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    tjv. 475. Apto 30. 18591 THE I/EAPEB. 54...

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    — ' — M ' The Premier.—-At The Lord Mayo...

    and tomorrow : ' and the next day , forty-seven boroughs , whose aggregate population does not exceed the population of Birmingham , will return , not two members , the number which you are about to St but seventy-two members to sit in the House S ? Gommous ? That is not representation . There s = rnrftbablv no other country in the world where a Sp ? eSStiVe ^ ystem exists / iii which the ballot has not been adopted . In the United states , in the Australian colonies , in France , in Belgium and in Sardinia , the votes of the electors are taken by ballot " Referring to the news from the Continent , he said " The war which for four months has been coming ' on with stealthy , but _ no 1 t unseen orunheard made its in all its grim

    steDS at last has appearance and develish proportions . What are we ^ to d < v ? Looking to the past , I know what we are to do . "We are for a time to mediate , when meditation is of no use We are to give a little encouragement here , and -a little discouragement there . We are by and by to connect ourselves with one side in such a manner that the other will accuse us of hostility and perfidy , ifvour Government is disposed for war , there will teaeents of the press in London to magnify and distort everything , and to stimulate you by appeals ¦ insome cases to passions that are noble , but in others to passions that are base , until at length this country ' this precious gem set in a silver sea , ' which alone amid all the storms and tempests that

    rides secure agitate and perplex the world , will [ be ^ asked to mnigle in the strife , and English blood and English treasure , as you know from past history they have been will again be poured out like water in every part ' of Europe , wherever a battle is to be lost or won- You are all in the dark as to what your Government will do . We have had two speeches from Lord Derby , the second intended to correct what he calls the false impression which had been created by the first . No man knows better than Lord Derby the use of words in the English language , arid I only hope that the second speech more truly explains the policy of the Government than the first . War is in its nature destructive and

    anarchical / There can be no freedom in Europethere can be no permanent or assured peace in Europe—so long as the great Powers maintain 3 j 000 , 000 or 4 , 000 , 000 of men in arms at a period of profound peace . ( Cheers . ) Even in England and to us what can be more anarchical and less conservative than war ? Look back to the war in which we wereettgagedfrom 1793 to . l $ 15 . That wasaperiod of fearful suffering . It was also a period of utter tyranny . The other day , in the House of Commons , a Minister had the audacity to taunt me , not with having criticized the House of Lords , but with having spoken in disparagement of the Crown of England . Whoever did so—for I was not present—on

    whatever occasion , I throw the slander in hid teeth . ( Great cheering . ) The Crown of England will never be jeopardised by a prosperous and contented people . I am for 'Peace , Retrenchment , and lieform ' ¦¦ the watchword of the great Liberal party thirty years ago . Whosoever may abandon the cause I shall never pronounce another Shibboleth , but as long as the old flag floats in the air I shall be found a stedfast soldier in the foremost ranks . Every man who has read what I have said within the last six months knows that upon no single occasion have I stepped out of my way to bring any charge of a personal , or ungenerous , or irritating nature against any single individual . " Referring to . had been made to his

    the observations which as attack upon the peerage , he allowed there were some good men among the peers , still ho protested against the undue supremacy of the territorial power . " I , and such aa I , have been the saviours of the very order which I am charged with wishing to destroy . We are corae to that time in the history of England when no institution , however venerable , lofty , or deeply rooted , no tradition or sentiment , can dare with impunity or safety to stand long against the united and growing opinion of the people . The safety of the highest , the safety of the titled , class , tjie safety of the wealthy and powerful , depend upon their watching with careful eye tho manifestations of public opinion . I have never been an official servant to the Crown of England . X hnvo

    herself if she would abandon Italy , because it wbukt enable her to concentrate her power and increase her strength at home . He was inclined to think so too ; and that the Italians should be left to fight for their own liberty . We have had to fight for our liberties ^ and we had won them , and he would leave the Italians to do the same . No doubt our Government , had a ' .. very difficult part to play . If the Frencbi succeeded in routing the Austrians out , they might take it into their heads to hold Italy themselves . That would not do for us , because it would make Prance , perhaps , even more powerful at sea than she ? was at present , which was by no means necessary . It would make her , in fact , almost superior to ourselves as a maritime power , while the establishment of Italian freedom would be as far off as ever . The Attquney-Gexeral ; —At a meeting of the electors of East Suffolk , on Tuesday , the Attorney-General said , he was one of those who felt convinced that , , notwithstanding the lapse of twentyseven years since the passing of the great Reform Bill of 1832 , a further reform in the representation of the people was not really and truly called for by the public opinion of the country . Consider for a moment why and how the question of reform had been brought forward . The House of Commons was divided into four great sections . First , strongest , ablest , most compact , most united , and , lie fearlessly declared , most patriotic , was the Conservative portion . Then there was the small , attenuated , and

