Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/308

 294 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1837- the people hoped to attain by means of the Reform Act, and it was natural that they should look, to a further reform of the Constitution to give them the power which the first had failed to secure. On the other hand, the misery caused by the exist- ence of those laws was so great, their hindrance to national development and prosperity so flagrant, that it is not surprising that earnest philanthropists and practical politicians should decide to postpone every other subject to the determination to relieve the country from their oppression. The tendency towards division in the party, caused by this difference of opinion as to the immediate policy which ought to be pursued, had a permanent effect on its fortunes in Parlia- ment. It was increased by the clear and definite form into which the charter had put the demands of the people. There were comparatively few members who were prepared to accept the whole scheme, but there was no choice between doing so and losing the control of the agitation which had been commenced. It soon became the fashion to speak of the charter as something strange and violent, and as contain- ing propositions too extreme to be considered by any but wild demagogues, the name always ready at hand to be applied to those who thoroughly trust the people and work with them. In reality the bill contained no such new doctrines ; every point in it had been specifically considered and adopted by a committee, of which Fox was chairman, and Burke, Sheridan, and other Whigs, were members.* Of the two main propositions, universal suffrage and vote by ballot, one has already been adopted, and a great stride has been made towards the other. Every advance in the direction of redistribution must be a nearer approach to the equalization of voting power ; and there are few Liberals who believe that seven years is not too long a period for the existence of Parliament. The property qualification for members has been abolished ; and, if all classes are to be really eligible for election, and full responsibility of members to their constituents effected, the payment of members must be adopted here, as
 * See ante, p. 31.