Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 21st February 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 173, Untitled Article

Page 173
Page 9
9 of 24

On this page

  • Text (5)
  • 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.

      Untitled Article

      _ — — — - ; keepir iu V '' > an < ^ 'whose names , at a still JJJf- period , c > od to be published , in spite of their protestatii -.., , stifled as soon as uttered ? Scarcely a v . vt-ek ago , the Belgian newspapers rerinted from tb-French journal La Presse , a proclaation which i ; id been read before a court-martial , Sid which ha 3 happened to . escape censorial vigilance . Well this , propla * pai * oti , emanating from thpsfe yery rovincial insibj ^ te ^ fcom the Boriapartist organs had accused of # U «| P ^^ proclamation declared that every iniBttr ^ q * found guilty of theft should be in--stantly put 1 » c * 3 eath > and that every man detected in a state of d&t | frforiffpf * during the insurrection should be confined } '¦ & $ & . toVife unable of doing any mischief . Of what itt ^ PP ^ thi !^ ; be capable , who can slander in this mantieit %# i ^ ^" they are assassinating ? And let us reiafMb ^ T ^ i *^ " * the affair of his election , Louis Bonapapljk' ^ 4 immense interest in lying , an interest ^ Woit ;??(^ 8 ; W » red also by all his accomplices . To save ^ eiiwiBlireii ^ ffoni utter annihilation , crushed under the ^ re ^ r () bati <» n of the whole world , he and his companions were i » wpelled to shelter themselves beneath an imposing majority : it was to be obtained at

      any price . But id . demonstrate the imposture , it is sufficient to po ^ fc id the excess of tyranny to which Louis Bbnapa ^ iifi iul condemned . What ! almost all Frenchmen v ^ S ior him , and yet he could only maintain himself bypermitting neither the liberty of the press , ; n 6 ^; individual liberty , nor liberty of private correspondence , nor liberty of mere drawing-room conversations ! What ! here is a man supported by the suffrages of a whole people , and yet an army of five hundred thousand men , always on the alert , and innumerable cannons , with matches lighted , are absolutely indispensable to restrain the crowd of this man ' s adorers , to prolong " the cowardly acceptance of

      the most degrading despotzsm that ever teas . " But the army ? " The army belongs to the possessor of the supreme command , who can flatter it , who can promise it battles to be gained , and who can intoxicate it with pride and military hopes * And therefore , if any one tells me that this , at least , is a great disgrace , I shall coincide with him . But is that peculiar-to France ? Is it not ; in every country of the earth , the great evil of standing armies that the soldier becomes habituated to forget his title of citizen ^ Was

      not Russia for a long while oppressed by means of the Strelitz , who were Russian soldiers ; and Turkey by means of the Janissaries , who were Turkish soldiers ? Have we not , in our own days , seen Sicily overwhelmed , and Rome threatened , by the soldiers of the King of Naples , who were Italian soldiers ? If the oppressed , and not the oppressors , are to be called to-. ae ^ oui » t for the oppresS 16 n , and For its duration—a la bonne heureJ Only do not let this singular theory be applied to France alone , by way of privilege !

      But patience I France has not yet said her last word . While following the sudden turns of the part which she has played in Europe ^—while observing those alternations of exaltation and of exhaustion , of rights reconquered , and of despotism apparently accepted , superficial minds frequently call the French a fickle people , and think it enough to repeat that saying of Pitt , "LesFrancais ne aavent que traverser la liberty . " * But whoever is -willing to analyse affairs closely , will judge in a very different manner . The truth is , that France has been , and especially during the last halfcentury , one of the champions of progress . If she bears

      within her bosom so many germs of transient divisions , if she has so often been seen to lacerate herself with her own hands , it is just because she is incessantly driven onward by her genius to the pursuit of ideas . Her life is agitated ; it is not one , but diverse ; it is mado up of a series of successes and reverses , because her life ia a combat , a sublime combat , fought for the advantage of the world . All the results of her conquest over error and injustice , at the cost of the most cruel efforts , and the most terrible vicissitudes , many other people win through her sacrifices , peaceiull y , and without agitation . Ah ! at least they should iorohear to cast in her teeth the calamities from which they roap so rich a fruit .

      After having spoken of France , it remains for me to B A * ° ^ ^ renon Hooialisni , which was also , on the part ot M . Mazzini , the Bubject of unjust attack . If you will permit me , I will prove , in a second letter , and , I ¦ S' ! rrofutablr ' that tho stated principles set forth m M . Mazzini ' a lecture are literally those which the l icncli socialists profess , and which they have laboured to propagate ; I shall prove that terrorism , anarchy , tno degrading predominance of mattor over the immortal part of ua , violenoe employed » s a means of government , the theories of a brutal levelling , or of agrarian spoliation , all . the atrocities , in fact , that M . wHMir

      u , With just indignation , repudiates , l ) avo never encountere d more constant , more energetic , more de-Mrimiiod opponents than tho Fronch socialists . M . ; ' uzim » therefore , had no authority to say , aia he is » oported to havo said in his addroas , " We ftro not HooiahstB in tho sense in which tho word has boon usod

      by system-makers and sectarians in . a neighbouring country . " ¦ ¦ . •¦ - Such words as these from the lips of M . Mazzini cause infinite regret . They are calculated to lend to French socialism an interpretation contrary , as I would gladly believe , to the intentions of M . Mazzini himself , and which he will feel obliged , to us to counteract , Louis Blanc . _ . __ . , . . . ,,

