The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-19
THE BALLOT FOR ALI MEN.
Mr.. GladStOnes Remarkable Tribute to Suf-
frage in the United States.
Extracts from Speech on the Reform Bill.

frage in the United States.
Extracts from Speech on the Reform Bill.
take my stand upon the broad principle of
the enfranchisement Of capable citizens, be they
few or be they many, and if they be many so
much the better, because it is an addition of
strength to the state. The strength of the mod
ern state lies in the representative system.
rejoice to think that in this happy country and
this happy Constitution we have other sources of
strength in the respect paid to various orders of
the state and in the authority they enjoy and
in the unbroken course which has been allowed
to most of national institutions. But still,
in the main it is the representative system which
is the strength of the modern state in general,
and of the state in this country in particular
Sir may say as an illustration, I believe
that never has this great truth been so
wildly shown as in the recent war of the
American republic. The convulson of that
country between 1861 and 1865 was perhaps the
most frlghtful which ever assailed a national ex-
istence. The efforts which We're made on both
sides were marked. The exertions by which
alone the movement was put down were not only
extraordinary, but they what would have
been called by anticipation impossible, and they
were only rendered possible by the fact that
they proceeded from a nation where every capa-
BILE citizen was enfranchised and had direct
and energetic interest in the unity and we'll being
of the state
Why is it that we do not present a complete
billl My faculty of authorship is getting very
weak; but many of my colleagues are in the
vigor of life sufficiently fertile in mind and
braiD, and have no doubt with our joint au-
thorship that we could have produced per-
fectly complete bill to lay on the table
of the House. But why did we not do
so! Because we knew as well as if the thing
had happened that the bill must remain bill,
and never could have become an act of Paria-
ment. But, as have said, this is not perfect
bill with regard to the franchise. What are the
questions we leave outl l hope gentlemen will
not force that line; it would be the road to
ruin have heard that there are authors and
artists who never Salty themselves with the per
lection of their pictures diction, and the con
sequence is that the picture and the diction have
been wasted. | remember a most memorable
Observation-Disclosures Eofsley-who. with re
House of Lords-and why2 Because he was a
man of inferior intellect? He was man of re-
matksble intellect and refinement; but unfor-
tunately he was so fastidious that he never
could satisfy himself that his terms were
perfect and his phrases entirely
beyond criticism, and in consequence the
same catastrophe befell his oratory. No. sir,
ideal perfection is not the true basis of-English
legislation. We look at the attainable and
we look at the practicable, and we have too
much English sense to be drawn away by
these sanguine delineations of what might pos
sibly be attained in Utopia from a path which
promises to enable to effect great good for the
people of England.
This is a measure, with results, such as / have
ventured to sketch them, and ought to bring
home to the mind of every man favorable to the
extension Of popular liberty the solemn question
what course he is to pursue in regard to it. l
hope the House will look at it as the Liberty
party, in 1881, looked at the Reform bill
of that day, when they determined that they
would waive criticism of minute details-waive
particular preferences and prediections-and
look at the broad scope and general effect
of the measure. Do that upon this occasion.
1t is bill worth having; and if it is bill
worth having, again say it is bill
worth your not endangering. Let wander
into no byways which lead us off the path that
is marked out straight before us-no wandering
on the hill-tops of speculation, and no wandering
on. tie morasses and quagm1res of doubt We
firm in the faith that enfranchisement is a
good, that the people may be trusted, and that
Che voters under the Constitution are the
strength of the Constitution. What we want in
order to carry this bill--conSderng as / fully
believe, that a very large majority Of this House
are favorable to its principle-what want in
order to carry this bill is union, and union only
What will endanger it is disunion, and disunion
only. Let us hold firmly together and success
will crown oprefforts. You WILL as much as any
former Parliament that has conferred great leg
slative benefits on the nation, have your reward
and read your history in a nations eyes; for you
will have deserved it by the benefits so con
ferred. You viii have made this strong nation
stronger still-stronger in union without, strong
er against its foes, if and when it has any foes;
stronger within, in union between class and
class, and in ralying all classes and portions of
the community in one solid cosmpacted mass
round the ancient throne which it has loved so
well, and round the Constitution, now to be more
than ever free and more than ever powerful.