Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-26
OUR LONDON LETTER.
VIOLENCE TO THE QUEEN BELIEVED TO
BIZ FsARsD.
Approaching Opening of Parliament-Elec-
ton of Speaker - The Irish CUES
tion-Fhe Elective Franchise.
LONDON, January 5, 1854,

the event is looked forward to with an in
terest such as the assembling of Parlia.
ment has not awakened for several years
past. Disappointment is felt, it is true, at
the announcement that the Queen will not
| open the session in person. The feeling
has been abroad for some time that her
Majesty was getting better, both mentally
and physically, and hopes were entertained
that the 9Th of February would witness
her temperance before the public. But
these hopes, it appears, are not to be real
lied, and in consequence the pendulum OF
public feeling has bounded to the other
extreme, the general impression now being
! that she will remain in seclusion TO the
end of the chapter. This, however, is by
no means certain, for it is likely that her
determination to not personally convene
| the Houses of Parliament at their next
session is owing less to the condition OF
| her health, or to any morbid love of prl-
vacy, than to the fear she has OF some
! ACT OF VIOLENCE BEING ATTEMPTED.
Ia the present crisis it behooves the repre-
sentatives of the British Government to
exercise great caution, and particularly Is
this necessary in the case Of the sovereign.
Not that she is unpopular personally, for
she is the reverse of this. But that only
increases her danger; for if the object be,
as alleged, to strike England in the tea
derest spot that is accessible, nothing can
De clearer than that, upon a favorable op-
portunity, the life of her beloved Queen
would be assailed. OF this she is doubt.
less aware, and considering that she has
already been a target for no less than eight
attacks from lunatics and others, and is
growing old wishal, we cannot wonder that
| she feels timid and is determined to take
care of herself. But the opening of Par
lament, though the Queen is not to be
there, will not be lacking in sensations.
BRADLAUGH WILL BE ON HAND
To make things lively, and something will
| have to be done with him. A. first he
will undoubtedly be excluded, as hereto
| fore but the movement in favor Of allow
/ ing members to affirm, instead of take the
OATH, is one which, Ia the nature of things,
must grow, and it is as certain to prevail
| finally as did the measures which removed
| the disabilities from the Jews and Catho-
| lies. Giadstone's side of the question has,
no doubt, made progress during the recess,
and this fact, together with the smallness of
majority by which the affirmation bill was
defeated last session, render it probable
| that. should the measure come up in the
approaching session, it will be carried.
| The election of new Speaker is another
| ~ 10
| of Parliament. Sir Henry Brand after
enjoying q salary equal to that Of the
| American President, is about to retire.
| THE PENSION THAT FOLLOWS HIM
Is equal to what the Presidents salary was
prior to the last rise. THUG, however I'm.
| grateful republicans may be, it does not
appear as though the effete despotisms OF
the Old World were much troubled with
| this complaint. The gentleman looked to
| as Brands successor is Arthur Peel, the
youngest son of Sir Rolert, of corn law
notoriety. The nomination is not made
by caucus, but by the Prime Minister.
Whoever is selected by that official is voted
! for by the party il power, which insuree
| his election. Generally, too, the nominee
| gets q large vote from the opposition
/
the leader OF the opposition to put come
one else in nomination, but this is rarely
done, and there is not mUCn likelihood OF
such an occurrence IN the present instance,
Another popularity of the English system
IS that the Speaker is not changed with a
change of Administrations. Sir Henry
Brand, elected in the first place by Lib
erals, continued TO occupy the chair when
the Tories were in power, and under both
regimes gave perfect satisfaction. AZ a
matter Of fact, the Speaker, during his
term Of Office, is
POLITICAL NOBODY.
His speeches to his constituents are utterly
colorless. He is the servant, not of his
party, but Of the House Of Commons, and
his party expect no favors from him. The
man filling this post is technically spoken
of as the First Commoner in England. The
dignity attaching to him while in the dis
charge of his duties in the House is, as the
writer was made to feel on one occasion, OF
the most awful description. | had OBJ.
rectly opposite that august functionary,
and, true to journalistic instincts, at once
took out my MOTEL book and began to serb.
be Little did dream that by so harm.
less proceeding l was transgressing one
of the eternal proprieties. So it was, how.
ever, for almost instantly an imperious
looking lackey tapped me on the shoulder,
and | was informed in rather an indignant
tone of voice that visitors were not allow d
to write in front of the Speaker The
relative
STRENGTH OF THE DIFFERENT PARTIES
In the House has changed somewhat since
the general election four years ago, and
the Liberals have been the sufferers. If the
House were full it would consist OF COS
members, but is seats have been tempo.
rarily DISTINGUISHED on account Of corrup
ton, which reduces the actual number &c
$40 At the organization, four years ago,
there were 652 members, - of the vacant
seats being then filed These G52 were
divided as follows Liberals, 354 Con-
servatives, 236 Home Rulers, 60; the
Liberals thus having q majority of lis over
the Conservatives, and of Sc over Conserv.
atives and Home Rulers combined. Since
the general election 80 new members have
been returned. In these contests the Lib
erols lost l6 seats and gained 3, their tots
loss beingkl3. The Conservatives, on the
other hand, lost 3 seats and gained H.
making q net gain of 10. The Home
Rulers have also gained both in numbers
and strength; notably, in the latter par
ticular, by the acquisition Of Hesley and
O Brien. Thus, out of the GAO members
which now constitute the House, the Gov
ernment at the present time have 332 the
Conservatives 243, and the Home Ruler;
%, the Liberal majority being 50 over the
Conservatives and 81 over the Conserva
tives and Home Rulers combined, al
against us and Sc hen the present Par
lament first met This is quite change
1t does not necessarily imply, however
that Liberal principles have become un
popular, Tor contests to fill vacancies II
the interim between general elections sci
dom bring out full vote, and are conse
quently, often lost by default. Bat thu
gradual diminution of Mr. Gladstone:
Parliamentary strength, if not indicative
OF waning influence in the constituencies
will at least make it necessary for him tt
ere long
TAKE THE SENSE OF THE COUNTRY
Upon his administration. There will Ger
family be dissolution next year, il mo-
this. What the result of such an appeal