New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-17

he began, some ten days ago, the massacre
Of the innocents-the putting aside such
bills as have no chance of paseing-and
took possession of the House tor govern
ment business. The bill could not be read
Yesterday second time, true.
YESTERDAY was Wednesday and morn
ing sitting, and the rules Of the House per-
mitted it to be talked out without vote.
In any case it could not have passed at this
period of the session. What Mr.. Trevelyan
and the public have gained is the convic-
ton that some such measure must speedily
become law-next year perhaps, the year
after beyond doubt. Mr.. Gladstones pub
lie adhesion signifies that it will take it's
place in the liberal programme. The Tories
are not hostile to the extension. Mr.. Dis
raeli stood ready 70 adopt it, if no more
serviceable cry could be raised when he
went to the ceantry. But of sudden Mr..
Gladstone comes to the front-comes most
unexpectedly, and has. in fact. stolen
march on the enemy, and secured the posi-
ton he ought to hold on such a measure az
this.
So completely were the Tories taken Dy
surprise, SO far were they from antlclpat-
ing an event of Importance in yesterdays
debate, tqat all the leaders were absent
from the House. The debate dragged. Mr..
Forster's support was expected, this beng
a question On which he was a leader in old
times when he was An independent, and
spoke for his own band. Mr.. Gladstone
| was known to be i'll, and confined to his
house. Nobody dreamed that Mr.. Forster
was intrusted with message from HIM
and such a message above all. 1t was
brought in as kind of postscript to Mr.
Forster's speech, and fell more like bomb
shell than mere letter. He was requested
by the Prime Minister to state in his behalf
that while the government as government
has no1hirg to say. and while he regrets
that Mr.. Trevelyan has been obliged to
bring on his measures SO late as to give the
debate the character Of an abstract discus
sion, he, the Prime Minister, retains the
opinion that he has more than once indi-
cated-which is the opinion that opens this
letter.
More than once INDICATED" it may have
| been, but it is now declared and proclaimed
and made the watchwOrd to rouse a Ian
gushing party. and to revive the decaylng
confidence OF the country In its leader
The agricultural laborer comes to the front
He is to be recognized at last as a citizen,
to etand on level with the artisan, and to
receive his due share of political power.
Mr.. Trevelvan's bill would add, 1t is es1i-
mated, 100000 voters to the franchise
| enough to revolutionize the political sys-
TEN of England.
Mr.. Gladstone is not likely to adopt the
bill in it's present form. but is still less like
| ly to restrict the scope of it in the meas
| ure which he will prepare next year. No
| wonder Mr. Fawcett demands to know, be-
fore SO great an extension Of the suffrage is
| conceded, on what principles the govern
ment proposes to regulate the redistribution
| political power.
He even declared he would not vote for
such an extension without first getting an
answer to this question. Together with
the existing borough franchise it is to place
power in the hands of the laborers Of
the country, leaving other classes in a
minority; in other words, he wants an equal
system Of minority representation before
he risks the country in the hands of the
majority. You see that the days Of the
great political questions-or, as Mr.. Dis
raelis phrase is borrowed from the French,
blazing questions-are by no means over.
Nothing can come of yesterdays DECLARE
tons this year, no legislative measure. that
is; but it is an appeal to the country. and is
beyond comparison the most important
event of the season.