Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-03-14
RUTLAND HERALD.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1861.
Reform In England.


Bright and his colaborers In the work
OF reform in England are holding en-
thuslastic meetings, and that the masses
OF that nation are becoming steadily I'M
bued with the feeling that they have not
and are not granted sufficient freedom OF
action regarding the government thereof.
Lord Derby, as was expected, upon the
opening of Parliament, introduced the
subject OF reform, but the manner In
which he has done 1t has clearly proved
that he Is not man who represents the
sentiments of the people, and that his
reform measures will prove far from ac-
eeptable 10 them. He has been too
long opposed TO progress, and the inhu-
ences surrounding him are too aristo-
cratic TO allow OF his instigating meas
ures for the enlargement Of the liberties
OF the masses Of Great Britain. His
ministry has not the moral courage and
earnestness OF its predecessor, and
though Earl Russell announced at the
outset his determination to stand or fall
with his reform bill, Lord Derby pro-
poses to take the sense Of the lower
house OF the English Parliament as to
tie manner In which reform shall be
carried out, thus Sinking responsible
ity which he is afraid TO assume "a
course which has without doubt been
determined upon TO secure harmony
among his colleagues Of the cabinet, as
IL is well known they are divided in SEN
timent upon the subject.
The Liberals of England do not expect
much from the Derby ministry, but they
did and had right TO look for meas
urs as liberal as that upon which their
predecessors were defeated; they, too,
had clear tight to look for bill from
the present ministry which would be
free from the imperfections Of the
measure emanating from the late cabi-
net. But these natural anticipations
have net been fulfilled, and the failure of
Lord Derby to meet their hopes iutifies
the belief that their opposition to the
former reform bill arose alone from de-
sire for place and power, and not from
disposition to promote the welfare and
happiness OF the people.
The greatest requirement of the Lib
erals OF England at the present time is
large addition to the voting class; the
permission OF working men to have s.
voice in the choice and selection of their
representatives and rulers. When this
is accorded, minor reforms, including
vote by ballot, retrenchment in expend-
lures, &C., will be more easy of attain
ment, and must inevitably follow. This
requirement the Derby ministry are OPP
posed to, and in consequence it will be Of
short duration; it must and will be
shipwrecked upon the rocks of reform.
The mutterings of discomfort at the
mode of government of the people have
long been heard, and noted, perhaps by
America more than by any other nation,
and in view of the truthful light in
which we can see the affairs of other ma
tions, we can not repress the thought
that should the popular sentiment in
that country remain much longer I'M
needed, a spirit of revenge will be
aroused which must bring trouble upon
the government and perhaps hurl ii
from its proud and aristocratic position
or compel it to yield to and respect the
wants OF the masses. Forbearance at
times ceases to be virtue, and when
John Bright alluded to the possibility OF
such result as we have above depicted,
he only warned the tories of Great Brit
ain of the approach of a storm which
their own perverseness, if persisted in
must sooner or later bring upon theil
heads. The English people are proverb
tally cool and slow to anger, but theil
history proves that they will not stand
too much oppression and imposition
and if Parliament consults the interests
ofthe powers that be, it will endeavor t.
nip the discomfort In the bud by in
augurating liberal measures of reform
and retrenchment.