SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM. [From the Times, May 1.]

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 243, 27 September 1848, Page 3

SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM. [From the Times, May I.]

An Appeal to the Middle Classes on the urgent necessity of numerous radical icforms, financial and organic," has been published by Mr. F. W. Newman. No person acquainted with tlicwritei's diameter conk doubt that such a production tiom such a- pen would contain much that was deserving of general attention, though it might perhaps have been anticipated with equal confidence that only a limited assent was reserved for its suggestions. The appeal was written lielore the 10th of last month, n circumstance, as will hcrealter be seen, of considerable importance towards a due estimate of its contents. Mi. Newman 1 !, propositions may be bucdy lcprescnted as follow :— That we aio sunVrhm undei «i mortal malady in our enoi mous debt ; that oui taxation ior the dischaige of our liabilities is radically unjust ; that our Government is so fettered by routine and precedent that the best disposed Administration can never hope to break through the trammels till the national representation has been oigamcally reformed ; and that unless the middle classes take this matter into their own hands by a " league of the franchised," some desperate convulsion must be inevitably in stoic. It is with a desire to uphold " reverence to the Throne, honour to the Peerage, and at all events ! and at any price to secure supremacy for order, wisdom, and equity," that the writer has communicated to the public his suggestions lor transferring a disagi eeahle but unavoidable task of reform into safer hands than there threatening to assume it. Mr. Newman classes his projected lelouns under two lieads, financial and organic. His chief aiguiueut in the former question is based upon the appoitionmcnt to be legitimately made of the liabilities contracted by the last war. He conceives that it was not rightly competent to the ininisteis of the day to charge any but the then existing pioperty of Britain with the charges incuned by the then existing geueiation. Ileredita y properly, thcicfore, ought to be charged with the dead weight of twenty-seven millions, whereas, with reference to this particular obligation, it has scarcely been charged with auy thing at all. We must not be understood as representing Mr. Newman to demand any such present 01 even eventual f adjustment of the debt as tins, lor he fioely admits the utter impracticability of auy such measure, and cannot as we imagine, be without some misgiving as to its justice. Thcie may be differences ol opinion as to the necessity or motives which dictated our last twenty years' war, and perhaps home variety of sentiment as to the national advantages resulting fiom it ; but it would be quite impossible, we apprehend, for Mr. Newman or any other person to prove that in the whole course of consequence of hostilities not one of those conditions was involved which have been held by every impartijl political reasoncr to justify an extension ol the charges incurred in those generations who were to participate in the benefits secured. Mr. Newman illustrates the case by the analogy of an embarrassed individual who may mortgage every article fit bis property, but not of his children.— A more common illustration has been that of an mdi vidudl nioilgfiging his estate lo defend his possession, and transmitting it to his children with those iucuuibr.inccs with which the nihciitauce itself has beeu secured. Ihe British empire assumes, in Mr. Newman's eyes, the aspect ol u state ulteily insolvent and bankiupt.— This estimate ot our position of course disposes rery summarily of many political questions and duties.— «' We have no light," in the wiiter's opinion, " to be either generous or grand." Our protection of the Africans, our dominion of the ocean, our colonial empire, and all such honours or acquisitions, are not for the like of us. Unquestionably it would be a highly salutary check upon nations as well as kings, it extiavugauce entailed upon them more immediately some of those penalties which in the cases of individuals are M'ldom far behind, lint, without denying the charge of lavishue^s in past times, we may fairly question Mr. Newman's right to pioclaim our present insolvency with such unhesitating emphasis. What constitutes the solvency of a state? We aic surely not defaulters in this respect. Is it the enjoyment of undiinmished credit among surrounding nations ? Never was that of Britain more conspicuously eminent. Is it the ability to relieve any local calamity upon the emergency of a moment 1 Let the deeds of last year speak tor us. Is it the power to clear oil the incumbrance within any definite period, or by any conceivable exertions, or whenever a general call lor the money may be probable? Mr. Newman himsell suggests letrcnchments which would tend to such a consummation within a period not wholly fabulous, and cur famous sinking fund, it used lo be said, would hnyp in'allibly accomplished the whole business some live years ago. Burdened with debts we undoubtedly are, and both sorely and equitably taxed to meet them ; but our debts as well as our taxes, ate lighter than they have been, and the wealth which supports both has wonderfully in* creased. We have no space to follow Mr. Newman at present through the details of his suggestions for organic reform. The truth is, that many of the conclusions which he recorded at the commencement of the month must have been seriously modified by the events of the 10th. Mr. Newman must now be convinced that the body whose insurrection he thought so threatening, and whose clamours he regarded as so plausible, neither posiesses the strength which he conceived, nor owns tbe cause which he wan discussing. The defenders of law and order, independently of other resources, " me an immense numerical majority of the population of the kingdom. The real object of the distui bora of the peace was no more the extension of the suffrage or the enforcement of public economy than was that of the Puiisian insurgents. They have, however, been exposed in their true characteis, and peaceably subdued ; and as revolution is no longer to be taken as knocking at our doors, Mr. Newman will perhaps withdraw bis suggestion that all fuudholders should accept a conversion of their property into terminable annuities, unless be is content to submit to the additional taxation which such an arrangement, if made with regard to justice, would necessarily involve. Against such a convention, if it be practicable, we have not a word to say. We may also put it to Mr. Newman seriously to consider whether, in the face of £uch spiritual deititution as confessedly prevails in the country, anything like an alienation of ecclesiastical property would be desirable, whatever improvements might be made in the application or distribution of thut property. Let us hope that we are still at some distance from such ([desperate expedients at thc.e, though there is no disguising the necetiity of serious reform. But it is for themselves, not less than loi those below them, that the middle classes should act. they were so resolutely the other diiy maintained the supremacy and independence of the law, had at least as much right to clamour as those who threatened i n interruption of the public peace upon pretexts of their own. It is a fact which cunnot be too dourly or consistently borne in mind, that these classes who bear the great bin dens of the state are also those who support iU authorities, TliG late dvtaonstraUou wag pot

an array of insolence ami power against poverty and suffering ; it was the opposition of legality ami order to turbulence nnd riot. That the demeanour of the middle clasß has lnvebted it with an additional right to •• make its voice heard for peaceful reform," ii vii assertion in which we heartily concur ; and our own aid shall not be wanting in the constitutional promotion of such measuies as will bring about a more equitable distribution of the burdens which nil must contribute to bear. But Mr. Newman, we trust, will hereafter see as much reason to modify the nature of his remc dies, as he must have already seen to qualify his conception of the disciise.