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    ]Vjay 5, -1S-G0.] The Leader and Saturda...

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    THE MOVEMENT IN SICILY. THE movement in ...

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    CHURCH DISSENSIONS. WHERE are certain we...

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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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    Preparations For. The Presidential Elect...

    • element will be confirmed in . its supremacy ; the possession of office bringing responsibility will increase itscaution and strengthen its disposition to conciliation . ; ami the South will find that , whilst determined to prevent the spread of the " accursed" institution , Republican statesmen are- too deeply imbued with the -spirit of the Constitution to interfere with the domestic legislation of the several States .

    ]Vjay 5, -1s-G0.] The Leader And Saturda...

    ] Vjay 5 , -1 S-G 0 . ] The Leader and Saturday Analyst . 417

    The Movement In Sicily. The Movement In ...

    THE MOVEMENT IN SICILY . THE movement in Sicily cannot fail to enlist British sympathies if , in the midst of many grave questions * attention can be turned to an island that has peculiar claims upon our regard . Sicily could boast of one of the oldest constitutions in ° Europe , having had a parliament as early as 1072 . Of course during feudal times , that Parliament was very far from being a democratic institution , but the fact that the aristocracy and " the Church were represented , was valuable , as paving the way for more complete results , which though late , would doubtless have appeared ; but unfortunately Xing Fjuidinaxj ) married ¦ Cauolixe of Austria , and at the instigation of the Emperor Fkaxcis means wore taken to destroy every vestige of liberty , and establish one of the most abominable governments that ever

    existed . During the war with France , we were compelled to occupy the island ; and the abuse of royal authority was so insufferable , that after we had detected Queen Caroline in an effort to sacrifice us to the French , Lord William Bentinck established a constitution , similar to that of England , in the year 1812 ; and King Ferdinand , who consented to the arrangement , abdicated in favour of his sou . The new constitution might be considered as a legitimate development of the native institutions , but it wanted a little friendly aid , until the people had grown accustomed to its working , and recognised its value . The House of Peers established by Lord William unfortunately consisted of needy nobles , chiefly anxious to make use of their * position to avoid the payment o £ their debts , and when we retired from the island without obtaining adequate security for the permanence of the system , it was overthrown by the sovereign , with the approval of the Austrian Court .

    At the present time , it is believed that the wish of the majority of the Sicilians is to-annex , themselves tp Sardinia , and they are assuredly , entitled to any moral aid which-England can gi vet-hem - •¦ - » i _ . i _ . _ i _ * nil l _ ii - *• «?•;_ . •• •• . *

    m so ctesiraunj ii i « ... « .. ^/ . v . j , . uu .-ni . ii o » oiei » y is aoove two millions and a quarter , and in addition to the gain for humanity that would result from the enfranchisement of so ninny people , it would form an important addition to the growing kingdom of which Victoh Emmanuel is the worthy head . Such a measure of annexation would likewise diminish the danger of that by no means improbable event , a temporary restoration of the * MTTrA-T ^ lvnasb , ' -at-iVtvples-5—A-U ^ vor ^ hc-cojitiuj ^ that'our-Government-has instigated the rebellion , and French agents are accused of giving currency to the absurd report .

    Ihe King ot Satidtnia Cannot-remain a passive spectator of tins struggle , especially if G atuiiai . pt appears upon the scene ; and it would save much misery if he received clear enconrngement from England to assist the patriotic cause by direct and should lie see reason to hope for success . For a long while the King of Naples has been complotting with Austria and the Pope for the restoration of despotism in . the , emancipated , portions of Italy , jind only : i doubt as to what the great Towers would do could restrain . Count Cavouh from taking another onward step . The Neapolitans , no doubt , deserve a bettor fate than the awful suHorinir thov have to submit to under the

    Austrian system . which their JJorinmx ruler carries out , and their cause would ba aided by any movement that promoted the success of the insular struggle ! .- It would not , however , be desirable at present Hint the constitutional Government of Sardinia should bo put to the severe trial of a union with Naples , which would present far greater diiliculties than a union with Sicily . All parties would gum if England agreed to let the French restore theMrKAT family at Naples on condition of Sicily being attached to the Sardinian crown . We . know that this idea is entertained by some Italian statesmen , who . we that French vanity might thus be- gratified without any permanent ,

    harm . Ultimately , Naples will form part / of n united irmly , and French . inilucncc . could not permanentlv prevail over Italian aspirations ; It might , however , be ' useful during n transition epoch , as the Government thus established , if not liberal , would , in the elements of justice and security , be . an immense advance upon the present system . / Wo do not wish to see even the moral interference of England exerted , unless with reasonable chance of success ; but it is time that we took ouv place in the Italian question as th

    need the good will of nationalities , for we cannot trust reactionary Governments , nor shut our eyes to the plain fact , that if we are not felt to be a great Power we shall expose ourselves to attack . The influence we might have gained in the Russian war was lost throi ^ gh . the paltriness of our diplomacy , and the corrupt administration of our naval and military affairs ;

    and if we ^ would avoid future quarrels , we must increase our moral influence , as well as follow Lord Lyxdhukst's advice about maintaining our fleet . It is not good for Europe nor for France that onlv one power of movement should be felt throughout the civilized " world ; and the Liberal party in England would raise itself out of the mire of selfishness if , in a prudent and circumspect way , it exerted a visible influence in favour of liberty in other lands .

