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Leader (1850-1860), 2nd February 1856, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4, PUBLIC MEETINGS. RAILWAY REPOHM. A meeti...

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      The Peace Parliament At Manchester* Mjes...

      liplonxatists in Europe—all admitted that Russia bad : so fairly met by negotiation the propositions 3 he had adopted aa preliminaries ,- that her offers ought to have been accepted ? Mr . Bright then glanced over the losses in m « n that each of the belligerents have Buffered . That of Eng land he placed at 50 , 000 ; of France and Turkey , 100 , 000 each ; of Euasia , 250 , 000 . He added : — ' ? As we have abolished the Decalogue , and the Sermon on the Mount , and all such antiquated prejudices , I suppose I am not to speak of the loss of 250 , 000 Russians . They did not volunteer like our men ; they were dragged from their homes under the despotic system

      of government under which they lived , and they have alien in what appeared to them a sacred and glorious fause—in defence of "the soil of their own country cgainst invaders from the West . Lord Palmerston aongratulatea the people of England that , however erightfully the English , ai-my has suffered , we have the fgreat satisfaction of knowing that the Russian array suffers far more . Well , that may' be so ; but I am of opinion that these 250 , 000 Russians reckon for something on the tablet of the ivacording angel , and that I , as a . professing Christian man , 5 a considering the coat of "this war , cannot exclude the Russians any more than the Turks , or the French , or the English , from

      niy sympathy . " He would say nothing of Sardinia" that poor little country which has been dragged into this dismal business . " He Lad sympathised with . Sardinia's struggles foa * liberty ; "but , in connexion with the war , he feared there was some weak place in her administration . Then , as to the pecuniary loss—a -question which he feared some people consider quite -as inueh as loss of life — England had spent £ \ 00 , COO , (> 60 sterling ; and all because in 1854 we blundered into a war , and in 1856 we blundered out . ]? rance had spent an equal or a larger sum , and Russia probably . £ 50 , 000 , 000 . And , even suppose we had utterly destroyed Eussia , would not our succe . 3 s re-act

      on our commercial and manufacturing interests ? Then there wag the wanton destruction of gx'ain in the Sea of Azof—grain which had much better have been left to feed our hungry ; and there was the hardening effect which war has had on the hearts of all men , even including the ministers of Christianityincluding , also , the Poet Laureate , -who , though a gentleman of great refinement of manner and of mind , ¦ and the author of poetry which will live as long as -the language , had written a poem which his friends are anxious should never be mentioned , and which descends to slang of almost the grossest character . Returning to the facts of the war , Mr . Bright asserted

      fcnat Kuesia now possesses a greater number of prisoners , acnd a greater amount of territory belonging to the enemy , than the Allies possess . Lord John Russell had . remarked thart the policy of attending to the balance of power in Europe had been the policyof this ' country since the time of William III . " But , " said ' Mr . Bright , ¦ " thero are a thousand other things , of ¦ w hich both I ancl Lord John Russell have a great abhorrence , whicliliave come down from a very much longer period back than the time of William III . " The Morning Post observed that anti-war politics were ¦" cotton politics . " But cotton politic s had given this country more comfort and happiness than all the lords

      that ever were created . For these lords were but an illustration of the saying of a n old writer , that an ass hooded , with reverend purple , so that you see not " his too ambitious eats , ' will pass for a cathedral doctor . Are not the ministers of -the United States quite equal to ours , though they are not ch osen from among lords ? Never has a nation been ruined where there have not "been statesmen and old lords going back to their William the Thirds . The public press of ^ England—and more especially the Times—Mr . Bright denounced as an immense imposition on the people ; and he concluded by alluding to hifj own

      political conduct . " Nothing , " said Mr . Bright , " in raoTQ easy than to swim -with the stream . For a time at is often very profitable . It leads men in this country often through nauoh dirt to much honour (« lazcff ?! . ); but I don't choose to take honours in that way . It requires courage and fortitude to go againBt the stream . ; but , if a man's convictions are in that direction , what ia the course ho ought to choose ? I have endeuvourod to tako this course . I know very well , ami you must know , that thoro are stoops of Alma , in morals ; an well aa on the field of battle and of blood . " Mr . Bright sat down in the midat ofloud and Buatainorl applause .

      Ganwal Thompson , Mr . J . Hoy wood , M . P ., and some others , briefly addressed the mooting , whioh concluded witlx throe oheera for Moaarfl . Oobdon Gibb 6 i \ , and Bright .

      100 T H E Leader. [No. 306, Saturday

      100 T H E LEADER . [ No . 306 , Saturday

      A.Dmin-Istr Ative Reform. '*¦- ¦ Meeting...