      Untitled Article

      ELECTION MATTERS . EAST KENT NOMINATION . The nomination of candidates for the representation of the eastern division of Kent took place at Barham Downs on Monday . The rival candidates , Sir Brook Bridges and Sir Edward Dering :, ate both baronets , both extensive landed proprietors in the county , both profess Conservative principles , and the cause of the contest , as set forth in the speeches on the

      hustings , was , that Sir Edward Dering had in more than one instance manifested " unsound Protectionism and unsound Protestantism , " whereas Sir Brook Bridges had always acted up to his professed principles . Sir Edward Dering defended himself from these charges , and ended by declaring himself a " liberal Conservative . " Sir Brook Bridges in his speech accused his competitor of being a Peelite ; and Mr . T . Mayhew , a tenant farmer , denounced him as a ¦ " vacillating" Protestant .

      A violent disturbance took place during the procession to the hustings ; there was a great tumult during the nomination , and considerable excitement prevailed in Canterbury and the districts interested . The show of hands was declared to be in favour of Sir Brook Bridge * . Both parties are resolved to fight the battle to the last . The polling took place on Thursday and Friday , and the official declaration will be given on Monday next . The Protectionists will bring forward Mr . Clive ^ son of the ^ Eoncfurable Robert Clive > as a second to Captain Rushout for East "Worcestershire . Mr . Foley , the present member , is to be ousted . Mr . Clive , however , demands a requisition signed by 2000 !

      Mr . Masters Smith will be put up with Sir Edmund Filiner for West Kent . Mr . Law Hodges is to be the victim . Mr . Smith does not know what is meantjby a " Conservative Free Trader , " and thinks " Romancatholic Protestant" would be an epithet quite as intelligible . Offended , as is said , by the Speaker in the House of Commons , who " would not see him , " Mr . Charles Xunhington retires from Westminster at the close of the Parliament . Mr . John Villiers Shelley , of Maresfield Park , Sussex , very moderate , is announced as a candidate to succeed Mr . Lushington . But the Post insinuates that the electors have a " great desire" to commit the representation of their interests , opinions , and convictions to—Lord Palmerston !

      The state of the poll for East Kent on Thursday showed 191 majority for Bridges . The numbers were—Bridges , 2037 ; Dering , 1846 .

      Untitled Article

      NATIONAL DEFENCES . TUB interest taken in this subject does not diminish . Admiral Bowles lias published a new edition of his Thoughts on National Defence , which originally appeared in 1848 . His recommendations embrace five principal points . 1 . Tho maintenance of the homo squadron in its full strength . 2 . The completion of certain steam guard-ships for the special defence of tho coasts . 3 . Tho more careful preservation of the steam navy , 4 . The construction of steam gun-boats for tho defence of small harbours , coasting vessels , &c .

      5 . The revision of military arrangements on a system moro adapted to modern warfare and actual circumstances . The Admiral saya , in tho preface to this odition , " By these moans wo may speedily and cheaply place ourselves in such a firm and dignified attitude of defence as at onco to discourage hostility , and restore confidence at homo . " At East Grinstcad , in tho county of Sussex , an influential meeting agreed to send an address to tho Lord-Lieutonnnt , offering to form a rifle corps . Most warliko speeches wore mado by Lord Colchester , Earl Delnwarr , R . Trotter , Esq ., and Rev . T . P . Hutton .

      The Surrey magistracy and gentry hold a meeting at tho Albion Hotel , Epsom , for the purposo of promoting tho formation of rifle companies in the county . Orio resolution " , proposed by T .. Byron , Esq ., of Couidon , and seconded by Captain do Toissior , was carried unanimouHly— " Tlmt it is expedient to establish a volunteer rifle regiment in tho county of Surrey , by weans of which tho inhabitants , in ctwo pf any foreign enomy attempting to invndo our shores , may acquiro a sufficient knowlodgo of military discipline and riflo practice to onablo thorn to co-oporato efficiently with tho regular troopfl , and that such regiment should bo raised by the formation of a riflo company in each of iho principal districts in Surrey . " Several ladles wore present . Some valuable ndvico , and ft most important opinion

      on the military value of volunteer rifle corps , have been given by Sir Charles James Napier , the conqueror of Scinde , in . a Letter addressed to Members of Parliament on the Defence pf England by Volunteers and Militia . The General advises little attention to be paid to fine uniforms , recommends shooting jackets and gaiters , the best fire-arms procurable , and adds the following admirable instructions relative to the formation of volunteer corps : — " Get some old soldier for your adjutant to teach you , not a long course of drill , but just seven things , viz ..- — 1 . To face right and left by word of command . 2 . To march in line and in column . 3 . To extend and close files as light infantry , with

