New-York tribune., 1867-04-09
GREAT BRITAIN.

IIIT REFORM BHi-iIS sLCOND HEADING SPEECHES
on GLADSTONE, DlsRAI1I, BRIGHT, AND OTHERS
In the Houseof Commons, on March p the second
reading Of the Reform bill drew together the largest
House Of the session. Every seat was occupied Wheh
the Speaker took the chair and the attendance OF stran
gers was extraordinarily numerous oyerfowing the gal
ieres into aud corridors. Various questions
were asked given relating To the Reform
bill The important Of these notice given by
Lord Elcbo behalf Of Lord GrosvenOr, Of an amend
ment ia Committee fixing the borough suffrage nj 40
On the second reading being moved Nh Gladstone rose
and commenced by assuming that II this we're the third
reading would probably be rejected by large minority
and IL motion for going INTO committee, II the
House had greater insight INTO the views or the dOv
crnmtnt than present possessed, probably majority
would Of opinion that u were waste OF time to proceed
made Of this TO ascertain with greater pre-
csiOn what the Government intended to do Win me bill
There was genera agreement Mr. Gladstone said, that
shouldbe passed this year hat " shond embrace
liberal enfranchscment OF the laborlng classes aud
that n should carry with Il promise OF hNedness
and this last he added must be attended by two eond
tions-that there should be no nDuRIy " nnintelss,c
tre sGod d% be no needless or TcXat5u distinctions
between indyiduals But while the SO rating scheme
the untimely Disappearance Of which he regretted
did seem 20 afford basis for settlement, the
prospect offered by this biz was very discouraging
and he summed up thus tho alterations II would re
Guirc: lodger franchise must be inserted; means
must provided 10 prevent traffic In the votes OF the
lowest cass OF hOusehOdeIs, the distinction between the
different classes oi iatepaylhg h0iseheldeis musl De
abolished; the taxing franchise and the dual vote must
must be enlarged, the county franchise reduced, and
voting papers must he dropped Having intmatcd that
as that must be The OF all bills Mr. Gladstone
commented ON the enfranchising clauses, which
he said were devised to bear the appealanco OF
giving household suffrage, while by subsequent re-
strctions this apparent concession would be entirely nu
lfed he showed that by the operation OF the Small
Tenement act and local acts u would be left TO the local
authorities and registration agents TO decide how lar
these restrictions should operate. He examined next at
length the facilities To he given by clause % 10 compound
househOders arguing that by requiring the personal
ton OF the householder the personal payment OF rates
calcula on the fun rateable value the wOuldbe voter
would have Ia pay sratestwce over was MOI payment
Of rntee he insisted but mans condition In life, MS pre-
snmIbe character Of Independence which ought 10 he
the crtera OF his ftness for the franchise but
assuming personal payment 10 be good basis, the
our actual system OF law Mr. Gladstone next shadowed
out plan by which certain figure OF rateable yalue
should he liable to pay rates or should have vote while
all the line should bc rated and enjoy the franchise;
and on Mr.: Henley asking whether payment OF rates
he did not look upon this as "a matter OF much
consequence This would be erecting personal rating
into something like principle and would he giving the
franchise to those judged iii for 1t tho simplest man
TO define those who fit for the franchise was
necessary to draw line between two classes whereas
the bill endeavOred 10 set up a Darwinan process OF
natural selection" through the operation OF legislative
difficulties which would be under the direction Of local
authorities or registration agents; and while IL would be
possible 10 attain fxedness OF settlement by drawing
line between classes-if 1t q reasonable ne-he
asserted that IL never could be attained by arb
traTy selection OF individuals OF the class. Mr.
Gladstone next discussed in great detail the last pub
towns and In towns under the operation, and the partial
operation OF the Small Tenements act, and showed by
numerous quotations from them that IL would work very
diversey not only IN different towns but In different
parishes Of the townon side OF setting
up Imanhood suffrage and ON the other mere
ency with thousands, while In another ID
admitted VOTERS by tens only. He condemned the
bill unreservedy 80 admitting principle 9iIe needless