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Leader (1850-1860), 18th December 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1372, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      POLITICAL PORESHADOWINGS . Mb . Bright at Edinburgh . — On Wednesday evening a very crowded meeting was held in the Municipal Hall to hear Mr . Bright on the subject of Parliamentary Reform . After some general remarks on this question , of a similar character to those which he delivered at Manchester , Mr Bright said he trusted that the measure of the present Ministry would not be like the feast of the Spanish host , very little meat and a great deal of tablecloth . The feeling for Reform was founded upon the steady growth of public opinion . The bill of 1832 was full of great results , and the greatest was , that it settled for ever the question whether the constitution required

      that the representatives of the people should , be a fraudulent and sham one , or whether they should have the right to require from Parliament that fair and full representation which lie hoped the meeting -was there to demand . He did not think it was possible to maintain a law which shut out from the enjoyment of political rights five-sixths of the grown men of the United Kingdom . He proposed to take a wider and more rational basis than , the present 10 ? . franchise , which he thought would be safe , and for all purposes good and honest , representation ; instead of the 51 . rating proposed by Lord John Russell in 1852 , he would prefer that every man who was an occupier and who was rated for the relief of the poor should be entitled to have a vote . Referring in

      ironical terms to certain articles in the Times newspaper on the subject of Reform , he remarked that the Times , -which always went with the strongest , was now asking why he did not give the details of the measure of Reform which he was preparing on behalf of the people of England . He asked , in . return , why the Times ^ which was always writing about Reform , did not insist that Lord Palmerston , -when that nobleman was known to be preparing a measure , should state the details of his proposed bill . Of the House of Lords he said that if any one asserted that the four hundred temporal peers represented the individual interests only of those four hundred peers and their families , he placed the existence of the House of Lords on a most precarious foundation . There were four hundred men

      chosen , not by the people , setting up a right to dissent from , and reject year after year , aa they had done , the beneficent and excellent measures passed by the repre-Bentatives of the people . ? e appealed to the meeting if they wished an extension of the francuiaG— fltlOu aft extension as would admit a large infusion of the working classes , ( Cries of "Yes , yes , " ) Did they intend to keep the franchise aa it was ? ( No , no . ) Well , then , he thought he had a right to complain of those public writers who had on this question said they were for Reform ,

      but that they-were not for his ( Mr . Bright ' s ) Reform . Ho thought that every man who spoke or who wrote on this subject ought to discuss it without reference to his likings or dislikings to any particular individual . The Suestion was a great and a solemn one , and if it wore Iscuosed as such , he believed ere long that the , country would come to a very wise and satisfactory conclusiona conclusion which would before long be ratified by Parliament . ( Great cheering . ) He asked them to compare the state of matters now to what it was it was in 1798 .

      There were no riota and insurrections now as at that time ; and was not thia owing to the growing intelligence , education , and civilisation of the country , and the belief entertained by the people that they were not wholly disregarded by the Legislature from 1842 to 1846 ? And particularly to that of 1840 , which repealed tho Corn-laws , he attributed much of the plenty , happiness , . and enao enjoyed by the people . In the changes that wero -wished in the representation ho desired to keep to the ancient landmarks ; and , warned by Jihe exporlenco of the past , their measure should be moderate In la its Btrengtb ., but it should bo irresistibly strong n its moderation .

      MESSItS . lhtlOHT ANI > MlUNKR GlUSON AT MANCHEsrrcit . —The much-talked of soiree , prepared with so much care by the local leaders , took place on Saturday , in the Free Trade Hull . Mr . George Wilson presided , and letters of apology -were received from Lord J . Russell , Mr . Cobden , Mr . Yilliers , Mr . Locke King , Mr . Layard , and Mr . Roebuck . Mr . Gibscn combated Mr . Lowe's Kidderminster speech , and ridiculed the idea that the people do not want Reform . Mr . Bright began by contrasting the former conduct of the Tory party with its conduct in voting for eorn-law repeal , and its

      present exertions to extend the political rights of the people . He denied that he desired ^ to question the j . rerogatives of the Crown or of the House of Peers . Ilia next proposition was that the House of Commons does not represent the country . There are 1 , 000 , 000 voters , yet 200 , 000 are allowed " to elect one-half of the House of Commons . He denied a charge brought against him that he wants to " Americanise" us ; and of " scores of writers" who have attacked Ins Birmingham speeches , he said , " if they were dressed in the garb that becomes them , they would be dreSscdin plush . "

      The " Times" and Mk . Bright . —In answer to the hon . gentleman ' s attack on the writers who differ from his opinions , the Times remarks : — In the new dictionary , which we perceive will be speedily required , we must look for something like the following : —Worth , . noun substantive . —Agreement with Mr , Bright . Worthy , adject ice . —Agreeing with Mr . Bright . Unworthy , «

      Bright ought to be dressed in does not appear ; but he ha 3 no doubt , that all who differ from him should wear plush , and that a man who does so differ must be actuated by the vilest motives , the meanest selfishness , the basest servility , the most disgusting hypocrisy . Who can wonder that a cause advocated with such candour , meekness , and power of conciliation should find favour in the eyes of all men , and soothe , by the consciousness of universal approbation , the temper and feelings of its pacific and much-enduring advocates ?"

