Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/495

 1867.] Death of Palmer ston to Reform Act Conclusion. 481 second measure and the first was in the qualification for the borough and county franchise, which was now to be a 1 5 ratal in counties, and in boroughs household suffrage, accom- panied by personal payment of rates and two years' residence. This last provision, Disraeli estimated, would admit 230,000 men who lived in houses under 10 and paid rates, leaving unenfranchised 486,000 householders. The fancy franchises were left as before, and a parson, a tax-payer, a bank-depositor, or a stockholder, was to have an additional vote if he was also a householder. The old distribution scheme was also retained. In the contest which was waged over the different stages of this bill, the efforts of the Radicals were directed to remove the restrictions by which the extension of the suffrage was hampered and limited ; to reject the fancy franchises ; and to widen the system of redistribution. With regard to the first and most important point, there were two methods of pro- ceeding. The best plan would be the simple one advocated by Mr. Bright, of giving household suffrage pure and simple, unaccompanied by any restrictions as to rating or otherwise. It is a tribute to the foresight and wisdom of the Radical party that, after all the trouble and struggles and arrangements to avoid it, this proposal had to be ultimately adopted, the tricks and trammels all proving unworkable. Failing this clear and definite system, there was another possible plan, which was to fix a line of rental below which there should be no rating, and above which all occupiers should have votes. This was the plan which Mr. Gladstone supported, and it was accepted by a meeting of Liberals held at his house on the 5th of April. It would have been proposed on behalf of the party by Mr. Coleridge, but for the outbreak of another mutiny in the ranks. The great " Tea-room Conspiracy " destroyed the chance of successful action, and gave increased courage to the Ministry. The bill had been read a second time on the 2/th of March, and it was upon the motion for going into com- mittee that Coleridge's amendment was to have been moved. In his speech on the second reading, Disraeli had given 2 I