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    Dec: 13, 1851.] JE&e Hea&fr. 1177

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    To tho above we may append an extract fr...

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    SHARMAN CRAWFORD AND ROCHDALE. Rochdale ...

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    CHURCH MATTERS. On Tuesday the London Un...

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    Robert Walkklt On Till'! Conspiracy Of D...

    to fight against the despotisms of Europe . This act has already been sustained by the despotic power of Austria , and I have no doubt that you will find it sustained by the Russian Czar , and by all the despotisms of the continent of Europe . Then , if the imperial army of France are to have employment , may we not look back to history ? In 1804 , had we not a somewhat parallel catastrophe , when the constitution of France was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte , and an imperial Government was reestablished in France , as I believe it soon will be in France again . ( Hear , hear . ) What followed on the establishment of the imperial and military power in France in 1804 , may it not follow in 1852 ? Now , gentlemen , I hope these events may not follow—I hope that

    we shall have peace—peace with England—peace , if possible , with all mankind . ( Applause . ) There is no genuine Free-trader that can be otherwise than the friend of peace . ( Applause . ) And I do say this , that I do not believe that it is the interest of England to ally herself with the despots of the continent of Europe . ( Hear ) hear . ) And I say further , that if upon her refusal to do so , she should be assailed by those despotic powers—if , maintaining her own constitutional Government , her own trial by jury , her own liberty of speech and of the press , she should require our aid—I speak what I know to be the unanimous sentiment of my country—the entire American population , backed by their Government , will come as one man , and fight the battle with you , if it be necessary . ( Immense cheering . )"

    We did not expect to have the Times so soon proclaiming the Anglo-American alliance in the cause of freedom . Yet here it is fresh from yesterday ' s columns . " Beyond the operation of tariffs and financial disputes Mr . "Walker casts a prophetic eye at the great conflict between military absolutism , and constitutional government , which every day assumes a more serious aspect , which every day draws nearer to this island , and which will one day divide the whole world . These are no two states in the whole world , and never have been , so bound to one another , so mutually beneficial , and so able to work together , as the British empire and the United States . At present it seems impossible but

    that the whole of the continent of Europe should fall into the hands of military despots ; it seems equally impossible that we , with our American brethren , should lose our institutions or our enthusiasm for liberty . Here , then , are the two parties in the great cause that threatens to divide and convulse the whole world . What will be required of us ? What attempts will be made on us ? What crusades ought we spontaneously to undertake ? What assistance in any case are we to expect from America ? For our islands we have no fear . Despotism is great on land , but impotent and craven on the sea . Wherever our ships can go , there we have no compeer . As on the former occasion referred to by Mr . Walker , we protect the New World from the tyrannies of the Old . What , then , remains to

    be done ? Are we expected to land on the continent of Europe , and fight single-handed with four huge military monarchies , mustering two or three millions of armed men ? What degree of assistance are we to expect from America in marching into the centre of Europe ? None , we should think . However , there are many things to be considered . A hundred years ago what was Russia ? A hundred years hence what will be the United States ? An empire , with not far short of two hundred million souls . Should anything happen to us , —should we ever be exposed to unmerited indignity and oppression , and our services to Europe be forgotten , we have only to pray , Exoriare aliquis nostris exossibus ultor , and that the prayer will one day bring across , on occasion , the messengers of a state that can apply to its purpose the resources of a continent and two oceans . "

    Dec: 13, 1851.] Je&E Hea&Fr. 1177

    Dec : 13 , 1851 . ] JE & e Hea & fr . 1177

    To Tho Above We May Append An Extract Fr...

    To tho above we may append an extract from a letter , dated December 9 , 1851 , from M . Louis Blanc , nnd printed in the Daily News of Thursday . This is the immortal lesson contained in the events ¦ which have now occurred . I repeat it—let its bearing bo studied , let it be understood . The bourgeoisie and the people must be one , and all is saved . And when I say " all is saved , " I speak not only of France . " To divide Europe into three great empires—a Russian empire extending to Constantinople ; an Austrian empire , with tho definitive annexation of Italy ;

    a French empire , with tho addition of Belgium . from this new holy alliance between three great despotic empires to cautse to arise a war to the death against the Democratic party , and against the Liberal and Constitutional party ; to extinguish beneath the armies' tread what the absolutist powers call the revolutionary flamethat is to aay , whatever lights the human spirit on the Way of progress—and if England resists , to crush her . Such is the plan ( who can doubt it longer ?)—Mich is the Bacrilegious plan of which the sack of Paris is the commencement , and for tho accomplishment of which Louis Bonaparte has delivered France into the humln of French Cossacks .

    " On the reality of thin plan , and on tho abominable complicity which binds to the fortune- of the Emperor N icholas the ambition of Louis Bonupurte , 1 may be able very shortly to publish some proofs , which I am now in course of collecting . We can then judge of the important influence which Russian gold exercises in the humiliation and misfortunes of France . " Tho fact that Austrian and VruHiun journals and rulern have welcomed tho new usurper strengthens every suspicion , and tho obvioun complicity of tho Morning Post makes uomo explanation imperative from JDowning-stroot .

