Mr. W. H. Smith attended a great meeting in Dublin
on Thursday, and made what is for him a fiery speech. He entirely opposed reduction of the franchise. It must be extended to Ireland, and if extended to Ireland, it would produce "confisca- tion of property, ruin of industry, withdrawal of capital, misery, wretchedness, war." He found that in Ireland there are now 228,000 electors, chiefly from farmhouses ; but there are 425,140 mud cabins, which will be enfranchised by household suffrage. Out of them will come the majority, and the cabins will dictate to the houses. He would, therefore, postpone the reduction till the dominion of law had been completely asserted, and all Ireland could read and write. Mr. Smith's other topic was Egypt, upon which he accused the Government of perpetual vacillation. He approved the despatch of General Gordon, but argued that he ought to be supported by a British force, as otherwise he might share the fate of Mr. Palmer, who, like him, relied upon his influence over the Arabs, and was murdered when he trusted himself in their hands. Mr. Smith's speech shows that even the moderate Tories intend to fight the fran- chise, and that they think the most effective weapon against the Government will be the condition of Egypt.
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