It must be observed that Mr. Chamberlain, who is to
the Radicals what Lord Hartington is to the Tories, endorsed this offer at Hanley on Tuesday. After a speech of great vigour and some acrimony, in which he rejected Lord Salisbury's views with utter disdain, he said that if the more moderate Tory Peers wished to see the Redistribution Bill, and to satisfy them- selves that it was in its essence fair to both parties, he should pay. every attention to their request. The "Government may give every information and all assistance to satisfy such doubts," provided that these things do not jeopardise the main object,— the passing of- the Franchise Bill. Compromise, it is evident, is in the air, as it always is after an English struggle, provided that the Lords accept and pass the Franchise Bill. If they will not do that, then they reject the irreducible minimum of negotiation, and the struggle must go on to the bitter end. We observe that the great Northern boroughs are most unwill- ing even to concede this much ; but they will probably yield to Mr. Gladstone's influence, and to the sense of weariness caused by the intolerable prolixity of the discussion. The greatest orator England has ever seen could not contribute a new idea to the controversy.
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