, 1881-08-21

| The British Government has Just passed
| through an agitation which resulted in ma
tcrially changing the old fcuda1 land system
| in Ircland, "a system which has resisted and
| deficu the progress which long since re-
| formed the same system in France, III Ger
many, III Austria, Holland, Belgium, Scan-
| dinavia, and even i'll Spain. 1t was Il great
! moral rs well is economical victory for Lib
erty, all the moro remarkable because the
English people have never been moved by
any particular affection for the Irish.
The fact that this great boon was extortcd
from the landed monopoly of England is an
indication that English conservatism, or the
standstill policy, is 10 longer able to resist
the radical or prog gressive demands Of tile age,
and that one after another of series Of re-
form measures may be expected to agitate
the public mimi of England, and that event
llally they will be adopted. Fortunately for
the LIBERAL party in that country, they have
at the head of the Government there a ina,l
Of great power and ability, who has the
courage to lead wherever justice and truth
may demand. Mr.. Gladstone, however, is
now - years Of age, and the severe de-
mal,ds OIL his Strength and health during tho
last few years lll:s. not permit him to push
these reforms to successful accomplish
mcnt. But should he bs spared to his coun-
try several measures Of refo.M may be con-
sidcrcd as certain to be PROPOSED, and as Ger
tain to be carried, by the force aad power Of
the illustrious Minister.
One OF these reforms is the revision of
Parliamentary laws by the removal Of the
r<,Fr ..,f.
There is no proceeding known in tho Eli
slish Parliament as tic arrest Of debate BY a
vote demanding the previous question. Tie
minority at present may by dilatory motions
and interninab1e debate prevent the House
OF Commons ever coming to vote on tho
passage of It bill. In Il House of OYER GOO
members it is possible for Il minority to cX-
Haust the time ut 4 session, anu suspend all
Legislation, and prevent a vote. 4 laodifica-
tion Of the American previous question"
whereby the House may bo brought to n
vote has become a necessity In the English
Parliament. especially If any enlargement OF
the Constitution by reform legislation is to
be had.
4 second reform is that of reconstructing
the Parliamentary districts, 4 reapportion- i
ment Of representatives, and the abolition /
Ut the rotton borouglls. The last reform in |
English representation was in 1S33:3, nearly |
fifty years ago, but the representation at this
time is most extraordinary. Here are some
If the Inconsistencies: There are forty
:hree boroughs. will, Il population less than I
1,000 each, and with only ,G73 voters conl-
'iIed, which elect forty-three members Of
Parliament, while the City Of Sheffield, with
population equal to all the forty-three bor-
'ughs, has only two members in Parliament.
rhirty-tllree other boroughs have o1s,0,0
'opulation and t}irty-three members, while
evcnteen cities. with :: population of oo,:;,0i,-
50, have exactly the same representation.
there are 1ol borongls, having a population
f !, 3,43l ,249, who have ZIG members Of Par
lament, while y siafy other boroug1ls.
iitll a, population Of o.500,0oo, have
My III members. In tho distribution of
ounty representation the same gross injus-
ice is shown. THUS, 10a counties and d1yis-
ms, with population Of 7,S!A3,s7, 1896 81 have 1G4
'embers, while tiftyseven other counties,
it'll 10,5S2,000 population, have only. 119
lembers, or, aggregating counties and bor- ,
ughs, there are: