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Leader (1850-1860), 8th February 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 119, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      be amply sufficient to meet the present emergency . As for the expressions which he had applied to certain scandalous ceremonies , he had referred by these to the practices of a party in his own Church , and to that party only , and he would never be prevented from giving utterance to reflections of the kind by the members of other churches taking them to themselves . As for the Government measure , it would apply to the entire United Kingdom ; and he trusted that it would thoroughly check the proceedings of that faction at the Court of Rome , the moving principle of which—and he spoke on the authority of the Earl of Shrewsbnry—was hostility to the interests of England . He would propose no compromise , and would bate no jot of what was justly due to the liberties , civil and religious , of the people .

      Mr . Disraeli followed the Premier in a speech characterized by much more reserve than he usually displays . He applied himself to the depressed condition of agriculture—a condition , thelong continuance of which was at length astonishing even the Ministry . The landed interest was in fact furnishing the capital in which all other classes were thriving . Last year , Government grudgingly acknowledged agricultural complaints . This year , agricultural distress was announced . Next year , as this was an age of progress , agricultural ruin would probably be trumpeted . But what was the use of these

      acknowledgments of a great interest in difficulty , if no attempt was ever made to ascertain , and then to grapple with the cause ? All that the Ministry said was , that they " hoped " the depression would pass over ; using , in fact , the language of ¦' * amiable despair . " He complained that artificial protection had been swept away , while artificial burdens had been left ; and on a future occasion , he p ledged himself to point out the natural remedies which justice demanded , and which policy sanctioned . With respect to the Papal aggression , he took Lord John Russell ' s letter to be the manifesto of a Cabinet ,

      and he believed that when that letter was written , much more was contemplated than the mere preventing the assumption by Cardinal Wiseman of a territorial title . That the aggression was " insidious , " he did not agree with ; on the contrary , the Pope had only frankly done what the noble lord had said there was no harm in doing , and what had long ago been done in Ireland with the noble lord ' s full consent . ¦ Unless , then , the Premier was prepared to attempt the solution of the great problem of the reconciliation of the claims to allegiance of the English Throne with the demands of obedience made from the Papal chair—unless he was prepared to undertake this great task , he would have , done much better in leaving the whole matter alone .

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      Midnight Legislation . —Two attempts were made on Wednesday to introduce a more rational system into the mode of managing the business of the session , but they were both alike ineffectual . Mr . Hume moved that no money vote should be taken after midnight . The motion was opposed by Sir Charles Wood and Sir George Guey , and rejected by a majority of 116 to 47 . Mr . Bhothekton then brought forward his annual motion for adjourning the House at midnight , whatever question might be under discussion . 108 members voted against , and only 32 in favour of it .

      The late Clerk of the House . — A resolution acknowledging the services of Mr . Ley , the late clerk to the House , -was moved by Lord John Russell , on Wednesday . He prefaced the motion by a graceful tribute to the exemplary manner in which that gentleman had discharged the duties of his office during the long period of 49 years . Mr . Hume [ complained of the manner in which the vacancy had been filled up by the nomination of a gentleman ( Sir Dennis Le Marchant ) who could know nothing of the duties of the office . Hunoaiiian Refugees . — In reply to Mr . Hume , Lord Palmkuston stated , on Wednesday , that efforts had been made by Goveriftment to obtain the release of the Hungarians confined in Turkey , but hitherto without success . Between 300 and 400 were lately residing at Shumla , some of whom have recently been sent to Constantinople , but whether for the purpose of being act at liberty or confined elsewhere he was unable to aay .

      Nnw Whits . —Writs have been issued for Windsor , and the Falkirk district of burghs . RkSIONATION OV LoilD SlIAl- 'TKHllUllY . Lord Shafteshury ' s resignation of the Chairmanship of Committees on account of old age , was accepted on Tuesday evening , and Lard Redesdalc was appointed in his stead . Tick Haul op Minto and the Pope . —Lord Minto gave a . pointed contradiction , on Thursday , to the report that the Popo had consulted him with reference to the establishment of a Catholic hierarchy in England . There ¦ was no foundation whatever for the rumour . In the various conversations ho had had with the Pope and with the Cardinal Secretary of State , no allusion had ever been made at any time to any design of organizing a Roman Catholic hierarchy in this country , nor had it ever been even hinted that any such measure was in contemplation .

