Speeches on Questions of Public Policy (1869) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: REFORM. GLASGOW, DECEMBER 21, 1858. [Mr. Bright visited Scotland, and spoke at Edinburgh and Glasgow in the winter of 1858, on the subject of Parliamentary Reform. At the same time he drew up a Bill, for the amendment of the representation, the main features of which were?the borough franchise was conferred on all who were rated to the relief of the poor, and on all lodgers who paid a rent of ten pounds; no more freemen were to be created; and the county franchise was reduced to loJ. rental. The Bill put the returning officer's expenses on the county or borough rate; prescribed that votes should be taken by ballot; disfranchised fifty-six English, twenty-one Scotch, and nine Irish boroughs; and took away one Member from thirty-four other boroughs. The seats obtained by these disfranchisements were to be distributed according to population among the larger towns, counties, and divisions of counties in the United Kingdom. The Bill was not brought into Parliament, but the provisions of it were well known, and discussed at the time.] When I look upon these great meetings, at several of which I have been permitted recently to be present, I cannot help asking myself, What is the question?what is the matter? which appears to be stirring to their very innermost depths the hearts of my countrymen ? Is it some sudden frenzy, some fanaticism which wise men must rather be sorry for than rejoice over? Is it some phantom which you pursue and never overtake ? Judging by the looks of expectation andhope?even of assurance of success?which light up the countenances of so many before me, I must believe you have at least some great and worthy object which has brought us together. I believe no more worthy object can assemble the citizens of any free nation; for here we are met to discuss t...