The Sun. — 1867-02-19 (London, England)

THE REFORM RESOLUTIONS.  Yesterday evening the following letters were read at a public meeting held at Bradford on the Government Reform Resolutions, the secretary of the Bradford Branch of the National Reform Union having transmitted to Mr. Bright, Lord F. Cavendish, and Mr. Forster copies of a series of resolutions adopted by the Branch, criticising the Government Reform :  " Rochdale, Feb. 16.  " Dear Sir,—l think your resolutions very good. The course taken by the Government is an insult to the house, and a gross offence to the whole body of Reformers in the country. I cannot say what the house will do, or what the Liberal party in the house will do, till after the meeting which is called for Thursday next. " The Administration is bitterly hostile to Reform. When in opposition this was abundantly proved, and it is confirmed by its course since its accession to office. It has not the honesty or the courage to pronounce boldly against Reform, but it seeks to murder the cause and the question by a course contrary to Parliamentary usage, and odious in the sight of all honest men. If the house join in the guilt of this proceeding, it will only add to the distrust with which it is now regarded by vast multitudes of the people in all parts of the country. "You are right in holding meetings, and in every town and village meetings should be held. Already they have been held more generally and more numerously attended than at any other time since 1832. Hitherto the effect seems little, so far as we may judge from the action of the Administration and whether further meetings will produce any greater effect I cannot undertake to say. But I venture to say this—that a Government, unmindful of the opinion expressed so clearly in the great centres of our population, is running the country into great peril. If meetings have no effect, if the open and almost universal expression of opinion has no power on the Administration and the Legislature, then inevitably the minds of the people will seek other channels with a view to obtain and secure the rights which they are contemptuously denied them. If I am wrong in believing this, then history is a lie from the beginning, and we have all been mistaken in our estimate of the causes out of which many of the great and deplorable transactions it has recorded have sprung.  " I understand that in Birmingham a great demonstration of opinion is contemplated, and I suppose other parts of the country will have something to say to an Administration which abdicates its functions, and is ready to betray both Queen and people, that it may remain in office for another session.—l am, with great respect, yours truly,  " JOHN BRIGHT, " The Secretary of the Bradford Branch of the Reform Union."  "21, Carlton-house-terrace, S.W., Feb. 16  " Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst., and to request you to express to the Bradford Branch of the Reform Union my thanks for the copy of the declaration that they adopted at their meeting of the 13th, with respec t to the proposal of the Goverumeut on the subject of., Reform.  "I agree with the branch in regarding that proposal as most unsatisfactory; but having full confidence in the leaders of the Liberal party, I am prepared to follow whatever course they may recommend as the best means of obtaining a wise and liberal settlement of the question.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, " F.