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Leader (1850-1860), 31st May 1856, Edition 2 of 2, Page 13

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      Mat 31,1856] The Leader. 517

      Mat 31 , 1856 ] THE LEADER . 517

      Notices To Correspondents. Tmadbb.— Not ...

      NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS . tmadbb . — Not to our knowledge . ^^ notice can be taken of anonymous communica tions What ever is intended for insertion must be authenticated iw the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of his good faith . Tf ?« imnossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we renrfw Their insertion is often delayed , owing to a press « f matter ; and when omitted it is frequently from reasons quite independent of tho merits of the communication * We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . TiurinK the SessioD of Parliament it is often impossible to find room for correspondence , even the briefest .

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      Satubday, Mat 31, 1856.

      SATUBDAY , MAT 31 , 1856 .

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      public % Mx % .

      There Is Nothing So Revolutionary, Becau...

      There is nothing so revolutionary , because there is nothing so unnatural and convulsive , as the strain to keep things fixed -when all the world 13 by the very law of its creation m eternal progress . —Db . ABtfOUD . a ¦

      The Blazes. Thubsday Night Was An Exampl...

      THE BLAZES . Thubsday night was an example of Government on the " panis et cireenses" principle , or rather the circenses without the panis . A grand amusement was provided for the people , aud whatever may have been the " march of intellect , " the people were amused in proportion to the display . The Government , therefore , has at least learned one lesson , which Lord P-axmebston has proved himself an apt pupil at learning . In his reply to the

      deputation respecting the Sunday music , he avowed bimself anxious to provide " innocent and healthy recreation" for the people . He expresses regret , and we believe a sincere regret , in being crossed by the bigotry of sect . He repeated that mode of ministering to the public on Thursday , and with perfect success . The most maguificent display of pyrotechnical resources and of illumination by gas was partly given to the public , partly drawn from the public itself . The

      consequence was , that the immense multitude of the people were led about from one end of the metropolis to another as they were invited by the attractions ; and they were pleased . The whole face of the community vas excited and gratified , and the unbroken good-humour that reigned in every part of the vast expanse proved hove thoroughly the satisfaction went to the hearts of the people . Great endeavours have been made to

      associate this enjoyment of an illumination and pvrotechnical display with some demonstration on tlie part of the people . Now we point to the fact , and we are sustained by the facts , in asserting that there was no demonstration on the part of the people ; except the grand demonstration that the English people can govern itself without the intervention of police or soldiers . If the million aad more who thronged the streets of London on Thursday night had been disposed to mischief , if they had boon prone to irrigation , there was not a force in the

      metjjopolis , either in blue coat or red , which OOUld have controlled thorn . Men , women , M » d children , human beings , horses , and carriages of every description , were mingled in unbroken streams , which passed between Oftqh other , and intersected each other , at all the chief points , without confusion and without any conflict , except vory slight entanglclaenta arising from the mere mechanical prcs-« ui » of numbers behind , and these were indeed slight and transitory . The fact was that the people , iu the most moral sense of th b jvvojrd , governed themselves . Each individual thtote—mau , woman , and child—was

      content to move in his own sphere , not impatient to tread upon his neighbour , resentful only of any attempt to impede the general movement and break the good humour . There never was a more substantial and thorough-going example of self-government . But the people , we say , as a body , did not take part in the demonstration . This was

      shown by the fact that the illuminations were furnished by the public departments , the clubs , distinguished persons who were " bound to illuminate , " tradesmen not undesirous of being noted ; with a sprinkling , no doubt , of enthusiasts , who burned candles in their private houses , and some silly folk who did so in the fear of broken windows .

      Those who remember illuminations for events that really moved the public , will recollect that the people—the rougher sort of themwould not tolerate this negative indifference on the part of the householders . " Light up ! " was the cry , not dictated by sympathy with the glazier , but by the popular desire to have a national agreement in rejoicing , say for the downfal of " Boney , " or for the

      vindication of the unhappy , foolish , but oppressed Queen Caroline . There was not a sound of the kind on Thursday night . The roving public had no desire that the householder should meddle with the business . It was quite content to take the splendours that were provided for it , and it enjoyed them as it will enjoy anything that happens to break the monotony of life .

