The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-08-15
THE ENGLISH CRISIS.


sink to the bottom of the ocean and
cause but a ripple in the worlds
thoughts. Looking abroad the i'm
mediate question in the United
States, of Blaine or Cleveland, seems
of most interest to us. both as resi-
dents of Hawaii and 10 those Of us
who are American in feeling or asso-
ciation The world is moved by the
alarming spread Of cholera in Europe,
by the Egyptian question; by the
French and Chinese difficulties by
the discovery of the Greeley party.
But to the lover of political liberty,
to those who watch the progress of
human freedom, the existing state of
affairs in England is of intensest
interest.
Early in the present session of
Parliament, Gladstone on the part of
the Cabinet introduced the Act called
the Franchise Bill. Its object is TO
cQualizc the elective qualifications,
and to extend to the country the privi
legcs of the borough or town. Its
effect will be to increase the number
of electors by several hundred thou
sands, in fact nearly two millions.
There have been some departures
| from custom in the introduction and
form of the bill, and its provisions
cover much more than the foregoing
suggests, but in the main the two
most important features are here
noted. Some hostility was created
in the beginning because that the
| Franchise Bill was not also accom-
panied or shortly followed by n
| Redistribution measure, but Glad
| stone has chosen to defer that to
another session, letting the Govern
ment stand or fall by the present
measure. The Premier, however,
chose to state his own views to
certain extent on the subject of
| Redistribution of seats in the House
| of Commons. He would not increase
the number, and it is probable that
the House itself would refuse to do
| this. but he would not disturb the
present number of members from
Ireland, which being still represented
on the basis Of the population of
1882, there now being nearly one
half less, is much over represented.
The Cabinet lis not, however, COM
mitted to any policy on this subject
The bill has passed the Commons
by a large majority in spite of the
universal dissatisfaction with the Gov
ernment on account of its Egyptian
policy and its apparent desertion of
General Gordon. When the bill was
sent TO the Lords, Gladstone. in view
of the notorious position of their lead
er on the question made mostremarR-
able speech in the Commons in which
be solemnly warned the upper House
against interfering with the popular
will. He intimated that to refuse
their sanction to the measure, thereby
blocking the progress of reform,
would be only to set in motion events
which would result in the abolition
of the House Of Lords. 1t was GER
tainly most startling threat and
had its effect with the Lords as with
the country. Lord Salisbury def.
antly refused to listen to moderate
counsels and the Peers rejected the
bill. Not, however, by the 120
majority expected but by n majority
Of about 60. For the first time in
about two hundred years the Lords
spiritual voted in favor of a reform
measure. Lord Rosebury made a
most telling speech in which he
warned the Lords that the time might
be at hand in which they would cease
to exercise functions as Legislators.
Parliament has taken q recess till
Autumn, and in the interim England
is astir. AS one correspondent of
New York paper puts it "All Eng
land is ahame." The more radical
journals and clubs urge that the
fight be continued till the House of
Lords is abolished. All of the Libe-
rails support Mr.. Gladstone. The
Times has come out in unqualified
support of the principle advanced
that tho 0rlS nonnnt opnnco a 40