    almost powerless party of Lord Palmerston . Then came another body banded under Lord John Russell . What were their real views , except to take the place of the present Ministry ? On one night they were found to sway and tend towards Lord Palmerston and his small party in the House ,, while on another night they flew with open arms towards the party of Mr . Bright . Her for one , did think that ,. seeing there were many persons scattered throughout the three kingdoms who possessed fortune , property , high character , education , independence—all qualifications for the elective francliise ^—common justice , if not political expediency , called loudly for the extension of the

    franchise to those classes of the people . But when they were called upon to listen to the suggestions of Lord John Russell , acting in concert with Mr . Bright , he must seriously call upon the electors todeclare whether they were disposed to intrust the government of the country to the Earl of Derby , or whether they would place it in the hands of Lord John Russell and Mr . Bright . Lord John was somewhat indefinite as to what , he would advocate himself in the way of reform ; but Mr . Bright did not deny that he had in view a reform so extensive that it would entirely substitute a lower class for the existing class of voters—the higher and middle classes of the country . He did not deny either that

    the City on Saturday . After alluding to the grinding tyranny exercised by despotic Governments upon the people of Italy , he added , " I cannot say that the conduct of Sardinia has been perfectly right . She was hardly entitled to interfere with foreign States . All that she had properly a right to -say was , ' not Austrian troops interfere with the other States of Italy . ' She said more than that ; and the two Powers will , I am afraid , soon be committed to hostilities . Those hostilities will perhaps extend beyond the Powers with which they will commence . In all probability the Emperor of the French will assist Sardinia ; possibly some States may assist Austria . Our only course is to keep honestly , fairly

    and strictly neutral ( Loud and long-continued cheering . ) The Earl of Derbysaid that our position must be one of armed neutrality , and that we must after a time see on which side the right was . The Earl of Derby and Mr . Disraeli have at all times shown a very strong leaning towards Austria . ( Hear . ) So that if the Earl of Derby were to carry out his plan , I have no doubt that plan would prove to be to arm in the first instance , and being armed to take part after a time with Austria against Italy . Now , I am against that policy . I am for preserving peace . I am not of opinion ,

    though others may differ from me on that point , that our taking part in the fray would be more likely to end the calamity of war in Europe , and to restore peace to the world , than our carefully abstaining from any interference . When there have been long wars in Europe they have generally been kept up by one side or other obtaining a great deal of money from England . Sometimes it has been called a subsidy , sometimes a loan ; and it is my belief that if in this case we do not furnish any such means—if we resolutely refuse to take either side—the hostilities will not last long ,

    and the parties to them will find some means or other of making peace . We are , I hope , going to amend our representation , and to consider several other subjects which very much concern our future liberty and happiness . Are we to give up attending to all these things in order to help Austria . Or , on the other hand , are we to enter upon what I should consider a Quixotic enterprise in behalf of the states of Italy . By keeping out of war we shall retain some chance of a reduction of taxation ; whereas , if we go to Svar , or even maintain an expensive system of armed neutrality , we shall deprive ourselves of every chance of obtaining that object . —A meeting Was held in London Wall , on Monday , at which Hyde took

    Clarke > Esq ., presided , when Lord John again the opportunity of speaking upon the foreign relations of this country . He said that in his opinion France and Austria were both greatly in the wrong . Austria has declared herself determined to strike the first blow . In so far , Austria is , undoubtedly , in the wrong hot to have exhausted every means of procuring peace before she had recourse to arms . X cannot believe myself that there was any necessity , as things stood , for either France or Sardinia arming to the extent they have done . What- then is the part which we ought to pursue ? Now , Imust tell you how far I agree , and how far I disagree . I entirely acquiesce in the opinion that anddefence

    it was his object to annihilate the established church and to destroy the House of Lords . If Lord John Russell proposed to the House of Commons a 6 / . county francliise and Mr . Bright should move ait amendment for a 51 . or a Si . franchise , could there be a doubt that Lord John Russell and his followers would accede to the proposition . What would be the consequence ? Why , they would create ; i » the cities and boroughs of England at least 1 , 009 , 000 of new and untried voters , who would constitute a majority of the entire constituencies , name a majority in the House of Commons , and have thus the entire power of the country . His own belief was , that if they to any considerable extent enlarged the franchise in the borough , towns they would , create

