HINTS TO HONEST AND SENSIBLE ELECTORS.
Ins limitation to " honest" and " sensible " is made advisedly : we have nothing to say, at present, to those who yield up their souls to the self-delusions, the hypocrisies, and the nonsense, that reign paramount fur a season.
In the state of real apathy to which the Reform-damping policy of the MELBOURNE Government has brought the country, even where a show of excitement is kept up, it would be idle to attempt a national movement for systematic reforms : nevertheless, not a few constituencies have it in their power to secure positions which ought to be taken possession of, and held stoutly for the common good. They may "keep the sacred flame" alive during the next seven years, in a region where, it is to be feared, the atmosphere will be thick and unwholesome. In plain terms, we would advise, wherever it can be followed, a recurrence to the practice of exacting from candidates distinct pledges to support certain measures. It is said that honest men need not be bound down by pledges, and that knaves will disregard them : this is epigrammatic, but not true—to a considerable extent pledges will bind, as they have bound, the profligate politician. Few would like to endure what ANDREW JOHNSTON was made to suffer. Regard for his own peace will tend to keep the slippery Member tolerably steady, if he has given a specific pledge. Let the constituencies look after their own interests ; they cannot suffer from having their Mem- bers pledged. The abstract argument against pledging Members of Parliament, is for a much more perfect and pure representative system than we have yet attained to. It would be most desirable to bring every candidate under an engagement
To RESIGN HIS SEAT WHEN CALLED UPON BY A MAJORITY OF HIS SUPPORTERS.
Recollect that the next Parliament may last seven years. It is the openly-avowed intention of our rulers to make it last as long as they can. Let those who think seven years—seven years !- too long a period to trust Members of the House of Commons, use the means now in their power to bring about short Parliaments. At the last three elections there was comparatively little reason for exacting a pledge to resign when called upon, because there was a strong probability that the existence of the Parliament would short; now the probability is reversed. TnE BALLOT. There is nothing new to be said on this subject. The arguments in favour of secret suffrage cannot be strength- ened, as we know that they cannot be overthrown. Candidates ought to have made up their minds with respect to it, and be made to say "ay" or " no" on the hustings.
TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS. The above remarks apply to Triennial Parliaments equally with the Ballot. ABOLITION OF THE CORN-LAWS. Question every candidate closely on this subject. It is too important to be slurred over. For a commercial or manufacturing constituency to return an up- holder of the Corn-laws, is akin to suicide. Instead of a friend, it sends to Parliament the foe of its dearest interests. Were a man in private life to act with such inconsistency, he would soon be shut up in a madhouse.
REMOVAL OF PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS FROM PARLIAMENT. As far as we have observed, only one candidate has delared himself in favour of this much-needed reform ; and he is the Tory candi- date for Glasgow—Mr. MONTEITH But the country may rely upon this, that there will be little else than jobbing and blunder- ing in Parliament, there will be nothing like proper attention to business of any description, until the Private Bill branch is trans- ferred from Parliament to competent local and really responsible tribunals.
NATIONAL EDUCATION. There is a growing conviction in the public mind, that the most important duty of a Government is to se. e to the education of the people. England is almost the only civi- lized. country where the obligation is not acknowledged, and to a considerable extent discharged. Let the disgrace be wiped out. CHEAP JUSTICE. Insist upon the establishment of Lccal Courts. Why should justice be dear, when we have it in our power to make it cheap ? As long as the present system of administering the law is maintained, Englishmen are deprived of one of the most substantial advantages of freedom. POST-OFFICE REFORM. If the electors choose to ask it from the candidates next week, before this time twelvemonth the postage of every letter may be cut down to a penny, payable con- veniently to all parties. Now there is scarcely one expectant Member who if pressed will not promise to vote for the speedy adoption of Mr. HILL'S plan of Post-office Reform : let them all lie pressed. After e hat Lord ASHBURTON said a few weeks since, Intelligent Tory candidates will willingly pledge themselves on this poiut. UNIVERSITY REFORM. Vast sums are wasted in our Universities; which might be employed in conveying useful instruction to mil- lions. Oxford and Cambridge are now sectarian institutions : if the people choose, they may be thrown open to men of all creeds, and made the instrument of national instruction ; but as long as the monopoly of the Church only causes grumbling, and nothing is done to break it down, of course it will last.
These are a few of the leading questions on which candidates should be catechized, and for which the promise of their support should be obtained, wherever practical improvements are sought by the people. And perhaps there will be the less reluctance not only to promise but to perform, if juste•milieu candidates and timid electors will only bear in mind, that the way to postpone the inevitable organic changes which they dread—the future triumph of the millions who darken the background of the political picture —will be to give them now some at least of those practical benefits which they are fully resolved_ to,seize for themselves when their day comes.
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