The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-02

to 1877, recently adopted Mr.. ARNoLDs motion
in favor of the immediate equalization of
borough and county franchises. What are
the grounds for this long-promiscd reform,
and how may it DO expected TO affect the
prospects OF the Liberal party?
There is no doubt that the present con-
ditions OF the franchise in Great Britain are
popularity supposed in this country and in
Continental Europe to be much wider than
they really are. The impression has prob
ably been derived from the bitterness with
which Mr.. LOWE and other reactionary poll
ticians denounced the last Reform bill. The
truth is that British subjects are very far
from enjoying manhood suffrage, and that,
since the recent enlargement Of the Italian
franchise the ratio OF voters to inhabitants
is smaller in England than in any other coun-
try possessing parliamentary institutions,
with the exception Of Belgium Even the
expansion to which the Liberal party is now
pledged by last Wednesdays action simply
contemplates the bcstowal on the agiicul-
tural laborer who at present is totally dis
franchised, Of such electoral privileges as
have been conferred upon the artisan in towns.
To appreciate just what Mr.. GLADSTONE
now means to do, 1t may be well to recall the
successive steps by which the right OF voting
has been extended in the United Kingdom.
Up 10 1882 the county franchise remained
where it had been fixed in 1880; that Is to say,
unless man owned freehold worth 40 shil-
lings sterling year, he had no vote for
members Of Parliament. During the same
period the borough franchise was different in
every town. and without going into details
we may say that it was a glarng and ini
quitous mockery of the principle Of popular
representation. By Lord GREY's Reform bill,
which became law in 1882, not only were
many rotten boroughs disfranchised, and
some new boroughs created, but the uniform
rule was laid down that in all boroughs the
Parliamentary franchise should be exercised
by all male persons Of voting age who in
habited houses Of the annual value Of at
least E1o." Lord GRRY's concessions
In the matter OF the county franchise were
much less considerable, although the fact
that the old body Of yeomanry, possessing
freehold estates worth at least forty shil-
| lings, or ten dollars. year, had almost com
| plctely disappeared and had been replaced
| by tenants. compelled him to confer the right
OF voting for county members on certain
classes Of lcascholders. A much larger
amount OF property, however, was exacted
| for the exercise Of the franchise in counties
than in boroughs, and the practical result Of
the Reform act Of 1882 was that only landed
proprietors and wealthy tenant farmers
could vote for the Knights of the Shres. We
should point out further that in the same
year the borough franchise in Scotland was
made identical with that in England and the
county franchise was given to all proprietors
of lands, houses, &c. OF the yearly value OF
G10, and to certain classes Of leaseholders.
The Irish Reform bill established state of
! .aiugs which ostensibly was nearly identical,
but iii /, land the imposition OF similar prop
erty qualiflca.,G.cs had much more narrow
ing effect on the v0t,nS constituency, owing
to the much greater poverty ~ the people.
Thus we SEQ that the first Rein act
merely aimed 10 ehfranchise the middle ci6.a.
and that even this object was but imperfectly
attained. The elements of the population
which profited by the next expansion OF the
suffrage, contrived and carried out by Mr..
DIsRAELI, werc small farmers in English
counties, the artisans and petty traders In
English and Irish boroughs, and the people
of Scotland generally. BY the Reform acts
OF 1867 and 1868 the borough franchise in Eng
| lanu anu OCOlluuu WIS given 10 I'LL Idlc-puy-
ing householders, no matter what the value
of the tenement, and also to all dodgers
previously voter had to occupy whole
house occupying lodgings OF the annual
value of G1O. In Irish boroughs the right OF
suffrage was given to all rate-paying occu-
piers either Of houses or lodgings worth at
least ca a year. On the other hand, the
county franchise in England was extended
only to all occupiers Of lands or houses OF the
annual value OF Gl2, and in Scotland to all
owners Of property worth Is a year. and al
occupiers Of property having an annual value
of GA. In Ireland the county franchise was
not widcncd a jot by Mr. DIsRAELl's meas
urcs. In short the small farmers in Ircant
and the agricultural laborers in Great Britain
were not in the least benefited by the last
Reform acts, and remain TO this day as utterly
deprived of representation in tho natona
Government n they were four centuries ago
, Now however, MI. GLADSTONE Aas agree