Year: 1867

sumciently l0Wy we trust tnat In morsi ONO
1t will not be allowed to depreciate still lower.


Lord Derby's Reform Bill.


Yesterdays telegram put Us In possession
Of the principal points Of the Reform bill
which, by the time this Is in the hands Of the
reader, the Derby government will have sub
mitted to the consideration of Parliament 1t
is impossible TO refuse to admit, if the outlines
Of which we are In possession prove to be
correct that this is the most liberal measure
Of reform which has ever been brought forward
by any British government We do not wonder
at all At that when 1t became iznown to the
House of Commons what was the course which
Lord Derby and his friends intended to pursue
Mr.. Lowe should have expressed his amaze
ment that they had joined him in ousting the
Russell Gladstone Ministry. Testing the late
government and the present by their respective
measures, one feels as If parties had entirely
changed sides-the liberals having been trans
formed into conservatives and the conserva-
tives into liberals. This last bill, in fact, is
AT the same time we must not forget that
during the interval which has elapsed since
the defeat Of their measure the wings, not less
than the tories, have made rapid strides in
liberal direction. Mr.. Bright's vigorous agita-
tion and the hearty encouragement which he
has received from the people have rendered
large and liberal measure necessary, come from
whose hands it might.


A ratepaying household suffrage, qualified
by two years. residence, may require certain
explanations and even notifications, but sub
stantially it is almost certain to be accepted
as fair and satisfactory arrangement for
boroughs. The franchise based on one pound
yearly tax or thirty pounds in savings bank,
or fifty pounds in the funds, will cover large
class, such as lodgers and others who have
hitherto been totally unrepresented. These
two provisions alone will very largely increase
the number of voters. The granting of the
suffrage to all members of the learned profess
sions, clergymen of all denominations duly GER
tilted by their respective bodies, medical prac-
titioners and lawyers, including also all grad
yates of universities is undoubtedly q sensible
and considerate step in the right direction; but
as the greater number of these are either al
ready possessed of the right of voting, or are in
Q position in which they can easily claim it,
this new franchise will not lead to any very
material change in the character Of existing
constituencies. 1t is proposed to reduce the
franchise in counties from twenty to fifteen
pounds. Fourteen pounds has long been q
favorite figure with the liberals, some of whom
have even been anxious to lower It to ten
pounds. Whether the fifteen pound franchise
will be accepted by the liberals a. satisfac-
tory arrangement, or whether in the event of
its being objected to the government will not
consent to still further reduction, we must
wait to see.


So far as We are in possession Of the details
Of the measure no mention is made of the
double votes and certain other checks and
balances of which Mr.. Disraeli Is so fond. or
the merits of the bill as a'whole we cannot
speak until we have it fully before us This
much, however, may be said with safety-that
when tories have become SO liberal reform il
in fair way Of being satisfactorily settled.
The advocates Of manhood suffrage are little
likely to receive much encouragement, either
within the walls Of the House of Commons or
from sensible and intelligent people without
Although SO distinguished philosopher as
John Stuart Mill does not think that the pro-
gress of reform can stop at residential man.
hood suffrage, but must 60 on until women, too,
are enfranchised, 1t is noteworthy that John
Bright has never allowed himself to be carried
to this wild extreme Household suffrage Is
all that the great tribune asks for. Unless,
therefore, there are in the bill certain objec-
tionable elements which do not at present
appear the Derby -Disraeli government may,
after ALL have the honor Of settling this long
vexed question.