    Church Dissensions. Where Are Certain We...

    CHURCH DISSENSIONS . WHERE are certain well-denned privileges attached to greatness . We will bear from a man of distinction what we should never tolerate from an inferior ; and the lion in the fable-felt the hoof of the ass more bitterly than the tusk oF the boar or the horn of the bull . There was something intelligible iu the Duke of Wellington being- able to bold back reform for more than one session from an impatient and excited people . 'The Duke was somebody : be had the reputation of Iris splendid Indian conquests and his still more splendid Tndinn statesmanship , the Peninsular war , the magnificent vie / orv of Waterloo , and the-grassy monument at St . Helena to fall back tipon . When another noble lord tried the same tactics , it was somewhat sarcastically . obsorved that Tete-de-Fer might go where Tete-rfe-Bois would do well not to follow . On the same principle , we are reallv at a loss to imagine what claims on the forbearance of

    flie public can l > e put forward by Mr * Bin an King , the Hon . and rev . Robebt Lipdeu ,, Mr . Alfbed Poole , and all the followers of the same party , to keep parishes in hot and by no means holy water , and to ruffle what would otherwise be the smooth course of the English Church . . , '•»• ' Porsbralkj there is nothing : . out of the common way to be said m their favour : they : are not remarkable for learning-, ability , or superhuman virtue : they * re doubtless deserving : of respect in all thoir private rnd domestic relations—they pay their butchers' bills __ tlrey wer « ™> t present at the great fight —( indeed ,, an'Cording to the Snfnirchty Renew , it would have done them -good if they han , attended- )—they do not cheat at cards , do not encourage tbe casino , are not smp .-cted of disturbing the family happiness of their neighbor , save in the-natter of the cciiicssioiud—they . liave-JamUy ¦

    . ~ r- " ^ C mm morning- ; and , had they only been quiet , they might have , passed" through life with , the reputation of good , worthy men , who were never expected io pet the Thames on fire , but who were ' nevertheless fur from useless ' in " their dj » y _ and generation , There n : en and their doings become import ant in consequencei of the number of exciting questions now before the Church y The Chinch-rate -controversy , the revision . of the Liturgy , the equalization of living- * , Ibe creation ' . new bishoprics , the wretched state of . the poorer clerey—even necessitating societies to supply them and their . t » i ^ vli ^^ 44 i-U ^^ flRt « on-irariiieiits of their richer Hocks—the

    continued demand on the part of the dignitaries of the Church foFirew schools , row training colleges , new parsonages , new churches , and , alas ! for new palaces also—( he great activity of dissent , and the frequency of what are called revivals ,: all tho : / e things act one upon smother , and make it doubly necessary that the parochial clergy should win over their people by the kindest and most judicious

    Thirty years nc-o , if a Bryax ICixo bad thought fit to aUirc himself " its much lilfo a' bt > adh > , ns be could , and when in . the act of prayer to furn bis back on the congregation , in order that they might'be edified by the green jind gold embroidery on bis pious bacl >\ he might have been mobbed in so rough a district as . St . George ' s-in-the-Kast ; but the mischief would soon have been put down . Tbo Bishop , would bnvo interfered to some purpose , and ponce would have been speedil y , restored to thnt particularly Protestant parish . IS , he is hampered by ii multitude of apprehensions ; hestim

    little eb ' quos , and of the principle , that , though " holy obedience" is a very blessed thing , mu ) veiy lilting to bo exhibited towrrdtr their Lordships of KxctiT ' and Oxford , yet there is also a " holy disobedience , " which is most expedient in the diocese of London . Tbo Bishops jiro practically powerless ; they cun dual with curates , and noineiimeH do , tyrannically enough ; but incumbents can net them almost , if not altogether , « t defiance . Bishop Tait could , no doubt , order St . George ' s Churob to be cloned ; but this would be proclaiming to the world that in an important d stric . t , and one especially in want of-instruction , the Church could do absolutely nothing , but

    must band over the , -pyriritmil cure of the pfoplo to tho zeal <>> diflscntcrsi If om-o MiclV n a . lep as tbi « were tak < M » , Hm Oiiinvh w ' oma bc » national no longer : k I h » would nl » hi'gnt . e lier position , With all its ndvtmtagcH , and mibl at once » -i » lf to the luvol ol" u sect . Tbt-re ifl ccrtninly some want of legislation hero , and unless something be done the Church must grievously Buffer . But what is that something to beP Church benefices » ro property , tho objects of bnrginn and salo ; and in a country like this tbo rights of property < "i » not bo tampered with . If more power be given to tho BiHhonn , tlioy must at tbo satno time bo restrained from iuterfoiing with that which is already so carefully protected by law , mid tho additional

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 5, 1860, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05051860/page/5/