The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-08-10
OH A r L e S TO N
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 10, 1866.
THE ENG REFORM MEETINGS.

almost every day or two, about the popular
Reform meeting proposed 10 be held in Hyde
Park. We have seen that the Government
has betrayed nervous anxiety in regard to
this gathering, and has finally resolved upon
forhidding it. Their right to do 30 has been
called in question. The ministry put the in
hibition upon the novel ground, that it was
1snbecoming that the royal parks should be
used for such q purpose; that the people
might hold their meetings at "Princess Hill
and other appropriate points" Lord SHAFTEs-
BURY, on the Goth, in the House of Lords,
said II hope and trust that the Government
will persist in reservipg the parks exclusively
for the recreation of the people, without any
respect to pnrtizans, whether of reform, or of
GAR1BALD1, or of the Pope" The noble
Lord went on to say that he had no objection
to public meetings, but that they should be
hold at convenient times and in convenient
places, and therefore hoped that the working
CLASSES will respect the rights of others, and
not inhiot upon others an inconvenience which
they would be the first to resent if inflicted
upon themselves
The people, however, it would appear,
were not convinced by this very plausible
argument of his lordship. 1t is even possi-
BILE that they could see through its palpable
sophistry. Unless something more was
meant than is contained in the ministerial
reply, or in the above-quoted words of Lord
SHAFTEsBuRY, how is it that these meetings.
rorh
for all kinds of objects and purposes, have
been held at the same place hundreds and
Thousands Of times? Why is that improper
ieslSsSaS in lbSSS rWHhish, by Inference at least, was
was never forbidden before. No the change
of ministry upon the defeat of the Reform
Bill has opened the eyes of the working
classes to the extent of the gulf existing be-
tween the dominant class of England and
themselves, and O. great social revulsion is
threatened in consequence. The conservative
party is beginning to see it, and so great is
the alarm, that it is spreading even to the
ranks of the opposition,-those who lately
set this ball in motion. They are beginning
to feel that they have kindled fire they are
now no longer able to control. A commu-
nifty of interests divides the Wbig party, and
may now side with their late antagonists,
seeing the very foundations of tho British
Constitution endangered.
Had the Wings been able to carry out
their programme for moderate reform, this
storm, in all probability, could have been
averted If the progress of the age had not
demanded reform of the kind proposed, the
Parliamentary leaders would scarcely have
introduced measure 80 unpopular to all the
aristocratic and landed interests of the realm,
which, they must very we'll have known,
would endanger their hold of the Govern
ment, and which finally caused their over
throw. We cannot wonder, therefore, that
the people, after having their hopes raised
for many months, to the early attainment of
something like political recognition by the
supper classes" on seeing these hopes indef.
nitely deferred, and their expectations disap-
pointed, should be proportionately exaspe-
rated, and make menaoing demonstrations.
The Conservative party In England has al
ways been singularly obtuse to the wants of
the age. Were it not that from accidental
circumstances it is from time to time recruit
cd from the Liberal ranks, it would have
long since ceased TO be power. Occasion
ally great man with liberal views, in ad-
vance Of his age, has found himself accident
ally in the Tory ranks, and given his almost
detunct party new lease of life.
Whether Lord DERBY and his conductors
will prove equal to the present emergency is
matter of serious doubt, The Earl of DERBY,
for Tory, is certainly very liberal and his
son, Lord STANLEY, still more 30. But they
cannot forget that they represent Conserva-
tlsm, and that they defeated Earl RussELL's
government upon this very question. 1t will
be interesting, therefore, to see how this pilot
will weather the storm.
That he recognized the difficulties before
him, there oan be no doubt; otherwise be
would not have invited Lord CLAREnpoa. the
Duke OF SOMERSET, the late Marquis of LANs.
DowNE, and othors Of tho "Liberalu ranks
They refused. it 10 true, and their places had
TO be hlled from the Tory side of the House.
Still the very offer made them shows that the
old party limos ore extinct, and that ore lone