The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-29
Earl Russell ON the Representation OF
the Working Classes.
From the london Daily News, July IA. |

From the London Daily News July 14]
LORD Amoerey stated the other day TO public meet
ing at Earl Russell was about TO issue cheap repub-
LEGATION OF his essay The English Government and
Constitution, in which he had introduced certain para
graphs strongly favorable to the extension OF the fra
chisc TO working men, We have received a copy of the
edition referred to, and find among the new paragraphs
the following
The pound householders are It is generally ad-
mitted unwilling to share with others the privilege OF
voting for member OF Parliament This reluctance,
imagine, would be felt though in less degree tho
extension lateral inst ad vercan other terms If IL
were proposed to build wing to the house instead of
another story
sumo that the body Of pound househoers the
least as rervons to public opinion the old close corpo
rations or Bath, Scarborough, Portsmouth, &c II so,
they will yield to clear demonstration of the national
will us expressed by elections public meetings. the press
and other channels Of public opinion
IL must be added that the opponents OF plan for
lowering the franchise have placed their resistance on the
most odions as well as the most untenable ground Tho
small shopkeopers do not differ much in position and
not at all superior in intelligence the workmen receiv
ing twenty thirty or forty shings week in wages re-
siding IN the same town. The declared exclusion Of
WORKING men, us incorporate and Ignorant is 80 nvid
Gus that their immediate slperiors who live in ten
pound honses will not like to remain long in the po
siton or barring the door against the best Of
their customers and the most enlightened Of their neigh
borsL
The other and more formidable objection Is that the
new corners viii swamp the old voters This objection,
though not very carefully distinguished or analysed by
these who make II, rests one of two grounds The
first In that the voters who live in below the value
OF ten pounds are unfit TO have vote the second is that
this class so numerous that admitted all other classes
will virtually b. DISTINGUISHED
With respect to tho first objection the answer must
bc:-H thcy are unht TO vote, do not admit them ut all
Why take poison into the constitutions relying upon
some antldote the efficacy OF which has not yet been
isdy Why give ignorant and dishonest men the power
or capsizing the vcsselp Why admit them among the
crew at ar But in fact the working men of England
are not, as BODY. either ignorant dishonest They
largely avail themselves OF those facilities to acquire
political and historical knowledge which, by the cheap
OF books and Of newspapers have of late wears
much increased. Their daily employments depending
they do upon their industry skill and stcadiness
them
The addition OF such men TO the number Of electors s
therefore security and not danger 1t will tend 70
Improve the quality Of the elected BODY and render
Parliament moro sound in its general views and moro
attentive 10 the national interests fact those who
have declared the working men of England unfit to exer
else the franchise erect barrier where none ought to
exist
For the working do form a caste apart sepa-
rate in their feelings and their from the rest Of
the community They likely to disregard those
connections and ties which bind them, Ike the upper
ana middle cnses TO their political party or religious
honor and welfare Of England than any other class
the nation.
All the cndcavors made in this direction by the con-
sentative party are conceive, mistaken in Judgment
and unwse in policy. They tend 10 make democracy
where does not exist TO enclose political constitu
ton within pale OF privilege, and u brand with dcTa.
dalton men who ought TO be honored for their honesty
ard intelligence
Thus Instead Of giving 20 our constitution new secur
y the efforts ~ those maintain that the franchise
must never he lowered that IL extended II should be
only lateral direction, tending to create new
danger Tho working class not very eager 10 have
the franchise II privilege which must be accompa-
MED with increased risk Of differences and jars between
employers and employed But when the working class
told that they ignorant cass intempcrate
class and dishonest those who might have borne
the injury very patiently will hardly put up with the in
suit II b an imprndcnt well untrue imputa-
ton II tends 10 make that very hostility Of classes
which II prcicnds Ia dcprccato
The extension of the franchise therefore, should no
vertical well a. lateral Numbers
htness let numbers be admitted
What should be the precise amount OF rent Of rate
which should ere the nhabitant OF borough to vote,
whether the old householder right Of voting with
three years occupation might not uscfullv be the test
will not here pretend 10 determine odger suffrage Of
clio rent might, perhaps he added
Further on his lordrhp gives why he thinks II
N no, exp dent that the smaller boroughs should be
ex''neushcd by further large process Of dsfran
chneinent Tie last reform hill 81 Lord Palmcrsfon
foscrnment went quite far enough In this direction
The Gig rated fran hse which the Law In Ireland
might we'll the noble earl, be adopted for Eng.
sh and IRISH counties But these matters require time
thought and concert y