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    India Squadron . The western horizon , therefore ^ looks ominously cloudy . Through the cloud of falsehood and mystification , fact begins to pierce , and we learn the measure of the Moniteur ' s veracity , as tlie gaps of the telegraphs are filled up by private letters . It is evident that not only is tlie enthusiasm' of the population on the passage of the President factitious , represented by theatrical gewgaws , but it is got up by the aid of an extraordinary pressure

    on the purse , the conscience , and the liberty of the citizen . Not only is the enthusiastic population chiefly made u p of an army of functionaries , but the peasantr y are dragged from their homes at beat of drum , to swelL the official triumphs . In some towns , indeed , in spite of all coertion , the reception has been worse than apathetic ; and in Lyons , not unfaithful to her political traditions , the triumph had well nigli become a rout : for there the Republic still lives , a watchword , a banner , and a hope .

    Valence , the stronghold of Legitimacy , shrouded itself in a cold and disdainful silence , closing its windows as the cavalcade rode on . At Marseilles , the triumphal progress was not cut short by an infernal machine , which still remains for us in the domain of fable . The police , by their excess of skill , prove too much : how account for the discrepancy of dates in the fixing and the findin g of the machin e ? how account for the elaborate details of the conspiracy published in the Moniteur , and shaking the Bourse , in Paris , before the fleetest telegraph could have conveved

    the bare news of the detection ? Still the purpose was gained . The eclat of a frightful danger escaped , and no risk encountered—the precious life preserved to France by a Providential vigilance , and the disgust which wise men of all parties feel at the thought of getting rid of a great public criminal by assassination , rather than by a solemn vindication of justice —all these results were opportunely hit off , as the elections of Paris ( if elections they can be called when scarcely a tithe of the electors vote ) were approaching . But as nothing is said of the persons arrested , France and the world are still

    incredulous of a machine so conveniently placed and timed . An infernal machine may be considered as a " property" in the burlesque , to complete the contrast ( in the copy ) of the Little and the Oil resit . Hut we reiterate our opinion expressed in December last , that the most fatal event that could happen to the cause of the Democracy in France would be the death of the usurper by assassination . Tyrannicide is long since ; an obsolete theme of schoolboys , and our practical age has extended to princes , no longer sacred , the common law against murder .

    . Hclgimn is now beginning f , <> ( eel the realization of threats long deferred , but never abandoned . Menace is succeeded by action : commercial hostilities arc engaged , and intrigues , fomented by a sinister ami crafty Church , break out in the very Chamber , and drive the ministers from power . Belgium , free and constitutional , is a thorn in the side of despotism . Shall Mnghunl sufler I ' . elgiuin to be annexed ? Ask the royal niece of Leopold , on the one hand , and the I ) o \ vnin « r-street friend

    of Louis Bonaparte , on the other . The matter is rife with warnings for Knglund . We find Louis Bonaparte carrying out Uic threats withdrawn nine months ; igo : we find that dark encroaching Church , in Belgium , as nearer home , standing apart from national sympathies and conspiring with alien oppressors . MJsewhere , too , there are warnings for those who can see and iieur . The President tells the merchants of Marseilles that it is his desire to see the I'lmperor ' s prophecy fulfilled , and the Mediterranean heroine ti French lake .

    Meanwhile , flu ; r ' rench navy leaves us drifting astern : steam liuc-of-hat . tlc-sliips are pouring from the stocks at Cherbourg and Toulon , sham lights by day and by night are teaching gunnery to Johnny Crapaud , ami blinking the city und the sea .

    LORD JOHN BUSSELL ON DEMOCRACY . By some singular caprice of fortune , all the political oracles of the recess have been uttered in the North . Not long ago , there was Lord Carlisle defending the Whig party at Newcastle ; then we found Sir James Graham at Carlisle ; last week , Lord . John Russell at Stirling ; tliis week , a Whig ovation at Perth . With the exception of Mr . Robert Lowe ' dashing speech at Kidderminster , all the political demonstrations of the season have been made in the latitude of the black cock and tlie red deer .

    The latest occasion which gave rise to a display of Whig oratory , was a banquet , in honour of Lord Panmure , given by the citizens of Perth , on Friday week . Killing two birds with one stone , the municipality of Perth had presented tlie freedom of their city to Lord John Russell in the afternoon , and in the evening that political worthy dined in the city hall , in company with Lord Panmure , Lord Kinnaird , Mr . Arthur Kinnaird , Sir Charles Adam , several members of Parliament , and a strong gathering of local great men . The Lord Provost of Perth presided over the fete ; and Lady Panmure , with many ladies , looked and listened from a gallery above .

