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Leader (1850-1860), 12th November 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1240, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      POLITICAL FORESHADOWINGS . From the Lord Mayor ' s feast on Wednesday , Lords Palmerston and John Russell were both absent-r-tne former at Windsor , the latter from alleged indisposition . The ministers who attended this _ great animal festival were Mr . Gladstone , ^ Sir Cr . I * Lewis , the Duke of Somerset , Lord Stanley , Mr . Milner Gibson , Mr . Sydney Herbert , and the Duke of Newcastle .

      Sir G . C . Lewis returned thanks for the health of " Her Majesty ' ministers , " , after alluding to the great prosperity of the country , and the strike in the building trade , which he trusted now approaches an amicable termination , said : —" Early in the ensuing session we shall be prepared to redeem the pledges we have given by the introduction of a measure for the amended representation of the people . There is another portion of public affairs which is not so much under onr control as it is under the control of others—I mean onr foreign relations . Circumstances may occur in the condirender it

      tion of foreign countries which may impossible to preserve that undisturbed quiet and tranquillity which I am happy to say has characterised our internal condition . We have seen the minister whom we sent to . Pekin to carry out the solemn ratification of a treaty met by outrage and resistance . We know thaff he had acted literally in accordance with his ' instructions in ascending a certain river , and that in doing as be was fired upon by the Chinese , when a disastrous loss of life occurred . It will be . the duty of her Majesty ' s Government to concert such measures , in unison with the Emperor of the French , as shall enable us to obtain from the Chinese Emperor satisfaction for the injury and full ratification of the

      treaty , together with any further measures which we may consider necessary for the sustentation of the national honour . With respect to the late Italian campaign , her Majesty ' s Government have abstained from all interference ; but the time may come when , the treaty having been signed , ulterior measures may be contemplated by the great Powers of the Continent , and when probably an invitation -may be addressed to the Powers which were parties to the Treaty of Vienna to join in an European congress for the settlement of the affairs of Italy . Hitherto , I may say , ho formal invitation respecting the affairs of Italy has been addressed to her Majesty ' s Government ; but if at any future time such an invitation should be addressed to us , it will be

      bur duty to deliberate on the matter with a view to the maintenance of that principle which we consider sacred , namely , that no force shall be used for the purpose of dictating to the Italian nation the choice of its rulers , or for the purpose of coercing its people with . regard to the Government which they may , after mature deliberation , prefer . The recent complications on the Continent have led to the armament of the great Powers of Europe , and the storm which was raised in Italy has created a sympathetic disturbance in other countries . Looking to this unsettled state of Continental Europe , it

      would not do for us to be unprepared as regards our national defences , or to depend upon the sufferance Of any other Power , however friendly , for the continuance of tranquillity . I rejoice in being able to say that her Majesty ' s Government continues to receive assurances of the most pacific character from all our allies . We have no reason ' . believe that any nation in Europe—or in any other part of the world—entertains intentions of hostility towards this country . Nevertheless , looking at the feverish state of foreign countries , it becomes , us to bo upon

      our guard . We should remember—and it is satisfactory to do so—that if any real danger should occur , the wealth of this country will always enable ue to meet that danger in the most effective way . Probable dangers there are not / but it is for possible dangers that we must provide—and if over that possibly danger should arise , her Majesty ' s Government will feel it their duty to take every measure for the protection of our shores , in the full confidence that in do-ing so they will have the hearty support of a great , free , ana a generous peeplo . "

      In reply to the toast of " the House of Commons , " the CwAjfOB ^ LOR ov the ExonuQunn suid ^ t is on every occasion an agreeable duty for an Englishman to flnd his name associated with a body which occupied so distinguished a place in the history of our " country : and porrait me to add , my Intimate convictiaq that in no assembly of England is the House ot Commons held in higher estimation than in meetings of tj » o citizens of London . In ovory great crisis In tilemajbory of our country , in which , unhappily , there h (^ & ' pe ' on fCcpnfllot ; botweon ( ho different constitutional CTnH ' ^ W' flnd that the side taken by the 'ffcnto . orGorhmonB has also been that which has wen , ty $ pt # a by the olfclzona of London . I feel

