Year: 1867

IADIAMENTtRY REFODN-sPEECIus oF MR.. Dis


RAIL- AND Mr.. GLADSTONE IN TIE HOUSE OT


COMMoNs-THE GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS.


The first Reform debate Of the session took place
in the House of Commons on tie evening OF Mon
day February II. The House filed 10 overflow
ing in every part soon as the Speaker had taken
the chair and the crowd of peers and distinguished
strangers unusually numerous. The paragraph OF
the Queens Speech relating to the representation of
the people having been read at the table the Chancel
lor of the ExchequeT who was loudly cheered by his
supporters oceededto to give his promised explanation
of the Ministerial views reminding the House at the
outset that in the paragraph just read Her Majesty
appealed 10 them 10 divest themselves of all party
spirit in dealing with this question. The meaning the
Government attached to this paragraph was that Par
Gamentary Reform ought no longer TO be a question
which should decide the fate Of Ministers there there
slight llngh from below the gangway on the
Opposition side and for this that all persons
had attempted 70 deal with it-in 1852 % 80 co. and
'66-and had failed. In long and elaborate retro
Epect TO the Reform question Mr. Disraeh traced 70
the disranchSement Of the labOTing classes In 1882
the seeds Of the present demand for change, OF
which Sir r. Peel had warned Earl Grey ~ the time
and while TepudiatIng the idea that the claims of the
WOrklng-eiasses had been treated III the House OF
Commons III a dlsTespecttul OF dlliaOry spiTit-the
fault he found was that they had been too often
III an Eplcurean tone which would do anything for
present quiethe denied that any scheme had vet been
introduced which calculated 10 settle the cOntrO-
veTsy. As it was the House Of Commons-nOt





disturbed the settlement Of 1882 il was the House
of Commons, and not any party, which had baffled
every effort to pass new Reform bill. The House
OF Commons, Therefore, had incurred a peculiar
responsibility in this matter and was il
not wise 10 consider whether il could not
pursue course which while not relieving the Gov
ernnent from its due share of responsibility would
insure them against repetition of former mishaps
This advantage might be attained il the House would
give the Government some intimatiOn Of its views
the main points OF the controversy by resolutions
before bill was intrOduecd-a course he showed.
which was constitutional, justified by successful
pTecedents, would not lead TO delay and which
though to require too much precision would be un-
reasonable, need not entail vagueness and uncer-
talnty. The Government would al once lay on the
table the resolutions they proposed for this purpose
and would proceed IN their task Of recOnstruCtng
the House of Commons on the principles of the
British Constitution.


Mr.. DisIaeh SAID -


viii not trouble the House with too much detail as 20
the character Of the resolutions which, II it will give me
the opportunity intend 70 propose hone those r.so
Iutics viii be In the hands of members tomorrow hear
hearDut II they will permit me Will advert 10
two points on which think II highly important the
House should come 20 clear and unequiyoca decision.
AND iis must say am myself anxious that IL should
decide thson what principles do they mean 10 recon.
Etruc, the House OF Commonsi Do they mean to recon
ttruct ton the principles Of the English Constitution
other country loud Ministerial cheers think II Il
very important that that question should be decided
and II the House viii allow them 70 reconstruct
the House the principles Of the English Con.
remarks have before made on that subject because re-
petition painful but II IS better 10 be wearisOme than
ambiguous such question We think that the English
Constitution is not mere phrase iHearl We believe
We live under monarchy modified IN its action by the co
ordinate authority OF the States OF the realm and look
npOn the Commons OF England whom We represent, az
Of those estates. Hear, hearl know IL has been
kad that this is merely archaeological view Of the
Constitution; but j think show the House that
they will be very unwise II they quit without due
alteration the ancient traditions Of p0ty under which
they live, aud under which this country has so sin
Rularly nOurished Hear, hear Undoubtedly, in the
great Nclsstudes Of centuries the relations between
the estates OF the realm in this country greatly
altered. The relations between them are greatly
changed. There Is no doubt that the Commons whom
represent, have absorbed the greater part Of the
authority which those estates once exercised but tnInb
! can show the House that that Is no reason why we
thoud forget the constitutional scheme under which this
country has long prospered, but rather reason why
should fairly consider whether should cling that
scheme the only guide among the perplexities which
surrounds us There is doubt that the Commons OF
England by the immense increase OF population and
property, has assumed character In reference u
the other estates which contemplated M the
days Of the Pantagenets or the Tudors. II u, how
ever, great error 20 suppose that IL s merely in
Of the population and property OK the Commons
that has brought about the present form OF the English
CunEttutOn, and the present character and function
81 the House Of Commons. Take one ot those es
tAteb Take the peeraEs Of ENGLAND. Tbs pesTegs