The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-17 00:00:00

A
kiciorittovat, s

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17, 1866

Earl RUSSELL is not being allowed to forget his

promises about Reform, and the members of the
Reform League have taken an early opportunity of
impressing upon him their own particular views.
It is only fair to the working men who formed part
of the deputation to say that they expressed them-
selves with propriety and ability, and that their
opinions were consequently entitled to attention and
respect. Earl RUSSELL, in his brief reply, remarked
upon the ability which had been displayed, though,
with natural official reticence, he entered into
no particulars of the scheme which his
Cabinet had under contemplation. The Go-
vernment would, he said, bring forward in
the course of next session such a measure as would

improve the representation subject to the consent of
Parliament ; and he intimated that while they ex-
pected to carry such a measure, they were prepared
to stand or fall by it.

The particular reforms which the deputation
endeavoured to urge were, as might have been
expected from the society which they represented,
somewhat extreme in their character. Mr. BEALES,
who, like many enthusiasts, only looks at one side of
the question, is the President of the Reform League,
and as such addressed the Premier on the object of
their visit. He urged upon Lord RUSSELL a mea-
sure of Parliamentary reform, founded on the prin-
ciple of residential manhood suffrage, protected by
the ballot. Mr. RODGER, a working man, mid he
hoped the Government of to-day would show the
same vigour in the cause of reform that was shown
by the Ministry of 1831; and Mr. CONNOLLY, an-
other direct representative of the working classes,
averred that in boroughs where the working classes
had the predominance they had returned men of
talent and literary genius, instancing the names of
Professor FAWCETT, JOHN STUART MILL, and
THOMAS HUGHES. But though the names of these
gentlemen are entitled to the highest respect, and
though they prove that their electors possess the
power to appreciate superior intelligence, afford of
themselves an indication of some of the dangers
likely to attend a wholesale representation of the
working classes. Mr. HUGHES is a man of vigorous
talent and straightforward policy. He is intimately
acquainted with the wants of the working men,
and what many loud professors of equality and the
rights of man are not, their sincere and conscienti-
ous friend. He proved that no desire for popularity
or influence would make him neglect what he con-
sidered their real interests at the Social Science
meetings last year in the north, where he excited a
great outcry by his vigorous denunciation of the
tyranny of strikes. In all these respects he is an
able and appropriate representative of the working
classes, and is likely in all matters affecting them to
do credit to their choice, and good service to the
public in the new Parliament. But when we come to
look at larger questions of imperial policy, we shall
find some reason to distrust Mr. HuGnEs's judg-
ment, He has taken a prominent part in that un-
reasoning outcry against Governor EYRE and the
authorities of Jamaica, which at once condemned
unheard a man of tried experience and proved
humanity on the wholesale and exaggerated state-
ments of persons who had been iistrumental in
stirring up that rebellion which called for the stern
but painfully necessary retribution. If we accepted
unhesitatingly the Fenians' account of English
government in Ireland, we should believe that the
tyranny and injustice exhibited in that country was
only paralleled in the days of the BOURBONS. Yet Mr.
HtiGIIEs and Mr MILL unfortunately identifiedthem-
selves with the faction who raised the storm and cried
thunder on the execution of GORDON, denouncing
Governor EYRE as a remorseless and wholesale
assassin. There is reason to fear, then, not that
the working men will neglect brilliant intel-
lectual gifts, but that they will be too
much dazzled by them, overlooking that sound
judgment and calm common sense, which, after all,
goes so far to provide for the safe and efficient
legislation of the country.

It is not probable, indeed it is not fair, to expect
that Earl RUSSELL and his colleagues will bring
in a bill founded on the principle of man-
hood suffrage or anything akin to it. In the
first place, there would be no chalice of such a
measure being carried in the present Parliament ;
and if the country were appealed to, it is more than
doubtful if it would respond to the call. The
general feeling of all the intelligent classes is in
favour of a moderate and gradual progress, such a
change as shall affect the details rather than the
principles of the Constitution, which shall be founded
on the grand system of equal representation, not
on the preponderance of any one influence, whether
of rank, wealth, or numbers. But while the public
feeling is opposed to a political bouleversement, it
is undoubtedly in favour of progress, and the gene-
ral doubt is rather whether Earl RItSSELL will give
enough than whether he will give too much !
famous " Rest-and-be-thankful" doctrine has not
been forgotten, nor his avowed desire to restrict
the growing and thinking England of 1860-70 to
the requirements of the smaller, less educated, and
less thoughtful population of the England of 1820-
30. There is evidently considerable misgiving in
the minds of earnest reformers as to the mea-
sure they are to expect. Mr. HOLYOAKE
and several other speakers yesterday impressed
upon Earl RUSSELL their conviction that a half
measure would only reflect discredit and disgrace
on the Liberal party, and would entirely fail to
satisfy the working classes. Undoubtedly the
question is not an easy one, but if the Uni-
versity will act upon the principle of doing
justice rather than of winning votes, of giving fair
representation to all classes rather than of gaining
the support or consulting the prejudices of any
particular party, they may rely on having the
feeling of the country with them, and of insuring in
the cud that degree of political power and influence
which the leaders of the Liberal party have of late
so greatly forfeited. The experience of history
shows that the beginning of all revolutions
and commotions is the obstinate withholding
of popular rights, just as surely as the stream unna-
turally confined within narrow boundaries is certain
to break forth in mischief and destruction. There
is little fear of Earl RUSSELL'S doing too much
in the way of Reform, though great reason to
apprehend that he may seek to tide over
the difficulty by adopting those half measures which
generally make the patient worse. There is little
fear that the Reform Leaguers, and those who think
like them, will not be comprehensive enough in their
demands, but some danger that they may expect too
much, and thus defeat the real intclests of their
cause, and produce disappointment and disgust.
Whether out of all these conflicting elements the
new bill " looming in the distance" will be able to