      confident that the position which the House of Commons has attained by centuries of noble exertions in the estimation of England and of the world is not likely to be forfeited and lost . It may happen that those who now fill its benches , or many among them , are personally not worthy to be the successors of the great men who formerly adorned them ; but we do not in these days depend upon-individual power as upon the enlightenment of modern public opinion , which gives to the statesmen of our country aids such as they never before enjoyed . The present House of Commons is as yet but a young assembly , and has scarcely had any opportunity of proving what it can do for the country ; but it would not become

      me to speak lightly of the House of Commons , seeing that I am member of an administration which that House of Commons has brought into power . I am bound to say that whenever , in virtue of my office , I have to perform the disagreeable duty of proposing an increase of taxes , the House of Commons answers the appeal with a readiness which has never been surpassed , and I do believe that in that readiness it does not go a wliit beyond the general wishes and convictions of the country . I trust , and I am convinced , thaj ; when that House is called together to resume the exercise of its important duties , it will not in its business of legislation disappoint your reasonable expectations . If the constitution of that House is to be changed , we may feel assured , from the temper which prevails throughout the

      country , and from the unvarying attachment to the Crown of the people of England , that whatever change may be adopted , it will be consistent with the spirit of the constitution , and will have . no other object than that of increasing the efficiency of the representative branch of the legislature , and of making it more completely than it is at present the guardian of the interests of the country . As regards the national finances , I feel convinced that the House Of Commons will refuse nothing which may be necessary to secure the honour and safety of England ; but , at the same time , as Chancellor of the Exchequer , I may be allowed to express a hope that next to the task of providing for the national security , they will devote their attention to the reduction of all burthens which may press upon various classes of

      their fellow-countrymen . At Halifax on Tuesday , the Bishop of Oxford made a long speech on the political situation of Europe . He said there were riot wanting many signs in the horizon to intimate the danger to which England was exposed . They might attempt to conceal the fact from themselves , but England stood the one lover of liberty among a number of despotic States . She was a last lingering home ( and God make it perpetual ) for the victim of persecution of every race and every tongue . No nation could

      undertake such an office as that without drawing upon itself the hatred and , if they dared , the violence of less favoured peoples . The people of this country must be true to their duties if they would hand down this stronghold of liberty to their children . It was a great matter for this our happy land to rise to the dignity to which God had so manifestly summoned it , and to spread theblessings of Christianity throughout the world ; and that while we were preaching to every nation on earth that blessed liberty , we ourselves should retain our freedom .

      The Earl of Eixenborougk has published his opinions on Italian affairs in the form of a letter to Lord Brougham . The carl says : —" I propose to subscribe a small sum to the fund for the purchase of arms to be placed at the disposal of Garibaldi . Arms , organization , and discipline constitute the real strength of a people . In proportion to that strength is the respect it obtains . Upon that foundation alone the independence of every country must really rest . I admit , with deep regret , that the Italians have , as yet , made but little use of the opportunity which the events of the war have placed before them . They have confined themselves very much to rejoicings in anticipation of the independence which they have never achieved nor deserved . They have been waiting to receive from the hands of others that which they should disdain to owe

      to any hands but their own . Acting under the direction of men hastily soleoted , and unequal to the crisis in which they were called forth to govern , they are oven now , I foar , in Central Italy , insufficient of the two most contemptible of armiesthose of Kft Naples and of the Pope , I will still hope for better things . I will hope that , stimulated by the insults to Italy which are conveyed In the demands France is about to mako in the Congress , they will rise to vindicate their right to choose their own Government , and clutch the arms by which alone it can be secured . There is in Italy ono man who hais at once a head to direct , a hand to execute , and a heart which tells him what is right—that mtin is Garibaldi . Let tho Italians follow whore ho loads , and thujr will at least acquire tho honour which has boon ho long unknown to them as a people . Ho has no monsuroa to observe with France . If ho should obtain success Ho will not

