ENGLAND IN TE XNINETEENTH CENTURY, 
While the Fenian movement was giving trouble, Disraeli was 
engaged in the difficult task of governing without a majority in 
eb parliament. "That he succeeded in doing so for 
NEE Bill the best part of two years is an astounding testi- 
mony of his dexterity. All through 1867 he was 
engaged with his Reform Bill, drawn up on the same lines as 
that which he had before proposed in 1859. It differed from 
Lord Russell’s scheme mainly in keeping the county franchise 
high (at £20 instead of £14), and in insisting on the “ fancy 
franchises ” that Disraeli had sketched out in his earlier bill, 
which gave the vote to all persons owning £30 in the savings- 
bank, or ‚£50 invested in the public funds, or paying £I1 of 
direct taxes, or who had received a liberal education. All 
(hose possessing these qualifications were to become electors 
if they were not already on the rolls; while if they were, 
they obtained a second vote in virtue of their evidence of 
Ihrift or superior instruction. 
The Conservative Reform Bill was not so successful as 
Disraeli had hopecd. Several members of the Government— 
The “L of whom Lord Cranborne, the present Marquis of 
in he Dar „ Salisbury, was one—resigned office because they 
regarded the measure as a concession to demo- 
cracy. On the other hand, the Liberal party declared that the 
bill was not sufficiently broad and far-reaching, and proceecded 
to cut it about by unending amendments. Public opinion in 
the large towns was already excited on the question of Reform, 
and very shortly after the ministry had taken office, the famous‘ 
riot in which the railings of Hyde Park were torn down (July, 
1866) had reminded observers of the old Chartist days. Disraeli 
was very anxious to show the world that Conservatives could 
frame Reform Bills as successfully as their opponents, and was 
resolved to make a serious bid for popularıty with the masses. 
Accordingly, when the Liberals began to mutilate his measure 
by amendments, he did not resign, but accepted all the 
changes, affirming that they did not affect the principle of the