Year: 1866

The Reform bill is now the exciting question IN
England. A meeting of the supporters OF the Govern
ment was held at the House OF Lord Russell on the
evening of April TO- and address was made By the
noble lord at the head of the Government with tenn
per and Judgment" we are assured by The Times. lie
repeate1 the determination announced by Mr. Glad
stone at Liverpool that by the Reform bill the Gov
ernmeut would stand or fall Those who have opposed
what is called piecemeal reform profess to be COM
forted by the assurance that bill for redistribution
of seats will speedily follow the Franchise bill. by
this measure the Ministry will stand as sterny as by
the Franchise bill. The Times, as an enemy OF Re.
form. but anxious TO 20 with the tide in favor OF it,
accents this assurance as an evidence of tho change
g which the chief organs Of independent opinion in
the press have produced in the counses of the Mill
isters" III other words The Times processes to con-
slider the announcement of Lord Russell as change
in the Ministerial programme from what was declared
by Mr. Gladstone in the House of Commons, and thus
pays its accustomed Difference to strength by with
drawing all opposition.


In the mean time, although The Tunes prolesSes
certain degree Of satisfaction with RnsSelFs Speech
that satisfaction is not shared by those recaletrant
Liberals who havo been opposing Reform Lord
Crosyenor will still press his sitting amendment, the
succass of which, we are assured will dissolve Para
ment. Mr.. Lowe and Mr.. Horsman are still opposed
10 the measure, and we shall have very able but
severe speeches from them in Parliament. Mr.. Lang
and Mr.. Edward James persist in opposition, while
Mr. Bouvere not being anxious, perhaps, to go to the
noll with an anti Reform record has stated that
hc will support the Government In the country and
press the agitation il violent and unremtting The
people are in eanesta and meetings being held in
all parts Of the Kingdom demanding Reform. 1t IL
hardly possible that its enemies will permit dissou'
ton They would scarcely wish to 90 to the nation
on the question that Engands labor and genius were
unworthy ofthe franchise. Mr.. Lowe at Calne and
Mr.. Horsmau at Stroud would meet reception which
English snobs know so well how to give.


We have therefore, hopes of Reform. The stern
fdelity Of the Ministry to the cause, added 10 the
frinness of the English Liberals, leads rs 70 believe
that the Government will be strong enough 20 carry
thS measure of Justice The bill is not as broad as
We could wish. but in English well as in American
politics the true plan when we cannot get the whole
loaf to take as many slices as We can We
should like England to be generous TO her people
as we are when they come to live with us or even as
Australia and Canada. Ii would BE- wise in the
arstocracy TO do 80. as the generosity would
give them claims on the people aud excite an
affection like that for instance. which has
for centuries clustered around the illustrous
house Of Russell We find the greatest statesman of
that name as devoted to freedom as he was thirty
year. ago, and when he goes from us we may expect
similar devotion from Lord Amberley. The noble
men of England should learn that their real strength
is in the respect and confidence of the people and that
the ariotocratic system ia weak only IN its opposition
TO true freedom. We believe it is the destiny OF
that system TO fall but that destiny will be fastened


century by the bigory and pride Of such houses as
those Of Stanley and Grosyenor.