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      for Stockport , by his constituents , last night week , Mr . Cobden , who was one of the guests , made an excellent speech in defence of the part he has taken in the financial reform movement . That movement began in the autumn of 1847 . He had been present at a meeting in Stockport , and happened to drop a remark in reference to the rumour then noised about that France intended to invade England . Out ot that had sprung all the controversy which has since been going on , and which has led already to a considerable reduction of our armaments , in spite of all the attempts of the

      MiAt n public dinner given to Mr . Korsliuw . M . I *

      nistry to keep them as they were with reference to the meeting of Parliament ; he said he had never looked forward to a session with so much distaste as to the present . They were going to embark in the discussion of an interminable topic which Parliament had no right to meddle with . Thanks to the free trade agitation ; they had taken away all discussion on trade questions from Parliament . What a blessing it would be if they could only do the same with all questions of religion ! Let them search the world through and they would find that in proportion as a country was free and tolerant in its religion , was its progress in civil and commercial freedom : —

      " Go to Spain or Naples ; two most intolerant Catholic governments , under which you can't have a Protestant place of worship . Well , but they are the countries of all others the most destitute of anything like civil or constitutional freedom . A military adventurer , a clever unscrupulous woman , may dispose of Spain ; ay , in a way that a parish would not be disposed of by a man of genius in this country . I remember when I was in Madrid being introduced to some leading Progresista deputies there , and I told them of my astonisment at finding that in their constitution the Catholic religion was made the only religion to be tolerated , and that no Protestant place of worship was . allowed to be put up , even in Cadiz , or Seville , or Malaga , for the use of British or other

      Protestant societies ; and I exhorted them , ' Before you can . commence your crusade of civil liberty you must alter that , you must establish religious freedom . ' ( Hear . ) I said , If you look back to England you will see that in proportion as it had religious toleration it progressed in constitutional freedom . Look at Holland , it was the same there ; look at America , it was the same there ; and , if you would have freedom in Spain you must begin by establishing toleration of religious doctrine . ' And what was the answer ? Why , they said , ' that would not satisfy us at all ; for there is such an amount of bigotry in this country , the fires of the Inquisition are still so smouldering in the breasts of the mass of our ignorant population , that any party that hoisted the flag of religious freedom and toleration to Protestantism would be scouted from the face of the land . ' 'Ay , ' I said , 'I understand you ; the question

      of religious liberty would not bring you political capital as a party ; but you may depend upon this—so long as you live in a country where religious intolerance is the rule , as it is here , it is all mere phantasy to suppose you can ever possess , or deserve to possess , civil or constitutional freedom . ' Now , I say the same in an infinitely smaller degree , of my own countrymen . If they have the latent bigotry in their hearts so much that they are not willing to allow to Roman Catholics in this country perfect religious equality and the management of their own affairs , depend upon it they are not safe in any of the liberties they have , whether civil or commercial ; and I will never for a passing popularity disguise my sentiments upon the subject ; and I hope that public men , claiming to be Liberals * , will be found unflinchingly at their duty when these questions are brought before the House of Commons . ( Loud cheers . )"

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      A soiree of the members and friends of the Koclidale Freehold Land Society waa held at the Publichall , Rochdale , last night week , to celebrate the purchasing of an eetatc by the Bociety , compriHing about twenty-eight acres , which will cost about £ 11 , 000 , and is capable of being divided into 500 allotments . The chief speakers were Mr . John Bright , M . P ., Mr . Henry , M . P ., Mr . Jacob Bright , Mr . Charles Walker , and Mr . T . Livesey : — Mr . John Bright expressed his opinion that such societies as these were absolutely necessary to accomplish the object in view—the extension of the political

      franchise . For centuries past the whole object of our legislation with regard to land had been to keep it in greut estates , and , consequently , a few great proprietors had managed to keep the whole of the affairs of the nation in their own hands . The possession of land had been inude the key to every kind of political power and influence , and the possessors of land had made all sorts of incomprehensible laws to prevent estates being split into small allotments . Working men ought to become iiiemberH of theso societies both on social and political grounds--on . political grounds in order that they might acquire a greater influence in the ticttlciimit of national questions than they had hitherto possctmed .

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      THE PRHSIDENT'tf WAdlHS . The main question in Paris tins week has been tli <; Dotation Bill . The measuri ) was presented to the Assembly , ou Monday , by M . ( Jerminy , the Minister of Finances . In stating the chief provisions of the bill , he reminded the Assembly that , last year it acknowledged the insufficiency of ( ho Hum net aside for the President of Republic an frais do representation , and voted an additional credit of 2 , 1 / 50 , 0001 " . ; and he added that the permanent charges imposed on tho President , by tho duties , imposed upon him by hia

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      Feb . 8 , 1851 . ] ® 8 * & *« & **? l ^__