      A . DMIN-ISTR ATIVE REFORM . ' *¦ - ¦ MEETING ON THE FALL OP KAIIS . ? n ^ a ^ ? istl ; ativS , Reform Association held a meetinfo a 3 tW ? t BVorn ' Sftt ««» ay I" * , « o take the SWgfff * S *™?»* n «» connected with MorW whh ? T ' - ' i" V was oooupied *> 7 Mr . ¦ ¦ f cfi 5 & BsaS £ Xe

      subject of Administrative Reform ; that many of the Liberals , as well as the Tories , were found " poohpoohing" the question ; but that the objeots of the agitation were plain enough . Mr . Brown , the secretary , then read a memorial to the Queen . This document recapitulated the charge brought against Lord Stratford de Redcliffe , to the effect that he had neglected the applications of General Williams for assistance . It asserted that the provisions at Erzeroutn might have been obtained for the relief of the garrison at Kars ; that the English fleet and the Turkish Contingent remained inactive ; that General Beatson and the An ^ lo-Turkish troops vainly besought to be sent to the succour of the besieged city , and were systematically neglected by our ambassador at Constantinople ; and that the advance of Omar Pacha was delayed until it was of no avail .

      Mr . Gassiot moved that the memorial be adopted and signed for presentation to the Queen . He said he feared that he was not exactly carrying out the principles of Administrative Reform ; that , being a mercantile man , he was not the right man in the right place ; and that he was not quite sure that he was speaking on a subject which he thoroughly tinderstood . The chief point in his speech consisted of a charge against Prince Albert of influencing the appointments

      of military mem . The late Brigadier Mayne , he said , had been summoned from India , where he held an important appointment , to take a position in tlie Anglo-Turkish contingent , for which his experience of Mahometan soldiers peculiarly fitted him ; but that the appointment did not take place becavise it failed to meet with the approbation of Prince Albert . He concluded by advising members of Parliament to resist the fascination of Lord Palnierston ' s soirees , and to remain independent .

      Mr . A . B . Richards asserted that the British Commissioner who was employed in sending the Caucasian tribes / informed , them that , in the event of their aiding Omar Paeha , Prance and England would not recognise the independence of those states . " It is evident , " said Mr . Richards , " that the object is to decimate the army of Turkey , and to strangle Turkey herself . " He added that it was asserted Lord Stratford de Redcliffe had said General Williams should perish in Kars .

      Mr . Lindsay , M . P ., read a letber from a Brigadier-> eneral in the Turkish Contingent , complaining of the jealousy with which the officers from the Indian service are regarded * and of the general mismanagement of affairs in the Crimea . The speaker com-, mended to the Association , as a subject which they ought to inquire into , " the secret influence at present exercised over the executive . " Mr . Lawrence hoped that the inquiry would be granted , and that it would lead to impeachment . Mr . Morley , in conclusion , stated that a bill had been prepared by the Association for the reform of the Civil Service , which would entirely sweep away all Governmental patronage .

      Public Meetings. Railway Repohm. A Meeti...

      PUBLIC MEETINGS . RAILWAY REPOHM . A meetixg- of railway proprietors resident in Liverpool , Manchester , and tho adjoining to wns was held on Monday , at Liverpool , for the purpose of hearing a statement from Mr . Malins . There was a limited , though influential , attendance , aud the chair was occupied by Mr . Lawrence Heyworth , M . P ., who observed that he agreed with tho observations of Mr . Malins at the London meeting a few days previously , with one exception . He dissented from that gentleman's opinion that the extension of branch lines is not unprofitable to original proprietors . To him ( tho chairman ) it appeared that this ia precisely tho point from which the evils como . With a different system

      he believed that rn . il wnv nvnm-ini ' niM ... « ., i , i ' he believed that railway proprietors would now be recoiving a remuneration of ten per cent , for their moaiey . Mr . Mulins said that the distrust of the public arose in groat meaiuro from u boliof . that thero is no distinction between capital and revenue accounts ; and , if such woro the case , as they all know full well it wan , a more fatal error could not bo conceived ; for unless a . distinct mode of operation wore adopted a great part of the railway oapifcal would bo appliod ' to revenue purposee . He could not over-estimate the importance of setting this matter right . Tho public men of tins country prido themselves that thoy do

      not hold a Hinglo railway share , but thoy will not hesitate to invest m foreign dobonturos of all kinds If this state of things woro nob stopped , tho largo surplus . capital of tho country going out would proauoo-dlwwbroiiE . results ; for , in flU 0 U a case , the balance m tho Bank of Euglaud dimlnishou , the mtu of discount rwos , exchanges turn against thorn , what is called tho 'bank-screw" ia applied , prices oomo down , nnd wide-sproad ruin , auoh as occurs every five ov botou yoar » , such as thoy had in 1847 , and agaiu recently , follows . It was not a quouMon of individual prolit , Imt of national safety and welfare .

