H EWS OF THE WEEK.
No one will be surprised to learn from Lord John Russell's speech on the reopening of Parliament, that there is to be no Reform Bill this session. No popularity-hunting measure is to be flaunted amongst the pretences obstructive of real business ; but Ministers, reserving that for a deliberation which is manifestly sincere, now address themselves to the business immediately necessary, and which can be effected immediately. We have therefore a better prospect of a session of real work, so far as it depends upon the lead of Ministers, than we have had for a long time.
The work set down to be done, not all at once, but with due di- ligence and a proper succession in point of time, embraces mat- ters of the utmost importance and of the most practical value. The subjects are—the further arrangement of the national de- fences, with increased estimates, but without further increase in the number of men; surrender of the Clergy Reserves in Canada, -.—an act of pacification pregnant with beneficial consequenoes ; total discontinuance of transportation to Australia, with a revision of secondary punishments at home ; a pilotage bill, and detailed improvements for the shipping interest; removal of Jewish dis- abilities; financial arrangements, including the Income-tax ; Law Amendment; land-tenure in Ireland; bribery at elections; Uni- versity Reform; National Education. In journals which might be pleased to earn the character of being ultra-Liberal in their tone, we notice already a set whine of com- plaint because the Reform Bill is postponed. Nevertheless, it is admitted that there is no urgent public demand for it. It is self-evident that the work set down in Lord John Russell's list is quite sufficient for a session of moderate length; it is still more evident that some of the measures are of absolute and immediate necessity. Others, not less important than the improvement of the representation, have received less attention than that parti- cular reform, but do not deserve to be farther postponed : edu- cation, for example, is largely in arrear, and yet, if it should not precede, as many politicians hold, it might at least accompany ex- tension of the franchise. The reform will be none the worse, either in the spirit of its discussion or in the tissue of its construction, for the previous execution of measures in Lord John Russell's list which will tend to place our affairs in better order. The dating of the Reform Bill for next year, is not a delay, it is simply placing the subject in its proper succession. Lord John's offenceis said to be aggravated by his postponing the Reform Bill although he continues the Income-tax " in its present form." He has made no announcement of the kind. On the contrary, the plain inference from the words which he used is, that Parliamentary Reform is not hastened this session partly be7 cause Ministers desire sufficient time for a mature discussion of the Income-tax.
In respect to the forces, the leader of the House of Commons announces that there is to be no addition to the number of men voted before Christmas,—a statement which specifically means that there is to be no increase to the Line of the Army. That state- ment, however, is accompanied by another, that the estimates are to be increased. We are to presume that Ministers have come to their resolve on ample information, and on a full sense of their responsibility ; and we can well believe that it is possible by im- proved organization to effect a virtual increase at home without any augmentation of the gross number of men in the entire army. Justice to the Colonies might set free troops now on service, both North and South ; and at the same time it would be possible to defer the departure of troops which would leave this country in the ordinary routine during the year. On this point we await farther explanation. The public will not be satisfied with assurances, echoing Mr. Cobden, that certain, foreign states en- tertain friendly feelings towards us and would not be inclined
to attack us. The old spirit is reviving in the English people, which made it proud to believe that the safety of its land did not depend upon the sufferance of any other people what- soever, but upon its own substantive self-sufficing power of making aggression recoil upon the aggressor as punishment con- dign; and the public will not be satisfied until it be told that we are again in that position of independent strength. It is no ques- tion of so many men more or fewer, of a fort here or a fort there, any more than it is a question of so many pounds more or less in the Estimates. As many men as may be required, as many bat- teries, as many ships or cannon, as many pounds sterling, the pub- lic will readily give—not to waste, but to make surety doubly sure ; and it will not in any degree rest satisfied until its respon- sible servants havepledged themselves that this has been done.,
Impatient to render the House of Lords useful, the Earl of Der- by began by teasing the Premier with questions to draw him forth, as to the policy of Government. " What do you mean to do P was the question which Lord Derby expanded into a speech of a great number of words ; and when, being told that Ministers would develop their policy in the usual way without haste or osten- tation, he repeated his catechizing verbiage, he was properly answered by the firm silence of the Premier. The Richmond Pro- tectionists, at a meeting of the " Native Industry" Association, appropriately held in the ancient palace of the South Sea Com- pany, had just before, by formally giving up Protection, abstracted from Lord Derby's party the only principle which gave it a dis- tinctive existence. The quondam leader of that party, now under- going the penalty of a retaliated desertion, is anxious to display his activity at the expense of his dignity : he has exhibited him- self, on the first day of the meeting for business, as the angry boy, whom it is not worth while to answer.
