The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-26
Reform in England.

From the Tribune.
The Reform bill is now the exciting question
in England. A meeting OF the supporters OF
the Government was held at the house of Lord
Russell on the evening of April 10, and an address
was made by the noble lord at the head OF the
Government "with temper and judgment" we
are assured by the Times. He repeated the de-
Termination announced by Mr.. Gladstone at
Liverpool, that by the Reform bill the Govern
ment would stand or fall. Those who have op'
posed what Is called 'piecemeal reform" pro
fess to be comtorted by the assurance that
hill for redistribution of seats will speedily fol-
low tbe Franchise bill. BY this measure the
Ministry will stand as sternly as by the Fran
chise bill. The Times, as an enemy of reform,
but anxious to go with the tide in favor OF it,
accepts this assurance as an evidence OF the
change "which the chief organs of independent
opinion IN the press have produced in the coun-
sells Of the Minister'S" In other words, the
Times processes to consider the announcement
OF Lord Russell as a change In the Ministerial
Dro sramme from what was declared by Mr..
Gladstone In the House of Commons, and thus
pays ITS accustomed Difference to strength Dy
Withdrawing all oppos ton.
In the meantime, although the Times pro-
fesses certain degree oil satisfaction vita Rus
sells speech, that satisfaction IS not shared by
those recalctrant liberals who have been opPos-
ing reform. Lord Grosvenor will still press his
stihlng amendment, the success OF which, we
are assured, will dissolve Parliament Mr..
Lowe and MIR. Hor5man are still opposed to the
measure, and we shall have very able but severe
speeches from them in Parliament. Mr.. Lang
and Mr.. Edward James persist in opposition,
while Mr.. Bouverie, not being anxious, per
haps to. go to the poll with an ,anti-reform
record, has stated that he will support the
Government In the country and press the
agitation Is violent and unremittmg. The
people are in earnest, and meetings are being
held in all parts Of the kingdom demanding
reform. II is hardly possible that its enemies
will permit dissolution. They would scarcely
wish to go to the nation on the question that Eng
lands labor and genius were unworthy of the
franchise. Mr.. Lowe, at Calue, and Mr.. Hors-
man, at Stroud, would meet a reception which
English snobs know SO well how to give.
We have, therefore, hopes OF reform. The
fidelity OF the Ministry to the cause, added to
the irmness OF the English Liberals, leads us to
believe that the Government will be strong
enough to carry this measure of Justice. The
bill Is not as broad as we could wish, but in
English as well as In American politics the true
plan is when we cannot get whole loaf to take
as many slices as we can. We should like Eng
1and to be as generous to her people as we are
when they come TO live with us. or even as
Australia and Canada. 1t would be wise in the
aristocracy to do so, as the generosity would
give them claims on the people and excite an
affection like that, for instance, which has for
centuries clustered around the illustrious house
of Russell. We find the greatest statesman of
that as devoted to freedom as he was thirty
years ago, and when he goes from us we may
expect similar devotion from Lord Amberley.
The noblemen OF England should learn that
their real strength IS in the respect and conf
dence of the people, and that the aristocratic
system is weak only in Its opposition to true
freedom. We believe it is the destiny of that
system to fall, but that destiny will be hastened
a century by the blgotry and pride OF such
houses as those OF Stanley and Grosvenor.