The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-01 00:00:00

LONDON, SATUIWAY, DEC. 1, 1866.

The National Reform League is apparently
assuming formidable dimensions, if we are to judge
from the list of its principal members and branch
associations throughout the country. This list,
published by the Secretary, at 8, Adelphi-terrace

extends to a considerable length. We have,ltrzt;
the name of the President, Nix. BEALES, and -
Treasurer and Chairman of Committees. Then we
have the names of 87 Vice-Presidents, themetmhebieirsst
of the General Council (59 in number), and
of Delegate Members to the Council fromthesev
seve-
ral districts of this great metropolis, from Bermond-
sey to Paddington, from Iloxton to Shoreditch, in-
cluding too such outlying suburbs, if suburbs they can
be called, as Sydenham and Woolwich. After this
comes the list of the provincial branches, passing
through wellnigh all the letters of the alphabet,
from Aberdeen to York, with the names of their
chairman, treasurer, and secretary, and their place
and time of meeting ; so that there is in existence
a veritable asspciation having its ramifications
throughout the country, and possessing all the ele-
ments of a regularly organised movement. We are
glad to find the Reformers setting about their work
in a business like way, and we congratulate them on
having so far achieved success. Formerly their
acts have shown too much of that zeal which
lacks discretion, and which, however, it may excite
and gratify a body of enthusiastic supporters, fails
to carry weight with the great body of the people.
The prospects of the Reform League are just now
favourable. They have attained a recognised posi-
tion, and have succeeded in attracting attention to
their movements. The spectacle of Monday is
looked forward to with interest, and there is a very
general wish that it may go off quietly and credit-
ably. It depends upon themselves whether they
improve the opportunity and make it an effective
demonstration in favour of Parliamentary Reform,
or allow it to degenerate into a riotous and
disorderly assemblage, more mischievous because
more numerous than the mobs of last summer. The
head of the movement having decided upon holding
the meeting, and having refused to avail themselves
of the offer of Primrose-hill (for no very perceptible
reason except that they would not take what they
could get without trouble), have made every effort
to avoid disturbance. They have taken the precau-
tion of issuing tickets at 2d. each, without wearing
which no one will be allowed to join the procession,
and they have divided and subdivided their unwieldy
numbers, appointing a mounted superintendent in
charge of each division. It will be seen from the list,
which we have already published, that comprehen-
sive arrangements have been made to secure as far
as possible an orderly and respectable procession.
We think, however, that the managing committee
have not fully estimated the invariable delays which
retard such proceedings, or the length of time which
it takes ftsr a body of men; such as they hope and
expect to bring together, to move through streets
and thoroughfares. A contemporary has strenu-
ously advised them to alter their hours to an earlier
time, and this, in these short December days, would
be a very prudent course to follow. The display of
the numbers and respectability of the procession
would be just as effective if it started on its route
at half-past 10 as at half-past 12, and as it almost
always happens that the assembly of a large body
from several different quarters occupies much
longer than the estimated time, it is only prudent
to have an hour or two in hard. Sir R. MAYNE
has gone over the programme with the leaders of
the movement, and has made some useful sugges-
tions, promising to give all the assistance he could
to the committee. If the arrangements are well
carried out there does not seem any reason to fear
the dangerous consequences which some persons
anticipate from the numbers of the procession.
There are, as we have said, to be numerous mounted
superintendents, who will be very useful in main-
taining order; and if the procession goes in regular
rank and file along a clearly defined route, keeping
throughout to the left hand side of the road, the
risk of accident and confusion will be very much
mitigated. Reformers on this occasion must re-
member that, however anxious they may be to make
laws in the future, their present and immediate
duty is to obey them, and whatever they may think
of particular arrangements they are bound for the
day to keep strictly to the programme of their
leaders. " England expects ever:, man to do his
duty" was the motto of the day on a great historic
occasion, and the Reformers of Monday, if engaged
in a less momentous cause, should be influenced by
the same sense of individual responsibility. Every
man who takes part in the procession or forms a
member of the assemblage should reflect that the
interests of Reform and the preservation of the
public order depend in a measure upon himself.
The working men of the metropolis aspire to influ-
ence the Government of the country ; let them
remember that the most conclusive argument they
can use in their own favour is to show that they
are able to govern themselves. In spite of the
foolish and extravagant language which some igno-
rant or intemperate men have latterly used respect-
ing their own nation, the proceedings of Monday
arc such as would not be possible in any other
country in Europe. Let the working men of Eng-
land, then, show that they are worthy of the confi-
dence
unseemrely or
rd in them, and carefully avoid anything
discreditable to themselves or their
cause.

