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(fyira Cnraml.
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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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There is no teamed man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened , and nis judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for " hrm to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . —Milton .
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THE RECENT COWPER STREET DISCUSSION ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sib , —A notice of the Cowper-street discussion in your coWmns was forwarded to me , with , some comments , by a correspondent ; this criticism on your part is not open to reply in your columns , as Editors nfost have some latitude of discretion ; but a subsequent notice is , I think , fairly open to remonstrance , —the one in which a short article appears editorially , at the head of Mr . Holyoake ' s peroration , and might have been a part of it . I have rot to answer Mr . Holyoake in your columns , having said as much as he is disposed to notice already , but I put it to you as a matter of justice , whether you were fair in saying that his " peroration" was a fair specimen of the morality and temper of both sides ?
Are you prepared to be judged by the peroration of an opponent ? I am satisfied to be judged by the entire discussion ; and then the use Mr . Holyoake makes of epithets ( to which one-third of his speeches were devoted ) will be manifest ; for his plan is , not to disprove the truth of an assertion , but to condemn it for severity ; and , whilst parading it as uncharitable , he enlarges iipon his own charity in not questioning the motives of his opponent , which he does in the very same breath . As I know some of my friends are readers of the Jjeader , I am desirous not to be presented to them at Mr . HolyoaTce ' s appraising , whom I should not choose as the best iudge either of himself or other people .
One periodical had an excuse for recommending to me the avoiding of personality , since the Editor owed me a private grudge , and settled his own account at the same time ; but it ill accords with the name of the Leader to take sides in this fashion , and allow a debater , who never yet spoke well of a frank opponent { after meeting him ) , to insert a peroration as a fair specimen of the character of his antagonist .
As I said no words which I do not think true , and which I did not justify by proofs , the truth of my assertions , according to the connexion ( from which they are distorted ) , should be taken into account . I know they are true , nnd that this makes them more unpleasant , for the greater the truth the greater the libel ; and on this rule I do confess that I am a great libeller , for I told some truths that are not refuted by being called uncharitable .
Dignity , on the other Bide , would have consisted either in disproving the assertions or in being silent about them 5 whereas they are employed to injure tho reputation of a Christian advocate , by one who decries imputation and praiaes charity only to make mo appear uncharitable . Yours , very truly , Buewin Ghant . Birmingham , March 8 , 18 B 3 . [ Had there been any doubt of tho correctness of tho representations in the peroration alluded to , they would bo set at rest by tho letter of our correspondent . Certainly , had wo discovered the same personal acrimony
in tho speech as wo find in the letter , wo should have never selected tho former for publication . It is not necessary that tho Rev . Mr . ( Jrant bo " judged by the peroration of in 1 opponent , " ho mny bo judged by his own letter . If " one-third of Mr . Holyonko's H ]> eechcB wore devoted to epithets , " nil wo can say is , that tho reports of tho debate , in tho four principal nowspupers on tho Bide of our reverend eorrcs ]> ondent , do not bring out that fuct , mul thu complaint of Mr . Grunt lien first ngaiimt those ptquuH und not ugtiinst uh , who lmve published nothing inconsonant with tho tenor of what has appeared there . Even tho British Banner said , in an editorial article , that the wit and sarcasm of Mr . Grant
required "to bo kept under proper restraint . ' The Advocate , a religious newspaper , in which Mr . Grant himself is a writer , publishes this passage from a provincial correspondent : — " Why , your young friend Brewin puns everything . You blame Hollyoake for speaking loightly o * a God he doesn't believe in ; and what d ' ye say to a fellow , Doctor , that puns the Deity he worships . . . . . There ' s one man turnin' his back on an awful mystery , an' another , a viry cliver young man ( the Rev . Mr . Grant ) , stan ' s a winkin' at it . " Then there is the Christian Spectator , which controverts Mr . Holyoake ' s particular views with great ability , and , we think , in some points with success , gives this passage in its February number on the first night ' s discussion : —
" Still more uncalled for , in our judgment , was the reading , by Mr . Grant , of a certain letter , published in the British Banner , and now avowed by Mr . Grant—unless to point a sarcasm at a party silent in the dispute , namely , the Christian Spectator . In his opening speech , Mr . ' Holyoake had quoted , with an acknowledgment of its candour , our admission that his is not a merely negative creed—that he has given to infidelity a positive side . Mr . Grant rejoined by reading the above-mentioned letter , which contains this phrase—' I flatter no man ; I leave that to the Christian Spectator . ' We beg to say that we have not nattered Mr . Holyoake either by intention or in
