Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 28th February 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 14, THE "WARNING TO BEFORMERS. It was the mi...

Page 14
Page 14
14 of 24

On this page

  • Text (4)
  • Transcript

    • 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.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      A Diplomatic Duel. A Mttlb Napoleon In T...

      it Is Trance . " Meanwhile , it is certain that under their divided viceroyalty the people are grievously oppressed , and that they attribute many of their / wrongs to the Grovernment of Great Britain . Great Britain , they know , desired to prolong the Austrian occupation ; in other words , the reign of military terror along the line of the Danube , as savage as Turkish tyranny , as arbitrary as Eussian ' protection . ' Sir Hedtet BttXtTTEh is understood to have

      detected the real character of G-hika and Satjtzo in Wallaehia , and Balsche and Katardjt in Moldavia , who are hated by the mass of the population . The blundering tyranny of the Kaimakans has excited the reprobation even of [ Lord de ItfiocLirrE and Hedschib Pacha ; but the personal differences between the Ambassador and the Commissioner threaten to interfere with pernicious effect "between public men and public interests . "We trust that the attention of the Government at home will be directed to this episode in . the story of our Danubian diplomacy .

      206 The Lea'ber; [No. 362, Saturday ,

      206 THE LEA'BER ; [ No . 362 , Saturday ,

      The "Warning To Beformers. It Was The Mi...

      THE "WARNING TO BEFORMERS . It was the misfortune of Sir Joshua WalmsiiET , on Tuesday nighfc , to make an unanswerable statement to which no answer was necessary . To what purpose does a Liberal member inform , the House of Commons that it is elected by a limited number of the people , that numerous large towns are unrepresented , that wretched little boroughs rank in the scale of influence with large

      constituencies , that witli a population of twentyeight millions we have only one million of electors ? And whom does he expect to convince by quoting the opinions of Locke , Fox , Sir William : Jones , Bubke , a Duke of ^ Richmond , and " a noble member of the House still living , " in favour of Reform ? The House of . Commons has heard all this , knows it well , is weary of it , and asks , " What then ? " To which Sir Joshua Walmsley

      replies in these really cogent words : "We shall have neither bill nor committee while the people are quiet , but as soon as the people demand with a loud voice , there will be a bill , whether there is iirst a committee or not . " That sentence contains the whole truth of the question . We will quote , as its parallel , some remarks which fell from Lord Joiin [ Russell during the debate on Mr . Looke Kino ' s mobion : — " I think it may be said that there ia no great pressure in the public mind , no national urgency for the adoption

      of a comprehensive measure of reform . For my own part , I should think it was very imprudent in my noble friend ( Palmerston ) if he were now to say that it was the intention of the Government to disturb the legislature and the miaid of the country by such a comprehensive measure . " What is wanted , consequently , is , not a select committee , but a national agitation . Sir Joshua . Waliisley makes that his threat ; Lord John Russell makes it his apology .

      From the G-overnment no proposal can be expected ; Lord John Russell cannot be reasonably asked to assume the initiative without an inipulso from tho nation ; besides , that which might seem to him 1 < complete tho constitutional odifico would , in all probability , fail to Batisfy the popular advocates for an extension oi tho suffrage , and ita liberation from corrupt control hile tho old

      . W Registration Associations are dissolving , while political lifo is languid outside of Parliament , whilo a new liclorm Bill is treated aa a chimera , while annual motions aremado and not believed in , the lloaiso of Commons will never bo influenced in favour of that comprehensive meaauro to tho immediato introduction of which Lord John Russell has objected . It is true

      that upon Mr . Locke King ' s motion Lord Palmeeston" could not retain the support of forty members of his party ; ifc is true , also , that a hundred and seventy-nine Liberals voted agaiast him ; but if those hundred and seventy-nine men were sincere , could they not easily obtain the assent of the Premier to a moderate plan of reform , drive him out of office , or summons him to show cause against a Bill at a general election ?

      Let the Liberal party understand , that " pressure from without" is as necessary now , as at any previous time . However desirable a tranquil state of public opinion may seem , it is not by tranquil public opinion that great reforms have been effected .

      The Victoria Cross. The New Decoration F...

      THE VICTORIA CROSS . The new decoration for military services is one of the best things that we have got from the present Groveminent , if , indeed , we must not ascribe it to Queen Victoria herself . It consists of a plain cross , with a small gratuity to those men ia the humbler classes of the army or navy who would value the aid . Nothing can be simpler than the decoration itself , or the organization of the order which it constitutes ; and yet it is more thoroughly an order of chivalry than any of those which pass by the name , and still enable grandees to play at knighthood on occasions of

      ceremony-It has been bestowed upon comparatively few persons—eighty-five ; and it has " been remarked that surely niore brave men might have been found in the British army and navy . We believe so , indeed , but that is not the point : the cross is given , and properly given , to those who have distinguished themselves by extreme bravery or devotion—given for that kind of exploit which brave men would desire to perform if they had the opportunity , and which , when done , all admire by the sheer impulse of instinct . Where others were courageous and strict in discipline , the man who wears the cross has likewise

      been courageous and strict in discipline , but has also carried his devotion and gallantry to a generous excess . In the case of such an order the abuse would be , if it were given too generally ; it is desirable that there should be many who nave strong claims—claims that may be made the subject of question ; for it is an order to which many should aspire , and few attain .