Mr. DOULTON last night met some of his principal
supporters at the norm, Kennington. After some
remarks of the hon. member a resolution was unani-
mously carried which recorded 46 unabated confi-
dence in Mr. DOULTON, as one of the representatives
of Lambeth," and expressed a hope that he would
continue the same honest and independent course
which had hitherto marked his career. In the
course of his observations Mr. DOULTON said that
he would have called them together earlier had he
deemed it desirable to do 80, because he did
not think that a meeting which took place
some time ago was a fair representation
of the body of the electors. After briefly alluding
to the style of some of the " indignation" letters he
had received, " threatening him with death in
twenty-four hours if the Bill did not pass," the
hon. member declared that though some might con-
sider his action "impolitic," he asked to be " credited
with honesty of intention ; he could
say that he was not swayed by any of the
attributed to him, and the vote he
gave was a con-
scientious one." This is fair and straightforward
at any rate ; but it is the fashion at the present
day, among a certain class of politicians, not
to admit that any man has a right to
his own; opinion, and forthwith to commence
abuse if his ways and thoughts are not similar to
theirs. Mr. DOULTON said that he never regarded
the quarter whence a good bill proceeded; whether
the source was Liberal or Conservative he supported
it." This is a very good principle to start with,
and as in all irobability the hon. member will have
an opportunity of putting his precepts into practice
next session, we hope that his example may be fol-
lowed by many on the same side of the house. If
they had done so in the past we should have had the
question of Reform settled long ago ; if they do so
in the future, the country cannot fail to profit by
it. Mr. DOULTON explained that he voted with the
Government in several of the divisions, and when he
did not it was because he did not think that the
course they proposed was an expedient one. As
quotations are now the order of the day, the hon.
member cited some passages to be met with iu Mr.
STL'AIIT MILL'S writings and speeches, He gave it

as his opinion that " no lover of improvement could
desire that the preponderating power should
.be turned over to persons in the mental
condition of the lower classes ;" and again,
in; discussing the working man, he said that
" the only objection to which any great importance
will be found to be attached under the present con-
dition is the unrepresented state of mankind in
g eneral, and the working classes in particular, their
extreme unfitness for any order of things which
would make any considerable demand on either their
knowledge or virtue." Mr. DOULTON said that he
intended to have a meeting shortly to explain his
views, and he expected many would come who
would not be convinced nor even inclined to hear.
This, however, will not be acting fairly, because
every one has a right to his own opinions, and should
be permitted an opportunity of expressing them;
and those who differ from Mr. DOULTON, or any
other member of Parliament, can always give
utterance to their disapproval in a legitimate
manner, without resorting to violent extremes, and
displaying that intolerant spirit which does dis-
honour to themselves, and damages any cause, no
matter how good it may be, nor how desirable its
ultimate success.

A Reform meeting took place at Stroud last
Wednesday-, which was organised by the Reform
Association of the town, and presided over by Lord
AMBERLEY, M.P. The noble lord commenced by
stating that six months ago they had a Liberal
Government in power and a Liberal Reform Bill
before the House of Commons. In proceeding to
take a summary of past events, however, Lord Am-
BERLEY did not put the case very fairly before his
hearers. He said that " the ground upon which
the present Government came into office is that of
discouraging any extension of the franchise ; that
may not have been the technical reason upon which
the late Government was defeated, but that is, in
fact, the express ground upon which the present
Government stands—it is that of denying any
Reform and any change in our representative sys-
tem." Now this is entirely an erroneous statement
from beginning to end. It was not upon the ques-
tion of the franchise in the abstract that the Bill
was defeated, but upon the manner in which it was
introduced, and the other part of the Reform }yes-
tion left alone. Nothing is gained by putting
things in a wrong light, and if the tactics of
the Liberal party aim at misrepresenta-
tion and rendering their opponents odious
to the public before the time for action comes they
will not be any more creditable or patriotic than
they were in 1859 and prior to that period. Lord
AMBERLEY thinks that it is now necessary to " speak,
agitate, and meet" until such Reform is carried as
may be necessary, and hence the reason for that and
similar meetings to take place. This may be true
in part, but we cannot help remarking that it is a
curious thing that no necessity ever arises for such
agitation when the Liberals are in power, nor does
those in high places deem it advisable to do much,
for many years the leaders of the Liberal party and
their followers have gone on waiting for each other
to act much after the fashion of Sir RICHARD
STRAHAN and Lord CHATHAM, of former memory.
The only thing that wakes them up, and enables
the disaffected section of the party to meet in unity
is when any one else tries to do their work.
The noble lord was at great pains to uphold Mr.
BEALES, and the course he pursued last
year, forgetting, when he denounced the course
which the present Government took in
the Ifyde-park movement "as ungenerous and
unwise," that Lord RUSSELL himself spoke strongly
against the affair, and that the members of the
late Government iu the house declared that they
would not have permitted the meeting to take
place in the Park. The opinions of the noble lord's
friends do not at all coincide with those enter-
tained by Mr. BEALES and his followers; but this
is only another instance of uncongenial minds
taking counsel together against one common foe ;
and they had better take care that they do not in
this case do as they have done before—shipwreck
the whole undertaking by their anxiety to be the
chief actors in the work themselves.