The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-05
Defeat of the English Reform BiIl-A
| Ministerial Crisis.
From the World.

Defeat of the English Reform Bill-A
Ministerial Crisis.
From the World.
The Ministry have been beaten on the Reform
bill by a vote Of 3O4 to 3l5-the majority against
the Government being eleven. The immediate
consequence is, that the Ministry are supposed
to have resigned. We say supposed 10 have re-
signed, because while it is known that they
have made an important communication to the
Queen, it is not known precisely what that COM
munication is. Her Majesty is at Balmoral, 600
miles from London. The defeat took place on
Monday night June 18. On Tuesday, at the
Instance of the ministerial leaders, in both
Houses, Parliament adjourned over to the
Monday following; and Earl Russell in the
Lords, and Mr.. Gladstone in the Commons in
language so similar that it must have been
concerted, stated that the Ministry had made
a communication to her Majesty" This must
have meant either that they had rendered their
resignation, or that they had advised dssolu-
tion of Parliament. That it could have been
nothing less serious than one or the other of
Of these, is evident from Mr. Gladstone's refer
ence to the estate of allegiance in which the
functions of the executive Government are
placed"
The absence OF the Queen, at place so dis
tant and inconvepent, is a pretty good ind-
cation that neither she nor the Government
suspected the near approach of anything so
serious as a ministerial crisis. There were
many reasons for supposing that Parliament
would not care to push this ministry to an
extremity. The Parliament is only five or
six months old, and the elections gave the
Ministry clear majority OF seventy. The
some five or six thousand pounds, and
the members would be unwilling to
incur this expense again so soon, at
tended as it would be, in many cases,
with the hazard OF loss of their seats. Be-
sides, the time is most uopportune and m
convenient either for dissolution of Paria-
ment, OF change OF Ministry. just at the
point when great and portentous war is break
ing out on the Continent, and when the country
approved OF the foreign policy, condded in the
experience and accepted the guidance of Earl
Russell and Lord Clarendon, adissolution, either
of Parliament of the Ministry, must be re-
garded as hazard, and almost as a calamity.
Both the Queen and her ministers seem to have
relied too much on these considerations; the
reach at time when the Reform debate was
approaching its crisis; the Ministry, in incau-
tiously stalking their existence on the success OF
this measure.
There has been something OF postiveness,
almost amounting to arrogance, IN the bearing
of Nh. Gladstone towards the opponents OF the
bill; as If the continuance of the Ministry in
Office was so indispensable, at this time, that
they could exact a compliance with their wishes.
1t was probably on this idea that, in an earlier
stage OF the debate, he announced the determi-
nation of the Ministry to stand or fail with this
measures; and that, on the night of their defeat
he chose to make an amendment offered by Lord
Dunkellin question of confidence.
Lord Dunkelln claimed that his amendment
only one of its details. His lordship is the irish
| member for Galway. In Ireland, the suffrage is
regulated, not by the rent OF the house, but by
its ''rateabe vaIuen-that is, by the assessment
for taxes. The principle of Mr.. Gladstone's
Reform bill was, to give the borough franchise
to all householders paying f7 annual rent.
Lord DunkelIm proposed that instead of f7
rental value 81 "rateable value" should be the
standard. This was doubtless what we, in
the political slang of our country, call a
dodge" 1t enabled many members who
dlsliked reform, but burst not vote directly
against it, to strike at Its life while apparently
aiming at one OF its limbs. The rent of tene.
ments is higher than their rateable value.
Mr.. Bright expressed the opinion, in his
speech in opposition 10 the amendment, that
a &7 rateable, value, as basis of the fran
chise, would be equivalent to 60 rental value
Mr.. Gladstone stated that his bill would enfran-
chise only l44,000 persons; that the proposed
and that ne would not consent to its reduction
at ali. From that moderate amount of en-
franchieement," he said, "we are not under
any circumstances or conditions, prepared to
recede. BY it we intend to stand" After
using this language, the Ministry could do
nothing less, on the adoption OF the amendment,
than to either offer their resignation or advise
the Queen to dissolve Parliament The opinion
in London is rife that they have resigned; and
speculation is rile as to whether the Queen will
accept their resignation. Just at the moment
NuCl EuIOpe lb hluuiluS lnlO SeueIdl COnHd-
grafton, will she consent to dispense with a
Ministry IN whose foreign policy both she and
the country have full confidence?
That she was wholly unprepared for having
such question forced upon her for decision, at
this time, is evident from her absence. She is
understood to have great personal respect for
Lord Derby; but it is doubtful whether he can
form Ministry, and next to certain that even
if he could, it would be of brief and uncertain
tenure The Conservative party, which Lord
Derby leads, is in an acknowledged minority.
The Reform bill has been defeated by dissen.
sions in the ranks of the Liberals. A Ministry
entering power with Parliamentary minority
could not long stand up against the vigorous
the Vigilant, the VlndlCtlve opposition OF the
Liberals. Another ministerial crisis would un
avoidably and speedily come; and perhaps at
period as inopportune and inconyenient as the
present. The instability of such a Ministry is
reason why statesmen will be unwilling to enteI
it; and is the chief obstacle to Lord Derby's sue
cess in forming one. 1t is also strong reason
why the Queen should not desire him to under
take it. The friends of the present. hope that sht
will graclously refuse to accept their rendered
resignation; that they will consider their homo
satisfied by the offer; and that in dutiful sub
mission to the royal wishes, they will consent tt
retain their places.
However this may be, it is certain that, b.
this defeat Mr.. Gladstone suffers great loss o
prestige, His political stature is shortened b.
full cubit II IS alleged that his management
OF the Reform bin has been tissue of blunders
that he has demonstrated his incapacty for par
liamentary leadership. Brilliant as an orator
clever and successful as fnancier, and for som
time past the rising hope of his country, it
elleged that he Is stranded in his first cor
siderable attempt to navigate parlamentar
: waters alone. In newly elected Parlif
e ment with a ministerial majority of seventy
: | he has suuandered his patIimOnV in tei