      This is the more necessary , since it constitutes a new rank , overleaping the ordinary barriers of social distinction . The list of tho exploits has been published in the Gazette , and it reads like a set of extracts from tho old chivalrous romances , or from old heraldic chronicles , telling the deeds of early chiefs . A large proportion of tho achievements consists , either in daring attacks upon the enemy , or in picking up a livo shell a . nd throwing it out of the reach of mischief , or in saving wounded companions at the risk of lifo . In these services all ranks were

      engaged , and the distinction falls equally upon them all . The mere fact of being named in such a history is in itself a glorious distinction . Hero is an example of the commingling : — " Henry Jamca Raby , Commander ; John Taylor , Captain of tho lforocustlc ; Henry Curtis , Boatswain ' s Mute . —On Juno 18 , 1 . 855 , immediately after the assault on Sclmatopol , a soldier of tho 57 th llcgirnent , who had been shot through both 1 ol * h . " \ vas observed sitting un

      and calling ; for assistance . Climbing over tho breaatvrorlc of tho advanced sap , Commander Iiaby and tho two seamen proceeded upwurd . M of 70 yarda across the open space towards tho salient an ^ lo of tho Redan , ami , in spite of tho heavy fire which was . still continuing , huceccclcrt in carrying tho wounded soldier to a place of safety , at the imminent risk of their own lives . ( letter from SirS . Lushington , Juno 7 , 185 G . )" Here if » another pair : — " 1 $ revet Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Francis Mamie . —For conmncuoua and most devoted bravery on

      September 8 , 1855 , -when in command of the covering » nrl ladder party of the 2 nd division on the assault of thp Redan , to -which he gallantly led Ma men . Having entered the Kedan , he with only nine or ten men , held a position between traverses , and only retired when all hope of support was at an end , himself dangerously -wounded . ¦ . •* " Private John Connors QTo . 2649 ) . —Distinguished himself most conspicuously at the assault on the Redan September 8 , 1855 , in personal conflict with the Eus ' sians ; rescued an officer of the 30 th Regiment , who was surrounded by Kussians , by shooting ; one and bayonet * lag another ; and was observed inside the Redan in ^ personal combat with the Russians for some time . Was selected by his company for the French war medal . " Another : —

      " Private Samuel Parkes (^ To . 635 ) . —In the charce of the Light Cavalry Brigade at Balaklava Trumpet-Major Crawford ' s horse fell , and dismounted him and he lost 3 iis sword ; he was attacked by two Cossacks when Private Samuel Parkes ( whose horse had been shot ) saved his life by placing himself between them and the Trumpet-Major , and drove them away by his sword . In attempting to follow "the Light Cavalry Brigade in the retreat they were attacked by sis Russians , whom Parkes kept at bay , and retired slowly fighting , and defending the Trumpet-Major for some time , until deprived of his sword b y a shot . "

      Ill one sense , this . is probatly the most democratic measure given to us by the British G-overnment , confounding ranks and classes : " William Peel , Captain , " gets exactly the same decoration with " Jons" Sulxi-van , boatswain ' s mate , " " Thomas Heeve , seaman . " As we have already seen , Henry James Haby , Thomas Taylor / and IIe : nb , y Curtis not only received the same cross , but are grouped in the same paragraph which records their exploits . It is an honour conferred without respect of persons : it is thoroughly " levelling . "

      On . the other hand , this levelling tendency is entirely of an elevating kind- tf there are many private soldiers and seamen in the new order of only eighty-five persons , it is a matter of juat pride to each one of them that he ranks on a level with Captain Peel or Captain Buckley , Colonel Maude or Colonel DixojST ; and most assuredly those same officers will feel a pride in this distinction that they can scarcely feel either in their military title or in the ordinary Gazette honours . For what are blue ribbons and

      green ribbons given at the present day ? By what services do men acquire the right of addingafter their names , "GKC . B . " "KG . ;? What persons have not been included in those orders ? "What arms , even , have ' we not seen over the stalls in St . Greorgo ' s Chapel at Windsor ? Commonplace men , mean men , traitors , sycophants , and cowards , have tarnished the glory of that order . A man may rise to it by such equivocal services , that the decoration proves nothing- more than success —certainly assorts no personal qualities . Officers who attain to chivalrous distinctions

      even of that kind may feel proud , because the character of their services is known ; but thoso chivalrous men who won the Victoria Cross must feel that they are enrolled in an order of chivalry untainted by these adulterations . If , therefore , it introduces a democratic element into our aristocratic institutions , it introduces a chivalrous feeling amongst our P"l * * V ^ " - " —»^ — ' *™ ¦ "' ^ " t ^ w ^ - ^ ^^ m- ~» b « f ^^~" r * b ^* W ^^ " . «* rkri H ^ B - ^ «^ ^ ^— -r- —• t *^ ^^^ J oi

      democratic classes . Tho very p lainness the order , the absence of anything liko ordinary profit , will make it an instrument for calling forth a higher spirit than that which has been generally cultivated of late years in this competitive and trading country . It 13 impossible ) that men should not covet such ft distinction , and it Avill constitute a motivo 01 action divorced from ordinary ostentation and selfish gain .

      Ltlee Emigrants And Cotton. Tub Manchest...

      lTlEE EMIGRANTS AND COTTON . Tub Manchester manufacturers have invitcu tho Liverpool merchants to co-operate \ tw them in a plau to abolish tho cotton mo-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 28, 1857, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28021857/page/14/