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Leader (1850-1860), 10th April 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 16

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      The Labourer's Golden Dream Come True. M...

      cultural labourers , oui ^ unemployed " navvies , ' for a picnic on that ground of gold ? To bring together that native treasury , that thriving town without a sorting class , and our " surplus" population , would be a blessed act of human providence . If mischief is to be apprehended from the gold fever in Australia , it is to be abated by diluting the flood of gold with an abundant infusion of population . Pour in people ; fill up the valuable space , as soon as possible , with a settled population , and you will swamp the greedy vagabonds who are dreaded .

      But the same process that would refill Melbourne with a working class , and would fill the pockets of our working people with gold , would materially contribute to render that great spread of native wealth available for this country . The new settlers would help to develope the resources of the colony , would relieve the labour market at home , would convert the contemned " surplus "

      population which burdens us , into so many respected consumers for our manufactures—in all these things , the process of migration would fulfil the usual benefits ; but in the special case , beyond those benefits , it would have the further effect of expediting the interfusion of gold and people , first in the colony , and ultimately , through the colonists , their trade and shipment of emigrants , in this country also .

      348 The Leader, [Saturbay ,

      348 THE LEADER , [ Saturbay ,

      Sixty Years Lost. Yotjr Plodding Old Tor...

      SIXTY YEARS LOST . Yotjr plodding old Tory will not give us anything — " , not never" —your dashing young Chartist will make us have all he deems desirable at once . 3 STo matter that you do not want it . He does . No matter that the country is not prepared for it . JSe is . In the obstructive respect , the Tory and the ultra-Dexnocrat are the same : botJi will have their own way . If you remind the Conservative that , as the majority of the people have strong convictions opposed to his , and he ought fairly

      to concede somethingjto the judgment of others , he repels you as an " anarchist / ' On the other hand , if you suggest to the Democrat that a considerable body of eminent men in the nation , including scholars , statesmen , merchants , patriots , and gentlemen , do not see their way clear to calling into legislative influence the entire multitude , residential and nomad , outside—and therefore to insist upon their unconditional acquiescence in such an act , would be a tyranny no less offensive that that which is charged upon the present order of things—if you suggest this to the

      Democrat of the ultra school , he stigmatizes you as a " traitor . " This treatment by the two extremes of political advocacy , has the effect of holding all reform in suspense , and of making any progress impossible . The Parliamentary Keformcrs , of whom Mr . Hume is the exponent , strike out a practical mean for the public to follow . But , it is objected , that if you stop at the Hume-Suffrage point , it is a mere expedient , and you are equally bound to accept the meagre measuro of the JRussell-Suffrage . The reasoning on which this objection

      is founded , is , however , the same as to deny that any circumstance ought to sway political actionit ' is to deny , that respect to the convictions of others should have weight in determining political claims—it is to deny , that good sonso and good feeling ought to regulate political choice . In fine , it amounts to this : —Because the country is politically hungry , not having had a franchise repast since 1832 , the Chartist prescribes six courses for its next dinner . Mr . Hunre suggests that four courses would perhaps bo found safer for the health and digestion of the bodpolitic . \ ± + \ ^

      y JUf H 1 U UXJVklVXX UIIU . VAIj ^ upmv / Ji . yi v s . w « . ^ ^~ .... ~ . " No , no , " exclaim the ultra Suffragist— " If you cannot take six courses , I do not see why you should not dine off one dish at tho Russell-ordinary . " The country , howover , bogs to submit that it ought to bo allowed tho common right of tho humblest man , of determining whether it will be fed , liko Oliver TwiBt , by tho Downing Street Bumble—suddonly stuffed by ultra cooks—or make a moderate , a wholesome , yofc a substantial meal , at Mr . Hume ' s table If tlio public docs

      not take it into its head to choose for itself , instead of its long promised , meal of aix courses , it will find itsolf condemned some twenty yoara honoo to another scanty bowl of Whig gruel . Lot us soo what ultruism has done for us . Moro than sixty years ago , Sir Charles Turner , who was Mombor of Parliament for York about 1782 , addressed tho following speech to tho electors in ¦ Westminster IJall . I quoto it vorbatum as it has corao down to us : —

