The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-23

story is a warning for politicians, however, to
put nothing in writing when verbal statements
will answer as welL-[ Boston Advertiser.
English Parliamentary Reform.
The following extract from the London cor
respondence of the New York Tribune will ex-
plain the nature of the abuses which Mr..
Bright and his party are seeking to correct
Monday, the 18th inst, was the day fixed for
the introduction of the Reform bill now on
the anvil.
ALLOW me few statistics, which, however
supernuous to progressive Engiishmen, may
hep Americans to a clear conception of the
impending struggle, OF the results OF which
predicate nothing. In the present House of
Commons the Government interest is repre-
Sc lted BY "a members THE Administration,
with IL holders OF Office under Government,
giving total of Al. The aristocraric interest
Is represented by the eldest sons OF peers, 3S;
younger sons, nephews, cousins and tue like,
81; connected with peers by marriage, So;
IRISH and &c, Itch members, 5 giving a total OF
213. The Fl ,nting interest Is represented by l03
military officers, Il navai officers, 43 We man
~ Ofncars, 81 volunteers, and Is militia Off
GERS. Inc legal interest is represented by Z
attorneys and solicitors, and W barristers and
ing interest number. IS. The miscellaneous,
including surveyors, architects, brewers, news
paper prop.1etors, ETC., 81. The railway d.
rectors are only returned as IL, though there
must be three times the number NOW, the'
war-voting power in the House cannot be less
than 40J, more than hall OF the entire body,
and tine logical result is inordinate war taxa
ton in a TIME otpeace, amounting to the mod
est estimate of $4,000 per boar throughout the
y ns.V
course, think there's nothing ike ieather.'-
During the last 90 years this country, has ex-
pended for lighting purposes, including the
war debt, NO less than $500 millions, all
draw from the pockets OF the people. Its in
come fot the last 30 years has ben 91,770 IL
millions; its expenditure during that time g.
al millions, averaging eo9,oo1 ,OU0 per year,
a truly prodi ,ious sun, and one whicn would
hardy be sqdanderei by true representatives
of the people. These are in quILe a hopeless
minority. at least five cut Oh every six men,
bers are of the aTistocratic, Class, or retain
their seats by peerage infaence-indeed, prac-
ticaly, the House or Commons is onlyejunior
Hou5e of Lords. 1t is the house of the aris-
tocracy, the army, the navy, anything but the
house OF the people. The present electoral
system denies the semblance Of politic.l. pow
er to ali buy, narrow section of the commu-
nifty; and then allows the minority of that Sec
ton to out-vote the majority In constituent
cie5 subject to arlstocratic or clerical control
The House of Commons neither represents
the property nor the average intelligence of
the nation. 1t taxes all, it governs all, yet it
Is the creature OF the few, WHO have the deep
est interest In the maintenance OF offices, and
an organized system injurious to the rights of
the many. 10 everybody tile fact is patent
that the sinecures, The pensions, the good of
fees and "fat things" OF the state are divided
among a few. According to the last census of
1851, tine male population of this country was
upwards of 14,UOO,000; OF course it is higher
now. At moderate computation 10000 of
this number are adults. Now the present
electorate scarcely exceeds 100000 voters,
taking the numbers nominally. On cxamina-
ton, one finds that at the most hOtly contest
ed election not more than 900,0U0 can be
brought to the poll, owing to intimidation and
other influences. Indeed it is fewer than 9O0-
coo. Only one out OF six, and his chance SUBJ
ject to rascaily contingencies! In fact in the
counties of England there is but one voter for
every nineteen persons; in Wales, one for ev-
cry eighteen; in Scotland. one for every thirty
three; in misused Ireland, one for every 123
personsl ~ fe III ~ lsU
In the boroughs of England there is one to
every seventeen persons entitled to a vote;
in the boroughs of Wales, one for every TWEEN
ty-one: in Scotland one Tor every thirty-four;
in Ireland one Tor every flfty-eight. Here be
let IL; look at the so-called Representations
The Financial Reform Association has issued
table contailiing an admirable analy is of
the constituencies of this United Kingdom,-
This sheet shows that eleven boroughs, with
an aggregate population of AZ ,7O5 persons, on
ly have 1851 electors. They pay gross rem
tai of e197,673, and e13,402 to the income tax
Now these II boroughs, with this limited pop
ulation and very limited number of electors,
return II members to Parliament; and 8 bor-
oughs, with 76 times the population of the pre-
ceiling, 53 times the number of electors, and
paying lit times the amount of income tax,
only send Is members-just one more i
-Honiton with population of 1901 and 269
electors, rental of e15000 and payment of
e7o0 income tax, has double the voting pow
er of Saliord, with population of 1902 449 and
Sol electors, e373 POO rental and e27.22O
payment of the income tax.
Anomalies like these are as nlentif,l as
blackbef1ies in their season. One NAV 90
through the entire country and find II ali the
same. there are large and important places
totally unrepre ,entsd. birmingham, with a |
population OF z9o,ooo persons, has but 1871 |
electors, who return only Two members. Ran
bury, with 1925 inhabitants, has 617 electors
who return one member. Thus every voter
in the Latter Sleepy country town is the poiti |
cal equal of II residents in one of the bnsi-
est in all England, with John Bright for it's
rep esentative. At the present time not
SINCE b iton, as such, is really represented in
the peoples House Of Comm ms.
So much, statist:cally, for the necessity for
Reform. Wnesher it will be obtained is quite
another question. From the privileged class
;tle G)velnnslt mu t expect bitter opposi-
ton; as from the sefi.h middle Class, luke
warmness; from the working men hardly as
much support as sincere liberaisms has had a
right to expect. The papers on the side of the
latter write strongly, but one seems to detect
IN tnein /, want OF confidence; they may be on
ly wnistiing to keep their courage up MANY
OF the new Liberals-elected as s1,eb-are
scarcely to be depended upon, the atmosnbere
OF st. Stephens being, morally, no better Than
that OF Washington. The Tories will fight
hard, and the sham Liberals will helm them
VI Two things, however, one must Iannen
Either the bill passes, and we shall have in.
creased the popular power of the Government. |
or It IS thrown out, and then we shall be able
to distinguish the nominal from the genuine
friends OF the cause. In either case. the Lib
eral party Will gain very solil advantage.
1he Oaot, by the way, (edited by EVELYN Ash
ley,iate PlVAte Secretary to Lord Palmerstou)
asserts that Earl Russell intends to retire from
Office as soon as he shall have carried the hin
with which his name is historically Identified.
he Is seventy-hve, you know, and feartuily
badgelei with contentious and difficulties.
w The Boston Post says four thousand
WIGS have haan ordarad g..