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Dudley .- These places are-governed on the sic volo sic jiibeo principle . According as the autocrat smites or frowns , " blue or yellow" rises in the ascendant . At present the , shadow of his countenance is turned away from the Conservative party to which he was . ¦ formerly so staunch , without materially benefiting the Liberal party whose cause he professes to adopt . It is , we believe , very fairly-presumed that Sir Stafford Northcote became member for Dudley because , at the time of his election , he enjoyed the privilege of Lord Ward's approval , and that he wias dismissed from that position because he forfeited that inappreciable blessing . Sir Stafford Nbrthcote is deposed , and Lord Monck , the Whig place-seeker , reigns in his stead , as . first favourite of the Sultan of Dudley .
Other boroughs and places over which Lord Ward has control are satisfied with their situationvote for the " Ward" candidate , be he Whig or Tory , with wonderful equanimity , and take , without questioning , the goods that Lord Ward provides them . The borough of Dudley has , unfortunately for its peace ' of mind , a yearning after independence . In the . terse and expressive language of Hansard , " the prevailing influence in this constituency is
that of Lord -Ward . ; " in other words , Dudley is a pocket borough . On the occasion , however , of the last election , the electors of Dudley grew weary of their state of political servitude , and , to the utter consternation of " ¦ Witley Court , " produced an independent candidate . The stroke was so bold and so unexpected that Mr-. Henry B . Sheridan , who had undertaken to lead the forlorn hope , actually conquered , in spite of , and not by virtue of , the "Ward" influence . The feelinsr excited in the
town against aristocratic domination was so strong , that Lord Ward ' s nominee considered that prudence was the better part of valour , and retired without a contest . Since that time no effort has been spared- —no stone left unturned— -to retrieve the fallen prestige of the Ward influence . Of Mr . Sheridan we know nothing personally : what little the public knows is certainly to his credit . He is an inder pendent member , not registered amongst the adherents either of the " Carlton " or the" Reform . "
He has been a steady , hard-working member of Parliament . He is the very antipodes to the " James" and "Ayrton " class , who are always thrusting themselves forward , in season and out of season . Upon commercial questions- —especially © n-those connected with the important subject of Assurance , on which he is a high authority—his opinion is listened to in the House with respect . He is one of a class of whom we have too fewnjen who do notmix themselves in the passing party struggles of the hour , but labour consistently for the promotion of some important object . Mr . Sheridan ' s chief merit , however , in our eyes , consists in the fact that he is the free and deliberate choice of the
electors of Dudley . They may or may not be mistaken in their choice- —that is rather their concern than ours ; but we contend that they have an inherent right to the free exercise of their , suffrages . Lord Ward thinks otherwise . Mr . Sheridan has committed the unpardonable sin of representing Dudley , instead of Ward , and , in consequence , the verdict has gone forth that he is to be condemned without hope of reprieve or pardon . Lord Monck has been selected as a " fit and proper person to represent Lord Ward in Parliament . " -The electors of \ JDudJey are therefore to return Monck , and
discard Sheridan . Lord Monck "vyas formerly a Whig liord of the Admiralty , and in spite of Government influence , was rejected for Portsmouth at the lost election . This is about all that either we or the electors of Dudley know concerning him . A Whig lordling in to be the successor of a hardheaded man of industry and ability . We say , without hesitation , that the system of corruption and intimidation which is now being carried on at Dudley , under the " Ward " colours , is as groat a disgrace to the electoral system as the
vulgar uproar at Finabury and Lambeth meetings , which have occasioned such exultation amongst the opponents of popular rights . The latter excesses may be excused on the score of ignorance 5 the former cannot plead the benefit of thia apology . Wo are no enthusiastic admirers of the bttjlot , ancl we like Mr . Sheridan none the less for his bold nVpwal of a disjiko to secret voting , and his , equally frank admission of its necessity for Dudley . At the same , time , wo fool that much more of such aristocratic and magisterial interference , ae disgraces the pi'esent Dudley election ,
and the ballot will become inevitable . It niay . be discreditable to electors to conceal their votes , at all : it is still more discreditable to sacrifice a . free suffrage to the orders of Lord Ward . There is an end to freedom of election when the scales are weighed down by the sword of Brennus ; but when , instead of the excesses of the warrior , we have the " golden hand" of the capitalist nobleman , the disgrace becomes intolerable , and the election a mockery .
