The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-21

10 be opposed in principle 10 organic change he Justly
first be deeply medlaed and well weighed and that moth
ing should be done without thought and care and he
charged Lord John Russell with having neglected these
when read bis speech for recolected that the most
violent and democratic change 10 our representative ss
tenn that ever was proposed Thin the memory OF the
Oldest had been proposed but few weeks before by
this same MIR Walpole Do you remember the history
oil the militia bill Laughter
In general when great reform in Parliaments brought
in, member IL some weeks before He gives
notice that he to proposes change in the representative
system There is great attendance, and there is most
painful anxiety to know what he is going TO propose
well remember, for was present, with what breath.
less suspense six hundred persons waited. the LIST oil
March, 1892 TO hear Lord John Russell announce his
reform bill But what his reform bill TO the bill OF
MIR. Secretary Wapole, OF the Derby administration.
Al the end Of debate. in the easiest way possible, with
out the smallest notice, there introduced clause, 10
be put at the last OF The militia bill, by which, il II
passed, every who served in the militia for TWO
years was TO have vote in the country [Hear. and
cheers Lei as what are the numbers OF those voters
who TO be entitled to vote in this way in the coun
try. The militia OF England is $4,000, and the term oil
service is five years. In ten years the number will be
100000; in twenty, $4,000; and in twenty five. AGO.
600 Some will, of course, have died Oft in twenty five
years. though the lives picked, remarkably good lives
How many there may be | have never actually calcu-
lated. have made the calculation. but should
say, in round numbers, that you will have. when the
system is fully in operation for generations an addition
OF about 100000 TO the county constituent bodesthat IS
TO say, 5000 voters the average to be added 70 every
county in England and Wales; That is an immense add.
ton and what is the qualification Why, the first
qualification is youth. They are not to be above
tain age but the you get them TO eighteen
the better. Laughter and appausel The second quail
shilling day is TO he an object. [Renewed laughter and
applause,l The third qualification is ignorance; for |
venture TO say that ever you take the trouble to OBJ
serve the appearance OF hese young fellows VINO ioow
you will at say that among our lahoring classes
they are not the most edacated-they are not the most
lows. have no, the least doubt Lord Hardnse tells
me that he never saw finer young fellows; and have
the slightest doubt, that if necessary, after little
training they will be found standing up for esdes
and hearhs against the best-dscipned soldiers the
tinent can produce. lCheers But these are not the
qualifications OF men who are to have choice Of legs
lators Hear hear, and cheersl The habits that gen.
orally send young from the ploughai to the army
rather a disposition to idleness. Hear, hear
There is, BY The bye. another qualification which had
forgot. and that is, that they must be five feet two
! Loud laughter and appause] What do you think Of
measuring man for the franchise Z CONTINUED laugh
Ter and applause
Well, this comes from conservative governmen-the
swampng of all the county constituencies in Eng land
people who possess the Derby Walpoe qualification
that is 10 say with youth, poverty. ignorance, rowing
Wy people ax Th
brought in snch measure as this to talk abou-l do
not say Lord John Russells mprndence-but about the
imprudence OF Ernest Jones' and other people who pro-
pose universal suffrage At all events, they give wealth
with poverty and knowledge with ignorance, and mature
age with youth But to make qualification compounded
OF disquafcations is thing really do believe
heard of except in the OF this conservative reform
lRenewed laugheT.l This prodglous proposition was
made. beleye, in very thin house; but next day the
house wasin enough everybody having come down with
regular troops TO have vo'e' all the policemen and all
the salorsi for. i yon take Poughboys %. Of neaad
twenty what possible class Of honest Rnglishmen and
Scochmen could you have the slightest preiehce 10 ex
clude' But then II was stated the thing had not been
sufficiently considered. and of his colleagues
not satisfied, and he should withdraw it.
Well, must say, if il had happened to me first TO pro-
pose such etoru and at the next sitting OF the house
10 Withdraw it, because il had not been well considered
do think that the end OF my life never would have
talked about the exceeding fault OF reopeniDg the question
OF reform. and never have read any other man lecture
on the extreme prudence and caution with which he
repeat, il Judge from the language OF the pres
ent ministers, taken IN connexion with those solitary IN
stances OF legislative skill IN the way OF reform, am
truly al loss what to expect but what should expect
would be pertinacous and vehement opposition 10
what Is most safe and reasonable and, in moment
Of fear caprice, fling something the table with the
most desperate evty enough 10 loosen the foundations
OF society.
For my own part. as have said, think the question
OF parliamentary reform is one which must soon be taken
up but il ought TO be taken up by the governments and
hope before long TO IN office ministry which will
take IT ua in earnest tCheersl dare say you will not
suspect me OF saying so from any interested feeling The
truth is in no case whatever shall again be member
OF any ministry. During what may remain Of my public
life shall be The servant OF none but you Loud and
prolonged eheering,l have nothing to ask oil any gov
ernmen except that protection which every government
TO every faithful and loyal subject OF The Queen
But do hope to in Office before long ministry which
will tins great question il should be treated 1t
will be the duty OF that ministry TO revise the dstrbu
lion OF power. Ii will be the duty OF that ministry TO
consider whether small constituencies VIGOROUSLY cor
rupt, and proved 10 be coHupt-such for example as
Harwlch-ought TO retain the power OF sending mem.
bers 10 Parliament 1t will We the duty of such a
ministry consider whether such constituent bodies even
less VIGOROUSLY corrupt ought to have in the councils
OF the empire share great the West Riding OF
the county OF York, and twice great that oil the
county OF Perth II will be the duty OF such ministry
TO consider whether Il be not possible, without the
smallest danger 10 peace law, and order TO extend the
elective franchise TO classes OF The community which do
not possess IT,
AS TO universal sufage"-on that subject you al.
ready know my oplnions-and now come before you
with these opinions strengthened by everything which,
since that period, has passed in Europe We have seen
by the clearest OF all proofs that universal suffrage
united with secret voting, is security against the
tabshnent OF arbitrary power tCheers.l But. gentle.
men, do look forward and al very remote period to
The extension OF the franchise further than admit,
thought would be safe or practicable believe that
brought about in the very best and hsppes way Per
haps may be sangune, but think that good times are
coming for the laboring classes OF this country. do
not entertain that hope because expect that Fourerism
or st. Smoniansm, or socialism, communism, any
OF those other "isms for which the plain English word
is obbery, will prevail. ] know such sentiments only
aggIayaie the misery which they pretend TO relieve /
know il is possible by such legislation 10 make the rich
poor, but know II is utterly impossible to make the
poor rich. [liear, hear But ! do believe and hope
that the progress OF experimental scianceihe further
m faf L.