The Tories of Oxfordshire have an odd candidate in the
person or Mr. Henley. At least he uttered, after his unopposed return, one of the most dangerously democratic speeches we have recently
read. Reform, he said, had never been his trade—he has per- sistently resisted it—but if there was to be a reform, it would be " of no use unless it went down-hill, and took in a much larger number of people than at present." He could not see why 81., or 61., or 51. should be the standard, but would go at once for " our old system of household franchise." As to the counties, his only idea of a limit with a principle in it was to include every man whose house was taxed, i. e., every 201. holder if he means imperial taxation, or every householder if he includes the rates. In other words, rather than, give a fair trial to a reasonable plan admit- ting the workmen, he would hand the whole Government over to the ratepayers. If many of his party are of the same opinion, we shall be landed in democracy before ten years are out, for a reform is inevitable, and it will task all the skill and all the courage of the moderate Liberals to avert a reckless one. A Tory proposal for household suffrage, supported by a few dozen Tory votes, would run no small danger of being carried.
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