      Another gwovaaop was the gooda-oarryiug monopoly cnjoyocl by certain houses . Mr . Molina olt d tho oa * e of a fwnd who , Uaviug to forward 1 , 500 bales of

      Manchester goods by the railway , could not do so until he had paid a Manchester house Is . a-bale . After some other gentlemen had addressed the meeting , a committee was appointed , to co-operate with the London committee . The meeting of railway proprietors held at London on the 22 nd ult ., and adjourned , was resumed on Wednesday , when a report was read , of which the following were the chief passages : — " Your committee purpose , with a view to a rapid and efficient'organisation of the association , to obtain , with all coavenie ut speed , lists of the shareholders iu the various

      linewhen a , direct application will be nmde to every inJi ' . vidual to enrol himself a member of your association Your committee recommend that an annual payment of half-a-guinea shall constitute uiemborahip . . Your committee have also considered the question of local associations , and are of opinion that their establishment will be eminently useful . " Mr . Maliu . s , the Chairman , announced that the association would ra " ceive tlie support of many largo shareholders ami several members of Parliament . A motion ayproviug the objects of tlie meeting was unanimously carried ; and several gentlemen were nominate I to f-. ; i \ n a council .

      ADMIRAL LVOV ' S " AT II 03 IK . " Sir Edmund Lyons was on Monday presented , hi public , with an address of congratulation by the in-. habitants of Christchurch , Hampshire , on the occasion of his visiting that town , of which he is a iia . tive . He arrived there on Sunday , aud toolc up his quarters at the house of his cousin , Admiral Walcott , SI . P . On the following day he was presented with the address by his host and cousin , on a platform- which had been erected in the centre of the town , which vims jrailv adorned with streamers , & c , and loud with , bands of music . The reading of the address was ofleu interrupted by the loud applause of tlia bystraulers ; and after Sir Edmund Lyons had replied with inucli

      emotion , the company lunched a . t the King's . VIcad hotel , where Lord Malmesbury presided ,, and spoke of the high services rendered by their guest to the country , and of the difficulties , iu the way of prejudice , hasty censure , and faction , whioh commanders have to | contend against . He also alluded to the Duke of Wellington ' s unsuccessful efforts to amend the military system of this country , and of jiis going down to the grave " in sullen silence , weary of warnine * , and weary of giving advice ; " and his Lordship repeated the old accusation against the people of Eiigland , thnt they are iu the chief degree blameable for our Crimean disasters , by reason of their parsitn . onioii'me . rs ¦ in military matters .

      Sir Edmund Lyons , m returning thanks fur tlie toast of hia health , gave a recapitulation of his Crimean experiences . He said that in the course of their expedition to the Sea of Azof , they had iuterccptotl a letter from the Emperor of Russia , in wliich lie emphatically declared that he would almost as soon see the Allies iu his palace at St . Petersburg as iu the Sea of Azof . Of the advance of the English at the Alma , Sir Edmund said that General Caiu- ^ bort told him afterwards that he could only compare it to im English red brick wall supematurally lifted from the ground and propelled forward , so > steady , so unwavering , and so irresistible was tho attack . " Our

      faalure on the 8 th of September , the Admiral excused by saying that every step wo took was cnnhvK-d by the enemy ' s batteries , and that , from var-iou * cireuiu-Btances , we were unable to push our approaches near to tho works of the Rednn . " There is another circumstance , also , " added the Admiral , " which is not generally known , but of the truth of which I n ^ ured myself by asking General Niel tho other dny in Paris . When tho French made their unsuccessful attack on the 18 th of Juno , it was discovered afterwards that

      they had only spiked the onomy'o guns imperfectly , which iu tlieir retreat wore unavoidably turnod upon our allies . A more positive order on thin . subject "vvas subsequently issued , and on the 8 th of So ] . temper nil the guns in the Malalthoff woro to oflbotuully . spiUcil , and thus roudored useless to repel IIio ndvaiico of tho enemy ' s hordes into tho ronr of tho Had an . It was utterly impossible to withstand tho emu-powering numbers that ruahod iu . But I glory in boinjj able to say that never was British courage ni : > ro conspicuously displayed than on that day . "

      IitPEA-OHMENT A . ND THE B 1 . 00 K VOW MIN'ISTKIW . A memtinq of tho inhabitants of Wostminator was hold on Woduoaday in St Martin ' s Hall , Long Acro > " to protest ngainat tho conolueion of any i > oi \ e « on torma inconsistent with tho honour nnd dignity of this country . " Tho cvudtonoo , consisting ctiloOy of tradesmen and artieiinB , entirely fillod tho hull . Tho ohuir waa taken by Mr . Chariot * Weatorton , of ultra-Protestant notoriety ; and i \ letter from General Sir Do Laoy Evnns was road , highly npproviii R of tho objeotfl of tho mooting , but oxoufiing hiniBolf from at , ten « ln « co on tho ground that on tho noxt day ho Bliould bo apoaking on tho subjoofc in Pnrliaraont . Tho Clmlrman , after alluding to tho gross jnisuianaKoiiiont ft the early Htagea of tho wav , and oxprosning hiu oi ) ini" » that tho people of England -will not aoooi ) t a | ioi »«» " at any prioo , " iutroduood tho Hon . Chariot ) « myih

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 2, 1856, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02021856/page/4/