M. Stambouloff proposes to make some considerable changes in the
Bulgarian Constitution, of which the most important is the halving of the number of Deputies, so that there shalt be one Deputy for every twenty thousand inhabitants, instead of as at present for every ten thousand. It is desired also to- regulate the use of the secret ballot in the Sobranje (or Chamber of Deputies) by fixed rules, instead of leaving it to the Sobranje to regulate as it pleases on each special occasion. And further, instead of requiring the children of the reigning Prince to belong to the Greek Church, the Prince would be left at liberty to educate his children, as other parents may educate them, in their own faith. These changes are described; as exceedingly reactionary ; but we should have thought that the last is a change altogether in the direction of Liberalism, and that the two former are certainly changes favourable in a high degree to strict Constitutionalism. For surely the laying down of definite rules for the use of secrecy in the Sobranje is a great improvement on leaving it to the Sobranje to use it as it pleases. The people ought to know exactly how it will be used, and ought to approve that use. In our opinion, secrecy in the voting of an Assembly of Deputies is altogether un- desirable and dangerous to true responsibility. But assuredly, if it ought to be permitted at all, the rules under which it is to be permitted should be formulated with the utmost care and publicity. On the subject of the reduction of the number of Deputies, and the alleged reactionary tendency of such a change, we have said enough in another column.
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