as Mr.
DISRAELI observed last night, and as every one
knew beforehand, are directed less to the improve-
ment of the Bill than to its overthrow, not to the
change of a clause or two, but the substitution of
another measure. No Government could agree to
this, but on minor points, which affect no principle,
such as the term of residence, the lodger franchise,
the compound householder, the Government has
pledged itself to listen to reason, and to show that
spirit of conciliation and compromise, without which
no really great
.and serviceable measure can be
carried into effect.

T for Birmingham said more truly that
whatever compromise was effected must be
done above-board in the full eye of the country.
Mr. GLADSTONE, who is most generally very
favourable to the progress of the Ministerial
measure, had the good sense to see that anything
which bore the opinion of needless delay Led hesita-
tion would have a bad effect upon the public mind.
" The question is," said the right hon. gentleman,
" whether an impression shall be conveyed to the
public of the country that this house is in earnest
as to Reform. If we were to rise and postpone
this discussion for three weeks or so, I am sure

It is with great satisfaction that the public will
learn that the Canada Railway Loan Bill has passed
without any difficulty through the Upper House,
notwithstanding the opposition which has been
made to it in certain quarters. The news will be
received with gratification by the colonists, who have
given ample evidence of their loyalty to the mother-
country, and of theivational spirit and energy. They
have been subjected to a severe and somewhat
unexpected trial by the mischief-working Fenians,
but so far from not having proved equal to the
emergency, the spirit and readiness of the Canadian
Volunteers was every where more than sufficient to
meet the sudden and comprehensive demands of the
authorities. Volunteers came from all parts of the
colony, and even from the States, coming sometimes
at great cost and inconvenience. The bill in
question, however, has nothing to do with mili-
tary objects, excepting so far •as the pro-
posed railway will be an immense advantage for
the conveyance of troops in case of war. The
Duke of CAMBRIDGE spoke strongly in favour of
the measure, which indeed met with little opposi-
tion, except from Lord LYVEDEN. We are heartily
glad that it has passed so promptly through its
concluding stages, for we are sure neither England
nor Canada will have reason to regret it.

The public will learn with satisfaction that the
Grand Jury have thrown out the bills against
Colonel NELSON and Mr. BRAND. This result is
what we anticipated yesterday, and is one satisfac-
tory to all but the infatuated members of the
faction. We really hope that by this time they
have been taught a lesson which they will not
forget, and that others who came after them
will abstain from intruding their vexatious notions
upon the public in so offensive a manner.
The course pursued by the Jamaica Committee has
been most unaccountable since the outset, and are
entirely opposed to the common sense of the people
of this country, as much as it was in opposition to
their feeling in the matter. The plaudits which
were awakened in Exeter Hall were, indeed, the
only marks of approval which they met with, and
the universal delight which attended the deci-
sion of the Shropshire Magistrates in the
case of Mr. EYRE, and the satisfaction which
prevailed in the Court yesterday when the
opinion of the grand jury was made known, suffi-
ciently attested the true feeling of the country in
the matter. We regret that some leading politicians
should have mixed themselves up in this matter, but
the best thing that could have happened for them
has been to fail as they have done. Now that the
fuss and excitement of this affair is over, people
may have more time to appreciate the manner
in which Mr. EYRE and his friends have been
treated by those who constituted themselves as
judges of the law and vindicators of the authority of
the English Bar. A more gallant service was never
rendered to the English nation than that which those
performed who put down the rebellion in Jamaica,
and it is high time that their traducers should be
shown how little attention is paid to their exagge-
rated statements and unwarrantable accusations,
which have never been acceptable to the majority
of the community.

The Baptism of Bells.

that it would create :an unfavourable impre9sion
in the country." Mr. MILL and Mr. AYRTON
took the same view, Mr. AIIITON declaring
that the unnecessary postponement of the debate
would raise a feeling throughout the country that
the House had only entered on the question for the
purpose of bucking it. The most noticeable speeches
on this nutter of adjournment were those of Mr.
OSBORNE and Mr. WilimitEAD, the one as violent
and ineffective as the other was temperate an d
weighty. Mr. OSBORNE, who deserved the satire of
Mr. DISRAELI, for his ardent but inconsistent advo-
cacy of Reform, spared neither friend nor foe. Ile
declared the ground below the gangway to be
mined in all directions and bandied accusations in all
directions. Lord GROSVENOR was in collusion with
the Government, and endeavouring to effect a
secret compromise to make the bill as mild as pos-
sible. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had de-
clared that he would accept no compromise, no
amendments, and so on, attacking with as much
virulence as vigour every one who came in his way.