      Mb . Robartes , M . P axd Mr . Ken-oaix , M . P . —At the Callington Agricultural Association , the members for the eastern division of the county -were present . Mr . Robartes said he believed that no Reform Bill would suit the public that did not do away with the remainder of the nomination boroughs—whether Whig or Toryand also very considerably extend the suffrage . He thought that unless something like a compromise were entered into with regard to the other details of Reform , it would be quite impossible to carry a bill . He wished it to be understood that he was for the ballot . Mr . N . Kendall said he did not think the country very ripe for Reform , but as promises had been decidedly given , no doubt a Reform Bill must be brought before Parliament . No one could deny the ability of the Chancellor of the

      Exchequer , whom he believed to be , take him for all in all , thefirstman of theday , though he was imprudent at times . In preparing the Reform Bill , Mr . Disraeli might go much further than he ( Mr . Kendall ) should like , and he might be compelled to choose between two evils—Scylla on the one hand and Charybdis on the other . He was afraid that he should cither bo compelled to vote for a Government measure which he did not like , or support something very radical indeed . The result of which would be that he would be placed in a most extraordinary fix . Whatever Reform Bill was passed it must not be a sham measure—it must be progressive . Withrout that they would only have a new Reform Bill proposed . Nothing upon earth , he added , should ever induce aim to vote for the ballot .

      Mr . Dalgmsii , M . P . —At a public meeting in Glasgow , the hon . gentleman said : —" Having considered household suffrage in all its bearings , I do not see that it will be a fair representation of the feelings of the country . [ Jnder household suffrage , how many thousands of our most intelligent operatives and young men would be entirely thrown out of tho franchise because they did not occupy a house ? It would bo gross injustice to deprive of electoral privileges young men who are coming forward to be the leading men in the city in their various professions , until they were ablo to keep a house of their own . We must have not only manhood suffrage , but as near an approach as possible to equal ballot 1 do

      eleetorul districts . With regard to vote by , not care much about it under tho present state of the suffrage ; but when it comes to bo universal suffrage , then let us have vote by ballot by all weans , I have always voted for vote by bullot , and will continue to t ! o so . I have heard it said that tho people euro nothing about Reform . Gentlemen , thirty years ago , when reform agitation was carried on to such an extent , perhaps not 100 men In Glasgow had votes , and now there are between 15 , 000 and 10 , 000 . These men are , no doubt , indifferent , but there arc from 00 , 000 to 70 , 000 that have no votes . These men are anxious to have a vote , and you will find that thoy will agitato till they get one . "

      _ _ . Mr . Charles FoitsTEn , M . P . — At Wulsall , the member for tho borough said , in reference to the ICoform Bill which they might expect tlio Government to bring forward , ho thought tho best test of the sincerity of tho Government would be found in tho manner In which tho bi ll provided for the redistribution of Bents . If

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      THE MANCHlSSTKIt MANJFES M ' Ix having been announced that Mr . B ^' el ° id Extraordinary to Her Majesty's Government ,, wou ^ appear at Manchester on Friday evening l « st > »»» „ his intentions for the benefit of tho country , wr . * ^ made immediate electric arrangements or row" b tolllgenco as to the destinies of the na ««•• • J ^ a wire to bo carried from tho Tclotfrtti » l » -o ««« ° Temple-bar to tho loft-hand side of his doa ' < " ^ c ( lg 0 street , just between his lottor-woighur and \ a * ^^ and having ordered a number of p « BJ » w u llfl ( 1 dance , in case of emergency , Mr . 1 » u el . c « I « > ^ , „ tho Manchostor utterances . And tins was which thoy arrived : —

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      in conjunction with an extension of the privileges ne T constitution to those at present -without *! n , l 1 ° should be such a distribution of seats ^ 1 to Sv ' t ^ middle and working classes that fair amount of Vi . lv , influence to which they were entitled , ZSi a Ssuf would deserve the support of everv genuine i If , however , it should prove to be aWasureiSSu * increase the influence of the counties at the exmZ r towns , such a measure would have his unilhich ' im r L sition . ° "i'POMetroi-omtan Movements—A prclinUnarv meeting of gentlemen anxious to promote the redistribution & metropolitan seats on an . equitable basis , was hPl . i Tuesday at the London Coffee-house . Earnest ™!? able speeches were delivered b y gentlemen represent !™ various metropolitan districts ,. and a resolution » ,, adopted in support of the objects of the meetint Another meeting-on the Reform question , crowded and enthusiastic in its character , has been held in the South wark Literary Institution . The resolutions included manhood suffrage and the vote by ballot .

