The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

BAROMETE2t-29.96.

WIND, North-Westerly; light, with fine weather.

Another battle has taken place, and yet nothing
has been decided. The " Ins and the-Outs " are
still fighting, not for Reform, but for place. Lord
DERBY promised to bring in a Reform Bill. It
was, however, by no means willingly that he did so.
But having promised he faithfully and honourably
redeemed his pledge ; and, although the measure is
not all that could be desired, it is yet a step in
advance, and one that may be materially improved
in committee. How different was the conduct of
his rivals. Lord JOHN RUSSELL has kept a bill
dangling before the House and the country
since 1851, a bill by no means so good as
that of the present Government. But year
after year it was delayed. Nothing was done.
Every excuse for procrastination and delay
was resorted to, and eight years were wasted
while the noble lord reposed under the shadow of
laurels which were verdant in 1832, but had be-
come greatly tarnished during the interval by the
unhealthy glare of " finality." Lord JOHN RUSSELL
should certainly not set himself up as an anti-Re-
formbr, or, for the hope of place, become the leader
in so factious and unjustifiable a proceeding as that
which he has so recently originated.
Lord PAL3IERSTON is even worse. Although
pledged to reform for several years, he not only con-
tinued to shirk the question, but even neglected to
give the slightest intimation of his views or opi-
nions. All that he accomplished was to muse the
rejection of what he was pleased to term " piecemeal
reform." lie would not consent to the abolition
of the " property qualification," onto Mr. LOCKE
KING'S motion respecting the county franchise.
Every concession should be retained as some amount
of political capital. He would neither give any-
thing himself nor permit it to be conceded by
others. He adopted the Fabian policy, and hoped
that it would prove successful during the remainder
of his political career.
The Attorney-General of Ireland returned a
crushing reply to the noble lord. The Right Hon
Gentleman has been peculiarly felicitous on many

occasions, but never more so than last night. He

met the veteran ' viscount with his own

weapons, and proved himself a more skilful

"master of fence," able at any moment to
strike the sword from his hand. After eight years'
delay, the noble member for Tiverton has discovered
the inconvenience and danger of any further post-
ponement. Will he, as the leader of an infla-
.

ential party, the probable head of any future
Administration which may succeed that of Lord
DERBY, pledge himself to introduce a Reform
Bill wit hin the present year ?

That is a point on which the nation should be
informel. There should no longer be any " thimble-

rigging" oi...chicanery. We know what has been

tendered, for our acceptance.

It is not all that we

could h ave desired, but it is a step in the right

direction t—an instalment of fair proportions—and

it is ca ;pable of being amended in committee,

and mo aided into any form which the most

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THE SUN.
SATURDAY. MARCH 26, 1859.