The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-30 00:00:00

Mr. Milner Gibson on Public Affairs.

Last evening the late President of the Board of
Trade delivered his annual address to his consti-
tuents at the Town-hall, Ashton-under-Lyne. Mr.
Alderman Galt presided, and there was a crowded
attendance.

Mr. MILNER GIBSON, in reviewing the past year,
remarked that we had had severe financial crises ;
and although he believed there was a very gloomy
feeling, and that distrust and much local distress
had prevailed, yet it was hoped that the real indus-
try and trade of the country had not sustained very
serious check. Indeed, it was surprising that not-
withstanding the crippled state of our monetary
affairs, our commerce had gone on increasing during
the last year to a great extent, and we might rejoice
in believing that before long trade with the United
States would have so far revived that we should
again see that country at the head of the list of
foreign countries in reference to the proportion of
trade that we did with them. We might congratu-
late ourselves, also, that the beneficent policy an-
nounced by Mr. Cobden in the French Treaty was
still bearing fruits. The French trade had deve-
loped itself, and only lately the French Government
had made a most important relaxation in its naviga-
tion laws. Although in all our international treaties
there was a clause for the purpose of establishing
perpetual amity between the nations, nevertheless
the forces of each European Power had been in-
creased so as to render peace as costly almost as a
state of war. Referring
to the change of Ministry,
he said the -reason why the change took place so
quietly was that the people were aware that what-
ever set of men had charge of
public affairs they
must carry on their administration under the laws ;
that the people were not governed by prerogative
nor by the will of the Executive, but by the statutes
and the common law of the realm, and though a
Ministry might die, its policy
might live and acquire
a fresh vigour. No one who interpreted rightly
the signs of the times could fail to see the necessity
of Parliamentary Reform. Although it had
been said that the people were indifferent
on the subject, he knew of no Reform of which,
previous to its passing, the nine thing had not been
said. When the late Government entered upon the
work of Reform they attempted to deal with that
branch which iseemed to be the first in the natu-
ral order of things, viz., the extension of the suffrage.
They found that while everything else was advanc-
ing in the country the franchise was stationary. In
18G6 the proportion of voters to the population was
t snore
system.
extensivelyste m f spread,
the
late and
Government
that it was
w
one in five, and that was the proportion 30 or 40
years ago ; and yet we were told that the franchise
awearsegchargeable
self-adjustingi ng
with anything, it was not going
too far, but with not going far enough. He analysed
with
the statistics of the subject, and contended that the
bill was more a middle-class than a working-class
measure ; but it was sound so far as it went, and that
was why Mr. Bright gave it his support. The result
however showed how little was gained by concilia-
tion. One might havesupposed that, as the Govern-
ment gave way on the question of the borough
franchise, the Conservative party would receive the
thewa O
spposition directed
r'e'ofelersnysed to be in favour of a
bill with something like favour, bu,t,tohehm,
torlereentml~.
against
a sißrightonms t
es
it,
np go
everybodyr
shocking."
he supported
cikt n
gt
ph.
complete measure ; but when the Redistribution Bill
was introduced the whole measure fared no better.
He would not weary them with the anomalies of the
ecdth as they were known to them
at a good Reform Bill could
ae s; t ibnugt choen
os tbi
st ue
re
vnies
be carried if the Reform party were united as one
man as in 1832. It was said that the present Go-
vernment were going to try their hands at Reform.
A Conservative journal had stated that they must
produce such a measure as would put Mr. Gladstone
and Mr. Bright as much in the wrong as possible ;
but if a bill were brought in on that principle it
would satisfy neither the country nor thegreat body
of the Liberal party. A Conservative member told
him that if a good bill were introduced there was
some danger of a Cave of Adullam on the Conserva-
tive side. The caves might then be paired off against
each other, and there would still remain a sufficient
number of independent men in the House to pass
the Bill into law. If he were asked what were the
advantages to be gained by Reform,
he should
answer that there were many important questions
that could be better dealt with by a Reformed Par-
liament than the present House of Commons, among
others the question of national education. If we
had a system of national education supported by all,
it should be one from which all could derive ad-
vantage, and therefore it should be devised by a Par-
liament in which all were fairly represented. Class
legislation would also be done away with in a house
where the pople were fairly represented. He be-
lieved that the possession of the franchise had in
itself an elevating influence on those who possessed
it, and though this was called the sentimental view
of the subject, he believed it to be the true one. The
advantages of self-government had been proved in
municipal affairs, and he thought the same advan-
tages would arise in the great waif-
self-govern-
ment—the making of those laws which the com-
munity at large had to obey. of
The right hon. member was frequently applauded
during his speech, and at its close a cordial vote of
confidence in the speaker was carried by acclamation.

NEW IRONCLADS FOR FR ANCE.—A letter from
Rochefort of the 23d says :—" Orders have been received
here from Paris to lay down the keel of a new coastguard
armour-plated vessel, to be called the Tigre, and which
will be adapted chiefly to run down an enemy by gteat
speed. Three other vessels of the same kind aro at present
being built in our dockyards—the Belier at Cherbourg, the
Boule-Dogue at !,orient, and the Cerbere at Brest. These
vessels will be of 530-horse power, and are on the model of
the Taureau, finished at Toulon. Tho coastguard armour
plated ships are specially intended for the protection of the
French ports. They are furnished with a formidable spur
at the stem, and two screws, working independently of
each other, enable them to turn rapidly, thus making them
as suitable for defence as for attack. The Taurean has
lately been tried, and her success is perfect. Her speed is
good, she turns easily, has admirable sea-going qualities
even in the worst weather, and her weight and rapidity
combined will enable her to strike an enemy's vessel with
the most destructive effect."
Sixteen thousand dollars have been subscribed in
Now York for the families of the unfortunate men who
were lost from the yacht Floetwing, and they are to have
a theatrical benefit in that city, at which the principal
New York actors will perform.