The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-19 00:00:00

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.

Anxious to avail ourselves of the breathing-time afforded by
the recess in parliament, we propose to offer a few remarks in
reference to certain movements which have taken place of late,
both in England land Scotland, in favour of a measure, the
effect of which would be to overrun the legislative councils of
the country with a set of unprincipled demagogues, and to en-
tail disappointment and misery on those who are most anxious
for the change.
Whether au extension of the suffrage might not, in some in-
stances, be attended ‘1 iib safety, and even with advantage, is a
question, we conceive, which admits of reasonable discussion;
but the proposal to invest poverty and ignorance with a trust
that requires knowledge, discrimination, and integrity, in its
exercise, is at once so extravagant and preposterous, that it
seems almost a waste of time to enter seriously upon its refu-
tation. Unfortunately, however, the question of universal suf-
frage is one on which it is easy to theorize : and, to the unscru-
pulous candidate for popularity, if affords fine scope fur decla-
mation. The idea of thousands of our fellow-subjects being
shut out from all participation in the elective franchise is a
valuable theme for such orators as Roebuck and O'Connor; and
vapouring harangues on the injustice of the ten-pound qualifi-
cation may, by vulgar ears, be mistaken for the language of
patriotism. But the middle and intelligent classes are nut to be
misled by mere sound; and the effect of the present movement
on behalf of this extreme measure will be, not ouly to divide
the reform interest, but, to cause numerous desertions to the
ranks of our enemies.
With regard to the alleged injustice of withholding the elec-
tive franchise from any portion of our-fellow subjects, we beg
to observe that the privilege of voting for a member of
parliament is not in itself a benefit. On the contrary, it is
attended with both trouble and expense, and in many cases,
with heavy pecuniary loss. The benefit to the voter comes to
him in the shape of wise laws and impartial government, and
is enjoyed by the non-elector in precisely the satne degree. It
may be said that the boroughrnongers previous to the passing
of the reform bill, might have argued after the same fashion;
but a little reflection will show that the cases are by no means
parallel. The tories bad a direct interest in perpetuating abuses.
Pensions, and sinecures, and fat livings, were things not to be
despised or abandoned without a struggle ; and they
clung to
the old.exclusive system, not because it was simpler, and served
all the purposes of a more extensive suffrage, hut because they
knew that an infusion of popular feeling into parliament would
put an end to partial legislation, and sweep away many of those
corruptions in church and state on which they had so long
battened. Now, however, that the suffrage has been extended
to the middle classes of society, if it were nut for the bribery and
intimidation which have unhappily prevailed a pretty just repre-
sentation of the whole country would be obtained, inasmuch as the
interests of the middle and lower classes are in all respects identi-
cal. We admit that the system of representation, as established by
the reform acts, might be greatly amended; but, as it would be
extremely inconvenient, if not totally subversive of all social
order, to extend the franchise to the whole adult male popula-
tion, assuredly it ought to be placed in the hands of those who
are most likely to use it with discretion, and for the general
good of the country. There are, of course, many among the
lower orders well entitled, both in point of intelligence and in-
tegrity, to possess the elective franchise; while, on the other
hand, there are many invested with the privilege who are alto-
gether incapable of using it with discretion; but, in such a case,
it is impossible to legislate for exceptions, and the present ar-
tangement, however much it might he improved in detail, is
perhaps, uuder all the circumstances, the best that could well
be devised.

Theie is however, another, and perhaps a stronger argument
against the the adoption of universal suffrage. The ignorance
which unhappily prevails among the labouring classes would be
productive, in almost every instance, of one of two evils. It
would either expose them to a system of wholesale corruption,
like that practised at the last election in several towns in Eng-
land, or place them wholly at the mercy of such intriguing
knaves and demagogues as might pander to their passions and
prejudices. Their suffrages would be uniformly given to the men
who were most large in promise; and, believing that all their
miseries would be removed by act of parliament, disappointment
and anarchy would inevitably follow.
But, indeed, from any chance which the measure has of being
forced upon the country, there is not the slightest danger to be
apprehended. The zeal enlisted in its behalf must evaporate
in mere clamour; and the leaders of the ultra-radical faction
will have to console themselves with the notion. that it is re-
served for a more enlightened age to carry their mighty projects
into effect. Our fears are for the tendency which their efforts
in the mean time have to strengthen the hands of our more
legitimate opponents. It is chiefly to the ultra-radicals that the
latter are so ready on all occasions to encourage them in their
career of folly. The ranks of the tories are mostly swelled with
those who dread the overthrow of the constitution, and the sub-
version of law and government; and accordingly, it is their
grand policy to foment the differences existing between the whigs
d
and radicals,
n:motive,
txtb.o.viyfsea.:rnoe indeed,rt n
eehiffuseeetrrtt
latter
thosaeetgrst
interests.—Abridged
uebrr yformerifd.ogr,
violenten dadua
nsnic, wini:noedeniaeriikuss
tatelailiuenv vacillatingcersistuiocffvonerilas.mgy temaon ht.ih—,t
hes
biawn:ihevtanaht eenriveareei
raised,
t
A uhig-radical paper.

FACTOR, CHILDREN IN FRANCE.—The French council.
general of commerce have passed the following recommenda-
tions to the government :—To permit no child under eight
years of age to work in manufactories, nor to permit them even
then without a certificate of having passed one year in a primary
school. That children from eight to fifteen years of age shall
not be made to work more than twelve hours a-day, and seven
by night.