The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-08-28
THE ENGLISH REFORM BILL.

The English Reform Bill recently
passed by the two Houses of Parlla-
ment has been signed by the Queen
and is now the Supreme law OF the land.
Though the Bill, during the discussions
which preceded its passage created no
little excitement in the United King
DOM it has been proposed, discussed
and passed without any of those dis
graceful riots and outbursts OF ultra
Democratic feeling which characterised
the Reform agitation of 1882. Men OF
all parties have looked the wants OF
the government full in the face, have
discussed calmly the defects of the con-
stitution and have applied such reme-
dies as cannot fail to meet the approb?-
ton of all liberal minded men regard
less of party af1nities.
In former times the question of Re-
form was supposed to belong exclu-
sively to the Wing or Liberal party,
whose Democracy was thought to be
equal to the Democratic tendencies of
the age, and the Tories revering the
work of the past, were supposed to
have nothing to do with it except to
prevent dangerous innovations on the
established laws and customs of the
Kingdom. But in the present instance
we have presented an instance of Re-
form Bill, which enfranchises more
than million Of people, prepared by
Conservative Cabinet and carried
!. through a Conservative parliament un-
der the guidance of Prime minister
who is the very embodiment of modern
British Conservatism. On tie other
hand the Bill has been opposed by the
Liberal party; not, it is true, because
the Liberals are opposed to Reform ;
but their opposition to this Bill, be-
cause it was not Democratic enough,
might have been the cause of failure
E to pass any Reform Bill whatever
This fact shows that party lines Of late
years have been almost obliterated in
Great Britain. To accommodate them
, selves to public opinion Conservatives
have become liberal; not to outstrip
public opinion ultra Liberals are forced
to profess moderation. The Earl OF
Derby on assuming the administration
. of the government, at most delicate
crisis Of public affairs, found himself
= confronted with this question of Re.
. form, the difficulties (which had driv
en- him from Office once before after {
p very short lease of power. He was de-
termined that his opponents should no
force measure of Reform upon him
, that his Cabinet should not oppose it.
self to the populace will and thus bt
compelled to retire again to make room
for those who should conform to thu
prevailing opinions of the age. Salts
fed that Reform of some kind wa,
needed the Conservatives applied them
: selves to the task in earnest, and not
. withstanding the opposition of Mr.
. Bright, Mr.. Gladstone, and their col
q leagues, they have passed bill which
: seems to meet the wants of all the ad
vocates Of parliamentary reform. TIL.
9 Conservatives are the true reformers o
the day and their leader, Mr.. Disraili
! is one who less than twenty years age
was prescribed on account of his relig.
ion, because even the Liberals were mo-
enlightened and liberal enough to re-
cognise universal religious federation
throughout the Queens dominions.
e The new Reform Bill, too, with all itI
/ liberal provisions, is after all con
t sentative bill. Although it extends The
:. right of suffrage to large number WHIT
r were formerly denied the privilege
s there is not the slightest recognition O
, the right of man to vote or hold Of
fee simply because he is "man and q
brother;" still less does it manifest the
slightest inclination to follow Mr.. John
Stuart Mill in his extravagant vagary
of universal suffrage, without regard te
: sex or any other present disqualified.
ton. The Radicalism and Red Repub.
, licanism which seem to be fast hurry
ing every ether country to destruction
find no place in the substantial gov
eminent of Great Britain. In extend.
ing the right Of suffrage to SO many
, DISTINGUISHED citizens care was taken SC
to arrange the distribution as to pro-
tect the greatest number of interests
and the principle is distinctly announ-
E ced that it is the interests and not the
| men which are intended to reap the
/ benefits of the new acknowledgements
The British Constitution as modified
! therefore recognises Mr.. Calhoun's con.
/ servative theory of the power of the
! concurrent majority as opposed to tht
numerical majority; q theory of govern.
ing which, affording representation tx
every important interest, il carried ou
will enable each, by proper combina
l tons, to protect itself against the en-
5 croaclments of other hostile interests
1t thus maintains within itself a heal
} Thy balance of power which secures itl
preservation by extending equal protec
ton to all who are brought under it
dominion.