NEWS OF THE WEEK
WEDNESDAY is not often an important Parliamentary day. It is reserved for the crotchetty people, philanthropists, and theorists, who can get a Member to propose, and another to second, the first reading of some Bill to make their private ideas law. Last Wednesday, however, was a remarkable one. Mr. Trevelyan moved the second reading of his Bill for extending household suffrage to Counties, and was supported by Mr. Forster, who, after a strong speech in favour of the proposal, made as a private member, read a note from the Premier, stating that " he retained the opinion he had more than once in- dicated, and believed the extension of household suffrage to the counties to be a measure just and politic in itself, and which cannot long be avoided." This was accepted on all sides of the House as a political manifesto, and while Lord J. Manners fretted under it as if it took the bread out of his party's mouths, Mr. Fawcett made an eloquent speech declaring he would oppose it unless provisions were simultaneously introduced giving minorities rights, Mr. Bruce rather softened the declaration as -requiring the study of a united government, and Mr. Talbot
• brought out the truth blankly when he asked, if no mani- festo were intended, where was the use of the letter, as the Premier's opinion was well known. We have discussed the sub- ject elsewhere, but we cannot, we confess, help believing that equality of suffrage is the point on which the next election is to turn.
