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1264 THE LEADEE. f^o. 504. Xov. 19, 1859...
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—^- POLITICAL FORESHADOWI^GS. --
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tolii inTerference Is excluded; and that...
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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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1264 The Leadee. F^O. 504. Xov. 19, 1859...
1264 THE LEADEE . f ^ o . 504 . Xov . 19 , 1859 .
~~ : ~~ T. Qtfyrtiiiti 01111} ^L-Ulv.W. -"?"
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—^- Political Foreshadowi^Gs. --
—^ - POLITICAL FORESHADOWI ^ GS . --
Tolii Interference Is Excluded; And That...
tolii inTerference Is excluded ; practical course for them to take as an union with Sardinia , although I retain my opinion W * ' * conduct of that power . With repxrd to General Garibaldi , I confess my hopes of partisan or guerilla action are somewhat slender , admitting , as I do his great qualities , as far as we are acquainted wi h his public conduct and connexions . But I recollect that those powers with whom Cato d . tiered are said to have a preference for great battalions , and I wish we may not have to mourn over the kind of cause which he inclined to favour . At all events , I am sure neither you nor I would desire tp have the peace of Europe at large disturbed even fur the sake
and that the best Lokd Brougham ' s reply to the Ellenborongli letter of last week is as follows :- » You might ^ expect that I should agree with you in hearty good fishes for the independence of Italy . I can oriy repeat what I said at the great Edinburgh meeting t other day , that , whatever may be my opinions upon the real cause of the war ( which I had fully given in our Ho \ ise ) , it had led to a state of things winch affords the Italians same prospect of success provided
of Italy . " At Bristol , on " Colston ' s day , " there were as ii ' suil , several grand dinners and a great deal of political speech-making . At the Anchor Society ' s banquet , was the Hon . 1 \ II . Berkeley ; while the speakers at the rival society were the Duke of Beaufort , bir l- \ W . Slade , and . Mr . Arthur Way ,. M . P . The lion . F H . Bf . rkeiet , M . P ., inrespon-Iing to the " Health of the Members for the City , " referred at some length to the conduct of the Tories during the late general election , and to the prevalence of bribery on both sides . There wouldnever , he said . be a remedy
for the evil of bribery until the people rise in their majestv , and say it shall cease . Whig lord ? , and Whig landholders , and Whig oligarchs would bribe against Tory oligarchs , ami Toryism would -always have the best of it . The franchise must be extended , and he would take anything that isgiven . lie would sink any differences , and press not for that question , the ballot , uliich must come some day , in order to procure the advance of the cause of reform . At the same -time , ' ho believe 1 .. they iv . ouK-1 find no ' reform perfect to tlie mind of the libenU portion of the community till they had a large extension , of the franchise , and put . -down intimidation by the . ballot . He then spoke o » the efforts lie h . i . l made in former years to induce the Government to make Bristol an emigration pert , and went on to say that he stood there in the character of a director of the Gre ; it Ship
Companj ' , ami could state that any report as to a port of departure having bec-n fixed upon fur that vessel was untrue . The merits of every port would be sifted and examined into , ami fairly discussed , n ' nd he ha ! confidence jn the directors that that port which is the fittest would be selected . ll < s could answer for it that tlia claims of Bristol should have fair play . Of the Bristol Volunteers , lie remarked that this time last year he urged upon the attention of the assembly the necessity there was fur . Englishmen to be ennbiv . l to tnke rare of their homes and firesides . It appeared to him— -having Leon over most parts of Europeseen ninny armies op thu Continent , and
, known the life led by the citizens there—it appeared strange thnt in this , the richest country in the world , \ vhcro there was so much to protect , Englishmen should willk about with their bunds In their pockets , perfectly unconscious of thu danger in which they stood . He was one of the first to propose volunteer forces , utt . l all hi ; had witnessed confirmed him in the belief that , with ' proper drilling , and propor instructions in the deadly rifle , the people of this country vould be able to ufForJ , wjlh u sinull army , a full measure of protection . lie h'ail great roused
this question . When the new parliament niet , the plains of . "Lombardy were the scene of a sanguinary struggle , which , to the surprise of Europe , was suddenly terminated by the treat } ' of Villafrahca . It would be most incorrect to state that the announcement of the terms of that treaty was hailed with general satisfaction . Yet , we must look at the peculiar situation of the -Emperor of the French , and his avowed fear that-the war might have become general throughout continental Europe ; nor must we forget that six months ago the most sanguine friend of Italy could hardly have ventured to express a hope that the Duchies would have been able ever to have asserted their freedom with impunity .
