New-York daily tribune., 1855-08-28


have had a year Of possession, and the other
e,suse preserving Tavistock, the family rotten
Ae,oush of the Russ.lls. Russell was but
subordinate member OF the Reform Mln"'ry,
without a vote in the cabinet, viz: Paymsster of
theForces, from November, 1850, to November,
1884 lie was, perhaps, the most in1gni6cant
man smorg them. But from his being the son
Of the mighty bake Of Bedford be was singled
cut for the honor of introducing the bill iato the
House Of Commons.
Beside tho Reform-bin discussion, Lord John
distinguished himself by the acrimouy and vira-
hnce with which be opposed all inquiry into the
pension-lst. Come years later, when all tue
PROMINENT members Of the original Reform
cabinet. having been removed TO the Lords,
died cut, o. separated from the Wings, Lord
Jebn not only entered upon their inherit
ancs bat room passed in the eyes OF the
country as the natural father Of the bill OF
which he bad been but the godfather by
eourtesy. On bringing in the Reform bill. he
said: "There can be no doubt that the bGlO,
"las much TO recommend it; the argaman.s
(which ] have heard advanced in its favor are
"ss ingenious as any that ever heard on soy
"subiect." As to ssOrs ParlameEts, "tkat
"was q question of the utmost importance,
which be eft to be brought before the Hpuse
"by scme other member at future tiwe, in
"order not to cmbsrrass the great subject with
"details" On the 9TH June, 1888, he pretend
ed 70 h.ye "refraincd from bringing forward
"tbose two measures in order TO avoid cJl-
. hsioD with the Lords, although opinions deeply
=. =. Ia eli al of
4" their being most essential to the happiness.
"prosperity end welfare Of this country"
Whether in consequence Of this deeply
seated conviction or not he proved during his
whole ministerial career the constant and re-
kntless adversary oC the ballot and short parlia-
n,euts But when these declarations were
made they served as expedients, in tao first
place, to alley the suspicious democrats in the
House of Coznons and in the secend, to
frlehten the refractory sristOcrats in the House
Of Lords. But as soon as be had got pos
session OF the new Court Of Queen Vic
toria and fancicd himself an immortal place
b0dcr, ont he came with his declaration of
November, 1897, wherein he justified the "ex-
"trtme" length to which the reform bill
- had gone >" on the plea Of barring the possi-
bity Of ever going further. lie stated cOoly
that "the object Of the Reform bill was to in
"erease the predominance Of the landed inter.
"est, and it was intended as permanent settle
"m.n, of great constitutional question"
Prom this fnality statement he earned the soNb,i-
que, of Finalty-Jobn But this fnality was as
false a preteDse as his reform itself 1t is true,
he resisted IIumo's motion for Parliamentary
Reform in 1913. With the combined forces
ofWhigs, Tories, and Peeltes, he again defeated
Home on similar motion in 1S49. EmbOldened
by his conservative army of reserve, he then most
hsugbtily spoke to the purpOrt that Z" in framing
"aDd proposing the Reform bill, what we wished
''was to sdspt the representation Of this House
"to the other powers of the State, and keep it
ain harmony with the Constitution. Mr.. Bright
"snd those who agree with him are so exceed
"ingly DaIrow-minded they have intellect and
understanding bound up in sach narrow
"rOuDd, that il is quite impossible to get them to
understand the great principles on which our
"ancestors founded the Constitution of the cOun-
"try, and which We their SUCCESSORS, humbly
"sdmire and eDdea, or TO follow. The existing
"system, though eHhat anomalous, worked
swell: the better for she anomalies"
However being defeated in 1851 in his OPP
position to Locke Kings bill for extending
The county franchise to so occupiers, and
even forced to resign for some days, Lord John
suddenly made up his large mind on the
necessity Of a new Reform bill. He did not
state what his measure, was to be, but he
gave prOmissory note payable st the next ses-
sion of Parliament. How this move was judged
of BY his own cOnfederstes may be seen from The
Hsstminstes Rerie,c "The pretense Of the pres
sent Ministry to Office had become byword
"of scorn and reproach; and at length, when
"its exclusion and party annihIaticn seemed
Imminent, forth comes Lord John with the
"promise Of new Reform Billfor 1852. Keep
me in Office. he says, till that time, and will
satisfy your lors sings by large and liberal
"measure of reform. The Reformers Of the
"House of Commons yielded to that reasoning.
In 1852 be indeed proposed Reform bill, this
time of bis own invention but Of such Liliiputan
features that neither the Conservatives thought
il worth while to attack nor the Liberals 70
support it, Still, il Afforded the little man
pretext when resisning his ministry for throw
iog IN his fgbt Scythisn Dart At Lord Derby,
by uttering the pompous threat that he would
luast on the extension Of the suffrage"
Hardy cut of oince, this child Of eXpedency,
row emphatically called by bis own followers
FOUL Weather Jack, summoned 10 bis private
rt.t9eueo p Che4n an. plqrN he dif-rant