The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-30
The English Reform Biii-The Last Debate In
the Commons.

The English Reform Biii-The Last Debate In
the Commons.
In another part of this days HERALD we
| print letter from the pen of our special cor
respondent in London, giving an account of
| the last great debate in the House Of Com
mons on the occasion of the final reading of
the Reform bill. The description Of the House
will be accepted as that of an eyewitness, and
| The epitome which is given of the debate will
be admitted to be faithful and just
1t is evident from the letter of our cerre-
sponlent that while the tory party, with few
exceptions, is jubilant, the once so-called
liberal party is crushed with that worst of all
sorrow-the sorrow that comes of disappoint-
ment and defeat Disraeli is the hero Of the
hour, the object of the praises and the homage
OF the proudest and most cultured aristocracy
in the world; and he assumes the attitude and
uses the language Of a conqueror who can
point to the triumph which enables him to seem
Indifferent to the means by which it has been
achieved. Cranborne and Lowe are prophetic
of coming ILL., Gladstone, with becoming dig
nifty, is silent Bright is nonplussed, and
knows not what to say.
The one weak point in the debate, as it ap-
pears to us, was The anxiety manifested by Sec
tons of both the great parties, particularly by
Disraeli on the one hand, and Bright on the
other to claim the paternity of measure
which the one party, though it dislikes it, has
had the honor of passing, and of which the
other party, though it rather likes it, has been
robbed of the laurels. The bill is now safe in
the Lords, and such unworthy tr.les might
have been passed in silence. For politicians
to quarrel about the credit of having origi-
mated or proposed or carried the measure is
absurd. Reform in England, like emancipa-
ton in the United States, has been the result OF
circumstances, not of any settled political
policy, and has been carried by the people, not
by the politicians. Mr.. Disraeli has been to
the bill what President Lincoln was to the
emancipaton-the executor not the originator.
He has been forced along, step by step, as
President Lincoln was, and he has displayed
his wisdom, not in leading the people, but in
obeying them. Like President Lincoln again,
he has been successful mainly through his
jokes. How many puzzling question did one
of LincOln's stories make plain during the
doubtful days of our recent war, and how many
a dangerous division have Disraeli's rollicking
speeches tided safely over during the long re-
form debates. Different in many respects, Lin
coin and Disraeli are also in many respects
alike, and especially in this-that, almost by
accident, their names have been indissolubly
connected with measures which will change the
future fortunes OF their respective countries.
Lord Cranborne and Mr.. Lowe were perfectly
right in predicting that the change in England
will be radical and revolutionary. The agita-
ton which Mr.. Disraeli defies is preparing for
him. Beales is already candidate for the
Reform Parliament, and other such men will be
elected. They hate all prerogatives; they care
nothing for privileges; they are Unsuitable for
more reform. Bright, who now talks like
speak at ALL for fear of showing how strongly he
is opposed 10 this bill, remind one of Greeley
and Seward, who were once considered very
radical, but are now left far behind by the
Chambers and the Wades. The English masses
are not yet satisfied, and never will be so long
as they have to pay tithes to State Church
and take off their hats to titles. Those who
would like to see old England must go there
within the next two years. Old things are pass
ing away, and another England, modelled some
what after America, is being rapidly prepared.
Cranborne and Lowe were correct in prog
nosticating this transformation, but wrong
in opposing and dreading it. Individuals may
lose their titles, their large landed property or
their political influence; but the change will be
very beneficial for the country generally
sweeping away stupid precedents, musty tradi-
tons and effete formalities, and giving to the
new England young, fresh and vigorous life.