      consent to hold the provinces he liberates as a fief of the French empire . He will not lend himself to th « carrying out of the idea of the First Napoleon , that France should be surrounded by weak dependent States . If the Italians should obtain no change bat that of substituting the influence of France fox that of Austria , they will only have changed the outward form of their humiliation , and have laid the foundations of perpetual disunion * and of constantly recurring war in th ^ ir country , i believe that the creation of a great , united , and independent State in Italy ( and to be independent it must be great ) would tend more than any other measure which could be adopted to secure the peace

      of Central Europe . Incapable of entertaining projects of conquest beyond the Alps , which it would be evidently impossible to realise , such a State would have a common interest with Austria in closing that natural barrier against the foreigner ; and Austria , relieved from all apprehension on the side of Italy , would , in union with Germany , present on the Rhine and on the Vistula a concentrated strength which no ambition would assail , because none could hope to overcome . This was the opinion I formed at the Congress of Vienna . I expressed it in the House , of Commons in 1816 . I have adhered to it through life . The unexpected events in

      the early part of this year appeared at one time to place this great result almost within our grasp . I will still trust that such high hopes have not . been held out to Europe only for a moment , to be then dashed away and to deceive . I will still trust that the Italians may prove themselves not unworthy of their fortune , and may be mindful of other and higher traditions than those to which France has directed , their regards . At least let us , symr pathising with them , in circumstances which were once our . own * place in their hands the arms by which alone , under Providence , their redemption can be achieved . In Jthe will of Providence must rest their success , but with arms in their

      hands they may at least , instead of being unresistingly transferred , like cattle , by foreigners , fall nobly like soldiers ia the field , and acquire that glorious name which has been accorded by the concurrence of all ages to those who perish in the attempt to liberate their country . " On the reassembling of Parliament steps will be taken with all possible despatch to determine whether Lord Bury , the Treasurer of the Household , can take his scat for Norwich , in respect of his election in July last , the noble lord having been declared to have committed bribery through his agents

      in the previous April . The Conservatives contend that it will only be necessary to tender official evidence of the decision at which the election committee arrived in July , and that their candidate will then be declared duly elected . Matters are , however , in an extraordinary state of confusion , and the Liberals will no doubt endeavour to establish a counter charge of bribery against their opponents . It turns out , that to serve some electioneering ruse , some of the Liberals actually petitioned against the return of Lord Burv , on the ground of bribery , while some of Sir Samuel Blgnold ' * supporters adopted a similar proceeding with regard to that gentleman .

      Untitled Article

      BROUGHAM AND STANLEY ON MECHANICS ' INSTITUTES . Ar the Peel Institution . Accrinston , these two noble lords were present , and Lord Brougham declared that ho was not a convert to the Maine liquor Jaw , but that ho considered tho greatest care should be taken not to encourage intemperance , if . we did not discourage it ; nay , that the greatest care should no taken by all lawful , moderate , and rational means to discourage it . Ot mechanics' institutions ho saiq : -We have now como to a state of things whore it can no longer be said that tho mechanics' institutions are of themselves fitted to attain thoso grot * objects of which we heard twenty-fivc ^ or- wurty years ago . They have in a groat measure beeni successful , and have given rise to pthor in « ti ti ; it low , which are , in some reapects , better adapted to tim wants of some classes of tho community , mi . n * that time , when I was tin humble supporter ot JJt . Blrkbeck , I strongly urged tho necessity ot mochanios'institutions vvlioro they could bo had , anu . where there were tho means of obtaining loetul *™ J but where they could not be had , a groat , good , ana important service might bo rendered by '"" H " libraries , and reading rooms , and nowa rooms tor tno people . I remember it was said that there is n gjoOT difficulty in establishing these institutions iov wane of unnaratus . but it iB siimular , when you oonsiuci

      it , how much might bo aocompliahod with very « «™ apparatus 5 indeed , nothing worth oonaluoi ff . " Great progress may bo made with very ohoiip am simple experiments j Indood aomo of tho iuohi 1111 portant , if not tho most showy , arc tho least coaiy and complicated . By far tho grandest dUi-ovui cb In natural aolunoo were mado with lllll : ' > n , ' ^ apparatus . Even tho olomonts of moohnulos aion «

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      Untitled Article

      1240 THE LEADER . fNo . - BQ $ .. . Nov . 12 , 1859 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 12, 1859, page 1240, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2320/page/4/