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DISHONEST DIZZY. An after-dinner braggar...
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" THE SHOW OV HATS. At the Essex Electio...
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the value 01. Tina I'lUNcmsii. Disc it h...
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Tuio Two ln\ i;a. IJeaufiful is old age ...
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dDpra Cmraril
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[IN THIS DEPARTMENT, AS ALL OPINIONS, HO...
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There is no learned man "bnt will confes...
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THE "LEADER" AND THE CHURCH (To the Edit...
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'I'o (iltoiiou HiiN'i'ioi, .JllN.- Wo i-...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Worn-Out. Words And Symbols In Political...
the nature of some remedy , everything will be misjudged , unless the name he the right one . The extent to which the multitude is governed by names is incredible to one who lias never looked into the matter . So long as positivism forms so little a part oi" private instruction , the mass must be at the mercy of names . They are the weapons of parties , and tyranny in these days as often fights its battle by the artful imputation of names as by the-use of arms . Well-informed enemies know that however bad a term
may be made , there will always be men to clamour for it , and to mistake it for part of their objects , and to , worship it as a principle , and therefore they destroy and distort the names by which we are judged . A soldier seldom clamours for a rusty gun or a broken sword _; lie commonly prefers serviceable and bri ght ones j but your political and social soldier has a decided partiality for rusty and broken arms . Not content with retaining foolish or hateful _watcljr words , that have been long worn out , many modern stage-struck politicians have taken to importing foreign jargon in the same state of infirmity . If a
revolutionary sect in a neighbouring nation has made some particular signature one of terror , it will be adopted by preference among us . If a particular flag is the symbol of blood to Europe , some man quite peaceable in his own intents , will carry that flag , inscribed with some Italianmotto , translated into bald English , through our streets . Down to the details of formal advocacy the same feature is observable . The working man is no longer known by his honest name—the middle class are designated by a word which few spell alike , aud no two at a public meeting pronounce in the same way . The Refugees get the credit of this inundation of
revolutionary jargon . In justice to them it ought to be stated that they have in no way interfered with us . Their _i _^ olitical conduct has been everywhere reserved and exemplary , as their language has ever been respectful to our institutions and sympathetic to our prejudices . Their heroism in struggles , and their patience in the suffering of exile , may have been an inspiration and an example . But this is the inseparable influence of patriotism and courage , honourable to all who exercise it as to all who appreciate it . The foreign importation of this froth into our agitations , has been the act of hotbrained histrionic enthusiasts at home ,
unskilled in the use of arts b y which opinion is legitimately advanced . Every one who has imbibed continental prejudices against the reformers in foreign states , confounds all efforts which are characterized by their watchwords . Our own advocacy should have thoroughly English lineaments , and bear the impress of the solid and measured demands , national with us . Saxon language should express the Saxon sentiment , as our broadest demands are often little more than an appeal to old Saxon laws and liberties ; and we should keep as free as possible from the liability of having to answer in London or Manchester for the conduct or
speeches of persons in other countries of whom we know little or nothing—if not too much . We may help all men , but we need only answer for ourselves , and be judged only by what we do ourselves . The use of speech in matters not political is commonly made with a certain degree of care . A simile that obscures or falsifies a subject we desire to exalt is studiously avoided . Words that " cut both ways" are considered disadvantageous . Such are the foreign words , symbols , and banners now frequently exhibited among us . The sense in which they are used is not understood—aud fo make them understood _Avould
occupy the time tbat might be better employed in legitimate homebred political instruction . Eusiliers do hot employ firelocks which explode in their hands , nor does the cannoneer throw shells which do little damage except to those who eject them . Yet the political combatants of the people * do not much differ from this—so little attention is paid to the choice of weapons . Right feeling and enthusiasm are . considered sufficient to curry nil before them ; hut our milifiu-mcn will find that discipline is the half-brother of courage -and so is discretion to the political advocates in a more pacific field Some misapplication may be made of these , suggestions , owing to the want of personal illustrations , which , however , have been purposely avoided , in order not fo augment the error sought to ho corrected . There is real difficulty , too , in drawing out rules which should , in every case , act an tests by which terms may be fried , _retained , defended , or abandoned . Still the danger of being misuiiderslood seems worth incurring , for the sake of raising- flic question of \ h \ _x paper . Useful results must conic out of its discussion . The chief filing to be dreaded is , that some will begin to feel apprehension where they are invited only to observe _cireiniispecl _. um . Those who begin to vacillate and propitiate betray th < , _dignity of their cause . Them is hardly a greater mistake _tinin to attempt to propitiate
Worn-Out. Words And Symbols In Political...