Whether that freedom will be secured is a question on which our hopes , and fears yet tremble in the 'balance . A Couy-ress is proposed . If this Congress renllv tiikjs place , England can only be a party to it with the clearest understanding that the principle of non-intervention is to be strictly carried out , and that no foreign iorce . no diplomatic trickery , shall interfere . with the wishes of the people in the choice of their rulers . The condition of the Papal states is , above all , the point to which our thoughts now turn ; every free and generous heart , to whatever eountrv it may belong , must watch Avith breathless interest , must hail with intense delight the dawn of liberty siml improvement which is now rising over
that lo . ig oppressed portion of Italy . I trust that the goo ; l ' sense and . moderation hitherto slioivn by its inhabitants will remove all pretext for intervention , and that before long we may wit ness the downfall of that system of priestly government which is the opprobrium of this era of civilisation , and a disgrace to the name of Christianity . ; The language held towards our country by the organs of Papacy , both on the Continent and in Ireland , requires our serious attention . I trust that no mere party struggle for place may ever induce either a Conservative or Liberal ministry , for the sake of a transient and treacherous support , to become unwittingly the tools of the deadly and insidious policy of the Church would
of Rome ; a policy which by its own avowal , never be satisfied but with the degradation and downfall of Protestant England . I . onir be for s . Parliament again meets I hope to be sufficiently recovered to give to the important . subjects likely to be brought forward that careful attention which i . 3 the imperative duty of a representative of a great constituency . The close balance of parties , the state of affairs on the Continent , the importance of settling . the . question of reform whilst England is prosperous and contented , require that every member shall be at bis poit , and I trust that the course I shall follow in the ensuing session will be siicli as to justify the confidence which my generous friends have again
placed in inc . The ]> uke of Beal-fokt , at the Dolphin Society , spoke of the increasing strength of the Conservative party , and hoped soon to sec a representative for Bristol of that political persuasion . Sir V . \ V . Sladk , the ¦ Conservative •• candidate for the City , at the last election , said that thu efforts which hud been made to unmask the enormous bribery of their opponents had been very successful . It was something ( he continued ) to unmask the brothers-in-law of John Bright ; it was something to show that the apostle of purity could not get his two brotliors-in-law into Parliament without having recourse to " soft sugar ; " and I think it comes with un fxcee ; linaly awkward grace from the num who
has tho hardihood and the impudence to say that the aristocracy of this country are living on the hardearned wifyos of the people at lar ^ c , that lio should have sueeeeded ' in putting another brother-in-law at the homl of the commission that is inquiring into the suyur affairs at Glou « ester . We arc about , I uivderatnnd , to 'proceed to the inrestii'ation of another system of Reform . What tliutis no man except the Cabinet Ministers , who meet every dfty , ean . properly toll' us . Arc wo to have the franchise loivoroi ) , and th y door thrown , open wi . ler still to tho operations of bribery ? Everything deponds now in thin country upon what the oluotoral franchise for tho tlmo being nmy bo . If reduced too low , and a large portion of what . I cailI thu democratic element of tho
conatiturich or poor , be he living on the earnings of those who preceded him , or on the earnings of his dailv labours , —to say because working men pay indirect taxation that they therefore pay it , and not the capitalist , is an absurdity , because the capitalist at last pays it , as he is compelled to pay a larger amount to enable him to obtain that labour which has to pay the taxation of the country . There can be nothing- more gross , more absurd , or a more transparent fallacy than that enunciated by John Bright whom I consider to be a most dangerous man in this free country , because his talent is great .
Mr . Arthur E . Way , M . P ., sang tlie praises of his own party ; and then proceeded to advert to late events . They had seen France madly rushing into the " plains . of Italy , doing battle . for an idea with Austria , and after pouring out ths blood of her soldiers and the treasure of her citizens like water leaving the Italian peninsula more ripe for revolution and more confused than she found it ( hear ); and it would be idle to attempt to disguise the fact that in consequence of the position assumed bv France and the-great increase of warlike armaments great gloom and distress at the present moment pervade the councils of Kurope . It would be idle also to disguise the fact , tliait in this country an opinion
had gained ground—but lie hoped without sufficient cause—that they might be called on to exercise all their patriotism against the fate of a foreign invasion . At home tlu-y had seen a Reform Bill introduced by a Conservative Government , not because Lord Derby undertook the introduction of tlie Bill as an ; imperative necessity , but because it had been mentioned in speeches from the Throne on-a number of occasions . " 11 ad that bill been allowed to go into committee and passed , it would have added to the electoral franchise some 500 , 000 vote 6—a larger number than . would have been added by tlie . much vaunted Bill of 1852—and the question of l ? eform would have been at least settled in their time .