      " I feel , " said Sir Charles , a satisfaction in addressing so numerous and respectable a body of my countrymen , that cannot animate a slavish mind . I have opposed the torrent of corruption and the inroad of arbitrary power ; and , although I have been unsuccessful , yet , with your assistance , I will fight and conquer . Corruption and tyranny can never stand against the virtuous efforts , of a . free people- Be firm , be zealous , be' unanimous . ' ¦ Assert your birthright- — annual parliaments , and an equal representation—a privilege inherent in the constitution ; but if you do

      not think yourselves supported in claiming that object , you have a right to insist upon what government ydu please . Laws were made for the governed , not for the governor ; and all governments originate with the people . If you choose to be slaves , you may submit to an unlimited monarchy or an oppressive aristocracy . If you wish to be free , you have a right to insist upon a . Democracy , or you have a right to form a Republic . Do not tell me of the power of Parliament or the power of the Crown . All power originates with yourselves ; and if the Crown or Parliament abuse that power you

      have invested them with , you have a right to reassnme it . You are the lords of the creation , not the slaves of power . You are your own masters , and we are only your servants , delegated and . employed by you to do your business ; and till you pay your servants , as was formerly the case , they will never act to your advantage . If you do not pay them , the Crown will , and then they become the servants of the Crown , and no longer the servants of the people . An honest man can have no interest but that of his country in coming to Parliament ; and if he sacrifice his ease and retirement

      to the duty of a senator , his expenses , at least , ought to be reimbursed by his country . You now pay your members with a vengeance for enslaving you and picking your pockets , but if you once pay them yourselves , yon would no longer complain of oppression . But with spirit and resolution insist upon your privileges , " and I will meet you at Kunnymede . I love the poor , I have divided my fortune with the poor , and I will die with them . The poor man ' s labour is the rich man ' s , wealth j and without your toil the kingdom is worth nothing . While I am free , you never shall be slaves . "

      What chance would any man have for York now who should address such language as that to the electors ? Mr . Y ' moent , who is of the palest sky-blue tint of political liberality , compared with that , has little prospect there . Where will you find a Knight now , unless Sir Joshua Walmslqy should have the boldness , who would not expect to risk his seat by such a declaration P At the period when Sir Charles Turner made that speech ,

      there were noblemen who put their names to political documents of equal breadth . The race of those noblemen is now extinct . It has been extirpated by imprudences . Is it not worth while inquiring how it is that , after sixty years , we are not even where we were . Between reactionaries and ultras , moderate and practical progress has been crucified .

      It would seem , to use a figure of Pearl Andrews , that Democracy at the time of the first French devolution rushed with the explosive force of escapement from centuries of compression , point-blank to the bull ' s-eye of its final destination , from which it recoiled with such force , that it prostrated and paralyzed itself . There is undoubtedly much to be dreaded from Arbitrary . Rulers , and scarcely loss from Arbitrary He formers . I ° n .

      The Gbkat Painted Window Question At Kam...

      THE GBKAT PAINTED WINDOW QUESTION AT KAMPSTKAI ) . An ecclesiastical" tempest in a toapofc" lias been raging 1 for woeks past at tho ploaadnt suburban -village of Hampstead . It is perhaps fortunate on otlior than inoro sanitary accounts for thodonizons south of Tottonhain-court-road , that bo high a , hill should divide thorn from that Sunday roiugo of tho cockney cit . At all events , Hampstoad , though , according to popular notions , noaror Hoavcn than London , is certainly not nearer to tho prosumod peaco and charity of Heaven . Hero again ft lamentablo burlosquo of tho unity of tho Church is boing onactod by men prolosing to live 'ill tho bond of poaco , assisted by tjioao lay ladies whom St . Paul robukoH .

      Tho scandal , or rock of offence , is , if wo aro corrootly informed , a certain Painted Window , which has boon very generously presented to a now church rocontly consecrated , 1 ) V ft gontloman connected with tho parish . For tho givor , it wiih not ao much a tloairo to lond to tho odifieo that " dim religious light" which Milton approved , and modem Puritanism abhors , us to conneorato to tho momory of boroavomont a votivo offering of affection consoled by religion . Tho window consisted of " Tho Saviour and tho Four Evangelists , " —a subject , we eliould have imagined , not

      inappropriate nor idolatrous . Great was the wrath of th Low Church worshippers who had " taken pews : " fann i into a flame was their wrath by the minister , who , assisted by a sort of Lady-Committee of Vigilance , proceeded to agitate the parish by Tracts , Homilies , Petitions , and other inflammatory appeals . A petition to have the "window removed was sent round for signatures . At length , a compromise , or , at least truce , between . the Painted Window-ites and the High . andHassockiteshas been effected

