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Leader (1850-1860), 2nd October 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1020

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      Untitled Article

      POLITICAL FOKTSSIIAPOWINGS . Mr . JOH . V B right . — Mr . Bright has arranged to vWt Birming ham in the last week of October , and address his constituents in the Town-hall . It is probable that the new Reform Bill will be the principal topic of his address . . . The Baixot Society ;—We have received from the office of the Ballot Society the text of the bill which they wish'to lay before the Legislature . It is' - proposed that , after the model of the plan adopted in the Victoria colony , the voter should strike out from the ballot-paper placed in his hands tha names of the candidates for . __ , : ^ , , „„««

      those who thought India would be more secure for the future . While disapproving of the Conspiracy Bill , he regretted that Lord Palmerston ' s Government had been overthrown by Mr . Milner Gibson ' s amendment , which he regarded as a trap . He thought it highly desirable that there should be an Education Bill . Instead of giving money to this denomination and that denomination , he thought it would be much better to educate the people neither as Free Churchmen nor Established Churchmen , but as citizens , free from all sectarian ^ bias and taking larger and more liberal views . Mr . Dalglish said he could not agree with his colleague in regretting the result of Mr . Gibson ' s amendment . He believed that the Government of Lord Palmerston had become so confident of support that they thought ; they could do as thev leased . He was glad of the change of ministry , those who thought India would be moresecure for the

      p and believed that the Liberals had got more of their own w-av under the present Government than under that of Lord Palmerston . With regard to Reform , Mr . Dalglish saitl « l do not know what the views of the Conservative cabinet may be , but I think that if they propose any thing in the least likely to meet the views of the Liberal party in the House , their own supporters will turn round upon them . 1 think , therefore , that we need not expect any good measure of Reform from the present Government . " It is likely , indeed , that they will give up the seats of some of their boroughs , but it is not likely that they will throw the voters into the counties , but rather class them into groups . I think that if the men of Glasgow want Reform they must bestir themselves . They must tell the Government what they want , and what they must have . "

      Mr . Cobbett , M . P ., at Oldham . —On Wednesday evenin" -the member for Oldham addressed his constituents . He said— " The Tories have promised that they will actually introduce a bill for the reform of Parliament- Although the Tories had been the opponents of Reform , they had the virtue of being more sincere , and keeping their word better than any other party . He had often been reproached for being a Tory , and asked whether he was a Liberal . He always replied , ' No . ' He never knew the Liberals do anything good ; they

      were always shamming . It was better that the Government should bring in its own bill . If it were satisfactory to the country , the House of Commons would pass it ; if unsatisfactory , there were parties anxious , almost pining for office , " who would turn out the Tories to bring in a better measure . " He was asked his opinion repecting the introduction of the confessional into the English Church . He " replied that he had enough to think of without going deeply into that subject ; he must leave it to divines , and would only say that he

      would rather not be confessed himself . Rkfobm Meeting at Banbuky . —On Tuesday a meeting was held at the White Horse Hotel for the formation of a Liberal Electoral Association . The society adopted the Guildhall programme as its basis of action . It is understood , definitely , that Mr . Tancred , who has represented the borough in Parliament for the last thirty years , will not again offer himself to the constituency , and already three or four candidates are spoken of .

      whom he does not vote . The paper thus marked by him is to be folded and dropped into the ballot-box , and on no account is he to take it out of the ballot-room where he votes . Should he be unable to write or read , it is proposed that the duty of erasure should be performed by deputy , under rigid arrangements as to secrecy . A copy of this bill and other ballot documents were transmitted to Sir G . C . Lewis , who had expressed a desire for enlightenment on a given point . The ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledged the receipt of the papers , and curtly observed that he perceived the secret voting was to be made compulsory . The Society informs us that a branch society has been established n

      North Hants . Mr . Adderlet , M . P . —At the meeting of an agricultural society held at Lichfield , the Right Hon . C . B . Adderley ^ aid that it would be the duty of himself and his friends when they returned to their posts in Parliament to stand as scarecrows to frighten away that flight of birds—the voracious consumers of the national resources—which might be expected after such a splendid harvest . If they might compare the political to the agricultural field ; there was one crop which he was told was quite certain to appear in the course of the next session . It was generally said that we might confidently look for it , whatever be the soil , whatever be the ¦ weather * whatever be the nature of the atmosphere , whoever be the administrative cultivators . The crop usually went by the name of Reform . As it was a very important crop , he hoped its treatment would fall into

      safe and good hands , and if it did he cared not whose hands they were . It-was introduced into this country some thirty years ago by very distinguished cultivators with every possible stimulant , and its culture carried to such an extent that the whole soil had become impregnated with it ,. and calm as was the weather , free as the atmosphere was from convulsions of any kind , and although there were no stimulants of any kind they were told that they might confidently expect the recurrence of this crop . One thing he objected to was that any old cultivators of that crop should consider that they had acquired any tenant right in it at all , or that they should be surprised that , in the passage of time , or in the succession of events , other cultivators had to deal with it . He should conceive that no party could on any possible ground establish a claim for a fixity of tenure in that crop .