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POLITICAL CONDITION OF TUSCANY . Tuscany is not less interested in the Italian question than other parts of the Peninsula ; From its high state of civilisation , the natural gentleness of its inhabitants , and the ineffaceable influence of the institutions which it , enjoyed under former reigns , comparatively little intensity of feeling , may be manifested ;* yet the subservience of the Government to Austria , and the exclusion , during the last ten years , of the middle classes— -who are both rich and well educated—from all share of power , has left the Government in an isolated
position , and increased the division between the country and its rulers . When the Prince was recalled , in April s ' 1849 , by a popular decree which overturned the dictatorship of the sans culottes of Leghorn ; nothing could be more unjust or impolitic than to put an Austrian garrison in Tuscany , and to cancel the constitution . This most sdrious error , to call it by no severer or truer name , destroyed the benefits resulting from the paternal Government of past years , and unsettled and shook public confidence . The false step has never been retraced ,, and Tuscany , like
the other Italian States , experiences the direful , and pernicious influence of Vienna , allies itself with absolute Governments , assumes a hostile attitude towards Piedmont , bends to the will , and humbles the country before Austria , touches to the quick the wounds of 1848 , and lets no opportunity pass of slig hting the constitutional party , though composed of the most distinguished and universally esteemed men in the country . This has been the conduct of the Government from 1849 to the present moment . It is sufficient here to , record sonic of the fatal acts of past years , the
remembrance of which is still fresh . Such are the suppressions of the municipal law of popular election , and the return to the retrograde system , which was in . vigour before 1848 ; depression of the University of Pisa , the scientific and literary glory of Tuscany , which was broken up into two or three parts and scattered between Florence and Sienna ; the public trials of some of the most eminent men of the country , Capponi , liidolfi , and liicasolo , because they were present at a funeral service to the memory of the Tuscans who fell at Curtatone , on the 29 th May , 1848 , and ,
finally , the suppression of the constitution . I o whom belongs the blame of this monstrous and unjustifiable reaction P It is impossible to distinguish , with truth and accuracy , between the more or less active elements of the component parts of Government whiqh have been employed in working out the undermining process . Those who know the weakness of the counsellors of the Prince , " and their total ignorance of politics , can but look higher for the reason of the sad condition of Tuscany . One of the latest acts of most pernicious tendency was the journey of the Grand . Ducal family to Naples for the rejoicings on the marriage of the hereditary prince , the son of Ferdinand . r-r * 1 ¦ 1 i 1 ¦ 1 . 1 ¦¦ » . sv a a This which cost not loss than
* journey , JO , OOOJ . or 12 , 000 J . sterling , was paid out of the burthoned finances , still suffering from the heavy expenses , , of the Austrian troopsf during their long occupation of Tuscany . They are galled in the budget " auxiliary troops , " that is , Austrian , and are universojuy disliked in the country . The circumstances attending the death of the Archduchess Anna , who , separated from her infant , died at Naples , filled up the measure of public indignation . She was - much beloved for her kindliness and sincerity ; and the demonstrations of friendship which the Grand Duke chose to make publicly in favour of the King of Naples , excited universal discontent . When the body of the Grand Duchess was sent fVom Naples to Leghorn by sea it was
unaccompanied by any member of the Grand Duke ' s family , who prolonged their , stay at Naples notwithstanding the urgent and repeated -entreaties of the ministry , that they would return . Upon the arrival of the corse at Florence b y a special train the people wished to accompany the funeral party * but" this demonstration of affection was prevented by the police , because it was looked upon as a movement against the Grand Duke and in favour of the hereditary Prince . The population of Tuscany are fully agreed on the line of politics which ought to be followed at
