The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-26

the confederation at present, but provision is
made for them to come in at future time,
subject to the terms which the Parliament of
the new kingdom may propose.
II is hardly necessary to say that our own
people, especially those of the States border
ing on the Canadian frontier, are decidedly
opposed to plan which, it is now evident,
proposes to erect monarchy, with all its
offensive, not to say prejudical, ingredients, at
their very doors
Parliamentary Rcforsn In Great Britaia-
DisrnclI's Propositions.
The excitement in regard to reform in Great
Britain does not abate as time advances. In
Disraeli on the 18th instant delivered his
promised speech, announcing the course which
government. intended to pursue in the settle
ment of the long vexed question. No one can
read the speech with care and refuse to admit
that it reveals all the characteristics for which
the present Chancellor of the Exchequer has
been SO long and 80 justly distinguished. 1t is
able, cautious, ingenious, eloquent We dis
cover here and there, though in less profusion
than in some Of his former elaborate efforts,
specimens Of those lofty generalizations and
of those pointed, pithy, epigrammatic utter
ances in which of all living statesmen he is
without an equal, If we except only the pres
emit ruler of France. Nor would it be fair to
say that, considering the stiff and intractable
party to which fortunately or unfortunately
Mr.. Disraeli belongs, his speech does not in
dictate decided movement in liberal direc-
ton. Yet il we are to Judge from the evidence
now before us It has been received by the
press and the people generally with storm
Of indignant disapprobation. The comparative
absence of demonstration on the part Of mem
bers when the long Grafton was brought to a
close, and the brevity Of Mr.. Gladstone's re-
marks, cannot be said to augur well for the
success of the government
II is manifest from this speech, az we'll as
from the resolutions which 1t was the intention
Of the government to submit to the House of
Commons on the 25th, that Lord Derby and
his friends have either not read with sufficient
clearness the signs of the times, or have not
the moral courage to bow to the inevitable
and accept the only course which is compatible
with dignity and with honor. We do not
greatly sympathize with those who object to
the government plan Of proceeding by rcsoIu-
ton. 1t is not, certainly, the most dignified
course. 1t betrays q consciousness Of their
weakness as a party and reveals a love Of
Office which, as Disrael candidly enough ad.
mits, are by no means aattering either to him
self or his colleagues, not one Of whom is su-
perior to
The last innrmity Of noble minds
AT the same time circumstances win occur
Gas indeed they have occurred in the Parlia-
mentary history Of England), in which such a
course may be found to be not only justiiiable
but eminently wise, and II is question which
may fairly be raised whether the Parliament
Of England at the present moment is not pre-
cisely in such circumstances If the late re-
form bill had been defeated mainly through
the opposition Of the tories, the course now
proposed would not only not have been dig
niHed--it would have savored OF baseness
itself But 1t was not so defeated. If II can
not be said that the tories were in favor
Of the bill, IL can at least be said that
II the liberals had remained united the bin
must inevitably have passed into law. II is
therefore, we hold, perfectly fair for the gov
eminent Of Lord Derby TO say-Since reform
Is imperatively demanded, there is nothing in
our antecedenss barring us from attempting
the settlement Of the question bat since there
Is even less likelihood of our being able TO
carry satisfactory measure than the govern
mcnt which preceded us, we shall best consult
the public good by removing the question as
far as possible from the arena Of party politics,
and leaving IL 10 be decided by the collective
sense Of the House. Although II would UNI
doubleday have been more dignifed had they
come forward with some broad, comprehen-
sive measure Of their own, resolving msnfnily
to stand or fall with IL, we do not, In the cir
cumsten0es blame them for resolving to pro