THE PASSING OF THE BILL,

West Coast Times, Issue 623, 23 September 1867, Page 3

THE PASSING OF THE BILL,

On that night an animated debate of eight hours' duration took place, and a little after midnight the bill was read a third time and passed the Lower House. But the occasion was far from being one of unalloyed satisfaction and triumph to Mr Disraeli, the putative father of the bill, and his ministerial colleagues. Instead of thoughtfully considering the general bearings and probable effects ot this extraordinary stroke of competitive legislation, this final stage of discussion was spent chiefly in personalities. Hour after hour Ministers were assailed by a storm of reproaches and unpleasant imputations, and the wonder was that no one had heart to rebut them. The speeches, some of which were powerful, took the form of protests or apologies. Lord Cranborne bore down sternly and heavily on his late Cabinet colleagues, quoting against them 'their previously expressed views with merciless pertinacity. Mr Lowe, the Cassandra of the House, consistent to the last, recapitulated all his former vaticinations of the evils sure to flow from this democratising

measure ; but ho closed by intimating that, having loosened the Constitution from its ancient and secure moorings, he and and his friends would probably find it necessary to Americanise our institutions more completely, so that they may be in harmony with tho democratic basis now adopted— a very significant threat. The tone of most of the speeches showed plainly that tho House was not enamoured of what itha,d done in committee, but felt the expediency of making the best of it, and concurring with as good a grace as possible in what was clearly beyond its control. Tho rctioenco and restraint of Ministers was remarkable. Taunts could not goad them into reprisals. Shafts from " Hansard," however thickly showered ami deftly tipped, did not provoke to self-defence. They took tho flagelation as kindly as they could. Whatever vindication was attempted was done by the dexterous Chancellor. He was no craven. He had led his associates into th equagmire, and he did his best to get them out. "Do you know what I aimed at ?" said a boy to his big brother after he had thrown a stone. No ; what? " Why, that thing which I hit." Mr Disraeli's speech, says the " Nonconformist," was conceived in this view. This Reform Bill was a true exponent of Conservative principles. It was even imagined in 1852, but set aside by the Derby cabinet because the country was not then prepared for it. If smaller measures had since been rejected, it was because they were inadequate, and therefore dangerous. "I for my part," concluded Mr Disraeli, in reply to the melancholy prognostications of Mr Lowe, "do not believe that the country is in danger. I think England is safe in the race of men who inhabit her, that she is safe in something more precious than her accumulated capital — her accumulated experience, she is safe in her national character, in her name, in tho traditions of a thousand years, and in that glorious future which awaits her. After such a line of defence there was,of course, nothing io be said.