The Portland daily press., 1867-06-20

4 a hiaulcdl lroin tHe country recently came up
to London for the purpose of consultation with
the reformers of that city. Being upacquaint-
ed with the localities of the metropolis, he in
advertently began to ascend the steps of Carl
ton House, where ultra-Toryism assemblies its
devotees, under the impression that it was the
Liberal headquarters. A gentleman of decid-
ed Tory proclivities happened to be just emerg-
ing from the sanctuary. To him the stranger
modestly addressed himself and inquired if
this was 'the Reform? "No, hang you,"
gruffy responded the Tory, "it's the Revolu-
tionr'
This illustrates very we'll the effect produced
on almost every mind by the lato extraordina-
ry acrobatic performances of the Tory Larty in
England. Parties as well as individuals have
sometimes attempted to occupy two stools but
the successful performance of this feat is con-
fessedly attended with no ineonsiderable diff
Guilty. The Tories, under the lead of that
prince of prestigators, Disraeli, have solved
the problem which ranks among politicians
with that of squaring the circle, among mathe-
maticiaus, and perpetual motion with mech
anicians They not only did this, but first in
creased the difficulty hundred fold by plac
each other. Yet they sit mistaken on the
ministerial benches. No aristocracy in the
world is so thoroughly and incurably conserv-
ative at heart, as the same party that has Just
carried through the Commons a reform bill, in
creasing the number of voters from 100 to $50
per cent. by reducing the property qualfica-
ton required for the exercise of the elective
franchise To add to the anomalous aspect of
affairs, John Bright and Gladstone have been
forced into position Of Quasi-opposition to a
measure which has finally become infinitely
more liberal than that proposed by the latter
when few months ago he was the leading
spirit of Wing ministry. 1t is as if Jack
Rogers and his associates should carry through
our own House of Representatives bill pro-
viding for the confscation of the
estates of Southern leaders, oppos-
ed at every step by Butler and steuens.
No wonder that poor Mr.. Lowe, when he arose
on a recent occasion to utter the stereotyped
platitudes, which will perish from the Tory
dia.ect only when Tories are no more, about
the traditions Of the past" existing institu-
tons" and measures of unspeakable impor-
tance, felt himself very much confused and
dSIOulSLeu &I Tic SlIudtlOu III WHICH Ills party
had been placed by sphinx-lke Chancellor
of the Exchequer. Gladstone would gladly
have rested content with reduction of the
borough franchise from G1O to e7. But undar
the amendments to Disraeli s bill, any house
holder who pays poor rates, and dodgers who
pay e10 per annum are enfranchised. These
provisions, it is thought, will increase the num-
ber of electors from 100000 to 100000 or
1900 900. In fact, the floating population
alone is excepted from the general amnesty
offered by this bill. But it does not stop here.
Boroughs containing less than 10000 voters
will no longer return members to Parliament
This very satisfactory advance upon the re-
form measures of 1882 which fixed tho mini
mum at 2C00. Boroughs may be ''rotten" still,
as in the good old times, when his Grace, the
Duke of Norfolk, carried eleven of those pu-
crescent corporations in his capacious pocket; /;
but the noble individuals who would possess
them will perhaps find it more difficult to pur-
chase 10000 electors than their ancestors did
to control much smaller number, who had
only an imaginary existence.
Late cable dispatches give us information
concerning what Is probably the last question
which will divide the present House on the
subject OF reform. On Monday night, the plan
for the redistribution of seats, which was sub
mitted by the government,was carried by a ma
jority Of eight. This is not SO comprehensive
scheme as that submitted by Mr.. Laing, but
taken in connection with the change of which
we have just spoken, it will go great way to-
ward remedying the evils and inequalities in
cident to the absurd English method of arbi-
trarily creating constituencies.
Merrily and triumphantly have the Derby
Disraelites done this work. A grave-digger is
proverbally cheerful individual; but these
politicians have with smiling faces assisted in
digging their oon graves for the sake of tenn
porary lease of power. 1t is true that they
could not expect to carry SO monstrous relic
OF barbarism as the British peerage into the
twentieth century, but its friends were hardly
called upon to act prominent part in making
| preparation Tor its obsequies. How long do
| they suppose that an enfranchised nation will
| endure the burdens impasNd by thAir power, hy
their exclusive privileges and by their unright-
! eous monopolies ofland? The red flag and the
| liberty cap raised a few days ago by reform
| rioters over St. James Hall may serve to re-
| mind them that the present century's 93 is
! near at hand. ...rt ....... ... ...