public opinion . It crushes tdl who implore it . The wise and the inflexible tpay command opinion—the weak and the fearful only inflame its insolence . To those , therefore , who cannot distinguish between outrage and submission , but who must fall into one or the otherthese suggestions are not addressed . Indiscretion is better than hypocrisy . The violent is to be preferred to the craven spirit , and those whom the precepts of a manly prudence w ould merely turn info cowards must be abandoned to turbulence and to time . Ion .
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Dishonest Dizzy. An After-Dinner Braggar...
DISHONEST DIZZY . An after-dinner braggart is a " tolerable person and not to be endured . " An after dinner wit who runs Joseph Miller very hard , may come off gaily with the aid of bad wine . An after dinner orator who is dull and pompous , and unsteady on his legs , is not unbearable to an accompaniment of steady port and walnuts . But what shall we say of a post-prandial rhetorician , a minister , and leader among his people , who tells but the law does not allow of open and advised writing .
At Newport Pagnell , on Wednesday , Mr . Disraeli said they had been accused of supporting a Protectionist policy in opposition , and abandoning it in office . "I should like , " said this type of veracity , "to hear that accusation made in the House of Commons by any of my opponents . " At the time of speaking , the orator must have been conscious that he had heard the accusation fifty times in the House of Commons . Again . Mr . Disraeli said he would like to hear any one say in the House of Commons that the Anti-Catholic
Proclamation was an electioneering dodge . When Parliament meets , Mr . Disraeli will be gratified . As it is , the speaker knew that the charge had been _^ ilung in the teeth of ministers that they raised the " No Popery" cry for electioneering purposes . The proclamation was issued just before Parliament broke up , and was the crowning act of duplicity . Mr . Disraeli knew that his party was trading in religious bigotry ; and he knows that fear of him will not withhold dozens of gentlemen from telling him so in October next .
" The Show Ov Hats. At The Essex Electio...
" THE SHOW OV HATS . At the Essex Election , the High Sheriff proposed that instead of a show of hands , the people present at the nomination should make a " show of hats . " Many of the crowd wore caps , for they wero the industrious artisans of Braintree : of course the capB would havo been excluded . Docs not this _sicaple fact illustrate" _^ the policy of tho Derby-Disraelite Government P They are anxious that
tho hats rather than the hands , and the hands perhaps than the heads of the country should rule . The hand is a reality , tho instrument of honest labour ; it is also tho symbol of frankness , of openness . It is undisguised , unclothed . The hat , though of the finest beaver , or richest velvet , is only a symbol of wealth , of luxury , of idleness . These latter wish to cajole and prey upon tliose formertherefore Derby would rather rely upon hats than hands . At least such is the Essex notion of tho Derby Government .
But we are bound to say that a Caucasian explanation of the phenomenon may bo offered . To wit : may it , not bo the foreshadowing of a hybrid policy between the Vatican and Houndsditch P The Popo does he not wear three hats ? and Ministers , are they not Jesuits in _dujilicif _. y P The Jew , has he not been seen wearing many hats , and is lie not famous for clutching at " what lie can get "Disraelite praotioo fo a T p Hence the predilection of the Essex official for hats—for great is the influenco of symbol , nnd it would bo presumptuous in us to question his knowledge of tho Ministerial intentions . Hut everything will come right if the "heads" will only consult the interests ol' tho " hands . "
The Value 01. Tina I'Luncmsii. Disc It H...
the value 01 . Tina _I ' lUNcmsii . Disc it hut politicians fear to extend the franchise to men who might abuse it , mid they limit if , therefore , to _cIuhhcs who aro more especially qualified . It is too soon to have learned all- the illustrations that tho present , election is furnishing , of tiie manner in which the enfranchised classes appreciate their exclusive privilege ; but one illustration is suggestive . An elector offered his vote , if he could obtain , in return , wherewithal to defray his passage to Australia ! In other words , lie would have sold his vote for the means of running ' away from his country .
Tuio Two Ln\ I;A. Ijeaufiful Is Old Age ...
