It is obvious that the main idea of this sc%eme
is to give addi- tional representation to already represented counties, but to give seats to boroughs only when quite unrepresented at present,—the new metropolitan seats, Salford, and Merthyr-Tydvil being the only exceptions. Whereas, in the old scheme, with but 30 seats to dispose of, 14 seats were given to boroughs, one to the London University, and only 15 to counties, i.e., about half and half,—of the additional 15 seats now gained 10 are given to counties repre- sented before, and five only to boroughs. Mr. Disraeli thinks the humblest class in the boroughs can be controlled by the wealthiest, and the boroughs, as a whole, may be controlled by the counties. The scheme is a bad one. The only interest which has clearly lost greatly by the whole drift of the measure is that of the borough capitalists, the commercial wealth of the country. Household suffrage will give the control to labour, and a third member to the large boroughs with an election by single or by cumulative votes would have secured a real representation to this important element in the country. As it is, Mr. Disraeli is going to squander all his moans on the county interest,—already over- represented in the House.