      ¦ Provincial . Movements . —At Congleton a Reform Association has been formed to render support to Mr Bright . Manhood suffrage has been adopted as the basis of the Association , in the belief that by demanding this ultimate settlement a large instalment may be obtained at once . —The people of Burnley have resolved to memorialise Lord Derby for the enfranchisement of their town , and they want household suffrage and vote by ballot as a means of making their votes general and effective . —At Taunton a ' crowded assembl y adopted resolutions in favour , of the ballot . —At a meeting in

      Leicester , the working and middle classes mixed themselves up together . The borough members were present , but did not speak . The Leicester people voted all the Reform points . On the franchise question , their resolution demands " manhood suffrage , or at least such an extension as shall include every householder . "—An effective Keform meeting has been held at Basingatole . Mr . Wilks was the principal speaker .. —At Rochdale the Electors ' Keform Committee met a public meeting of Liberal electors on Wednesday ,, and reported that they had fixed upon Mr . Cobden as their representative in the

      event of an election , and the meeting unanimously ratified that choice . Mr . Cobden has declared that , in the event of a dissolution of Parliament , he will consider himself pledged , if elected , to sit for Rochdale . Sik Charles Wood , M . P . —The right hon . baronet presided , this week , at a meeting of the Halifax Mechanics' Institute , and took occasion to make a long speech on social progress . In the course of his observations he spoke of speeches recently delivered which were intended to promote a separation of classes , to alienate the people from the aristocracy , tho poor from the rich , the workman from the master ^ and so on . Where such speeches were delivered , or by whom , Sir Charles did not say . . .

      Mr . Mr all . —This gentleman addressed the electors of Banbury on Tuesday night . He met with a very cordial reception , and the points of his speech were loudly applauded . Mr . Miull advocated less diplomatic intercourse -with foreign nations , and a more hearty manifestation of popular sympathy with the people of other countries . He would maintain the national defences in an efficient state , but this he thought could ba done at half the present expense . He advocated the separation of religion from the civil power ; and , wita regard to the Sunday question , he would support too law as it stood . His utterance on the Reform question was very decided . He would give the s uffrage to tue man , and , as far as tho rig ht to vote was concerned , us could draw no distinction between the electoral ana

      non-electoral classes . . Sir A . H . Elton , M . P .-Tho hon . baronet has addressed the farmers at Clovedon on l « rl » amcn' ^ Reform . He said that he would hot support thei manufacturing as against tho agricultural interest , but wouia act with fairness towards all parties . He was f « « large extension of tho suffrage and the vote by ballot . Mn , Henrt Dkummond , M . P .-At a meeting « agriculturists at Guildford , Mr . DrummondL said no would only mention one point on the subject ofpom es , because by politics he understood a fight b « tween tjo factions , and ho never cared for a fight of that »» What we had to consider was , that other gentlemen should not come hero and eat our beef and mut on ,, « v this consideration was the more urged upon iw ¦ » ji concentration of troops on the coast of *« mco on our country—a concentration far greater tlian nw » taken place before .

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      every other commercial interest in the country has * got on well under the rule of tree trade the shipp ing ' interest has " stood lamenting . But the signers of the petition are most anxious to " protest against any attempt to connect their application with any considerations of disputed systems of general commercial policy . " TIow ^ the connexion is to be avoided , neither Mr . G . F . Young nor his sympathisers gave the faintest hint . ; , only they want to be protected—when every other commercial interest is unprotected . During the week the . ' new Divorce Court has

      been actively employed in the settlement of various matrimonial troubles , and the enormous need there was for such a tribunal is amply illustrated by the varied character of the cases brought before it . Its uses have not yet been tested to a tithe of the extent to which we niay live to see them applicable ; and the work it has done so far has not been all well done ; but the establishment of the court was a great triumph of civilisation , and its development should be watched with jealous solicitude .

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      1 J > 72- THE' LEADER , [ No . 456 , December 18 . 1858 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 18, 1858, page 1372, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2273/page/4/