      The Chartist Orator . —Mr . Ernest Jones has delivered a lecture in Manchester upon the subject of Reform . The burden of his address to the non-electors was , that they-themselves must strike the blow that is to bring them the franchise . Mr . Jones expressed the utmost distrust in all politicians and political parties on this question , and said nothing short of manhood suffrage hould be accepted . Thb Lord President of the Council and Mr . Puller , M . P . — -At an agricultural dinner at Hertford , on Wednesday , the Marquis of Salisbury presided > In the course of the evening-, Mr . Puller , member for the county , said—Parliamentary Reform might bo thought a subject which it was impossible to touch upon without

      exciting party feeling , and so it would have been two or three years ago , but they had changed all that , and now , without exciting any opposition , her Majesty ' s Government appeared to be really occupied tn preparing to carry out that promise ¦ which they made when they took office , and had in course of preparation a measure upon Reform . He was quite aware that the noble Lord in the chair was too discreet to let them know the details of the forthcoming measure , but one of his Lordship's colleagues had just lifted the corner of the curtain . He alluded to that very able statesman , Mr . Henley , by whom they wore led to understand that the Government were occupied in framing a measure of Parliamentary Reform which would please all parties . The hon .

      gentleman then referred to the transfer of the powers of ( he Bast India Company to the Crown . The Marquis of Salisbury said— " It appears to me ray hon . friend rather ' misunderstood Mr . Henley in promising a Reform Bill which should be pleasing to all parties . I say , however , with perfect confidence , that I do not doubt that great advantages will spring from the measure which was passed last session for the government of India , and also from the conclusion of peace with China . ' * The Glasoow Members . —On Monday night Mr . Buohanan ami Mr . Dnlgllsh , members for Glasgow , addressed their constituents la the City-hall . Mr . Buohanan reviewed his votes in Parliament during the preceding session , referring to the bill transferring the government of India to the Crown as ctn the whole a salutary measure , though ho did not share the hopes of

      Untitled Article

      THE "INVASION" TOPIC . Loud Sandon and Lord Shrewsbury . —At an agricultural meeting at the Guildhall , Lichfield , Viscount Sandon soul he thought the country was now fully awake to the necessity of keeping our shores inviolate from the foot of the stranger foeman , Being a moniber of the House of Commons , he could not help thinking of money matters . He was afraid that now the spirit of the nation was roused , it might push them forward into too great and too general an expenditure for purposes of defence . They should keep a gallant , a great , and an overwhelming Channel fleet , which would effectually prevent any possible invasion of our coasts . They should

      Hutt , said— " Her Majesty ' s visit to Cherbourg ha < called a great deal of attention in this country to tht formidable steam-navy which has been created in I < Vnr , n « at a time of profound peace , and at a crisis when the state of its finances seemed little to favour such an ex penditure . Such preparations and pretensions have filled some persons amongst us with dismay . They see in these things . a design , not merely on our ' security , bul on our existence as a nation ; and they accordingly' call for immense and immoderate measures of defence . But there is another party which seems seriousl y to rcard any attempt among Frenchmen to create a navy as something ridiculous . And these gentlemen are backed nutt ,, said— " Her Majesty ' s visit to Cherboure ha

      by the peace party , who look upon all war as impossible and all invasion of our shores as an absurdity . There is , depend upon it , much blindness and folly in all of these exaggerations . Between two powerful nations daily brought in contact on various points of rival interests , there must always be the possibility of war , and it would be the height of folly in us to act as if wo had any patent of superiority in war over other nations , except in jthose prudent preparations and in that science and discipline on which all warjike superiority must ultimately depend . At the same time , I do nutbeJieve in the ambitious projects attributed to the Emperor of the French . I am convinced that when he said ' L '

      empire e ' est la paix , he announced the settled policy of his firm and sagacious mind . " General , Caktwiught and Mr . Knight-ley , M . P . —At the celebration of the Northamptopslure Agricultural Association ,, in Towcester , General Cartwright took occasion to pass a high eulogium on our brave soldiers in India , and to express a hope that the wooden walls of Old England should ever be kept in a state of efficiency . Mr . Kniglitley said the gallant general expressed a hope that the Government of the day would carefully provide for the defences of the country . In that sentiment he cordially concurred . The Earl of Shrewsbury had recently said the House Of Commons buttoned up their pockets when the subject was brought forward . This he thought was not 4 a fair charge . . Since he had been in the House , no vote proposed by any Government for promoting the national defences had been treated in a niggard spirit .