this important crisis . No very decided element of democratic agitation can be said to exist in Tuscany . It is known that the troops , which are now in a 'greatly improved state , will refuse to lend their assistance to resist any pressure which the constitutional party may exercise against Government when matters attain to a greater hei ght in Italy , nor will they go to ¦ LomlVardy to fight with the Austrians against the Piedmontesc . Many of the superior officers have explicitly declared their determination on this point , and their actions will not belie this decision ;
It is natural that tlie Tuscan . Liberal ;? should look to Piedmont with sincere love and gratitude . At the marriage of the Princess Clotilda , the Sardinian Ambassador at Florence and the Sardinian Consul at Leghorn were the objects of great demonstrations of sympathy . Not fewer than 2 , 000 visiting cards were left at their doors . Does this signify that Tuscany desires to become a . province of Piedmont ? No . Such a thins is not to be
desired for Piedmont , and still less would it be for the advantage of Italy in general . Those who for many years , have wished to reconstruct and strengthen Italy , and render its several States independent , have felt the necessity of creating certain enlarged boundaries . The duchies of Modena and Parma , and the Legations , have been thought of as additions to the larger States . In the favourite project of a central Italian Government , which would separate the extremities of Italy , Tuscany mig ht advantageously be enlarged by some of the above-mentioned provinces Public
opinion would certainly have been favourable , and have assisted in forwarding this object , if the Prince , as he ought to have done , had preserved the institutions which he had granted , and had not needlessly offended the national feeling . lias it is generally believed , the condition of Italy is soon to become more alarming , Tuscany cannot remain a quiet spectator of the struggle between Austria and Piedmont . She -will '' not be deaf to the counsels of that country as to her internal organisation , and will desire to consult the general interests of Italy .
Meanwhile , from evei * y city in Tuscany volunteers are setting out to enrol themselves in the Piedmont ranks ; their numbers already amounting to at least a thousand . A subscription has been opened to assist the Tuscan volunteer * , and the most respectable men in the country , including several Professors of the University of Pisii , have taken a share in this expense . At this moment signatures are being obtained . in all f ' ho Tuscan
cities to a paper expressing adherence to the principles of nationality set forth in the pamphlet , " Toscana e Austria" of which we yavo an abstract last week . Thousands of names may already bo enumerated , and among them tliouc <> 1 the first men in each town . What , meanwhile , is the conduct of the Government ? We grieve to say that nothing can be more deplorable * or illadvised . A law of the' press formerly e xisted which permitted of the publication , without examination , of any writing not exceeding four shoots 111 length . This law has been revoked within the last few days . The work " Austria o Toscnim , ' JtbOO AV 5 TT Utt O * JU AX \ J )| Ul IV ^ VUOW tl * V * *\ n- * ...---j
J which was legally published belbro the suppression of the law , so irritated the ministry Unit they ordered the sequestration of the book . Aguinwt the illegality of this stop l ^ ho whole body «> f «» - vocates throughout Tuscany lm \ o circulated protests . The b ' lindncss of Government has gone so fiiras to stimulate the troops to , make a demonstration at Boboli . Though itHoeniH pciircely credible , wo have fcha best authority lor staling that the Tuscan soldiers wore instructed to cry , Vina la neutralita dolla Toacana 1 Viva la pace ! ( Tuscan neutrality ! Peace for over . ) Persons worthy , belief declare that they saw the white banner wjtii the arms of the Grand Duke prepared for Hun purpose . , It is right that it should be unclcratoo . l the do
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* l'lotro Lcoiiolyo II ,, ( ho grandfather of tlio prosont Grand Dulto , la one of tho Hovorclgna more particularly nUurtocUo . t Obsorvo . Mint It is ffroatly to tho udvantuao of Austrlu tOHQiul ligr frooptj Into the Italian ducltlos , fts thoy « tro than raulutiiluod frees of cost .
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. ... ffigft :, ' ., ; -:,,- :,. ¦ ¦ ' ' , / ,,,:.. . . . Xlf LEAE > i : R - . ; ¦¦ t # ^ A 74 * -AixBw .. 2 & . IQS&
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 23, 1859, page 530, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2291/page/18/
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