Year: 1867




The Derby Government have lost no tme
after the meeting of Parliament in taking ac-
tion on the subject of Reform; but that actloh'
our Cable dispatches inform U.S. has failed 10
give satisfaction to the bulk OF the LiDeral
party. And this is not surprising. Inc nat
ura presumption, from that portion OF the
Queens speech relating to the question OF Ke-
form. was that her Ministers were prepared 10
introduce into Parliament, with all convenient
speed, measure for the extension OF the iran
cbise. But instead of bringing forward such
measure they have adopted course
at once unconstitutional and unprece-
dented. Instead of graphing with the ques-
ton in the usual way on their RESPONSE
biHty as a Government, prepared to stand
or fall by the verdict of the House OF
Commons on their bill, they propose, as pre-
limnary step, to take the sense OF the House
as to the plan upon which Reform presumlng
the principle to be conceded, shall be carried
ont. This looks very like Sinking OF the
question on their part, and gives color to the
insinuation made in some Of the English jour-
nails that the Cabinet being divided among
themselves on the subject, sort OF c0mpr0-
mise has been entered into by Lord Derby's col
leagues. Taking into account the circumstances
under which the Tories aided by a few
recreant Liberals, succeeded in dsplacing the
Russell Gladstone Ministry, as well as the pop
ular agitation on the subject Of Reform winch
followed the change OF Government the
first duty of the present Administration
manifesty was to propose to PaIliament meas
ure at least equally liberal with that on winch
their predecessors in office were wrecked
They were bound to propose bill free from
those alleged faults and dement's which the
Tory party, and the faithless Liberals acting
with them, made the principal ground OF thelr
opposition to the late defeated Reform bill.
This they have failed to do, and the Tory
leaders consequently lay themselves open to
the charge that in opposing Mr.. Gladstones
bill they were actuated, not by honorable and
patriotic motives, but solely by selfish desire
to seize the reins of power


1t is evident, the professions in the queens
speech to the contrary Notwithstanding, tllat
the Tories are not prepared to deal with Re
form in accordance with the popular VIII; ana
this being so, it is safe to predict the speedy
overthrow of the Derby Government 1t Is GER
tainly clever device to propose to throw the
responsibility of framing a measure OF reform
upon the House of Commons. Could the House
be induced to accept the responsibility, 1t Is
not difficult to foresee that the result would
be TO postpone Reform for at least another
twelve months, and to insure TO Lord Derbys
party further lease of power The game OF
the,last session would in that case be played
over again, and any bill that might be brought
in would be killed by successive mutilations III
Committee. But the device we are strongly OF
opiniOn. will not succeed, for the simple
reason that the people will no longer tolerate
delay in the settlement of the question
Granting that with the aid of those Liberals
who helped the Tories to defeat Mr.. Glad
stones Reform bill, the resolutions OF which
Mr. Disracl has given notice, are affirmed
what thcnP The Government will not on that
account be relieved of its responsibility in the
matter Granting that by the device which has
been adopted the Liberal party should be so
divided and weakened rs to give Lord Derby'S
Government an apparent triumph over Re
formers of the Bright schO0l-what then The
victory will be dearly bought, and the disaster
speedily retrieved for outside of parties IN
Parliament. and independent of them, there Is
the great body of the English people, the dis
franchised masses, demanding that the rights
of which they have been unjustly deprived
shall be restored to them and asserting their
fixed determination to have justice. No min
istry, be it Tory or Liberal, can long hold power
failing to meet this demand.