fact . We simply recorded the fact , that he ' enjoys even among Christians a reputation for sincere convictions , a pure life , and invulnerable courtesy in debate ; ' bore testimony , from personal knowledge , to his honourable position among political and social reformers ; and claimed for him the respectful attention of religious men . This was not even generosity to an opponent ; it was but the rendering of bare justice to a fellow man . On one point , at least , the assembly in Cowper-street will have an opportunity of testing the value of our testimony—namely , as to Mr . Holyoake ' s bearing in public controversy . We sincerel y regret that as far as the discussion has yet proceeded , his opponent has in this respect suffered by the contrast . "We
transcribe the impression of several independent observers , all whose prepossessions were with the Christian advocate , when we say , that Mr . Grant exhibited , on the first night of debate , an acerbity of temper , a disposition to substitute sarcasm for argument , and a preference of ad captandum to ad rationes appeals , which vexed his best friends , excited expressions of displeasure from many of his auditors , and caused visible exultation among his opponent ' s adherents . We respectfully remind Mr . Grant , that the Christian spirit , no less than Christian truth , is committed to him for vindication , and that by dishonouring the one he will assuredly endarnage the other . "
We suppose that all the parties whose united testimony is here quoted have not " a private grudge " against our reverend remonstrant . If so , he is very unfortunate in his public intercourse . For the sake of knowing both sides of questions upon which , as journalists , we find it necessary sometimes to report , we have occasionally looked into Mr . Holyoake ' s writings , and we have found loyaJ tributes of appreciation and respect to Dr . Kalley , the Rev . G . A . Syme , the Rev . Dr . Godwin , the Rev . J . H . Rutherford , the Rev . Dr . Ackworth , President of Horton College , near Bradford ,
not to mention others . Of these gentlemen he certainly has " spoken well after meeting them . " Is it true , therefore , that these ministers are not " frank ?" Let the reader take notice it is our reverend correspondent who suggests this doubt of his colleagues . We do not intend to have the Cowper-street debate resumed in our columns , and therefore wo have said thus much in justification of our selection ; nnd tho public can now judge whether , as Mr . Grant opportunely suggests , the libel of what we published does not , indeod , lio in its . truth . —Ed . ]
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UNSECTARIAN SUPPORT OP THE MADIA I . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sib , — Tho case of tlio unfortunate Madiai in Tuscany , has excited a considerable interest throughout Groat Britain , and has induced our Foreign Secretary to remonstrate through ono of our ablest diplomatists , Sir Henry Bulwer , with tho Grand Dulce of Tuscany . It has also called forth tho eloquence of tho House of Commons , and proclaimed aloud to tho world that there still exists in tho breast of tho Briton an inoxtinguishable sympathy with suffering humanity , and an utter nbhorrenco of all religious persecution from whatever source it muy omanute . True it is that many look coolly on , and doubtless many of our Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen manifest nn indifference to acting in tho matter , mont probably in consequence of the Protestants having acted too much under tho influence of Protootniit prejudices ; and thereby preventing that much to bo desired united demonstration of nil classes of her Majesty ' s subjects . Prejudice , that fostering nurse of incredulity , appears to have created no inconuidcnihlo amount of distrust as to tho gonuinonoHH of tho ftu : tn of tho case ; but to those who wish to examine tho caso in all its bearings , 1 would refer thorn to tho Times of Friday the 18 th , which contains a full report of a lengthy discussion on tho subject , which took place in tho House of Commons on
Thursday week . The several speeches are wellwarthjr an attentive perusal , for they contain , the opinions . of Lord J . Russell , Lord Palmerston , Lord Stanley , Lord D . Stuart , Mr . Lucas , Mr . Drummond , and other distinguished members of the House , not only in reference to the particular case of the Madiai , but the great principle of absolute religious liberty , liberty not only to the Protestant , and the Catholic , bat to maa as man , a free citizen of the world , claiming his right
to tread the mazy path of life according to the dictates of his untrammelled conscience , and unprejudiced reason , without any particular leaning towards any luminaries from without , which at least to him may appear to give but an uncertain light . He nevertheless feels as a man , and would fearlessly perform his part in tho great drama of life ; abhorring all religious persecution , and lamenting the existence of sectarian prejudices , he sees a form and real beauty in the lines of the poet ;—
" For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight , His can't be wrong whose life is in the right ; ; In faith and hope the world will disagree , But all mankind ' s concern is charity ; All must be false that thwarts this one great end , And all of God that bless mankind or mend . " I will merely in conclusion venture to suggest the practicability and desirableness of an urisectarian national demonstration of feeling in behalf of the Madiai , one in which Catholics , Protestants , Jews , and all classes of our countrymen might unite on the common ground of humanity , charity , and love . —I am , Sir , yours truly , M . E . D .