    England ought not to be in " a helpless ' - less cpndition . " I shouldsay that past Governments , as well as the present Government , are to blame if , at this moment she is in a helpless and defenceless state . I do not believe myself that she is in such a condition . I believe , further , that that is well known , and that there is no enemy prepared to attack her . Referring to the duty of this country to preserve a strict neutrality , / Lord John said , we have no just cause of quarrel with Austria . We have no right to say to Austria that she has done any injury to us . But , in the next place , are we quite sure thatjwo should be helping tho liberties of Italy by taking part against Austria ? When a

    constituencies which would establish au ( * support a Government by whom the interests of the owners , occupiers , and cultivators of land would be sacrificed to the manufacturing and commercial' interests , us tho latter would return a majority , to tho House of Commons , which really exercised the entire powor of the state . The learned gentleman proceeded to contend that the efforts of the Government to promote a series of social reforms lmtt boon impeded by faction , and appealed for support to an administration which , he argued , was causing the name of Britain , to be respected to the farthest corners of tho world ; which was engaged in the snored and holy . work of peace , and which was labouring to sceura the prosperity of tho country .

    country ia overrun with great armies , whichever conquers , the people are likely to suffer , On tho other hand , there are upwards of 20 , 000 , 000 of Italians , not included in Lombardy or Venico , or the domir nions which appertain to Austria ; and would it bo a fit course for this free country—a course that any Englishman could approve—that wo should send our fleets and armies to assist in tho oppression of those 20 , 000 , 000 of people ? I think we should attend to our own internal concerns , that wo should promote tho amendment of tho Reform Act , and that in tho approaching contest ; in Europe wo should maintain , not an " armed neutrality , " but a fair , open , honesV and peaceful neutrality .

    Messrs . Hanbvry and Byko .- —These gontlemon addressed tho electors of Middlesex on Tuoatmy . Mr . Hanbury said ho wished to sco tho working classes fairly and fully ropresented , not simply according to their numbers , but their wealth ; for it could not bo doniod that woalth imnoho . il to them , seeing that many of thorn were in tho rooo » i > fc of wages amounting to 100 / . u-yo » r . (\ that sum multiplied by tho thousands of , artisans would produce millions . Tho truo Conservative policy was u liberal policy , and if wo did not advance with the age we should have , to uso the phrase of Mr . Hcnby , to g \> on with a " rush , " and those who novf shut their eyofl to tho noeoseity of an advance would lmve cause to regret thoir wnnt of foresight . —Mi , liyng ? cquvt

    , . . , Sin CiiAnrajiH Naiuisu . — The gallant Admiral addressed a numerous mooting of tho electors of Southward on Tuesday . In tho course of his speech ho said , that two years ago ho foresaw that mischief was browing abroad , and" he did all ho could to put tho country in a propor state of defence . Lord John Russell , who was unquestionably a groat statesman , howovor pooplo might diflbr from him in some respects , expressed an opinion some time ago , in Parliament ; , that It would bo to the advantage of Austria

    sought no such distinction . I seek it not now . I venerate the monarchy of England , and wish that its wisdom and its virtues may render it perpetual . I am not a servant of tho ariatocraoy , as you doubtless know , but I recognise in that order a branch of tho constitution created for tho intorosts , and subject , as all must bo subject ) eventually , to tho will of tho nation . I am , if I am anything in political life—I strive to bo at least—a servant of the people and of truth . I pjedgo myself to defend their interests , to BWird tliolr honour , and to promoto with all tho faculties and all tho powers with which I am endowed , such measures . as shall give to us in pormanonoy , happiness and tmnqulllty within this Lonn John RcssiqE . L .--Tho noblo lord enunciated ins views on foreign polloy at ft crowded mooting in

    Tjv. 475. Apto 30. 18591 The I/Eapeb. 54...

    tjv . 475 . Apto 30 . 18591 THE I / EAPEB . 549

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 30, 1859, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_30041859/page/5/