Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-01
Reform in England.

The tory government of England is jjubiant
a recent triumph over the liberals OF
the question of reform. The present par
Lament when elected was controlled by de-
cided majority of the liberal party, and it
was supposed that some valuable enlargement
of the franchise would be the result. Glad
stone was the head of the government, but
the ministry were defeated by small ma jor-
ity through the detection of considera BILE
number of members elected as liberals. Glad
stone and his ministry, after the British GUS
tom. went out of office after this defeat and
DisraeH and tory ministry came into pow
er- The liberals, however, appealed to the
people, and held immense meetings in favor
of an extension of the franchise. This pop
ular movement became strong that it was
thought before the recent meeting of parlia-
ment, the government, tory as it was, would
he Obliged to bring in some bill charging the
franchise. or be beaten on a division The
ministry appreciated the difficulty, and pro-
posed measure which increased somewhat
the number of voters, but which was much
too restricted to satisfy Gladstone and
Bright and the great body of the liberal
party The measure met SO little favor both
in and out of parliament on it's first intro
ductIon, that it was confidently anticipated
the ministry would suffer an early defeat and
20 out of office. Contrary to this general
expectation however. the ministry on a d.
vision defeated GIadstonc's amendment.
This defeat, it is now thought may, for the
present. so demoralize and dishearten the
friends of reform, as to give the tories undis
turbed control of the government for several
years.
The defeat was brought about, seems to
be generally understood, by Gladstone want
of skill and sagacity as a parliamentary
leader. lie has been recognized the head
of the liberal party, and has had position
in the House accordingly But he has proved
in this exigency unable to keep his followers
compact and he has vacillated in his parla-
mentary management to please first one wing
and then another of his party-for the liber-
al party of England is something like the
Republican party in this country two years
ago, composed of radicals and conservative
until his party lost confidence in him, and
enough EtIuctu " iOllOW uiIu when the tlnc
for voting came to give the tories the victory
The friends of reform feel this defeat so
sorely, and it is evidently so far the result of
Gladstone's unskillful leadership, that there
has been no little blame thrown upon him
and chagrined himself he has written a let
ter in which he has practically resigned the
leadership of the liberal party.
The tories are making the most of this dis
comfture of their opponents /; and Disraeli is
losing no opportunity of taunting Gladstone
with his incapacity to manage his own party,
whether in power or out. The tory Chancellor
exultingly says that, when Gladstone was the
head of the government, he had a parliament
a majority of whom were elected as liberals,
and yet he was defeated upon his chosen
ground, and in the house of his friends
while Disraeli says the tories took the gov
eminent with a parliament hostile to them,
and have yet achieved victory On the first