[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—I hope that Lord Salisbury's speech of July 15th is a hint of what Government propose to do during the next Ses- sion. It is insufferable that Ireland and the North of Scotland should be over-represented in Parliament in proportion to their population, and still more in proportion to their wealth, while the most populous and wealthy districts of England are in the same proportion insufficiently represented ; and Ulster has the same grievance against the rest of Ireland.
I see no force whatever in the objection that such a change ought not to be made in a Parliament which is soon to be dis- solved. This would be quite true if any large and keenly con- tested principle were involved. But this is not the case here ; the equalisation of electoral districts would be only carrying a little further a principle on which all are agreed, and the pub- lication of the results of the Census marks the appropriate time. If with this were combined the enactment of the principle of "One man, one vote," the measure would be at once so Conservative and so Radical, that I believe there would be no hearty opposition from any English or Scotch party.
A Bill for the purpose should consist of but two clauses and a redistribution schedule. The enfranchisement of female householders is, in my opinion, most desirable ; but there is much other work to be done, and the raising of the question of female suffrage might occupy the entire Session, and endanger the Bill after all.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