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THE SUNDAY REFORM MOVEMENT * ( To the Editor of t 7 ie Leader . ) Sib , —It was with , much pleasure I read in your last impression , the able and practical letter of Mr . William Newton , and also your excellent comments thereon ; but there was one thing which I particularly noticed , that , while you call on the industrious classes in large towns , to exert themselves in obtaining the Crystal Palace as a place of resort on the Sunday , you do not , apparently , make your appeal to the populations of our villages . My object , therefore , in addressing you , is to
impress upon the working-classes and others , in every parish , village , or hamlet , throughout the country , the necessity of prompt and earnest measures , for securing a desirable place of recreation on their rest day ; where the hidden wonders of creation shall be exposed to their view , the artistic skill of the artisan displayed , the perfection of art admired , the varied , yet harmonious beauties of nature exhibited , and where religion , science , and intelligence shall blend together . Let them boldly
and resolutely coine forth , and do battle with their Sabbatarian adversaries , not with violence , but with that honest and upright determination which never fails . Let us , one and all , who desire that the toiling millions should have some place better than the * gin palace for Sunday enjoyment , strenuously exert i ourselves to overthrow this narrow-minded opposition , and , if the working-classes are true to themselves , no power can withstand their rational and just demands .
I quite agree with Mr . Newton that it is not merely a metropolitan question , but affects the whole country ; and thus it is that I would extend tho movement to the smallest hamlet in England ; and , as I believe it would bo better for ail petitions to bo alike , that there may be no doubt of our unanimity , perhaps Mr . Newton will , through your columns , publish a form of petition , for tho adoption of those desirous of assisting . I am , Sir , yours respectfully , Goodhurst , March 8 th , 1853 . WlMJAM APPS , Jur .
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[ in this department , as all opinions , howbvbb extbbmb abe allowed an expression , the kditob necessabix 1 t holds himself bbsponsujle fos none . " )
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258 THE LEADER . [ Sa ** uih > a * S
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NOTICES TO COKItEBPONDKNTS . O . E . —Tho paragraph we lately ineorted , purporting to relate to tho " Preston Co-operativo Store , " should have said tho Jiximley Co-operative Store . Aw Inquibkb . —The letter we publish this wnek . precludes tho neoeHHity of pursuing tho subject further . Wo are nevertheless obliged by his communication .
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Taste . —Taste is more liable than any other sense to run into grossness , und we take great pains to avoid this . Every boy knows the bnd policy of slipping his Bugar plums one by one from his pocket into his mouth as fast us ho can munch them ; and very seldom will he
do ho , unless from Hhecr satiety , lie understands right well that his pleasure will bo heightened in kind as well as strengthened in degree , if ho treat his eyes along with hits palate , and stop sometimes to think of tho dainty before him . All children have this scientific way of eating , when they out for enjoyment . And so at tho festive lxmrd , wo attempt by tho embellishment of the table , by tho witchery < if music ; , nnd , above all , by the fountiiind of conversation , to rui . se tho entertainment from that of a inure feed up to a banquet whereof a poet might partake , and which might not bo unworthy of his song . 'wFrom Daixab ' 8 JPootics .
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Leader (1850-1860), March 12, 1853, page 258, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1977/page/18/
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