26 DECEMBER 1868, Page 1
We have noticed elsewhere the speeches of the different Ministers
on re-election, but must specially note Mr. Gladstone's utterance upon the ballot. It has been reported that secret voting has been taken up by the Cabinet as a Government question, but Mr. Gladstone's words, as reported in the Times, refute that assump- tion. He said, " I have at all times, gentlemen, given my vote in favour of the method of open voting ; but I have done so before, and I do so now with one important reservation, namely, that, whether by open voting or by whatsoever means, free voting must be secured." In other words, the ballot is only to be tried when other means have failed, a point upon which no man can form an opinion until he has seen the actual working of the new laws.
