The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-01
THE OLD WORLD.
News by Gable From Different
Countries.
ENGLAND.

LONDON, Feb. 29.--In proposing the bill for
the extension of the franchise last night in the
House of Commons Mr.. Gladstone said, to in
troduce separate franehise bills fer England,
Ireland and Scotland with prospect of car
rying the English and Scotch bills and leaving
the irish bill to take its chances, would be al
together imrrActicable. The arguments in
favor of uniform bill were uuanswerable.
Nothing could induce him to abadon such a
bill. Redistribution Of the parliamentary
constituencies must follow the reform of the
franchise. But II the two questions were EN-
bodied In the same bill it would prove fatal to
both. He entreated his supporters not to en-
danger the success OF the bill ny proposing ad-
ditions. This measure, by greatly exten ding
the franchise and placing the votes of ooroughs
and couDties upon an equal footing, would in
crease the voting power Of the United King
dom by about 2,O00,0 900. OF this:number, Eng
land would furnish 100000, Ireland 400 600
aud Scotland 1000 THIS result was certain-
ly worth attaiuipg. If the House took a broad
view Of the matter snfraDchisement must be
considered desirable. The people were trust
worthy and as voters under the Constitution
they were the strength OF the Constitution. II
this measure should become law then their
constituents would form a compact mass who
would rally around the throne, which they all
loved so weils and to the support of the Con-
stitution, which would be stronger than ever
The Right Hon. Sir John Hay, Liberal Con-
servative, member of Wightown. objected to
the bill because it excluded redistribution.
Mr.. George Anderson, liberal member for
Glasgow, congratulated the government on in
Producing really great reform measure. The
Right Hon. Edward Gibson, conservative
member for Dublin Usiversity, said that the
bill had been introduced for the sole purpose
OF diverting the attention of the country from
affairs abroad. The government should not
demand discussion of this question at the
present moment. The conservatives would on
pose the bill vigorously Redistribution was
of far greater importance than the extension
of the franchise. A clause should be inserted
IN the bill, directiDg that it should not go into
effect until a measure providing for re-distri-
button had been carried. Without this, the
extended franchise would give the nationalsts
ninety seats in Parliament, and place ltupep-
dous power in their hands, 1t was, therefore,
absolutely essential that no reform bill be APP
piled to Ireland unless accompanied with
safe measure of redistribution
Lord Randolph Churchill spoke In opposi-
tion to the bill. He said the agricultural la-
borers had no kno Wedge of political questions,
nor concern in them.
At this point in the debate an adjournment
was voted, in spite of the protests OF Mr.. Glad
stone. The Parnellites and the Scotch mem.
berB appear generally we'll pleased with the
pill. The English liberals are disposed to OBJ
ject to extension of franchise, unless coupled
with redistribution, on the ground that it will
strengthen Ireland and Scotland at the ex-
pense of England,
The English government have decided to
send courteous dispatch to America relative
TO the action OF Americans in countenanciug
and assisting dynamiters.