“’Deed maun they,” said Jamie Howison, “and the only chance of justice for huz that they maun.  But, Maister Hogarth, ye see that property, an’ education, an’ rank, an’ a’ that, hae had it a’ their ain way for hundreds o’ years; it’s time that we should hae oor turn.  We arena like the French (in the days of the auld revolution); we would respect property.  Even if we had owre muckle power, I think we wad mak nae bad use of it.  It’s hard to keep huz oot o’ oor richts for ever because ye think we micht get a thocht mair than is good for us.”

“But,” said Sandy, sagaciously, “ye acknowledge that things as they are are na fair.  What wad ye do to mend them?”

“You recollect a proposal of Lord John Russell’s, some years ago, to reconstruct the electoral districts, by making them each return three members, and allowing each elector to vote for only two, so as to secure somewhat of the rights of minorities,” said Francis.

“Oh! we misdooted that; for we thocht it was a treacherous thing on Lord John’s part,” said Sandy.  “It is hard eneuch for the Leeberals to get their dues wi’ this restricted franchise; an’ this arrangement would mak the Tories stronger than they are noo.”

“But is it not just that a minority of a third should be secured their third share in the representation?” asked Francis.

“Oh! ye’re gaun to first principles, like your freend, Maister Sinclair.  Nae doot it’s a’ richt, but it wadna answer.  The third in ae district maun do without their man, an’ in some other they micht hae the best o’ it.  That wad mak a’ odds even.”

“It does so in a great measure at present, though not so much so as I could wish, but every extension of the suffrage will tend to extinguish the minorities more and more.  You cannot say that, in any electoral district you could name, with manhood suffrage the working classes would not enormously outnumber the educated classes.”

“An’ we maun wait for the reconstruction of the districts afore there is any chance o’ justice?” said Jamie Howison.  “I’m thinking we’ll hae to tarry lang for our richts.”

“Not so long, if you steadily keep in view that this is the first step.  Lord John Russell’s proposal was an approximation to a right principle, which, if it had been properly supported, might have given the fairest opening for greater reforms.  If the Conservatives had voted for a really Conservative measure like this it would have been carried, but as it was brought forward by a political opponent they voted against it, though they now taunt him with introducing it.  If the Whig party had seen the importance of it, and had vigorously supported it, it might have facilitated the extension of the suffrage, a measure which none of you can desire more earnestly than I do.  I have conversed recently with some colonial gentlemen returned from Australia on the working of their manhood suffrage and the ballot, and from one of them I got an idea which appears to be a still