The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

of no ordinary magnitude, a dissolution and a new
appeal to the country, with the question of Reform
ringing in the ears of the people. That, !possible,
is to be avoided; but should Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S
amendment unfortunately be carried it must take
place, and all the measures already indicated must
be postponed for an indefinite period.

In placing his notice on the books of the House
of Commons, Lord JOHN RUSSELL appears to have
" reckoned without his host." Lord GREY Wil not
march with him through Coventry at any price,
and we believe that many others will be equally
unwilling to join the " ragged regiment." Indeed
" small JOHNNY" ought to Have learned some
degree of humility by this time. He should have
known that he is not now the recognised leader
even of the Whig section, and that he must have
the approval of the leading members of the party
before he can venture to adopt an independent
course. He still fancies himself Premier—still
thinks that he is a petty autocrat ; but the letter
of Earl GREY, however displeasing, must have
impressed some wholesome truths on his mind.
He is no longer the undisputed chief. There are
other competitors who cannot be slighted; and if
the noble member for the City of London would
listen to sound advice be would withdraw his
amendment, and earnestly strive to ame-
liorate the present measure so far as practi-
cable. Nothing but an insane desire for
office could induce him to pursue any other course,
and however strongly that may be felt, it should
not be too openly displayed.
Every point desired by the most advanced Libe-
rals can be dealt with in committee. The Bill
deals with the franchise, and therefore any enlarge-
ment falls within its scope. There may even be
universal saffrage, without violating its principle.
It also disfranchises and enfranchises sundry
boroughs, and the doctrine may be extended to any
extent deemed expedient. But above and
beyond all, it recognises voting papers, the
first step to the ballot, and which must inevitably
lead to the complete protection of the voter. It is
said that " extremes meet," and voting papers and
vote by ballot must speedily be joined in the same
category.

Although, as we have stated, Lord GREY has, to
a certain extent, trespassed on an arena into which
he had no right to intrude, we still welcome his
letter for the many wholesome, albeit unpalatable
truths which it contains. There are elements of
good in the Ministerial measure which, if fairly
developed, may eventually bring forth fruit very
acceptable to the independent reformers who are
wholly indifferent to party considerations of any
description.

Mr. BERKELEY is not to be deterred either by
the ill-behaviour of the House, or by the deci-
sion of Mr. FITZROY, from compelling members
to record their opinions on the
.Ballot at municipal
elections. He will do it on the third reading of
the bill. To the chairman of committees we must,
of course, bow on a point of order; the country,
however, will not be inclined to bow to the Chartist
behaviour of honourable members who endeavour
to cough, and laugh, and shuffle clown unpalatable
truth. Neither Mr. BERKELEY nor his object can
be treated by the House of Commons as the roughs
at the Guildhall treated those who would not hear
Mr. ERNEST JONES on Manhood Suffrage, without
compromising the character of the House itself.
Is it true, then, it will be asked, that an attempt
to advocate what has been written on or spoken on
so well by a BENTHAM and a MILL, a GROTE, a
MOLESWORTII, and a THOMPSON, and what is now
placed by the consent of all in the hands of such a
leader as the Hon. H. BERKELEY—is it true that
this is to be hustled out of the House by a con-
spiracy of noisy county members and moustachioed
Tory younkers ?
Mr. BERKELEY will, however, give them one
more opportunity for repentance, and we, who
know better than they can tell us, the temper of
the country, advise them to take it. Their names
must now be recorded as absent or as pairs, or vot-
ing for or against, and they will do wisely not to
shuffle the question It is time that the waverers
made up their minds. We can inform Lord JOHN
RUSSELL that we know of numerous voters for the
City of London who will not give him their votes
again in case of a dissolution. They quite under-
stand the tactics indicated in his letter and in his
motion. The motion will be supplemented by Mr.
BERKELEY or by Mr. WYLD. But why the
citizens ask—had we a letter in place of our lead-
ing member himself at the Guildhall ? Why could
not a private member, in Opposition, find time—
just an hour or two—to appear among his assembled
constituents ? The universal belief is, that he
wished to shrink a question or two on the Ballot.
Though every Reform meeting since the first .of
March has demanded the Ballot in a Reform Bill,
Lord JOHN says not a word about it in his letter—he
sends his voting paper, and it says nothing about
one of the chief points to be voted on ! -Whether
he has changed or modified his opinion we are not
permitted to know. He, more than any man, has
declaimed on the noble virtue of farmers and
artizans sacrificing their own and their children's
bread, rather than not publicly vote as they think
right ; if it be this very Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who
demands magnanimous self-sacrifice on the part of
the poor and needy voter, he would not sacrifice
one tittle of his electoral or place-getting chances,
by standing before his constituents on Friday !
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, openly, what could do
him no harm—he put into the ballot box the opinions
which might have lost him votes and influence !
Some will have it that hot Radicals are great
tyrants in private life. Hot anti-Ballot men are
at least wonderfully fond of secrecy, when by
means of it they can .save themselves merely a little
inconvenience.

Perhaps our Liberal members begin to hope that
Lord DERBY dare not dissolve, or will not be
driven to do it. They had better act in time the
Part of the wise steward in the parable. The day
of reckoning cannot well be very distant, and it may
The case of the municipal borough
elections veryecti near.onsis avery clear one. The open voting by pa-
pers has been so disgracefully fertile in personation,
corruption,and intimidation, that a stringent remedy
is needed. Indeed Mr. CROSS'S Bill
of isn
the n
uproofal
o
it. Every boroumghr.caßli tell its taIeERKELEY will amal-
practices,
tell a few of
hemdembers if they can but behave as
by
theni to an
gentlemen. We trust, however, that they will
this time have come to a cooler state of judgment ;
their votes and language will, we are confident, be
closely watched, and it will be worth their while,
if they be real Liberals, to ask whether they ought
not now to yield to their constituents a point which
their constituents think of no little importance. If
honourable members cannot make up their minds
to vote for electoral independence, they must not
be surprised if their constituents prove independent
enough to reject them at the next election.

SEAMEN AND MARINES INVALIDED.—A Parlia-
mentary return has been issued showing that the number
of seamen invalided at home, between the Ist of January,
1856, and 31st July, 1858, was 1,811. The number pen-
sioned or granted gratuities was 637. Between the same
Periods 715 marines were invalided, and 42.9 pensioned or
granted gratuities.
QUITE RIGIIT.—An Irishman being asked, on a
rainy day, what he would take to carry a message from
Charing-cross to the Bank, answered—" Sure, I'd take a
cab."