The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-06

4 tesi6ed4n favor oil reform in manner too EN-
phatio not to be understood. A great meeting
| took place at Glasgow on the 16th ultimO, al
| which Mr. Bright made q most earnest and
| stirring appeal 10 seventy thousand people,
alluding to time to come when scores Of thou
sands of workingmen might find it necessary to
demand further measures for the maintenance
| of their rights. Dublin, too, is in high excite
ment at the advent of the great English tribune,
| and the demonstration at the grand banquet no
| doubt reminded the older inhabitants oil the
| stirring times and the stormy eloquence Of
| their oWn O'Connell. Mr.. Bright on lnat oSO1
sion, urged upon the Irsn people IN slIoug 'an a
guaae the application OF vigorous @ w. ,o iur
| the remedy of all their grievances, anu IL Iney
| are wise they will obey him, ana combine with
| his movement.
Our object, however, In referring to these
| demonstrations now is not to show that the in
terest taken In the reform question is deepen.
ing and widening for that IS patent to all; nor
to prove that the present agitation Is certain to
lead to great results, Tor that may now be
taken for granted. We desire rather TO call at
tention to a marked and peculiar feature of this
moyement-a feature which has not been sufi-
ciently noticed, and which IN certain quarters
does not appear TO be clearly understood. No
one who has inteligently observed this agita-
ton since Its commencement can have failed
TO perceive that IL has been throughout entirely
confined to the lower order OF the people.
The upper and middle classes have equally
stood aloof from it. From neither the one nor
the other has it derived either sympathy or
support.
With the exception of Mr.. Mill and Colonel
Dickson, who appeared in London, MIR. Scho-
field, Mr.. Brighps colleague, who appeared at
Birmingham, ana Mr.. Forster, who lent but u
questionable assistance at Leeds members of
Parliament have given it no countenance. Some
OF them, not content with occupying a merely
negative position, have openly expressed disap-
Droval OF the whole proceedings. Mayors and
committees, too, in the different cities IN which
NfVA.o hnwya hold 1n,,,
1ul and submissive, not encouraging or ap-
proving. Mr.. Bright, who from the first has
been the central sun of the movement has, no
doubt, in conjunction with his satellites, the
Bealeses and the JOneses, eXerted powerful
and quickening influence,
But the influence has been felt and acknow-
LEGGED only by the people. In this respect the
present movement differs materially from the
only TWO movements with which IN recent times
1t can be compared-trom the agitation when
led to the passing OF the first reform bill and
from that other and more recent agitation,
which terminated in the repeal Of the corn laws.
Both these movements enlisted the sympathy
and commanded the support of a large section
OF the upper, and almost the ehtire body OF the
middle classes
MIR. Briehts reference to the land question in
his Glasgow speech, showing that half of Scot
land was owned By ten or twelve persons, lndi.
Gates that he means more radical reform than
the previous measures contemplated which only
aimed at an increase OF political power FOR Ger.
points towards revolution. Therefore we need
hardly ask the Questlon-Why this difference of
attitude on the part of the pretended friends of
the people? Who lend a helping hand to the
people in the other reform movements, and
stand aloof from the people now? We are
familiar with the answer which they themselves
would give to these questions. But the true
answer is different and not difficult to find
Their own class interests identified them with
the people then. Their own class interests
separate lhem from the people now. The first
reform bill had for its object less the entran-
chisement of the people than the enfranch,se-
ment OF the middle class; and the liberal sec
tion OF the ariStCcracy who we're Identified with
particular line OF policy, felt themselves ham
percd without their support. The repeal OF the
corn laws, iC was believed, would give fresh
impulse to trade and enhance the value of plo-
perty. Hence their sympathy and cooperation
then. But 1t is difficult for them 10 see how
such an extension of the franchise and altera-
t1on in the legislation regulating the tenure of
land as MI. Bright demands, can have any
other effect than to narrow the range and
diminish the weight OF their influence. Hence
their indifference and calousness now
Looked at from this point of view, the present
political agitation in England will not be found
to be robbed of any OF its interest. The relations
of the different parties will be more clearly seen.
The causes which lead to the defeat of the late
reform bill, and which have produced the pre-
sent excitement, Will be better understood.
The agitation is not likely soon to be ended.
Much Will depend on the course which Mr.. Dis
raell may duOpJ on inc opening OIL FaTllament.
He has ability and daring enough to inaugurate
a new era in his country's history, and we shall
not be surprised if he prove himself better
friend Of the people than many OF the so,called
liberals. In any case it is tor the people 70
maintain with 6rmness the attitude they have
assumed. We have no desire to see the House
of Commons besleeed; for the moment intimda-
ton begins just and faithful legislation ceases.
Let them only wait with calmness and with
dignity, and the hour of their triumph cannot be
far distant