Year: 1867

The Reform Movement In Great Britain.


Our recent cable intelligence relating to
the political situation In Great Britain Is
intensely interesting and exciting. The long
looked for demonstration has ct last come Of.
Old England still lives, but it is manifest she
contains within herself elements Of very
dangerous, . very combustible description.
The procession was large, though not perhaps
just so large as many had been led to expect
The conduct Of the multitude was orderly and
dignihed throughout the entire line Of march !;
nor can it be said that the proceedings in the
Agricultural Hall, at Islington, where the
business Of the day was brought to close,
were out of keeping with those which had
preceded. 1t would be unsafe, however, to
argue from the absence OF violence on the part
of the people that they were lukewarm in the
cause. more satisfactory reason might be
found in their rcctitude Of motive and con-
sciousness Of strength. Some Of their notices
were daring In the extreme all of them were
deeply significant. The bearing aloft ofa picture
Of an American yacht was not without lesson
which many doubtless read while the tribute Of
respect paid to the American Minister indicates
how powerfully the popular mind is incliniug
towards republican institutions. Altogether 1t
must be admitted that If the cause of reform
has not been materially helped by the demon
stration itself, il has not been damaged by the
behavior Of the populace.


The reform movement now, however. has
entered upon an entirely new phase Of its ex-
istence. The demonstration period is ended.
This last, indeed, was not needed 10 convince
those in power that reform in the representa-
ton was wanted and must be conceded. II is
not to be denied that the affair OF the l1th was
robbed Of much of its Importance by the pre-
vious declaration OF the government that they
were willing to attempt the settlement Of the
vexed question. The people have done their
part and done ii well. The struggle has been
transferred to another arena and must be
settled by other combatants. Interest centres
now in the House of Commons. Disraeli, with
characteristic boldness, has taken the matter in
hand. The course which he proposes to follow,
though revealing in some sense the timidity Of
the party to which he adheres and certain to
meet with disfavor at the hands Of his whig
rivals, is amply justified by the circumstances
in which he finds himself placed. The defeat
Of the late reform bill was the result Of dis
union among the liberals themselves, rather
than Of any factious opposition on the
part Of the conservatives. He is NOT
In any sense barred by his antece-
dents from taking up the question; and
II Mr.. Gladstone at the head Of the great liberal
party failed to carry reform as government
measure. there is no reason why he at the head
Of party numerically inferior should not learn
from his rivals failure and avoid similar dan
ger. II reform is really wanted II should be
welcome at any hand nor can there be any
reasonable objection on the part Of the House
to consider the question without regard to dis
tinction Of party. Much will depend upon the
form which Mr.. Disraeli's promised resolutions
may assume. The 25th Of February, the day
fixed for their announcement, will be anxiously
awaited.


We have no desire 10 forecast events where
possibilities are so numerous. Whether reform
shall be carried by resolution or In the shape
of government measure whether Il shall be
effected BY tory or by liberal government,
II matters little. It Is enough that liberal
measure Of representative reform must be con-
ceded-a measure which will be but one step
further towards that inevitable future Ia which
the invidious distinctions Of class shall disap-
pear forever.