      * supports ' 4 . To change front in extended and in close order . 5 . To relieve the skirmishers . 6 . To form solid squares and ' rallying squares . ' 7 . To form an advanced guard . " These seven things are all that you require ; do not let any one persuade you to learn more . "Let your practice at a target be constant ; also habituate your corps to take long marches of from fifteen to twenty miles , with your arms and ammunition on ; and also in running , or what is called ' double quick time . '

      These must be arrived at by gradually increasing from small distances . No single man , much less a body of men , can make these exertions without training . Also subscribe for premiums to those who are the best shots . Do not be exclusive in forming your corps : —take your gamekeepers as your comrades , and any of your labourers that will enrol themselves : a gentleman will find no braver or better comrades than among his own immediate neighbours and tenants . Should you require to throw up a breast-work , they will be more handy with the spades and pickaxes than yourselves . "

      These are the views taken by the General regarding the " longrange" rifles : — "I have not , in this pamphlet , entered much into the question of-improved arms , because writers in abundance , with names and without names , have said enough to make our troops lose confidence in ' Tlie Queen of weapons /—> viz ., the musket and bayonet , which , as far as I can judge , is the best . However , men with as much experience , and who are better soldiers than I am , hold contrary opinions . _ Still , I maintain that before the musket and bayonet are condemned , these gentlemen ought , in common fairness , to do that which they have not yet done , viz . have a musket made which costs as much money as

      , the minii rife , to compare with the latter weapon . Uhey produce a highly-finished , beautiful minie rifle , costing a large sum of money , and they try it on Woolwich practice ground . Now , I have not any confidence in such a trial , where a musket , which costs about a pounrf , is pitted against a minie rifle that costs probably ten orffteen guineas ! Let the musket cost fifteen guineas , and then try it : let the powder used with both be the very worst that can be made ( for on such the fate of a campaign may by the accidents of war depend ) take two hardy , uncouth , stupid soldiers , give one , the simple but well finished musket , costing exactly the same price as the minie rifle , with which arm the other soldier : let each fire sixty

      rounds , and then change arms , and fire sixty more , the whole with bad powder , and if the minie beats the musket in rapid firing , in range , and in hitting the target , which should be six yards long by six feet in height , and that the minie has exactly the musket bore , and the ammunition not heavier , then I think the minie rifle should be tried by two whole regiments as a further experiment , and those regiments should fire sixty rounds of ball cartridge every day , alternately , for one year ; and let two more regiments with muskets as costly and well finished as the minie rifles bo tried in like manner . Then the result ^ noted accurately in all their details , would bo in some decree decisive ; but both weapons must always bo used and btwo march

      with the worst description of powder , y - ing regiments , commanded by men who will suffer no tricks to be played off , and to be under the command of a strict general officer . I laugh at battle powder , a 16-cuinca rifle , used by a dead shot , and all such humbug , with champagne luncheons at Woolwich , to tho grent damage of officers' pockets , and ' distinguished foreign travellers ' applauding P This is no trial of weapons fit for war ! firing in a dark night , rainy weather , tired soldiers , clumsy fingers , made moro stiff by cold , empty bellies , not a drop of champagne to wash the experiment down I but a stern will to shoot all 'foreigners' the moment they become ' distinguished' in tho gloom of tho night , or the dawning of the duy 1 " A rifle-corpa has been established at Portsmouth .

      Untitled Article

      dAFrURE OF LAGOS . In a former number we gave aii account of tho unsuccessful attack , on tho 25 th N 6 voml > er , upon tho town of Lagos by tho boats of tho small British squadron , which took place in consequence of tho slave-dealingchief , Kosoko , having not only rofuscd to negotiate and adviso with tho consul , Mr . Bcecroft , but having actually fired upon tho armed boats which escorted tho consul with a flag of truce . Tho first attempt having failed Commodore Bruce reports in ute despatch to tho Ad *

      Untitled Article

      Not recalling tho exact words of Pitt , we subjoin a lj l > hra 8 o of M . Louis Blanc ' s opigrammatio version : — _ J ' Fl % ft MK , liberty is but a halt between two doapbtieme . "

      Untitled Article

      ' T — - i Feb . -fit , 18 &a . j ¦ . . ¦ HE LEAD Eft . .... ffl . r . _ .-.,. . i * . * - ¦!— ¦ ' — ¦ . I . ;/ . " L _ L !_ : —!—ll ..-. !_ _ . ' . ¦!'_ .. ' ! . '"' . ' JLJ . !'' ~~ " ' ¦ f " ' ' ——1—J—————^ m ^^ mu ^ —^^——^— ^^—^ W ^— —^^^—

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 21, 1852, page 173, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1923/page/9/