The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-31
THE NEW YORK PRESS,
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPoE CURRENT ToPICs-oOMPuED EVERY
DAT FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
Whe English Reform BIu-The Last De-
bate In the Commons.

whs EngIisb REFORM BIu-The Last De-
bate In the Commons.
From he Herald
We have printed letter from the pen of
pur special correspondent in London, giving
IN account of the last great debate in the
House of Commons on the occasion of the final
reading of the Reform bill. The description
of the House will be accepted as that of an
eve-witness, and the epitome which is given
of the debate will be admitted to be faithful
and just.
It is evident from the letter of our corres-
pondent that while the Tory party, with few
exoeptions, is jubilant, the once so-called Libe-
raj party is crushed with that worst of all
sorrow-the sorrow that comes of disappoint-
Inent and defeat. Disraeli is the hero of the
bour 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 pro-
phetic of coming ill. Gladstone, with becom-
ing dignity, 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
sections of both the great parties, particularly
by Disraeh on the one hand and Bright on
the other to claim the paternity of a 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 trifes 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-
tion 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
emancipation-the executor, not the origi-
nator. 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 pu2zling question did
one of Lincoln's stories make plain during the
doubtful days of our recent war! and how many
a dangerous division have Disrael'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-
tion which Mr.. Disraeli defes 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 a
conservative, and Gladstone, who dares not
speak at all, for fear of showing howsstrongly
he is opposed to this bill, remind one of Gree
ley 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 passing away, and another England.
modelled somewhat after America is being
rapidly prepared. Cranborne and Lowe were
correct in prognosticating this transformation,
but wrong in opposing and dreading it. Indi.
viduals may lose their titles, their large landed
property, or their political influences; but the
change will be very beneficial for the countr,
generally, sweeping away stupid precedents
musty traditions, and effete formalities, anC
giving to the new England young, fresh, anc
vigorous life.