National Republican., 1885-07-08
Tho Approaching Parliamentary Eiec-
tion,

In the course Of two or three weeks the
work now before the British parliament
will lie brought to close. An arrange
ment between the two great political par
ties requires that there shall be dissolu-
tion at the end Of the present session. 1t
Is, therefore, an understood thing that AN
election will be ordered for November.
This appeal to the country will be a politi-
cal event of great interest, not so much,
perhaps, from the character of the issues
involved as from the fact that the new fran
chise and distribution of seats bills have
changed constituencies and augmented the
membership of the house of commons.
Having no general election of our own
this year and no state elections of over
whclming importance, our people Will
watch the campaign Of their cousins on
the other side of the Atlantic almost as
closely as II the members to be elected
were to occupy seats in our national House
of Representatives. Indeed, the rapidly
increasing interest Of intelligent Americans
IN the affairs Of Europe is one Of the nota-
bic characteristics Of the times But 1t is
uot difficult of explanation. Increased fa-
cilities of communication by steamship aud
wire have almost brldged the ocean. Lon
don and New York are practically neigh
boring cities. A hundred Americans cross
the ocean now every season where one
crossed it generation ago. Besides, all of
Europe has been helping to people this
country, and the ties of knship bind Europe
and the United States together far more
closely than the two continents on this side.
In view of the interest with which the
coming parliamentary election will be re-
garded by our country in general, and by
the people of this capital in particular, 1t is
proper to give cursory review of the pro-
grcss of electoral reform. Fifty-three years
ago the first great electoral reform bill was
passed. Under this law residents of bor-
oughs occupying houses of the annual
rental value Of go and tenants under copy
hold and leHsehold in the counties were
given the right to vote for members Of the
house Of commons.
This was long stride in the right direc-
tion, but It did not satisfy the freedom
loving people of Great Britain, and they
began an agitation for an extension of the
franchise. In 1868, the tories being IN power,
another bill was passed extending the fran
chise much further, but this was no more
satisfactory than its predecessor. A small
part of one's just dues is never altogether
satisfactory \ taste of freedom whets the
appetite
Under Mr.. Gladstonc's ministry Il new
franchise bill was passed only few months
| ago. 1t is almost democratic in its scope.
| 1t adds 100000 voters to the registry, most
Of whom arc farm laborcrs. Under the law
! Of 1865 tenant farmers were voters; now
his 'hired men, will share that high priv
ilege. All who pay rates and taxes have the
ballot.
The seats bill, or parliamentary reappor-
tlonment, is a heavy blow at aristocrats,
for it wipes out all pocket boroughs, and
bases representation on population, thus
eircctng one Of the greatest reforms of the
age.
Large and thickly populated boroughs
are divided into districts, so that member
may represent particular section of q
city or county, instead of the whole of IT
as heretofore. One hundred changes arc
made in representation, while the member
ship is raised only to go from G52. Sixty
seven pocket boroughs having population
of less than $1,000 each are abolished, and
numerous large constituencies are cut into
two or more.