The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-20

The Reform movement, inaugurated in England
by Mr.. BRIGHT, meets with but little favor, and
certainly causes none of the excitement which
distinguished previous agitations for similar OBJ
Jects That the ultra Radicals of Birmingham,
and the Chartsts generally, should hail with ac-
clamatlon so distinguished a champion of their
principles, is not at all surprising but the changes
proposed are by far too sweeping to render them
acceptable to those who, while they are sim
cerey DESTROYS of effecting modification of the
elective franchise, are by no means prepared to
revolutonise the entire parliamentary system
The chief points demanded by Mr.. BRIGHT and his
allies are triennial parliaments redistribution of
seats so as to equase the ratio of representation in
all parts of the United Kingdom vote by ballot,
and household, or, what is more popularity termed
manhood suffrage. 1t is easy to perceive that if
these demands were conceded, the form of
government would be revolutionised and
that it would become in short time even
more democratic than Mr.. BRIGHT's favor
lite exemplar, the UNITED STATES. So far
as triennial elections concerned they have
been adopted before in England, but the ex-
perience thus acquired was by DO means
favorable to their restoration at the present day.
The first trennial Parliament met in 1896, and at
the time was needed concession to public opin-
ioni but the frequency of elections, thus intro
duced, was productive of those bitter party feuds
and those VIGOROUSLY corrupt practices that dis
hnguished the Wings and Tories in their struggles
for power during the reign of Queen ANNE. After
testing, for six sessions, the merits and dement's of
triennial Parliaments, bill was introduced in
TIA extending the legal duration of Parliament
from three years to seven. This was the origin of
the Septennal Parliaments which have been held
for nearly century and half, and which Mr..
BRIGHT now desires to change. But admitting
that a return to the old system of triennial cleo
tons would prove beneficial, the tremendous share
OF power which he claims for the working men,
would not only have the effect of crushing out
the aristocracy, but would destroy the entire So
cia and political constitution of the country The
result of granting to the inhabitants of large
cities, without regard to class or qualification,
share of power in the ratio of population,
would be, to subordinate the representatives from
the rural districts, to the overwhelming majority
of members from the cities, and TO defeat the salu-
tary measures which Mr.. BRIGHT processes to be
anxious to promote. Any one can understand how
easy it would be for the immense number of
low class voters, upon whom he would confer
equal political rights, to effectually control the
House of Commons, and to disorganize the whole
scheme of government. That the elective fran
chise should be extended from the free
holders to the better class of industrious
workmen, under such checks and guards as would
preserve the privilege from abuse, and that it
could be so extended without distnrhino that hal
ance of interests upon which the true welfare of
all classes of Englishmen and the perpetuation of
the present form of government depend, is very
generally conceded But Mr. BRIGHT is not con-
tent with claiming reasonable share of power
for the interests represented by large cities he is
not even satisfied that the ratio of representation
in the large cities should be in any wise different
from that which obtains in rural districts; nor is
he at all solicitous what manner of men they are
upon whom he would confer the privilege of yot-
ing, so that they are of adult age In asking for
so much, he risks the loss of what would really
DO worth gaining. He cannot possibly expect to
carry bill through the House of Commons that
comedies the four points we have already quoted
The sentiment of the nation is opposed to them for
they are adverse to the genius of the English Con-
stitution Even if the Commons could be pre-
vailed upon to pass such BILL the House of Lords
would never consent that it should become law,
for it would prove not only the death-blow to their
Order, but would seriously endanger the existence
of the Monarchy itself. But Mr.. BRIGHT al
though he has become the recognised champion
of this movement, will scarcely be so Quixotic as
70 insist upon reforms 20 ultra democratic in prin-