The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-05
CHI A r L E S Il O N
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 8, 1866.
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.


PARLIAMENTAR REFORM
The British Constitution is ON it's trial.
The Reform Bill recently introduced into Par
Lament by Mr.. GLADSTONE, is the most ex-
citing topic that has come before that body
since the passage of the Catholic Emancipa-
tion Act. The latest advices bring us ac-
counts of tho debate in Parliament on the
second reading of this bill, and we have Pc
rused them carefully and with great in
terest.
The Tories, of course, are opposed to the
measure, tooth and nail; this was to be ex-
pectad. The Conservative press for months
has been engaged in casting ridioule upon
tho Wing Ministry and their attempted re-
form, ascribing their zeal in the matter to the
basest motives of interest and selfpreserva-
tion. One Of the principal arguments used
by all was found in the interrogatory els it
probable that Parliament will acknowledge
that it does not represent the people?" A
law passed by Parliament enlarging the
franchise would be such an admission. It
were needless to stop and point out the fallaoy
would preclude the possibility of any reform
whatsoever.
Although ourselves decidedly conservative,
we are not prepared to subscribe to the Or
thodox tenet, that whatever is, is right"
Leges Anglieanae nolumss maari,'' has
been the cry of this party for hundreds of
years. But the world moves On all the same.
The Conservative element in State is,
however, not to be lightly esteemed and it is
precisely the solid stability which this char
ter confers upon her institutions, that has rem
dered England respected and honored among
all the nations, and set up as an example to
be initiated The Whig party have been the
representatives of the progressive principle
in England for nearly two hundred years !;
and during much the greater part of this
period have welded the reins of government.
But however radical the principles of q party
in opposition, its leaders cannot be long &C the
head of affairs without fading themselves
under the necessity of modifying many of
their views. And such has been the case with
the Wings; till at last the spirit of the age,
so-called, had SO for outstripped them in the
race for progress, that they were no longer
thought to respond to the principles to which
they owed their charter. A new class of
politicians arose,-for years on the outskirts
of spectability,-who catered to the de-
praved instincts Of the rabble. Universal
suffrage, free church Tor perhaps rather no
ohurch) and democratic institutions gen.
} orally, were the cardinal principles of this
new gospel. This party has increased slowly
but steadily,-JoHN BRIeHT its great apostle
and now constitutes a power, although
, perhaps, not sufficiently strong to have any
, serious pretensions TO- the government, yet
welding great influence in supporting the
Ministry, or voting with the Opposition.
The Whig Ministry has often been seriously
threatened with loss of popular favor ; tt
prevent or counteract which, they, from time
! to time, bring forward some measure of re
. form. This is hailed with satisfaction by thu
people, silences the Radicals, and is violently
. and bitterly opposed by the Conservatives
I Such a struggle is now in progress in th
o English Parliament, and upon its issue de
d pends the fate of Earl RUssELL's Cabinet
i The chief advantage to the Wing party,
strikes US, from the success of this or an,
: similar measure, is not 80 much in conse
auence of the absolute benefit bestowed upo
:, the people, as the reflected credit derive
l. from the abuse and opposition of the Tories.
n Mr.. BR1aHr and his fellow Radicals len
= ; their hearty support to the bill proposed b
a. the Chancellor Of the Exohequer. 1t is true,
is not all they want, far from it; but tbs q ste
t. forward; and they accept it as good omel
u On the other hand, it would appear that Eal
40 RUSSELL has not succeeded to Garry his entir
os party with him, and GLADSTONE, in his lat
~ speeches, inveighed severely against mis- o.
d, ponents generally, and most bitterly again
u the renegades, who had left their party in i
", hour of trial. r'@' .bttf ~
rs The Reform bill was introduced in tt
~. House of Commons, on March IL, by II
,ul Chancellor of the Exohequsr, who set for
its principal features, which have preyiousl