Year: 1868

lfToHl Cile LOnuOn Ielcgrapn, August Al


The country is about to make great experiment.
The effect Of the reform legislation OF the last two
sessions Is to change the constituencies OF the United
Kingdom ana to put the supreme governing power
INTO nel0 hdft0s; anu although the extent OF the
change Is at present very much matter OF conjec-
ture enough Is known to stamp the political revo.
luton as greater than any which the present gen.
Grafton has witnessed. The Reform act OF 1882
was essentially measure OF nliddle-class enfran
chlsement. 1t created, for the first time an uni
form property qualification In b0roughs, and gave a
predominating power to the ten-pound house
hoderSthat IS, TO Il section OF the population inter-
mediate between the highest and tue lowest in the
social scale. That in itself was a vast amendment
but 1t WAS by no means return TO the most ancient
democratic constitution Of England. 1t is now clear
beyond dispute that in the earliest ages OF Parlia-
mentary government the suffrage was founded on
the widest possible basis. Until the reign or Henry
W., when the forty shilling freehold qualification
was introduced IN counties, we do not find the
slightest trace of any restriction OF household suf
frage IN either town or county. For
srai reasons we may conclude that for the
than loas 0eaerdUy anticipated aDithtn the first
yedr. We have only just created new and comp-
Gated machinery, ana o considerable time is re-
quired to get t into full operation 1t is therefore
true only III limited sense that the appeal about
to be made to the new constituencies. Even if the
oumbrous processes OF the Reform act should not
be simplihed and amen ed hereatter--even if the
law next year should he just the same as it is now
it is certain that another registration will be more
pro5uctiec than That which Ii now impending. Men
Will be more familiar with their rights, will under
stand better how 10 assert them and organizations
OF Various kinds VIII be invented to assist them in
enrolling their names. We really know very Little
about the constituencies. Their number and char
aclcr can be but vaguely guessed. Is the resdaum
householders in counties be Independent or subject
to territorial innuence2 These and many other
essential facts OF the problem which is TO be worked
out at the next general election are at present un-
known quantities But, after all the ignorance is a
matter OF degree only. We are certain that the con-
stituencies are made larger. though how much
larger we cannot tell. We see distinctly that the
governed and governing classes are brought nearer
together, though how much nearer Is as yet cOnJec-
tural. About the tendency and direction OF the late
reform there Is no uncertainty whatever. 1t has
rendered the constitution more in unison with the
general body OF the communicated Is to say,
rulers and statesmen now become more directly SUBJ
ject to the observation criticism and control Of the
people. AS necessary consequence political lead
ers OF all shades or opinion viii henceorth be COM
PEELED to be more distinct in their policy and more
emphatic in their utterances The actors IN the po-


ical theatre VIII have TO speak in the clearer Ian
guage and to follow up their professions with the
more emphatic and practical action required by the
increased numbers and the awakened Intelligence Of
the nation.