      keep up what might bo callod thq skeleton of an army , which could be increased at any moment . Let them not keep up an enormous army , but keep up an overwhelming Channel fleet , which was really the only safety of the country . At the samp meeting the Karl of Shrewsbury said he was glad to see that at last there was a spirit abroad that the main defences of the countrythe wooden walls of Old England—should not be neglected . At the same time , ho felt that they should not disregard the salutary warning of his noble friond . Some members of Parliament appeared ready to scatter the public money with the greatest profusion . There waa no necessity for that . Ho was happy to say that fleet small it

      they had now an efficient Channel — -a one , was true—but ho did not think they need havo n very large one . They wanted a standing navy , which they might amplify at any timo when occasion arose , so that , if need were , every ship ' s company could bo turned into two or throe by mixing voluntoors , who would , ho trusted , if any danger appeared , flook into their ships . If by any chance , in a short and sudden interval , a foe should land , ho doubted not that the yeomen of England-would give them suoh a reception that , with a Channel fleet in , thoir roav , very few of them would qvo » get back again . Mb . Hutt , M . P , —At a municipal dinner at Gateshead , on Thursday , the member for the borough , Mr .

      Untitled Article

      LORD STANLEY ON INDIA . A grand entertainment was given at Fishmongers ' Hall , on Wednesday , to Lord Stanley and the members of the Indian Council . In the course of the " evening , his Lordship said— " I do not wish to revive , or even to allude to past controversies ; but . this I may be permitted to say—that throughout those Parliamentary discussions which ended in the transfer of the Indian government from the East India Company to the executive

      of this country , that change was uniformly represented by me , and by those colleagues with wham 1 acted , as not being in the nature of a penal proceeding , —as not involving any sentence of condemnation against the administration of that great company whose century of empire has come to an end . We regarded it—and I think rightly—as a change which was a natural , and even a necessary result of the lapse of timo and the progress of events . I believe that that change will be productive of benefit to India . I hope it may lead to tho

      larger introduction into that country of European energy , enterprise , and thought . I believe—and rejoice to believe—that as the insurrection of the last fifteen months is gradually dying out , so also the exasperation offering which prevailed in this country against the natives of India *—and which , under nil tho circumstances , one can hardly regard with . astonishment , though it may be ft matter of regret—is in course of gradual extinction witli tho cause to which it owed its origin , and will nt no distant period—if it has not ulrcady done so—give plnco to a better and habitual frame of mind . X think , however , we should remember that it is not only from Hi will or ill feelings on our partbut also from uninformed

      , and misdirected efforts fordoing good , that our influence and government in India have boon exposed to danger . We must look upon the nntivos of India also ns meinvitu whom , and not against whom , wo have to work—aa men with feelings of their own—ns men who , although politically subject to us , have a sense of their own rights mm a respect for their own independence , nnd ns men who will be apt to bo all tho more tenacious of thou uiiwlcetual independence and national customs because of tno political subjection in which they are held . I « w n ° l hesitate to say that , uuloss * wo keep within pro " ' * . *¦• • . t S . 14 .. it ii I ii i 3 M \ lU national superiority—unless

      bounds our feeling of remember carefully , and oven jealously , to i \ 's | 'uct u feelings , and oven the prejudices of those with w win have to deal—above all , if wo attempt to Introdueo I force and influonce of Government into that which ohm " to be matter of private conviction between man ami iu own conscience , or if wo are oven suupoeU'il , "I " plausible grounds , of attempting or intondintf' ic , ohi «• douvours at improvement will bo thrown Imck » "' fneo as insults , and wo shall end by doing more iiai » than good . In selecting those who are to tiiwlat i s the ' administration of Indian affairs wft « lnMtud » o » Parliamentary connexions , not to ngrtfomotit in >¦ « " *> . politics , not to personal friendships , but sololy to mi >'' tratlvo efficiency and to ue < m « lHtttnco with uw >"'•

      Untitled Article

      1020 THE LEADEE . [ No . 445 , ^ October % 1 & 58 . - ;

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1858, page 1020, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2262/page/4/