Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-21
REFORM ACROSS THE WATER AND
THE REVERSE AT HOME.

BtE XIV EHSE Al HOnbs
The able London correspondent of the
New York Tribune writes as follows Of
what are called the reform measures now
pending before the English Parliament.
For the information of our readers who have
not kept pace with foreign politics, we will
state that these measures look TO the en-
franchisement Of large class Of the popu-
lation Of that country hitherto excluded
from the privilege Of voting, and the reor-
ganization Of the electoral districts; and that
they are brought forward under the leader
ship Of GLADSTONE, a member Of the pres
ent Ministry, and decidedly the ablest and
most accomplished statesman now in Great
Britain
The issue now before the country il not only
the acceptance OF rejection Of Mr.. Gladstone's
bill but the existence Of Liberal administration.
The ministry having wisely, as well courage
0usy, resolved 10 stand or fall by the measure it
lies with the people TO close up ranks and go into
action after their leaders, determined 10 win
stack their arms in calm, dishOnOrable, base
submission" at the feet of the triumphant Tories
That Is the alternative. and is rejoiced to see
II accepted pretty thoroughly. An enthusiasm
evoke on ITS own merits seems likely TO be eK-
cited by the delightful Peryersity and admirable
unreason Of its opponents, and especially by the
OutspOken rancOr of the renegades whom def
cheney Of drill in the ranks to which they had de-
serted, urged TO the front. The Tories and their
allies have shown Enthusiastically that what they
hate IS not the particular kind Of reform propos-
ed, but reform itself
The arguments put frward by Messrs Lowe
and HOrsman, and Endorsed by Lord Robert Mon
taguo and Vincent CranbOurne, assert that un-
eniranchised masses radically unfit for the
possession Of a yote-in effect, the tdrunkards
brawlers, brutes, and corrupt rascals that the
hrst-named member for the rotten borough of
Calne-' village in the west of England
chose to call them. Now, the Liberals of Eng
land are about as much divided in opinion as
the AbOlIuOnlsts Of America, to whom i have
compared them, as to how far il is desirable to in
terlere with the existing state Of things; they
diier as 10 what extent the franchise ought to be
lowered, and many were disposed to consider the
redistribution Of seats Of more urgent importance
than mere lowering Of the suffrage, which will
only practically increase the power of the unrep-
resented classes, without touching fragrant anon
allies and abuses. crying aloud for extinction.
But as we Republicans were all agreed that slave
~ should, with our consent go no further, so the
Liberals here entertain no doubt as TO the expe-
dieney Of increasing the electoral body. To ad-
init that the workngmen Of England ought to be
permanently excluded from any direct share in
the government of the country is TO rcnOunce the
whole creed Of Liberalism The eloquent and
burning Indignation with which Mr.. Gladstone
repudiated the stigma which the Tory party at
perhaps needed to raise their feelings TO the right
pitch-perhaps expressly calculated for that pur-
pose.
IoLjecf" he said in answer to the vapid in
science Of Lord Robert Montague and the stupid
apprehensions Of the Conservatives TO the idea
u dealing nth these statistics az 'oe 'cere ascer
tuning the numbers Of an rHUddiHp army. The pcO
pie lrhO ,CiU be admitted TO The franchise are our
tci0iUsujccis JeiiOi0- Christians, O,rR flesh
aud biood-HieH iauded 10 The skies for their
dHct-H,,a ichO haze borne destttutiOH, stdrUdtiOa
almost, ,cih patience 1chjch ~ q lcssOn 10 GU."
Won't there be grand echo TO these wordl-"scn-
timental rant " as Lord Cranbourne termed them
Ga man whose mind has been telcitously described
as 'one with a false bottom when, next week,
the Chancellor ofthe Exchequer takes the stump
in Lancashire2
Ii was the first time during his leadership that
he spoke with his old passion, and for the first time
the House Of Commons felt that Mr.. Gladstone
was IN earnest about reform, as it only learned
recently TO appreciate Mr.. Bright as, not a speak
er, but debater Never was engineer more
starthngly hoist with his own petard than the
Tories we're discounted by the information that
Government intended to lay the Irish and Scotch
Reform bills, and one for the redistribution Of
seats at once on the table!
We especially call attention to the itali-
cized remarks of Mr.. GLADSTONE in reply
to the Tory advocate, Lord MONTAGUE, and
cite them in contrast with the views of the
illiberal and petty-minded disfranchisers
who are ruling the legislation of this coun-
try.
In the once free, enlightened and progress
sive America it was held that our institu-
tons were the light and landmark for the
spirit Of liberalism throughout the world
that they were so constituted that
they could stand all the catastrophes
and c,,,,ulsi,pg 4, ,yl,;,L al ,tl,or
forms Of government were subject, and sur
viye them unframed in the integrity Of the
principles on which they were founded
But there has arisen among us a school Of
political wiseacres who contend that after
the suppression of 4 rebellion, and the sub
mission and more than willing return of
the revolting element to its allegiance and
duty to the laws, it is necessary for tEe
safety of the State that we should revert to
the ideas of government prevalent hun
red years ago-that we must discard repub- |
icanism, and order our governmental ma
chinery after precedents established by |
monarchy and feudalism.
The course of the liberals of England, |
who chiefly represent the middle class Of
that country-and which is, in spite Of the
aristocratic features of that government still |
existing, the real and reliable support to its
power, in the presence Of the Fenian revolt |
and ferment in Ireland-in endeavoring to |
extend the right of franchise, and enlarge |
the influence of the people, should put to
the blush the blatant liberty-shriekers of |
this nation who, to serve their own selfish |
ends are pretending to be the champions,
par eDcelience, of freedom and progress,
but are overturning the foundations of its
security and perpetuity.