Tuio Two ln \ i ; a . _IJeaufiful is old age beautiful as the slow-dropping inelloty autumn of it rich glorious summer . In Ihe old man , nature has fulfilled her work ; she loads him with her blessings ; she fills him with the fruits of a well-spent life ; and , surrounded by his children and his children ' s children , she rocks him softly away to a grave , to which ho is followed with
Tuio Two Ln\ I;A. Ijeaufiful Is Old Age ...
blessings . God forbid we should not call it beautiful It is beautiful , but not the most beautiful . There C another life , hard , rough , and thorny , trodden with bleeding feet and aching brow ; the life of which th cross is the symbol ; a battle which no peace follow this side the grave ; which the grave gapes to finish before the victory is won ; and—strange that it should be so—this is the highest life of man . Look baclalong the great nhmes of history ; there is none whose life has been other than this .: —From the Westminster Review for July .
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dDpra Cmraril
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[In This Department, As All Opinions, Ho...
[ IN THIS DEPARTMENT , AS ALL OPINIONS , HOWEVER EXTREME ARE ALLOWED AN EXPRESSION , THE EDITOR _NECESSARILY HOLDS HIMSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR NONE . _1
There Is No Learned Man "Bnt Will Confes...
There is no learned man "bnt will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened _, and his judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . —Milton .
The "Leader" And The Church (To The Edit...
THE "LEADER" AND THE CHURCH ( To the Editor of the Leader j Sib , —In the letter which you were good enough to insert , with my initials attached ( A . K . ) , it was very far from my intention to impute to you anything that could possibly be construed into an offensive charge of having , in Church affairs , conducted the Leader with a want of fair and honourable dealing . What 1 took the liberty of noticing was , the fact that the Leader , conducted , as any reader would presume , for the purpose , amongst other things , of propagating sound liberal principles in politics , and perfect
freedom of opinion and worship m religion , as opposed to the domination or tyranny of any sect or party , has , nevertheless , systematically devoted much of its time , not to arguments on the evils of a State-paid Church , necessarily the aider and abettor of bad government , but to lengthy leading articles on the internal discipline and policy of the Church , from which any one would infer an extreme anxiety for the improvement of its affairs , in order to ensure increased power and stability to an establishment , to abolish which , root and branch , ought to be the first wish of every true friend to civil and religious liberty .
Your readers can be in no doubt respecting your religious opinions , for to your credit you decline to Hwallow any dogma unless reason and argument are with it ; nevertheless , I think 1 have niiido out my charge of "inconsistency . " It is quite true that a newspaper ought to notice all parties alike , but no one will contend that an editor ought to advocate the principles of all parties ; and therefore , sir , no one could feel hurt if you were to leave the Church and its syuodical questions to their fate . Moreover , sir , au editor being a teacher as well as a reviewer , might reasonably be expected to point out the principles he condemns , as well as those of which he is the advocate ; and I feel assured you arc an enemy to a State Church .
Your correspondence in to-day ' s number has drawn from me these , remarks , otherwise I should not have obtruded myself a second time upon your notice , nor should I have troubled you with my first communication if I . had imagined that , anything 1 wrote _^ : <> nl < l be considered by any of your readers as offensive or unfair to the Leader , for the success of which 1 have done some little iu my liiuilcd sphere , and of which , believe nie , sir , there is no more ardent admirer than Yours respectfully , A . Kintuim . ( _Jrt'iil . _tJeoi- _^ _ivHtrcct , Itoi-iiioiiilHey _, lOMi . J . ilv , _iHCiii .
'I'O (Iltoiiou Hiin'i'Ioi, .Jlln.- Wo I-...
'I ' o ( _iltoiiou _HiiN'i'ioi , . JllN .- Wo _i-e _^ ii I ' ll I Iio _iiitorfori'iico on Ilio Ainoi'iiani ijuotiliiiii _iiIIihIciI Ik hy our _eoi-rcspojiifoiil , iih _lioat loll , lo Ilio Aiiit'i'iouiiM _Uii'iiiHi'lvi'H , _liiliM'fori'iioo from a forei _f- ai country can only inmoilo Ilio Hohitioii whioh the most . < iiiorgoti « iiuikIh of America iilremly inilicipulo . ' KuitvriiM .-- In 1 , _1-tli'i- I . on the " _DiHi'iplino of Art , " p . ( MO . for " lot him try to nuilto _iinootieH monks , " read " lot , him try to make _ueuotio _iiuaiks . "
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 17, 1852, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17071852/page/16/
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