New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-10


color Of IDEAS with that Of the locks, and weakens
the principles along with the muscles of youth.
Everywhere we see the JacObin of fifty years sgo
toned down into the Hunker Of to day, the liberal
!spsipg into the conservative, the fires Of youthful
enthusiasm for liberty smouldering under the ashes
careful years have sprinkled upon them. Wilkes,
turned courtier, protests that be was never
Wilkte in bis heart; Sir Francis Burdett's youth
of fierce Radicalism subsidies into gentle TOryish
old age. Times change, and we change with them;
and yet 90 gradual is the fux and efiux Of the par
ticles which 60 to make US up, that they are wholly
changed and our identity entirely renewed, like Sir
John Cutters stockirg g. aud we are unconscious of
the chaDse-Or at least think it very much for the
better. Lord Brougbam, the ancient tribune Of
the people, the stern maintsner of their rights the
leader Of the forlOrn-hope that stormed the House
of Lords quarter of a century ago and planted
the victorious banner of Reform on its ramparts-
him, too, has age "clawed in his clutch, and
changed his countenance and his hand.
He has just been making speech in the House
of Lords on the further Reform Of Parliament,
which Lord Palmerston has promised at some con-
ye1ent season to bring forward. Lord BrOugham
cautions the Premier against making his changes
too denOcratic--one Of the very most superluous
Of warnings, one would think. This, certainly,
did not use to be TIE apprehension which weighed
on the heart Of Harry Brougham. when no stirred
the people and the Commons with bis demand, for
Justice He processes to be in favor of an extern
sion of the suffrage, but is puzzled to know how to
effect it without increasing too much the democrat
ica element, or the influence of the uddling or
lower classes, independent Of the landed aristoc-
racy. His scheme is to have the 20 seats or so
which il is admitted must be taken from their pres
ent rotten constituencies by any REFORM filled by
the votes of the skilled artisans aud the intellectual
classes generally, without any fixed territorial linz
its to the residence Of the electors. He does not
pretend to suggest how this puzzle is to be satsfac
toriIy solved but leaves it to the ingenuity of Lord
Palmerston. But we may be assured that he will
never waste any of that abundant gift of bis upon
so cbimerical dream.
Lord Brougbam is dead against the Ballot Of
course. This was to be expected from one whose
chief dread is of too much popular element in Par
lament. Freeing the voters from the Surveillance
of the landlords and mill-Owners would be serious
blow to the influence Of rank and money. But he
is in favor Of other changes which would tend to
strengthen the power of any Ministry and cOrrela-
lively to weaken that of the People. For instance,
he would not make acceptance of Office under Gov
eminent ipso facto vscate a seat in Parliament
This he says, is often very inconvenient Doubt
b. Nn,ct bat. 10
as often extremely convenient to thu public,
and an opportunity to express its opi.!on OF
the transaction. This reto, as it were, of the
People on the action of the Crown is surely one Of
the last privileges they should waive. Again, ne is
in favor OF having official seats in the House of
Commons without election by the People, erecting
the Crown. or the Ministers, into rotten borough
If the worst Bind ard most dangerous character
The appointment Of the Barristers whose duty il is
to revise the polling lists he would transfer from
the Judges to the Home Office. That is, he would
take ths most important selection from the most
absolutely impartial body Of men in the empire, and
give it TO Minister whose very official existence
cepends on the votes tie Revising Barristers to
pass upon.
There are other significant suggestions which tell
Of the change which mas come over his youthful
dream Of Parliament that was really to represent
The People. He falls back, in his defeuse Of the
present h.rd.hips anc inequalities of the represen
tat;Cp Oh tie excuse offered for those Of the uure.
formed Parliament, that tie whole system is full of
them. The existence Of the disease is an argument
against administering the medicine. That it has
grown TO be chronic, il reason coed why nothing
shoud be done TO palliate it, much less to cure it
altogether. Time was, when Henry Brougham
weuld have cut up such logic by the roots, and
scattered il to the der,siOn Of mankind. But more
than quarter Of century on the benches OF the
House Of Peers has not been without it, elect on
the Radical Wing of tie days when George ". was
king. That the Reform of 1872 must be reformed
sgain is as Inevitable as was that great event when
William ~. came to tie throne. But it will not be
reformed backward in the way indicated BY the
penitent radical Brougbam any uore than it can be
wholly stayed by tie 6na!ity" of Lord john. No
" backward mutters Of di,solyirg power can IN
bend the spel, inchoate Only as it was, which the
u any then laid upon the few. These maunderings
Of Lord Brougtam are rather curious il psyche
logical than important in political point Of view.
-
Eyderce Of the most conclusive kind lie afforded
by the letters Of our Kansas correspondent, which
We publish today, that the pretense under which
Governor Walker occupied Lawrence with large