The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-19
GREAT BRITAIN.

the Reform League and the United Trades,
Council ON the Land Question, Taxation
and Education.
On the evening OF the 9Th inst Mr.. John Bright at
tended meeting Of the working classes In the Corn
Exchange OF Edinburg There was large assem-
blage present and number of distinguished indi-
viduals occupied prominent positions After the
presentation OF addresses to the distinguished orator
by the Reform League and the United Trades
Council
Mr.. BRIGHT rose and, after expressing his In.
dehtedness TO both bodies, he sad-The fact is
and will not say 1t with any expression OF scorn
or with any feeling OF triumph-the aristocracy OF
abdicated, and their most boastful leader, Lord
Derby, as the chief, in their name and for them has
capituated to the people. One hundred and eighty
years ago there was revolution In England. The
revolution OF 1858 had this efcct-that it stripped the
monarch OF absolute power, and, pretending to con-
nobiiity The bill OF 1882, Combined with the
bill of last year, has given us another revolu-
ton. Power has not been taken from the Crown and
given TO the nobility but 1t has been taken from the
nobility and has been given henceforth and forever
to the people Cheers. The form remains yet Of
country with the possessors OF great wealth 1t viii
nave power. am not now complaining OF 1t. am
although there is the influence Of great wealth st
che spirit VI the country has changed and the centre
OF power has been moved. tCheersl We are, In
iacl-We VIII not attempt to conceal ft from our
seves-we stand at this moment on the threshold OF
q new career. Standing there, we need no longer
have recourse to language such as we have often
heard from platforms and such as sometimes have
been the first TO use. We have no longer contest
Win tne House OF Lords we have no longer charges
10 bring against % selfish ogarchy; we no longer
dread the power OF the territorial magnates we
no longer feel ourselves domlneered over by
vectiye now would be out OF place; we APP
peal to you-not that you should rise and overthrow
the power which hitherto has ruled you but APP
peal you now with arguments with facts-if It be
possible, II we are capable OF doing it with words Of
wisdom, that we may give you counsel that all OF
you now IN the government OF the country or which
you are part may be known hereafter solely by your
acts OF wisdom. tCheers.) We feel, feel, that the
Fate Of this great nation Is in the nalons hands, and
that come veal come woe, the responsibility OF the
future must rest with the great majority or the
people, admitted as they now are at least within the
burghs, 10 large share or representation and poli-
teal power. But we have some little matters still
TO adjust and all Is not DONE because the conferring
OF the franchise l. but giving TO every man key by
which, II he is wise, he may unlock the treasures
which are open TO wisely governed people, This
very Reform bil so extensive and so remarkable a.
1t Is, has still many Deficiencies Iwill not so into
details with regard to what Is to be done in bringing
the county franchise at least into greater harmony
with the borough franchise. These are details that
will, no doubt, come up before long for discussion
before the people and before the Parliament; but
there - one point TO which will refer ana which
have already mentioned and that Is the question Of
the shelter OF the ballot.
Speaking OF the land question in Ireland must say
one word about the land question in the United
Kingdom. Perhaps many OF you are not aware that
from year 70 year. from ten years to ten years. tho
smaller aud smaller number OF persons that the
laws which we have in this country, having been
based and supported by the territorial powers, arc
laws whose express object 1t Is TO maintain great
estates In the hands OF great famc, and TO make
the land not OF Ireland only, but OF Great Britain.
monopoly IN the possession OF q few. And the pur-
pose OF this IS that these great families with vast
estates may possess and WELD great political power,
ana thus become, az they have been until now the
great governing party and power within this realm.
("Hear, hear,n and cheers) II you win for mo-
ment look at the OF land you viii that in
gfn fIu
certain forccSwhich tend TO the accumulation OF land
but there are certain other forces which tend IA
certainly 10 ITS dispersion. Those which tend TO its
accumulation will easily suggest themselves. They
think IL a wise investment 10 put 1t In property.
Some men like DR.. Johnsons advice, who advises q
friend OF his to take walk OF two miles before break
FAST and he said n possible. IL should be upon your
own land. QLaughter Others like investments IN
land because they like to dabble in agriculture;
others because the investment In land In this coun-
try gives q certain social influence which tends TO
repay them for the moderate rate OF interest which
they receive. "a laugh) On the other hand you
VIII sec that there are also influences OF dispersion;
for instance man may wish to have his investment
upon land, which pays him three per cent put into
American lands, which win pay him seven per cenE,
or he requires TO get rid OF portion OF his estate 10
give nm capital for bis son, or he may have been
unfortunate In some monetary speculation. and
therefore, he may ind IT necessary 10 sell IT,
OF tlat witch happens to all men hap,
then the property may possibly require to be sold.
Ihus you viii see that nature has provided certain
forces which tend to accumulation OF estates and
dispersion; and maintain that the true policy of
the government and OF the law--the Just policy or
lne avis TO leave TO all the forces OF natuie,
whether inducing accumulation or inducing disper
tloni TO their fair operation. tCheers.) And when
lney VIII make laws by which men who wish to buy
property VIII be able 70 buy IL, some In large end
some IN small quantities, the monopoly which exists
l ths country VIII be brought To an end. am not
proposing that there should be any Law by which e.
yates should be forcbly cut UP aud divided among
families. l want to leave the owncr-thc men
~ possession OF the estate-perfect freedom to
hot n will fhn 81.
one or divide IL among the many OF his children
The law OF division obtained in France and in many
countries OF Europe, II Is there believed by moss
people TO be good law; but IL appears to ME 10 DO
contrary to principles OF political economy, and
prefer the operation of the law It exists In the
United states OF America, which rejects the law Of
France aud REJECTS also our law. tApplause.l con-
ceye therefore, that before long IL will be the duty
OF the people OF England, OF the electors OF England
and Of Parliament to remove from the statute book
| what Is called the laws OF primogeniture. TO allow
land where IL IL left by person who makes no will
10 he Justly and honestly divided by the law az other