The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-06
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notwithstanding The firm sishd taken by Lord
John Russell agains, innovation and reform of
every kind, and his adverseness to see England
moving like the rest of the world, on the principle
OF conservatism, which he is huggng to death, the
prospect is mos, favorable for a speedy organic
change in the constitution and laws of that country
The people of the United Kingdom have become
sick and disguised with the splendid and expensive
gewgaws of royalty, and have evinced their deter
mination of not only limiting that, the executive
part OF the government, but of accomplishing
changes in the Legislature-which, when carried
out. will produce the most beneficial results, and
deprive the arstocracy of almost all their influence.
The matter was first taken in hand by the Chartists
with whose ultra notions, however, as they have
been regarded the middle classes of the people have
never agreed.
The recent revolutions in France and other
countries, have manifested to all classes that
England cannot keep still while those great changes
are going on around her; and accordingly project
has been set on foot by Mr. Hume, Mr.. Golden,
and others, to procure household suffrage, vote by
ballot, trlennal parllaments, and equal electoral
districts. If these reforms be carried out, the
tocracy will receive blow which will virtually de-
prlve them OF all influence, and place the govern
ment In the hands OF the people. To prove this, ii
may be necessary to take glance at the constitu-
ents OF the present House of Commons. 1t CON-
prises six hundred and ffty-eight members, three
hundred and thirty of whom returned by 8, l27-
600 persons, and the remaining three hundred and
twenty-eight members are returned by the rest of
the population, 90, $4,000 Thus, one portion of
the population has member for every Q, 400 per-
nd 9TH ,kar for
sons. Household suffrage and equal electoral dis
trcts would of course, destroy this inequality Of
presentation Again, of these 65S members, 267
connected with the aristocracy, by birth or
marriage. OF these, upwards of seventy are lords
in name, and seventy are heirs to peerages. Now,
when IL is recollected that the House of Commons
Is par erceece the representative Of the body tits
easy to see how the people are represented. House
hold suffrage will not return arisocrats lords or
peers to that house. 1t will return men of the
people, who come from the people, and are identi-
fed with their interests and thus the aristocracy
IN that house will be foored and, through the re-
form, the influence of the House of Peers will be
reduced to nothing for the House can withhold
supplies, and in this way control the Peers-every
bill for the outlay of money having to originate in
that house.
1t is to accomplish these reforms that Mr.
Golden and Mr.. Hume have taken the field
and the assaults which Lord John Russell has al
ready made on these gentlemen show how much
he fears the accomplishment of the task which
they have undertaken. There are others, 'low-
ever, in the field, as well as Mr.. Golden and Mr..
Hume. The old Manchester party, with whom
the ant-corn-law league originated, have resolved
! to form new association upon the old basis. A
meeting was called, at which every actual working
man the late league attended, every one of whom
declared himself favorable to household suffrage,
vote by ballot, triennial parliaments, and equal
electoral districts. This new league is to co-ope-
rate with the reform party, headed by Mr.. Hume
and Mr. Golden; and an effort is being made to
unite reformers of all kinds in one grand league,
to be called the National League, to be pledged not
to cease agtating till what they contend for shall
be accomplished. The work has already been
commenced; for Mr.. Hume, in the House of Com
mons, recently asked leave to introduce bill en-
bodyng these changes in the fundamental consti-
tuition of the country. Lord John Russell opposed
it in every shape, and committed himself against
reform of every kind He stands pledged against
all innovation Of the kind proposed, well as
against curtaling the expenses OF the government,
although those expenses have during the last year,
exceeded the income Of the nation by about three
millions of pounds sterling. He has also commit
ted himself with the Irish, not only by his procur-
ing the passage of the bill for the better security Of
the crown, but by his declaration that he would
resist as long as he had breath in his body, any
attempt to repeal the union between the two coun-
tries.
Under these circumstances, it is not to be Won
dered at that the general impression in England
is, that Lord John Russell is not a competent man
to be the helm of State in the present Crisis OF
affairs He is assaulted on all Sides ans finds no
sympathy except from those who, like Louis Phi
! lippe Il month before the revolution which tossed
him about on the English Channel in fishing
smack think they are secure from the people, and
can ride over them rough shod as much they
please. Indeed, there every probability that the
next steamer will bring intelligence of his re-
signation as Sir Robert Peel, it is known, has had
several interviews recently with her majesty, at
which arrangements were made for the organza-
ton of new ministry, of which he is to be the
| head.
| Sir Robert Peel is remarkably shrewd states
mamie Is an attentive watcher Of the course Of
public affairs in his retirement. lie sounds public
opinion, feels the public pulse, and finds out what
changes are demanded If popular opinion is too
strong to be resisted, he jumps into office, puts
himself at the head Of it, and instead Of foelshly
resisting its progress, he leads the van himself in
reform, and turns the current into legitimate chan
mel. This has been his favorite policy in times
past and we are confident that he is about to play
the same game again. We may therefore look, at
very early day, for change in the ministry, the
elevation of Sir Robert Peel to power, and all the
reforms which the state of the times and the
wants of the people demand, including household
suffrage, vote by ballot, and sweeping financial
reforms IN every department of State
The affairs of Ireland will of course occupy Sir
Robert Pee's attention, and there is good reason
to suppose that he would be willing to extend