    Sharman Crawford And Rochdale. Rochdale ...

    SHARMAN CRAWFORD AND ROCHDALE . Rochdale is happy in having a representative like Mr . Sharman Crawford , happy also in knowing how to appreciate him for his consistent integrity and unfaltering devotion to the cause of the people . Rochdale elects its member free of expense , sends him to Parliament an independent man , requires of

    him very properly an account of his doings there , and handsomely acknowledges his services . On Thursday week Mr . Crawford gave in his account , and obtained a receipt in full with more than honourable mention ; and on Friday , to celebrate the event , his constituents invited him to a public dinner . Mr . Bright , M . P . and Mr . Cobden , M . P . attended to testify the respect and esteem they feel for the man who is respected and esteemed by all radicals , by the generous among his opponents , and who is beloved by his tenantry in County Down . At the dinner on Fridaiy Mr . "William Chadwick presided . The principal toasts were , " The Health of Mr . Crawford , " " the Health of Mr . Bright , " and " Success to the members of . the late Anti-Corn Law

    League . " All the toasts were received with great cheering ; but Mr . Crawford having addressed the meeting at great length on the previous day , giving his annual explanation of his ; Parliamentary conduct , did not speak at any lengtlh . Mr . Bright made a speech echoing the faltering oration with which he introduced the programme of reform agreed to by the middle class conference at Manchester . It was Mr . Cobden who made the speech of the evening . He gave a humorous account of the venal process by which the majority of small boroughs elect their representatives . He showed that if constituents suffered themselves to be bought , they would have to endure being sold . And he described the tactics of Government when a ministerial crisis shakes the Cabinet , or a hostile moition seems likely to break it in pieces .

    " The Government tells their whipper-in to send out a circular to all their usual supporters to come and see them in Downing-street . The members go down there to a large room , where the Minister of the day gets on a chair and addresses his friends and supporters , and tells them it is his duty to persevere in the course which he has undertaken , and he should regret exceedingly if for want want of support he should find that he was no longer able to carry on the affairs of Government , and be obliged to resign , so thai- he is determined to stand or fall by the measure which he has proposed . Well , then , no sooner are we dismissed than the whisper goes round that the Minister intends to appeal to the country . V ery well . Nowwhat do you think are the feelings which

    , come across the mind of a man who has been fleeced at St . Alban ' s , or Yarmouth , or Abingdon ? For all the world it is as though sortie one stood over him with a bludgeon , prepared to o ' emand his money or life ; ? £ 2500 , or vote for the Mi . nistry . ' ( Loud cheers and laughter . ) And in sheer apprehension , in downright dread of this enormous fine rhat will be entailed upon him if he goes down for reele-ction , in order to escape this present of £ 2500 , or wha tever is the amount his election may have cost him the year before , he doubles up and packs up his conscience ¦ and votes against , his convictions to keep the Ministrj' in power . ( Cheers . ) So that by the very fact of your having robbed this candidate when he stood for his elec tion , you deprive him

    of his conscience and independence , inasmuch as he is terrified at the idea of having to co . me down to be robbed by you again . Now , there is anoth er evil in which this results . I am letting you into some state secrets . ( Laughter . ) These are rich men who must pay this money . You cannot have men unles s they can command money : you cannot have them in Pi irliament by such a process as I have been describing . IN Tow , I am going to join in no vulgar abuse of rich men , because we all know that in this country you may find as good men , as disinterested men , and prudent men ai nong the rich aa among the poor ; but still , after all , i t is not desirable that all the men who sic in Parliament should be of necessity very rich men , because when you « : ome to questions

    of economy or retrenchment these ve ry rich men p . re very apt to measure salaries , official hu laries , and other appointments , by a standard far above U Kit which men of the ordinary middle rank of life , if they sat in Parliament , would be inclined to think was necessary . I will tell you what happened—for I said 1 was gointf to let you into necrcts—what happened when my friend Mr . Bright and myself were sitting on a committee . I won ' t tell you what committee it' was ( laughter ) , because that would make it personal ; but we were . sitting ; together on a committee appointed to see if we could agree on a measure of retrenchment . The committee wan appointed , koiho ten or a dozen of us ; we met , and when we sat down to the table I said to my friend here , who sat beside me—1

    looked round and naido , ' We should do nothing in this committee , however ; for 1 don ' t believe , with the exception of you and me , there is a man here who is not worth more than £ 5000 a-year , and it is not likely they will be for cutting down KalarieH . ' Now , one of the effects of bringing a lar ^ e portion of the community into the political arena , by giving them a right to vote , one of the ellectu / should wish to sec follow would bo a majority strictly speaking , of tho middle class of life—men who know what it in to struggle upwards in . life—men who know the value of money , by having had to accumulate it by shillings or by pounds . 1 should like , if possible , to see a good admixture of that , class of men in the House of Commons , ( Cheers . ) " '