      The Government saw how easy it was to please the people ; but there ought to be two parties to the study of that lesson . If it is easy to lead the public by the eyes , ought not those who care for the independence of the people , and for the maintenance of the self-government which we saw on Thursday night , to take care that something is done by our public ministers besides amusing

      us ? It may be thatif we suffer ourselves to be too much taken By amusement , we shall teach our rulers to amuse us that they may delude us . That , in fact , is the actual method of France on the imperial principle . They understand it well at Home ; and we believe they will be apt scholars to understand it at Downing-street , since they have a fine school for teaching it in the Tuileries , and they attend that school .

      But if our Government desires to be really powerful , if our governing classes want to taste the pleasure of wielding potent instruments , of being positively the idols of a people , and of standing at the head of the greatest nation of the world—that nation called forth to the utmost of ita strength— we can show them the way of capping the spectacle of Thursday with one of greater magnificence . "Wo can give them a hint how to make the splendours not burst forth alone in ' Green ,

      Hydo , Victoria Parks , and Primrose Hill , ' nor shine along the great thoroughfares where noblemen are " bound to illuminate , " clubs to be open-handed , or tradesmen anxious to advertize , but how to make tho more varied signs of a universal pride burst forth from every open ground of the metropolis , from Wimbledon , Hampatead , and Clapham , aa well as from Primrose Hill — from every hill , in fact , throughout tho United Kingdom , make

      from every garden—a mode which would the splendours ahine along every private street , and draw tho map of every town in an outline of illumination . We may see that celebration of peace , if the war , whether that war bo conducted on tho field of council or of battle , shall have resulted in tho emancipation ol tho nations aa weH as iu tho vindication of Turkey ; when a sincere allinnco shall bring England to tho real support of Sardinia for tho emancipation of Italy ; when in ft real " moral pressure" upon Austria * hv may

      make her restore the freedom of Hungary ; when the boasted reforms of Russia shall have ended in restitution to Poland ; when the French themselves shall be allies with us as well as their rulers . "When we have done these things , which we might do by the simple will to do them—and when , too , we shall have seen our Ministers cease

      to get up a paltry quarrel with the Western Republic in order to divert public attentionthen the public of this country will illuminate for themselves ; and then the multitude , ranging forth to view splendours that would pale those of Thursday night , will exhibit not only the smiling countenance of amusement , but the earnest sympathy of national

      Palmer's Story—The Untold Part. The Horr...

      PALMER'S STORY—THE UNTOLD PART . The horrid romance which was unfolded before the Central Criminal Court , breaks off with the larger part of the story untold . We have , in fact , some of the crimes established , but not all . Palmer , who is convicted of having poisoned Cooke , is accused of having poisoned other personstwo more at least ; he is suspected of having commenced designs against the life of a third ;

      and all these schemes are completely interwoven with the whole conduct of the man , and interwoven , also , with the conduct of others . Of his actual victims , Cooke was , perhaps , the one who was least blameless , for we must remember that he was engaged in a reckless course of gambling , and was observed in one scene attempting to aid Paimeb in raising money upon a life insurance . Wai / teb Paxmeb ' s own

      intemperance at least assisted his brother's criminal scheming , but there is no evidence that Waltee Palmeb . had an } r malignant vices , there is proof that his character was such as to engage the affection of a lady , who evidently had some discernment and self-command . Annjb Palmer has been accused of complicity in forgery , but by whom is she accused ? By the convicted criminal , who is himself a wholesale forger , and who violated truth at every turn . Were there any other victims ? Our mode of investigating the case prevents any answer to that question .

      It may be said with strict accuracy , that the crime of which William Palmer was accused was not distinctly established by the evidence . There is iu precise logic no actual proof that Cooke died from the effects of strychnine , or that strychnine was administered . We can trace tho poison into the hands of Palmer , who was constantly with Cooke ; we can see the motives ; we have proved that Palm eh was a man addicted to criminal courses ; we have had it stated clearly enough that Cooke died from some causes with

      symptoms resembling those produced by strychnine : but the actual giving of the poison by Palmer ' s hand to Cookk'b lips is not established . So fur thero is a certain flaw m tho positive proof of the case ; but how much greater the defect in the other direction ! How many crimes aro indicatod which the law abstains from exploring ; crimes committed by Palmer , but crimes , also , in which ho could not have been without accomplices more or leas involved . Justice looks down those dark passages , but arrests her foot , and

      examines no further . It is said that tho atory of this case will dotor tho criminal to whom need may suggest short cuts to supplies of money . But dooa not the whole story , which must bo before many people more distinctly than it was before " the court of justice , toll them , that although Palmer may bavo failed m one instance , ho succeeded in many , and that others may work with absolute impunity r The hanging of tho one man is only telling tho

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 31, 1856, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_31051856/page/13/