The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-08-14
The Struggle In England AgAinst tbs
Extension Of the Right 81 SuRrags.

The Struggle In England AgAiast u,
Extsnsioa Of the Right Of SuRrass.
There is an interesting struggle NOV
going on il England between the tw.
houses OF parliament in regard TO the q
tension Of suffrage to . large macs o
voters 10 when the right has hithert,
been denied. The House OF Lords Il
strongly opposed to the measure. while
majority Of the other house is ia it's iavsr
An interesting account Of the matter v,
copy below from the Troy Telegram:
The Gladstone star appears TO b very
much in the ascendent again in England
Stanley's announcement that General Cor
don is In no danger and abundantly abl,
to take care Of himself seems TO have put
4 quistus On the opposition, which had
made quite hobby Of Glsdstone's aban
donment Of English subjects in Egypt
and the belief is gaining ground that the
government has been in possession Of facts
oil along which, il known to the public
would have fully justified its course, but
which for some unaceountable reason were
suppressed. At any rate satisfaction il
now expressed and except by the most
radical followers Of the opposition even
the fact that only $500 men are TO be sent IA
Gordon's relief escapes criticism. The
contest between the commons and the peers
overshadows all ether considerations, and
is becoming SO determined ON both sides
that nothing but an appeal 10 the people
will settle the difficulty. The Gladstone
party have the best Of the struggle Thus
far apparently, aud as the principle in
volyed is the extension Of liberty and
freedom and enfranchisemsnt OF about
1900. 900 voters, it is safe TO assume that
Mr. Gladstone will come OF victorious in
the long run. 1t is not expected that the
house OF lords will be abolished, but the
peers will bs forced to compromise. ~ they
have done many times before, and thus
save their existence, although perhaps at
tue loss Of their dignity. Mr.. Glsdstons's
willingness to consent to . redistribution
Of seats in the commons, change de-
manded by every consideration Of justice
and equitable representation, meets one Of
the objections Of the peers to the franchise
bill. Many very Inter and some IN justitls
things have been said regarding the peers.
the most widely commented upon being
the statements Of John Bright to the
effect that they were ''ths spawn Of the
darkest ages OF English history, and that
instead Of having been raised to their high
positions by meritorious deeds they had
crept into tho upper house through the
sspulchres OF their ancestors. As mat.
ter OF fact these statements are not true,
and either display objectionable ignorance
on the part Of Mr.. Bright or convict him
Of misrepresentation in behalf OF causs
which requires neither exAggsration nor
falsehcld to commend it. Leaving out Of
account the Two archbishops aud twenty
four bishops who sit rs spiritual peers. the
house ni lords Ut present has 4s9 members
4 princes Of royal blood. 20 dukes, 10
marqneses. III .arls, 26 viscospts, 257
bsronS 10 lrrprcsentslivs) Scotch peers
and Is liish peers. OF the titles worn by
these gentlemen, l66 made their first APP
pearance in the peerage since the scces.
sisu Of the reigning queen, 3l5 do not an
teiaie the year 1850, aud only 81 are older
than the seventeenth century. OF the new
peers some are Of fue English families,
aud good many more or not So IL will
be seen that on the benches Of the upper
house possessors OF blue blood have 10
toueh elbows with men who count them
selves fortunate il they have q preseatsbls
grandfather 10 tho family. As lies be.
tween tho present and past the 3i5 peers
created since the beginning Of the present
Century can hardly be sail 10 fill the bill
neither can they be Justly denounced
as the spawn Of the darkest ages ia Eng.
lish history.