The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-21

county suffrage is assimated with that of the
boroughs-that is when every householder has
a vote-it will dot be desirable or safe to go any
further. He is opposed to manhood suffrage,
and Mr. Gladstone is too Probably, how
ever, if these gentlemen live much
longer they will get converted. Certainly they
are hopeful subjects for both have clearly ex-
perienced one change of heart respecting this
matter. The history of the franchise reform,
and of the relation to it of these great Liberal
statesmen presents curious study. In 1856.
when pleading with the House to adopt rental
qualification of 81 Gladstone said he would not
favor f6 qualification, as that would place the
representation of the towns completely in the
power of the workingmen, result which he
could not sanction, and Mr. Bright declared at
the same time if the Il bill passed, the question
would be set at rest for at least a generation.
The bill was defeated but, the year following,
the Tories carried measure of much more
sweeping character and now, sixteen years after
wards, not only is Mr.. Gladstone reconcled to
the placing of supreme power in the hands of
workngmen in the towns, but he wants the
laboring classes in the counties to be similarly
favored, while Mr.. Bright, far from thinking
the question settled for a generation, is one of
the first to demand that it shall be reopened ere
half a generation has gone by. The whole his
tory of this reform shows that it is one which
originates with the people, and which ingulfs
public men like whirlpool. The fact too that
thirtytive years elapsed between the bill of 1882
and that of 1861 and that only sixteen years
the doors again, shows how much more rapidly in
these modern days the people are rising to an ap-
probation of their rights, and makes possible for
the near future schemes of parliamentary reform
which might now seem to be at once impracticable
and revolutionary.
PROMISE OF A PRoTRACTED DISCUSSION.
Theneed of some considerable extension of the
franchise in Great Britain, followed speedily
by an equitable distribution Of political power
IL. %
make discussion seem utterly absurd. This
however, will not prevent the Tories from dis
cussing it, nor the House of Lords from trying to
obstruct the legislation that may be proposed
There are about eight and half millions of adult
males in the United Kingdom, and about two and
a half millions-fve out of seventeen-enjoy the
parliamentary suffrage. The bulk of the six
millions who are disfranchsed are equal in all
respects to the more favored minority, and there
is no reason under heaven why they should be
Disseminated against. The bill which the Min
istry propose to introduce will remove the disa
bilities from many of these though multitudes
even If that measure passes, will still be left out
in the cold. When the new voters are admitted
the,work is only half done. The next thing will
be to give each vote its proper weight and to see
that the different parts of the country are fairly
represented in the constitution of the House of
Commons As at present made up, that body is
ever tolerated. To convince your readers of this
| need only, quote few points from a recent
speech by Mr.. Gladstone's right hand supporter
Mr.. Chamberlain "Let us take two groups Of
members, says this gentleman. "Eaeh group
shall consist of forty mem They shall have the
same influence upon the .deh berations of the
House, and shall count for as much inits de-
cisions, The first forty. represent exactly-at
least within few hundreds quarter of a mill
ion of people and the second represent more
dnrab mn Than cix of
sons. Six millions on the one side and quarter
OF million on the other represented by pre-
cisely the same number of persons in the House
of Commons Thanks to our wonderful con-
stitutional experience, thanks to our superior
intelligence, thanks to the common sense
of which the British people are so proud, we
have devised a machinery by which the quarter
of a million is made equal to six millions by
which the quarter of a million get their own
way, and the six millions are satisfied and de-
luded with the mere semblance of a representa-
ton" This speech delivered at Wolver-
hampton, one of the large towns in the Black
country, and Mr. Chamberlain's neat illustration
had reference to the anomalies of the franchise
in that district. 1--WE are in Staffordshire Fax )
said, "and in Staffordshire there are Il ne
boroughs returning members to Par's elenV
Four of these boroughs contain alm"1c halnenO T.
half a million of people, and their 0st eXacCly
the income tax which is the Nc assessment to
general contribution toward Il ;4easure OIL thell
country, is ga, $50, 900 per 4SAe charges OF the
four boroughs in StafforJal annum The othel
ton of less than sixty nitdshire contain popula
button to the income 4c6housand and their eontri
annum, But the fCfetax is about .t6O0, 0Oo' PEI
of the population tSur boroughs, with one7plptt
ment to the incC+n and one seventh Of the assess
bers to the HC,t me tax, send majority OF mem
seven membe- Suse of Commons. They sent
the populats IS with &C, GOO Of population, AM
anomalies. ppotl of 100000 send only six. Thes
pressly ats continued the speaker ARE ex
tenn sinlaevised to make our representative sys
the m seSham to give the power INTO me nanqs,
show Tnority and to delude the majority with
last 4 and a semblance of representation. l
to ,NAreform bill he adds, 'did little or nothln
Ca redeem this imposture. Before 1851 one-slxt
ct9f the voters returned a majority OF the Hous
IF Commons; after 1867 one-fifth of the voter
Odd the same thing, this fractional almost IN
" perceptble difference, making the whole Oh ID
4 concessions to justice made by the Tones b
their scheme of redistribution in that year"
Whether or not the proposed franchise bl
will he enacted into law during the next sessio
is more than anyone can foretell. Ii 1t shoul
mass the House by only a small majority I'll
Lords are almost sure to reject it, and in tina
case Mr. Gladstone will be likely to counsel
dissolution. But the bill may not even pass IL
Commons Those who claim to know say TIL
, it can be carried through that body only by IL
. assistance of the Homerulers, and, OF cours
, help can be looked for from this quarter on
. upon condition of the bill embracing lreian
I Judging from the utterances of several cabin
+ ministers think it is the intention of the go
eminent to take in that country. But IN I'll
/, event the Tories will be very fierce and the
u viii also be serious OBJECTIONS in the Libe1
il ranks. So that danger threatens from all qut
s. tiers, and am really of the opinion that if t
!. government appeals to the country on the qu !.
lion of making any further concessions 10 I
Irish party they will be defeated But we ne
not despair of getting the franchise extende
o even in such contingency as that, for t
y Tories, as they did before, might seek
lie strengthen themselves in popular favor by pa
IS ing with hurrah the very measure they h
. nreo,,iouslv defeated H. T
~ Speaker Carlisles Reception.
" PHILADELPHIA Jan. 10.-The reception
o. 10 1nnn1NNnnlth lllh Y