The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-10 00:00:00

rl?. SCROPE ON REFORM.

A public meeting having been called at Stroud
for next week, to hear the statements of the mem-
bers on the ,political questions of the day, Mr,
Scrope has issued an address to the constituency,
in which he says he does not avail himself of this
opportunity of addressing the electors, because in
the present misty and uncertain state of the
political atmosphere,': he has " nothing definite.:or
positive to state to them." He adds :—" I'confess
that I look back with some disappointment
on the proceedings of the last parliamentary session
as productive of small benefit, with the exception
of the change in the government of India—a
change, after all, more nominal than real. I regret,
also, the unhappy misapprehension of the public
feeling with respect to the foreign refugee question,
which led to the substitution of a Conservative for
a Liberal Ministry ; but, in common with the rest
of the Liberal party, I have been satisfied that the
present Government should be allowed a fair trial,
more especially since they appear to have adopted
to some extent a Liberal policy, and I await with
some anxiety and no little curiosity the prOduction
of their measures in the next session, and particu-
larly that which they have undertaken for the far-
ther reform of the national representation. Until
these measures are developed little can be said
beyond vague generalities." On the subject of
reform Mr. Scrope says :—" With regard. to reform
there are certainly many persons at present not
possessed of the Parliamentary franchise, who, from
their intelligence and education, may be safely-and
advantageously entrusted with it. It is also unde-
niable that some localities possess More, some less,
than their just proportiun of the entire representa-
tion. I think a favourable opportunity is now
afford:a for the correction of these anomalies.
Moreover, I have always been of opinion that the
voter should be protected in the conscientious
exercise of his suffrage. While, however, lam a
Parliamentary Reformer to this extent, I may say
that I shall not be found to support any extreme
and hazardous changes. in the machinery of our re-
presentative system, which, in its present form, has,
throughout the long time during which your con-
tinued kindness has enabled me to assist in its
working, been productive of so much beneficial
legislation, and has indeed. I believe, moved quite
as fast in the path of progress as public opinion
would permit. Moreover, the contrast exhibited
during the same period by other countries in which
fundamental- institutional changes have been at-
tempted with results fatal to liberty, does not encou-
rage us to risk a continuance of the blessings we have
been all along enjoying by any rash experiments of
that, kind ; and I shall deeply regret if, as some
persons anticipate, a year or two are to be spent in
the agitation of such proposals, which might be
much better employed upon measures of practical
improvement, the only true object and end of Parlia-
mentary representation." In conclusion, he expreses
continued confidence in the late Ministry.

MR. JOHN ABEL SMITH, M.P., ON

_REFOR.3I,

Mr. J. A. Smith, the Liberal member for Chi-
chester, addressed a crowded meeting of his consti-
tuents in the Council Chamber on Friday night.
Mr. SMITII, in the course of his remarks, said ho
was one of those who wished and meant to trust

the people,
.and in this spirit he approached the
great question of reform. He denied that it would
he an organic change to have a large extension of
the suffrage—(cheers)—that it would be an organic
chance to take the members from those places
which in the course of time had become reduced in
importance and population, and give them to those
places where trade and commerce had drawn
together large numbers of people. (Hear, hear.)
He could not understand the persons who called
themselves Liberals, and said they did not want any
change at all. (Hear.) He held in his hand the
manifesto of the Birmingham Reform Association,
who fiist stated what. they wanted, and next why
they wanted it. They wanted a large extension of
the suffrage—(cheers)—they wanted vote by ballot
—(loud cheers)—and they wanted a more equal
apportionment of members to population. (Cheers.)
Now, he wished his constituents to know that he
was in favour of a very large extension of the suf-
frage--(cheers)—that he was in favour, of vote by
ballot—(great cheering)—but if the Birmingham
gentlemen, when they talked of a more equal
apportionment of members to population, meant
electoral districts, he did not agree with them
—(hear)—because he did not believe that such
an apportionment would be acceptable to the mass
of the people of England (hear, hear)
and he considered that old arrangements and
old associations. possessed great importance
With regard to the present Government, there was
an old proverb, that " necessity makes us ac-
quainted with queer bedfellows. And when he
saw Mr. Bright and Mr. Henley going together he
confessed. he did not like it, as it was, a strange
amalgamation, which filled him with something
like suspicion. (Laughter.) But at the same time
he should look at measures and not men—(cheers)
—and if Lord Derby's
.Government proposed a t
vdt
give
sihnteghme
ttal es
receiveAanndd
Re-
form Bill which he. believed. to be honestly framed
so
tyhh.soi:,
alterations which time. had rendered desirable and
soeu support.ldc
purpose
shouldo of
i
nfoercetshsearmr,ripi
lie believed if they did
the support of the people of England. (Cheers.)
If, on the other hand, they introduced a measure so
unconstitutional and wrong as would transfer power
from the boroughs to the counties, and give tho
latter supreme influence, he should, of course, most
determinedly oppose them. (Cheers.) He hoped,
however, that they would not be sd a misc.

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