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      PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCIAL REFORM . The first of a series of monthly soirees , under the auspices of the National Reform Association , was held at the London Taverji , Bishopsgate-street , on Monday , when a lecture on Parliamentary and financial reform was delivered by Mr . Hume , M . P . The large room was crowded to the door , a considerable proportion" of the company being composed of the fair sex . Tea was served up in an adjoining apartment , and at seven o ' clock the more important business of the evening was commenced by a glee party singing the " People ' s Anthem . " Mr . Hume commenced by alluding to the apathy

      NOTICKH OK MOTION . February 11 . —Agricultural Distress Mr . Disraeli . — 11 . —Repeal of the Malt Tax Mr . Cuyley . — 13 . —Window-Tax Abolition .... Lord Duncan . — 18 . —lleproductivePu-uporLubour . Mr . P . IScrope .

      displayed by the wealthier portion of the middle class , who seem content with what they have obtained , without any regard for the classes beneath them . In order to stir up the people , it was necessary to show them that Parliamentary reform would do them good . At present , of the male population above twenty , only one in six has a vote . This was not fair . The working classes might complain much about it just now , because they were not suffering so much as they had done at some former periods . But it was much better to grant reform in quiet times , than to wait for a period of distress when the demand for Parliamentary Reform might be accompanied by other demands of a much more alarming

      nature . As a picture of the House of Commons elected by the ten pound voters , he quoted the following passage from the Daily News of Monday : — " One-half of the members of the House of Commons are to this day as essentially nominees as any that sat in the old close-borough and proprietary-borough Parliaments ; and the whole class of intelligent , skilled artisans may be considered as virtually excluded from any voice in the election of the remainder . Nor is this all ; the existing electoral qualification and system of

      electoral registration have enabled clubbed and amliated . partisans to pack even pretty numerous constituencies with factitious , majorities . The voice of real public opinion is scarcely heard in the House of Commons ; it has not even the semblance of influence over the votes that are there given . The House of Commons is packed and managed by knots of speculating politicians ; by the holders of a bank at political rouge et noir , and the punters who are trying to break it . The House of Commons is as well entitled to be made an object of the paternal solicitude and watchfulness of the police as any hell in Jermyn-street and its vicinity . "

      There was a description of the House of Commons , of the " taxing organ" of this country . How could they expect the affairs of the country to be wisely or honestly managed by such an assembly ? He had proposed a measure of parliamentary reform every session , and he would continue to do so till he had accomplished his object : — " So long as I live and have a seat in Parliament , I will do my best . { Cheers . ) I have confidence in the unrepresented people , and I think it my duty to endeavour to obtain power for them . The people will go right rather than wrong , when they have a plain proposition before them . At the same time I will admit that we

      ought to instruct the people . { Hear . ) If we are bound by a poor law to sustain and feed the hungry , the obligation must be as great to instruct the ignorant . { Hear . ) Ragged Schools and Sunday Schools are very well in their way , but they are not enough . Ignorance is our greatest enemy . Give me an educated people , and I will defy any demagogue or any individual to mislead them . A neighbouring country—for now we may speak of America as a neighbouring country—has shown us a good example , and , bo far , I am sorry to say , they have quite outstripped us . Let us improve our ' taxing orgau , ' and we shall get all we ought to have . Let us have a complete improvement . 1 am glad of the movement of the Freehold Land Societies . In time they would wrest power

      from the aristocracy . But that time would be twenty years hence . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , why are we to wait a single year ? Why a single day ? ( Hear , hear . ) We have got rid of all sorts of monopolies . Why not of the monopoly of political power ? ( Cheers . ) Every man is a freetrader except in his own business . ( Laughter . ) I hate agitation ; it is only a meant ) to an end—but the time has come when every rational man must agitate for public justice . This is a Christian country , and a Christian country ought to act on the great Christian precept , which tells us to do unto others as we would be done by . Let those who are anxious , and properly ho , to uphold Christianity in this country , act according to that simple rule . We seek no more , and will ask no less . "

      The meeting was afterwards addressed briefl y by Sir James Duke , who proposed a vote of thanks to Mr . Hume , which was carried unanimously ; by Mr . Jloughton , one of the lurgcBt tenant-farmers in Kngland , who subscribed £ 10 to tho funds of the association ; and who contended that it was impossible fc ^ r tho farmers to grow cheap corn under the heavy taxation which now pressed them down . Mr . Le Blond said they had held 200 meetings last year , and tho expenses had been met by the funds of the Association . But ho begged to state , that the amount of the subscriptions was contemptibly small . ] Ie hoped tho ladies would give them all the support in their power , for if they succeeded in the objects t hey had in view , they would get their toa and B ugur , and every other necessary of life , much cheaper , an at present , ill ^ . , _ . __

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 8, 1851, page 119, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1869/page/3/