Ittitr to tljt Etritor.
A WORD ON THE REFORM CRISIS.
Buckingham, 16th March. Sim,--About this Reform Bill ; you see I plunge at once into the subject. A modsrate Reformer and an opponent of Reform should both vote foi ce
seconctreading : the first, to introduce changes which would make the b. fair practicable measure, and would settle the question for some years; e second; because it is the most moderate bill likely to be proposed. A revo- lutionary reformer, like Bright, will, of course, try to throw it out, and put off the question in hopes of a more democratic bill ; and Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston will try to turn out the Ministry on the question. If Mr. Disraeli is the man I take him for he will not dissolve on the question ; because a dissolution would create a more hostile House of Commons—for it is absurd to imagine a Tory Government going to the country on a Reform Bill. If the Bill had been immaculate and yet Conservative, a dissolu- tion could do Ministers no good ; but on the hustings, where every fault will be magnified to gigantic proportions, and all the virtues of the mea- sure cast into outer darkness, it has no chance. And why should the Minis- try go out ? Already they have accepted Lord John's proposal about the forty-shilling freeholders ; why not also accept the six-pound franchise in boroughs ? Mr. Disraeli might say—" We are only young Reformers, and we are quite ready to accept a hint from a veteran like the noble Lord the Member for the city of London. As for the six-pound franchise ; that has already been proposed by our late colleagues, Mr. Walpole and Mr. Henley ; and if it would prove acceptable to the Reform party also, why we have no objection to make the ten-pound franchise six-pound in boroughs, and ten- pound in counties." Would not that be a checkmate ? If he had only a better set of subordinates I do not see why Mr. Disraeli should not be per- petual Minister, and pursue the same tactics he pursued last year on the India Bill. His own followerswould be the only formidable obstacle ; but they have no choice except an advent of the Whigs or a deluge of Radicals.
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