New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-10
TIE NEW REFORM I'LL.

Did not the absorbing interest Of the question
override every point in the home politics Of England
the Reform bill brought in by the present ministry
would receive much larger measure OF the public
attention of the world than is likely to be allotted
TO it, In England it is received with satisfaction by
the Liberals generally, while the Tories and Radicals
unite in its condemnation. Indeed, the Tories de-
it revolutionary measure, leyeed directly
at the national institutions Of the kingdom, while the
Radicals declare it to be lacking ia every element Of
popular Justice and in short fetch 10 strengthen
the moDeyocracy and the Wing oligarcby together.
One Of the main points Of the bill is what Lord John
Russell calls the representation Of minodses This is
achieved by giving TO certain counties and towns three
members of Parliament each while the electors are to
vote for only two The third member 10 to be the csnd
date standing third the list provided the votes Tor
him are equal to two6bs Of the number cast There is
apparent novelty in this proposition which vanisbes
when we remember that the British Parliament has
always been the representation Of mnortes the House
Of Lords in principle and the House Of Com mons 10
fact and that all that is 10 Lord Johns plan is the
representation Of Especial minority within the circle Of
the great privileged one. This the Radicals protest
sgaDst Of course. The Tories 10 better satisfied
Their chief organ The Morning Herald calls it"a bill
to enable the wbigs 70 return county members in
defiance Of the wishes of the majority Of county
electors" Another constitutional innovation, which
is hardly likely to be popular is the proposal that the
acceptance Of Office In the Ministry sha not hereto
FORE yaeate the minister's ,eat and subject him to the
ordeal Of reelection, With regardtO this point tie bill
has been called by its opponents act to facilitate
the corruption Of members" but we do not think the
objection altogether valid one.
The weight OF the Reform ia most felt 10 the
eonstituereics il proposes 10 diErarshse. sixtyi1 q
the present seats In the House will be rendered vacant
BY osirsnehisibg set Of small b0roughs altogether
and depriying another set returning two members
each, Of ole Of them. OF these sxtysiT reatusted
seats the counties or rural constituencies are to get
forty six, the cities thirteen the Inns Of Court two
Londsn University one and Scotland four Although the
larger share is apparently allotted to the counties the
whole Of the proySiOns in the bill 30 framed a. to
make the middle class the principal gamers even in tbs
eadjustment Of seats.
The proposed Dew franchises can hardly be SAID TO
augment the existing number Of voters by bali q
million, although they viii greatly modify the character
OF The present constituencies at the expense Of the
landed sristoersey nd FOR the benefit Of the middle
elasses The right Of voting hitherto enjoyed by
hou'tholders paying go rent in towns, ia low to be
extended to country househoders thus nfsng into the
counties strong leaven Of town interests while the
ederring Of the privilege &c houssoldsrsia
VIII greatly enlarge the political influence Of the shop
keeping class The franchise ia also TO be conferred
itose VIE are in the receipt Of yearly salary Of Zoo,
Of flo In dividssds from the funds bank stock the
East India Company, the yearly payment Of 40 shngs
income or assessed tar, the having had ESQ In any
Savings Bank, the being graduate Of any university.
All these little measures equally tend to favor ths
extension Of the vote 70 different fractions 1 tho