14 JANUARY 1865, Page 14

" COURAGE " ON THE REFORM QUESTION.

To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."

SIR,—I should be sorry to think that just at this moment "Mr. Buxton represents the courage of the thinking class on the subject of Reform," and I hope the courage of the Spectator will prove to be of a different quality-. I hoped that in Mr Buxton we had found a thinker who did not consider that the enfranchisement of the working class was the main object, and the due representation of all classes (which due representation of all includes the largely preponderent representation of the smallest) only a secondary object. But so far from this, after some talk quite unworthy of him about the working classes being like serfs in Russia or negroes in Carolina, he consents to discuss the matter on these bases, "first, whether some concession on our part is not essential to success in our main object ; secondly, whether that main object cannot be attained without sacrificing the just claims of those who already possess the suffrage," I should be wasting your space if I were to use arguments to prove my assertion, that by using language like this Mr. Buxton has undoue all the good that his letter in the Times was so well calculated to do. If this is all he means, the Daily News and the Daily Telegraph are quite right in refusing to attach any importance to his letter, and in dealing with him as "a weak brother." I quite agree with you that the discussion of the question by the Liberal daily press has not even commenced, but I venture to say that it never will commence till thinking Liberals take a firmer tone. There is an element of stupidity in the English mind which has done excellent service in keeping us out of the European revolutionary stream hitherto, but this same quality is now on the other side, and plain speaking and firm action will now be needed to save us from gratuitously drifting into what we have hitherto (seeped more by accident than by forethought. I, like you, look for help to the Liberal not the Conservative party. I fear a Conservative majority on this ques- tion would only strengthen for the future (though it might post- pone) the action of the Radical party. In England now there ought to be but two parties, a Conservative-Liberal (not Liberal- Conservative) and a Democratic party. Mr. Buxton is evidently for "Reform" anyhow, and a just Reform if possible, and in that attitude he will be powerless. I trust, Sir, that your trumpet will speak with no uncertain sound in favour of "no Reform unless a just one."

One word more. It is not the working class from whom I apprehend an unwillingness to entertain a just scheme. It is from the middle class, who in asserting their own privileges have got into a groove of thought respecting inequalities of political privi- lege in general ;—a groove in which they are helped by a very natural feeling of indignation at the silly county exclusiveness which keeps town and country apart. This feeling is to be seen in full action in every country town large and small ; and, un- known to himself, it barbs and poisons the oratorical shafts of Mr.