The New York herald., 1866-04-29
THE REFORM BILL.
The Debate an tho Com mons.
WHAT MANCHESTER HOPES AND REQUIRES

tFrom the Manchester Guardian, April I4I
The debate on the secend reading Of the Franchise
BILL far as u hes gone, has not materially altered the
position OF the question. On two points only In fact
any light to be expected in addition TO that
which has been Afforded by the copous discussions Of
the last few weeks The first Is the extent OF the dspo-
son existing in the House of Commons 70 challenge the
principle OF substantial reduction of the franchise The
second is the extent TO which shc
are willing to take advantage OF the opportunity for
the purpose OF turning the government out OF ohce
Any movement bearing the distinct sembance Of cbai
ienge either OF these points must evidently be met
by the whole strength of the liberal party, and Il is
mainly because these aspects have been ostcnsiby i'm
parted the during the Easter that the
Ministers arN believe, assured OF majority ayainst
Lord Grosvenors amendment IL is clear, however,
that while II in their power TO assign what party
importance they please 10 the debated question,
they cannot arbitrarily dcermne It's significance IA
affecting political principle. Blythe repeated conces-
sons which they have made 10 the remonstrances of
their supporters, they have indeed themselves allowed
that II Is quite possible 10 dissent from the which
they originally proposed 70 follow and yet heartily TO
cooperate with them in pursuit OF thelr object We
consider that the excellent results that have cnsuod from
this relaxation Of the stern discipline which Mr. Glad
stone irs sought TO establish are the best justification
for continuing Oh. same course OF candid criticism, with
the slightest fenr that either the supremacy Of liberal
principles the good faith OF Parliament will suffer by
doing great work of this kind with proper iorchought
and del bcraion
The Chancellor Of tho Excnequer contendcd on
Thursday night with ~ much vgor as he previously dis
played Al Liverpool against the opponents OF further
cnfanchsement Of the working classes. IL Is agreeable
10 Ind that bis most coacni argument Is derived rom
the which the reformed Parliament has met with
Bright u has always been most reluctant 20 engage.
Win regard, however, to the special measure before
The House, We cannot bat consider II sign Of
eti0us weakness In skilfui adv ocatc that his
answers are almost exclusively addressed 20 clnss
ul objections which he has reason TO fear II H. doubt
Ices, true thst there v considerable party who are
minded % resist any downward extension OF the suffrage
Toe COVE nment, however, must be aware that IL
dpuao q opponents Of this class not by ourea son.n
hut BY out,oln, them, aud that they ouiy BECOME
formidable by The Enforcement of Others who approv
ing Oi he m bstotal object, are dissatisfied with the
proposed metlod 0f proce, dug To the strength ming
or this the only point " their line the attention
81 the gOycrT ment might naturally be expected 10 be
drrctcd bot s this point which they still continue 10
nc.lcHt
EaTl Russell himself has avowcd the opinion 4
that the House Of Commons which deals with tho
franchise ought also 10 decide what boroaghs oblp-
rate and wlSt constituencies " create hut thy
have ned engaged that the assembly which iowSs
the franchise shall lcgfslste tho allotment pf
seats, because il is not IN tho power of government
to insure che fuBlmcut VI any promise of ,he kill
They do not know what circumstances may aSse
compelling them 10 resign, n, from pAralnont |
pr hcndcd ID this is that the second part Of the
iornl scheme, the harmony OF which admittedly jes-
scnth importance TO the werkng of the first, wou be
framed under fcrsnt set Of electoral nauencea here
is he ~oser, comfort In Mr.. Gladstonc's calculaouha
notice.. with view TO registration, bc kivon
by the 10th of June, the Franch bill cannot pksbly
come into operat on before the end Of 1851 IN only
tLlng that yens ~ 70 be asked is wLv IL be cldly de-