The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-25

1t is never to be forgotten in speaking of
the British Constitution, that its origin was
military and that the great mass of its sub
jects were originally slaves. The Parliament
under the Norman kings was called the Great
Council, and consisted solely of the ecclesias-
tical and baronial disnitaries whose descend
ants and successors now sit in the House of
Lords. The policy of William the Conqueror
was favorable to the Church, because its
representatives in England had faithfully sup
ported his claims to the throne. 1t was for
this reason that he added to his strictly militia
ry council Of lords temporal, the lords spiritu-
al. The first unmstakable appearance Of the
House of Commons in English history is in
the year 1865, two centuries, lacking year,
after the Conquest. Writs were then issued
to all the sheriffs, commanding them to re-
turn two knights from each shire and two
citizens or burgesses for every city and
borough contained in each shire. The House
of Commons is still composed of representa-
tives of the shires or counties, and represen-
| tatives of the boroughs or enfranchised towns
and districts. In 1889 the privilege of voting
for knights of the shires was restricted by law
to freeholders of lands and tenements of the
annual value of 40 shillings, equivalent at
least to ego at the present time. ,.. .is-.,
In the process of time this system develop
ed such glaring inequalities, that reform be-
came inevitable. The Reform bill of 1882 de-
clared that boroughs having less population
tban COQ0 cbou1d caaca 10 rat,,r,, ,,ox,.lo.s
and that those having less than 1000 should
return but one member. BY. this measure
las seats were vacated and transferred TO Bir-
miDgham, Manchester, Leeds, and other large
towns which had grown into Importance dur
ing the last century. Between 40 and 50
new boroughs were created, but an aristocrat-
ic courterpoise was established by dividing
the larger counties into districts, increasing
the number of county members from 94 to
| 159. At the same time both the county and
| borough franchises were extended. In the
| counties, the old 40s. freeholders were re-
tanned, and three new classes were added
| /. 1.Copyholders of e10per annum; Leasehold-
ers of the annual value OF f10 for term oil
60 years, or the annual value of $50. for
aterm Of 20 years; 5. Occupying tenants
paying an annual rent of $50. In boroughs
the franchise was given to all e10 resident
househclders, subject to certain conditions
This bill was carried with the consent thousf
without the assent of the Tory lords. Twice
it was presented by the Commons. Its rejec
ton by the Lords in the first instance wa:
followed by alarming Iiots throughout the
country When it came up again the Duke o
Wellington and about hundred other peers
absented themselves, and the bill became a
law. '- a3ia 1.ls--l.ler
Under this system, which stands unmodifiet
to-day, it is evident that land and money arr
everything and manhood goes for nothing. i
is notorious that estates which command
nomination to Parliament are readily sold 70
"a price much above their intrinsic value. Tn
copyholders, leaseholders and oocupiers ar
dependent upon the landlords. The freehold
ers on the other hand vote in every county i
which they own land. The elections are thu
doubly secured to the landed gentry. Add (
these advantages the advantage OF poIitica
traditions and politicalpractice, enjoyed sole
" by the governing class, and it ceases to b
wonderful that out of 656 members of tn
House of Commons 326, almost half, ar
members or near relatives of the titled aristoc
racy. In the bOroughs the same inequalit
prevails. There are seven towns with popu
lation of 10000, unrepresented. Arunde
with population of 2500 and ia qualfie,
voters, sends one member. Burnley, with %
600 inhabitants and probably 7o0 men quail
fled to vote if the place were enfranchised,
unrepresented. The workingmen havea clea
majority in eight boroughs and in the election
OF IA members; yet they have only two mem
bers in the House who distinctly represen
their wishes-Mr. Fawcett and Mr.. Hughes
Mr.. Bright is friendly to the laboring classes
but he does not represent them. The borough
elections are controlled by money. The Lon
don bankers have over iorty members in tn
House; the insurance offices have 81 director