But the Whigs arrogated to themselves the monopoly of the Reform question , and were jealous at seeing Conservatives working with what they called their own weapons . Hence arose the factious opposition of Lord J . Russell , arid the contest of political opinion throughout England . At the last general election out of 140 constituencies . changing their members the ballot party did not gain one vote in Parliament . But the Whigs , smarting as they were from their defeat , had obtained the ' triumph they
wisheil , and the Conservative party were at present obliged to sit in the cold shade of . . opposition and look un at the measures that might be adduced . The present Administration , might however ahnnst be jaid to be at the mercy of their united Conservative opponents , but lie for . one deprecated constant changes in government , mid hoped' that forbearance which thev refused to show the Conservatives iniulit be shown to them , but if they became engulfed in the complicated waves of foreign potiticsor of 'lloforni ,
their late was . At a meeting of friomls to the cause of . Italy , held in Glasgow , Air . Buchanan , 1 SI . P ., said I believe there is a very general opinion that the present position of Italy is v . iiry precarious Notwithstanding the efforts that the Italian nations have made to further their own liberties , they are surrounded with enemies and false friends . The policy oi J-rnuce , whatever we may have thought of it in the Urst instatiCL ' , has latterly assumed an aspect fhut must cause j ? i-eut apprehension to all . those who wish ^ soc constitutional government oitnblishe . l in itaij , i i # j l . . ^ 1 . . 1 . -.,.. » ..... iiiliwr f t \ tl 1 ) 1 I'M 1 I I'lOSC and if hsbeen wanting to nlnriii Hose
anything . s who wish well to Italy , it is the conduct of J-ouis Napoleon within thu hist few days . Alter wo Juki ' the be * t reason to Ik-Huvc that no further inteni'venco would 1 mvo tak ..-n pluec cm tho J > art of 1 ' raiuy in Italian affairs , except more moral miiwlon . as ii is termed— -mere advice—it nppcnni now , tliat , aiici the Italian duchies and the Womagmi have m «« mm upon a Sardinian prine'e as a fit person to l > u inwr ltegont , and after they Iiavo elocted him , ( lull iNnpo-Iuon has jnfluencu enuuyli with Victor JMiinmnuel to prevent that election taking ouccf . -iinu that ny \\ those countriQ 3 ivinain viihout u ruler , ami mam ^ e position , and scorn almost to be on thu wyyvvrto oi allinLr into utter dia . soltition ; for want ot u hoaU tno
social caiflco I * not unlikely to" lull to pu-ru * . * v »» it . was to ulivlmo this that Prince Cufi ^ iuiu was oloctod , « nd Nivpoleon . in tho interest of M » o ««' policy—but 1 very much tear not in tho InlcrcB i oi Italian liburty—hus interposed his veto , uml l » - " ventod that election tiikfng . cfUiot . Unclur tlicso oritianl clrcumstancea it-liaa occurrod to inany inuino hotter course could bo followed than a" ! ' !^" *; by every moans In oui' vowop , tho miiiulur £ ¦ ' ^ who played bo distinguished a part in the Jti U »»» war , Gnrlbalill . Wo uro comu luw , not so mo , roaolvo on any oourso , as to di-llboruto . uo »"" that , following tho oxnmplw sat to a curtain om « in London , wo can do no boltvPtlinn roHolvoouri * into a oommittoo . hiwlug for our pvliifliml ol » J ° " lf support Italian iVcoflom in every way , mni «"" , » that should bo thought n duslrnblo course , to con
tion is . Introduced , then wo nmy sec desolation nnd dismay in tho country . ( Hoar , hear . ) If , on the contrary , liowover , a fair balance is maintained , there can bo no doubt but that England , lit ) she liu . i ever liithorlo done , will hold hor head up nmid all 11 io trials and dltnouHio . i ) sho may encounter . Is John Jiright the m . tn to select as a statesman to whom to confldo tho dost Into * of England ? ( No , no . " ) Her lias boon latoly saying that tho working classes contribute forty millions out of tho' enormous sum raisod by taxation in this country , but which ought by right to fall on tho possessors of property . Why , any ono who understands what roprosonts property will know tho difloronco between capital and labour . Tho whole cominoroo , industry , and power of the country are niado up of tlie two comblnod . And to say that , booauso there is a certain amount of indirect taxation which every man ,
faith in tho Saxon spirit when oik .-u . IIo believed that , sifter a twelvemonth ' s drill tho volunteers would bu ablo to stand shoulder to shouldur with tho regular army- He had set his face ritfiiinst tho yeomanry cavalry . Thoy wore flno follows , bravo as lions , but thoy had no drill , and it . would bo found that lUo volunteers in thnt city , after throe or four months' drill , had made more prugru / a than the yeotv . unry cavalry in ten yours . If , as \ n \ a tho oaso , £ 80 , 000 "were granted to tho yeomanry cavalry for outdt and othor purposoa , tho infantry volunteers had a right to tho same consideration ; nnd if £ 40 , 000 should be granted to tho yeomanry dayalry , at least tho same should bo gran ted to tho infantry
volunteers , At tho dlnnor a latter was roud from Mr . W . II . Gone Lanoton , M . V ., in which ho saysi—" Tho nffulra of Central Italy aro , at the prosont moment bo complicated , so full of , interest to every friend of liberty , thivt lam anxious to offor a fo > v remarks on
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 19, 1859, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19111859/page/4/
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