NEWS OF THE WEEK.
MR. DISRAELI introduced his Bill at last, as the fourth stage in the Ministerial progress, "or rather," as Mr. Gladstone said, "procedure," on Monday night. He was tame and " lack-lustre " in manner. He began, as usual, with one of his verbal distinc- tions between "popular privileges" and "democratic rights," the former of which may be freely conferred, he says, in a country where there is no wish for equality of condition, whereas the latter starts from assuming equality of condition as the basis of its view. As this distinction fell a little dead even on the Conservatives, for -whom it was specially intended, Mr. Disraeli soon plunged -into his Bill. He proposed Household Suffrage, coupled with per- sonal payment of rates, as the "principle" of his occupying borough franchise,—making a right (the franchise) conditional on the dis- charge of a duty (paying the poor-rate). The occupation franchise for counties is to be 15/. rating. lie proposed also an educational franchise, qualified by one year's residence in both counties and boroughs, comprehending University graduates, holders of senior middle-class certificates in Oxford and Cambridge local exami- nations, Certificated schoolmasters, barristers, attorneys, and medical practitioners. There is also to be in both counties and boroughs a 50/. savings' bank franchise, a 50/. Government-Stock franchise, and a 20s. direct-tax franchise (licences excluded), each qualified by a two years' residence. Finally, the possessor of both an occupier's qualification and a direct-taxation qualification in the same borough may give a double vote for each member. The distribution of seats is precisely the same as that of the measure of the 25th February, but the town named as representing "the Black Country" is Weduesbury. Mr. Disraeli ended as he began, in tame generalities, delivered without verve.
