The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-05

Au0 H0AVKm mOvem0ht III i1u6a"nu SsOv
progresses. Demonstration follows demonslra-
ton with astonishing regularity and success.
Never In England has any movement 80
thoroughly commanded the sympathy OF the
industrial section Of the community. London,
Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds
have each had their opportunity and have
each testified in favor OF Reform In manner
too emphatic not to be understood. A great
meeting took place In Glasgow on the 18th
instant, at which Mr.. Bright made = most
earnest and stirring appeal to seventy thou
sand people, abiding to time to come when
scores of thousands Of workingmen might find
it necessary to demand further measures for
the maintenance Of their rights. Dublin, too,
Is in high excitement at the advent of the great
grand banquet no doubt reminded the older
inhabitants of the stirring times and the stormy
eloquence of their own O'Connell. Mr.. Bright
on that occasion, urged upon the Irish people
in strong language the application Of vigorous
measures for the remedy Of all their grievances,
and If they are wise they will obey him, and
combine with his movement.
demonstrations now is not to show that the in
terest taken in the reform question is deepen
ing and widening, for that is patent to oil nor
TO prove that the present agitation is certain
to lead to great results, for that may now be
taken for granted. We desire rather to call
attention to marked and peculiar feature Of
this movements feature which has not been
~ H. oh in tos,
ters does not appear to be clearly understood.
No one who has intelligently observed this agi-
tation since its commencement can have failed
to perceive that it has been throughout entirely
confined to the lower order OF the people.
| The upper and middle classes have equally
| stood aloof from il. From neither the one nor
| the other has it derived either sympathy or
| support With the exception OF Mr.. Mill
and Colonel Dickson, who appeared in Lon
| don, Mr.. Schofeld, Mr. Brights colleague, who
| appeared at Birmingham, and MIR. Forster,
who lent but questionable assistance at
| Leeds, members Of Parliament have given it
no oountenanee Some Of them, not con-
tent with occupying merely negative
position, have openly expressed disapproval
|
mittees, too, in the different cities in which
meetings have been held have been but res
| pectful and submissive, not encouraging
or approving. MIR. Bright, who from
the first has been the central sun
| Of the movement, has no doubt, in
conjunction with his satellites the Beaeses
and the Joneses, exerted powerful and quick
L snQ. I,,,k .rQ -.
felt and acknowledged only by the people. In
this respect the present movement differs ma
terially from the only two movements with
which in recent times II can be compared
from the agitation which led to the passing OF
the first reform bill, and from that other and
more recent agitation, which terminated in the
repeal Of the corn laws. Both these move
ments enlisted the sympathy and commanded
the support of large section OF the upper, and
almost the entire body Of the middle classes.
Mr.. Bright's reference to the land question
in hi, Glasgow speech, showing that half Of
Scotland was owned by ten or twelve persons,
| indicates that he means more radical reform
than tue previous measures contemplated,
which only aimed at an increase OF political
power for certain classes. The reform of the
land tenure points towards revolution.
| Therefore we need hardly ask the ques-
tion-Why this difference Of attitude on
the part Of the pretended friends Of the
peoplef Why lend helping hand TO the
people In the other reform movements, and
stand aioof from the people nows We are
familiar with the answer which they themselves
| would give TO these questions. But the true
answer is different and not difficult TO find
| Their own class interests identified them with
| the people then. Their own class interests
separate them from the people now. The first
| reform bill had for its object less the cnfran.
| chisement of the people than the enfranchisc-
| ment Of the middle class; and the liberal
section of the aristocracy who were identified
with particular line of policy felt themselves
hampered without their support. The repeal
of the corn laws, II was believed, would give
fresh impetus 10 trade and enhpnce the value
Of property. Hence their sympathy and co
operation then. But II is difficult for them to
see how such an extension Of the franchise and
alteration in the legislation regulating the
tenure Of land as Mr.. Bright demands, can have
any other effect than to narrow the range and
diminish the weight Of their influence. Hence
their indifference and callousness now.
Looked at from this point Of view, the pre-
sent political agitation in England win not be
found TO be robbed ofany Of its interest. The
relations OF the different parties viii be more
clearly seen. The causes which led 70 the de-
feat Of the late reform bin and which have
produced the present excitement viii be better
understood. The agitation is not likely soon to
be ended. Much will depend on The course
which Mr.. Disracli may adopt on the opening