      Pew-- -, ; but not until ladies had been heard to say that they would not sit within view of the window , and that in taking the Sacrament they should look Steadily away from the window not until much bitterness had been expended , and much forgetfulness of Christian kindness exposed in the struggle . And what is the compromise ? The Saviour is taken out and the Four Evangelists are left , —the very last arrangement one might have anticipated from either of the djsputant parties .

      Is the vacant space , peradventure , to be occupied by the shining portrait of " Our Minister ?"—^ an idolatry to which , even Low Church dSvotes are apt to confess . Surely we need not point the moral of this edifying window-battle , and its still more edifying compromise . For , will nofcthe Window , painted , or simply glazed , * cast a queer light upon the Unity of the Church of England ?

      The Poor That Abe Always At Us. Protecti...

      THE POOR THAT ABE ALWAYS AT US . Protection , says Sidney Herbert , is the outdoor relief of the landlords , and they are always making a disturbance in the Union , because they do not get it freely enough . They put up Derby as their sturdy beggar , ex officio ; and ex officio he was sturdy enough : but in office his courage evaporates . The landlords want a rate in aid of their own wages—a corn-rate in aid of rents ; but when he sets about it , Derby finds that there will be a difficulty in persuading the working classes to pay a rate in aid of rents out of their scanty wages .

      They might indeed do so , if the landlords behaved pretty . There would bo a poeti cal adjustment in a plan which made the farmers-depend upon the landlords , the labourers upon the landlords , and the landlords upon the labourers ; only in such case , as the farmers go cap in hand to tho gentlemen , and the labourers to the yeomen , so the landlords ought to go scraping 1 a bow into the presence of tho yokels from whom they ask an allowance out of tho family loaf . The poor old feudals waiting to attend before a labouring board of " guardians of the landlords" would bo an instructive sight .

      (Dpen Cnuuril.

      ( Dpen Cnuuril .

      Pc01609

      [Iw This »Kpabtment, As Am. Opiniows, Ho...

      [ IW THIS » KPABTMENT , AS AM . OpiNIOWS , HOWKVKB " ^ S AUK AtLOWKD AN KXPEESSION , T « M MDITOB WK 0 MBHA 1 HOLDS milBKhV aBBPOMBIDIiM IfOB NONK . j

      There Is No Learned Ixmn But Will Confes...

      There is no learned ixmn but will confess ho ^ H ^ lcd ! profited by readme , ' controversies his . aonscb ^ tnWo and us ludgmonTsharpenod . If , then-, it op yn '_ bl 0 for him to r « ad , why should it not , at least , bo tolci for hia adversary to writo . — Milton .

      The Tltue Peace. To Thokhton Hunt, Esq. ...

      THE TltUE PEACE . To Thokhton Hunt , Esq . My Dear Sin , —Accept my warmest thanks for the > »! j" mirablo spirit in whiolf , in Tho Leader of tho 2 <> tf JAHJj you reply to my letter which appe ared » n , J $ ^ jon numbor , undi »« tho oditorially-conteiTcd title , « v n « u , , ¦ of tho Pcaco Policy . " In tine rejoinder I shalJ cgjjg , ^ to itliutrato my viowa on both tho gonoml and bud , i ( y questions at jssuo botwoon us , with « indroft . ^ i 6 nt , I ' arid precision . I shall follow , as far as <*> ny « J ? Jfc ' you order of your remarks , And avoid no difficulty «<» " J havo proHonfcod , so far as I can see it . ' ^\ nOb vl » i <>» First : Of tho legitimate function of that , insfano ^ you variously designate , " thp instinct that » npe « * . , and " tho instinct whiph craven tho victory over p « 1 ¦ dangor . " , M ,,. « roro tlifl , If war , moaning thereby human etoug ™ "J' ^ m to normal exorciBO of thia instinct , it were ft ™** £ t t \ lOto « ay , with you , that tho victories of potico wo ny ¦

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 10, 1852, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10041852/page/16/