The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-04-22
The defeat of the Derby Ministry on tho ,

The defeat of the Derby Ministry on the second
reading of the Reform Bill by majority of thirty
nine and the subsequent success of Lord JOHN
RUssELL's resolution declaring that no plan of Re
form would Re satisfactory to the country which
did not provide for liberal extension of the right
of suffrage, does not strike US as promising any
special advantage to the popular cause 1t was
only upon the common ground of resolution,
couched in vague and general terms, that all the
fragments of parties could be brought to bear
against the government. When, therefore we re-
fleet that the amendment to the bill was carried
by temporary union of heterogeneous elements,
by the combined force, in fact, of Wings, Radicals
and ultra TorieS-all of whom were actuated by
diverse views the question of Reform, and seve-
raj of whom had voted for second reading of the
bill with the design of having its provisions modi-
fed in Committee-we cannot perceive that the
opposition has gained any thing more than a
barren victory. The vote, moreover, which was
cast in the House of Commons, on the evening of
the 3lst of March, indicated that Lord DERBY
had been so steadily gaining in strength, during
the few months he has held office, that he had
won over to his support from fifty to sixty more
members of the House of Commons than he could
count amongst his adherents when he assumed
the reins of government. Notwithstanding, how
ever, this hopeful promise as regarded the future
the custom has very generally prevailed in En- O.
land for Ministers, who have been out-voted upon
any question of public Importance, either to re-
sign their seats to the victors, or to dissolve Par
Lament IN tba
indeed, been instances when both of these alter
natives have been rejected. The younger PITT,
on one occasion, carried on the Government for
many months in the face of repeated defeats. and
in scorntul defiance Of the most strenuous efforts
on the part of his political adyersaries to compel
him TO resign, and twas not until he had succeeded
in turning the tide of popular sympathy in his
favor that he undertook to dissolve Parliament and
appeal to the country. How triumphantlv he
passed the ordeal is matter of history Immedi-
ately subsequent TO his defeat in the recent party
contest on the Reform question, Lord DERBY APP
pears to have hestated what course to pursue; but
we now learn that he has expressed his determine
ton to dissolve Parliament and look to the results
OF general election for an endorsement of his
policy. 1t was perhaps the most iudicous step
he could have taken. Outside the limits of few of
the larger manufacturing towns, the eloquent
speeches OF Mr.. BRIGHT in favor of the extension
OF the right of suffrage have failed to rouse any
strong expression of popular feeling; whilst there
is much, at this time, in the complex condition of
European affairs, to render any change of minis
try IN England matter of more than ordina-
ry moment. The English people have not re-
Gently had that perfect confidence in the fear
less independence of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, or of
Lord PALMERsroN, which would make their
return to office generally acceptable nor do
they believe that any scheme of representative
Reform, which the former might be induced to
frame, would prove more satisfactory than the bill
which was introduced by Lord DERBY, provided
that permission had been given him to modify in
Committee, its Objectionable features Indeed, the
probability was, that if that measure were
Internationally rejected, emo Reform bill would be
proceeded with, and that the whole question
''would be hung up for years as an object for pro-
''longed and dangerous agitation" Such was
the opinion expressed by Mr. GLADSTONE who
maintained that ''wheher the government were
induced to dissolve, to resign, or merely to drop
'the bill, the consequences would hardly be other
''than disadvantageous to the public interests"
1t is of course difficult to predict what will be the
result of Lord DERBY's appeal to the country.
There are many reasons, however, which
incline us to believe that his appeal will be sus-
tanned, for whatever may be the merits or dement's
of the Government scheme of Reform that ones
ton may well afford TO wait more fitting oppor-
portunity for adjustment, in view of the moment
Gus crisis that now appears to be approaching.
If it be true, that there is no longer any reasona-
BILE hope of settling the Italian quarrel by diplo-
macy, the people of England will scarcely consent
at such time, to sanction the arrangement of the
whole machinery of Government, merely to serve
the interests of party, and on question of purely
domestic policy.