    ITo rated tho Radical constituencies on another point with very great justice ,. Independent horougliH ttv . nd llndical reprcHcntativett pledged to middle claws

    Parliamentary Reform and Peace Society retrenchment . Some of these are able men ; Government quick to perceive that makes an offer of place , employment ; most likely the offered place is accepted , and the radical member goes down for reelection . What follows ? | In nine cases out of ten , reelection , and the Radical constituency becomes virtually a Government borough . With what justice then is the complaint made that the " Radical Party" can accomplish nothing ? In the last crisis both Whig and Tory were sent for . The Queen did hot dream of calling in the Radicals . Not only this , but both Whig and Tory took occasion , to have a " special kick" at the Radicals thereupon . " Well , " continued Mr . Cobden , laughing , " I don ' t complain of that ; I don ' t complain that the Government don't send for me as an official . " I dont want to have any mock modesty about it . I tell you honestly , that from opportunities I have had since I have been in Parliament of taking stock of the men who do fill official situations , I am not going to tell you that I believe I could not fill an office as well as any of them . ( Cheers . ) I am not going to affect any such humility , because it would be very great humility ( great cheering and laughter ); but I have no desire , no taste , for it . My craniological development , according to the phrenologists who have manipulated my head , does not show any great organ of self-esteem or ambition . I am abundantly satisfied , I am more than satisfied , with whatever of prominence or publicity , or fame if you like , I may have had in public life . I do not think it would add to my satisfaction , I am sure it could not to my usefulness , for me to be in office , and therefore I have no ambition to be sent for ; but I want to see the men who are sent for in earnest to carry out their principles . I tell you how to do it—to follow the example set by Manchester , who , when their representative ( Mr . Milner Gibson ) was in the Ministry , plainly indicated that if their member joined the Government , it must carry out certain principles that Manchester desired . ( Hear , hear . ) They valued him too highly to sell him so cheap as to let him go for nothing . This is what will follow—that by retaining those men in our ranks that are now draughted off by the Whigs to become Attorneys-General or Solicitors-General or Masters of the Rolls , or anything you please—Lords of the Treasury or Secretaries of State—instead of draughting off these men from our ranks and taking them into the Whig Government , we shall keep them on our benches , and we shall very soon have a party—a party comprising so many men of talent and having such an amount of influence at our backs by the constituencies they represent— honest , firm , independent constituencies , who won't allow themselves to be made merchandise of for the aggrandizement of any individual—that we shall stand in a commanding position to say to the Government , You must send for us to carry these principles out . ' ( Cheers . ) Now , I want the constituencies of this country—those to whom I have alluded—to follow the example of Manchester and Kochdale , and have sufficient self-respect not to allow their representatives to join any Government that is not going to carry out their principles . " Not until a late hour did the party separate . Mr . Crawford announced his intention of retiring from public life at the termination of the present Parliament .

    Church Matters. On Tuesday The London Un...

    CHURCH MATTERS . On Tuesday the London Union on Church . Matters held its monthly meeting at St . Martin ' shall , when a special report was read and adopted . It is a very important document . Setting out with the declaration that " the freedom of the Church is the one thing they should seek from the state , " the committee proceed to sketch tho conditions of practical action for the accomplishment of that object . They say wisely that they have not only to " marshal Church grievances but to suggest a remedy . This is a simple aim , but its realization becomes complex . In the first place , as they have to obtain their remedy from tho state , they consider tho " general aspect ot" political ailairs , " and having in view a general election they suggest to Churchmen their duty on that occasion . Incidentally they remark that in the corning lteibrm . agitation they " hoc no peculiar reasons for alarm . " " They have confidence that the Divine goodnoHS that has so signally blessed the free institutions <> i tliia country will yet preserve her , even though further changes be made in her constitution , and will # ive to Churchmen the means of applying to the future government of the Church of England the same principles which have preserved the material prosperity of the country while tho greater portion of Europe was in confusion . " They recommend to Churchmen tho putting away of political prepoHHCh-sioHH , and they advise their friends very sagely .

    " A dignified , calm , and moderate course , avoiding bitterness , sarcasm , and anything that could possibly ho called tyranny or undue influence , is that which the committee would most strenuously recommend to their friends at the approaching election , tiuch a course , in fact , an in dictated by the consideration that the cause of ( Jod demaridn all our energies , but refused to bo helped by any action that in mean or wrong . " They agree that Parliament lias a " claim to concur " in the legislation of the Church , but that it would he an outrage for Parliament to make lawn for the Church . And they add by tho way what Booms to ua to embody diutinctly the great 8 in of tho Church

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 13, 1851, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13121851/page/5/