    Of course , the complimentary speaking of the evening lay between the Provost and his guests , especially the guest of the evening , Lord Panmure , who was toasted as a Whig , and applauded as a Whig . In reply , he stamped the character of the meeting as a party gathering , by looking on the " splendid ovation" tribute to the landmarks which the great Whig party had ever respected . Then , having run through his own political career , and ridiculed the position of the Derby Cabinet , he came to Lord John , and volunteered a . defence , not only of his chief , but of the Whig party .

    " It is impossible , in this free country , to expect that any man , whether he be a minister of the Crown or a public man in any other position , will always command the popular opinion of the day ; but , in judging of public men , I would say that particular instances are not to be too harshly judged of as specimens of the whole . It is but fair to look back on the general tenor of the man ' s public life ; and so with regard to parties ; and I am sure that , if the career of that party , of which my noble friend is the great leader , be looked into from first to last , for years past , before he or any of us were born , we shall find that the great liberties of this country were due to that party which he now leads ; and that they were contended for in the worst of times , when even the people themselves , for whose liberties they struggled , were cold or indifferent , or were taught to run them down . ( Cheers . )"

    Not satisfied with tins , Lord Panmure clenched the nail , by excluding all possible rivals to the ex-premier . " You may rely on this , that , let the Liberal party seek where they please for leaders , there are no soldiers to take the field like those that have been accustomed to Jead forward armies to victory . They know the tactics to be guided by , and the ground to stand upon ; their honour is unimpeached—their consistency is unquestioned—and they deserve the confidence of the country , rather Hum those who may present themselves as younger and mere raw recruits . " He then wound up with an oracular passage , which may he taken by the reader , either for a simple wish , or a political prophecy , as he pleases . " There are , gentlemen , yet many reforms to be achieved . The Reform Bill was but the slone net in motion ; it never

    can . stand still . There may be seasons of progress ; that progress may sometimes be faster , and . sometimes it may bo slower ; but progress this country must and will ; and as people become more intelligent and capable of governing themselves , the franchise must be extended , and privileges must ho held out to them which they do not !<< present enjoy . I hope I shall live to see the d" \ r "'"en wo shall have " a " far larger ninulienf lo ,. ., f ( lie frimchiso than at present . I hope to live to see the day when u sound religious and secular education shall spread fur and wide amongst the people ;; and I hope to nee the day when this country will take as high standing lor the enjoyment of the intelli of its le

    its liberty , and for gence peop , an any country can do on ( he face of lh ( t earth . In the enjoyment of liberty , at present-, I believe , she stands first ; let her also aim to stand as the best , educated and most enlightened people of the world . To achieve these objects , gentlemen , shall be my utmost endeavour ; and in whatever . sphere ! or station 1 am placed , my whole energies shall always be devoted to the benefit of the country at large ! , and in my own locality , us a . landlord , to seo to till ! comforts and iitte-nd to the ! in ' terestN , holh sacred and secular , of tho : ; e who live ) around me . (( 'he-eirs . )" He ! bade them farewell . " Lord . leihn Kussell , and success fo the cause e > l

    civil anef religious liberty over the world . " Thin was really the toast of the evening . Lord John replied , ( irudiinlly , from the non-siicce . s . s of democracy em the ' Continent ,, he arrived at the success of democracy nt honie-, achieved by following a . " more sober course ! ;" and without more ado , 1 k > took up the cliulleii !»; e thrown down by Lord Derby , on ( lies advances of democracy , frankly justifying those advii . ne . eH , such us ( hey have been , and boldly advocating their acceleration .

    tempted to be eaK&ted—with respect to the advancp * * t democracy . It seems to mG that those who are at preset having the conduct of public affairs , being somewhat em barrassed as to those measures which , my noble friend sa truly , are kept in profound secrecy , have rather endea voured to divert public attention from what may be th " " shortcomings or dubieties on these subjects , by endeavour * ing to create a panic that we are at present subject to fearful approach of a wild , unbridled democracy ( laue-hf * and cheers . ) I hold , myself , that that alarm is totallv groundless ( hear , hear ) . Perhaps , however , my authoritv will not be considered great on that subject , because part of the alarm was that I had abandoned my opinions th t

    I had adopted some other opinions . No one said exact ] what they were , but they were supposed to be very alarn / i « g and highly democratieal—( laughter )—that I was about to introduce measures which should have the effect at some future time of shaking the stability of that constitution which I venerate as much as any man in this United Kingdom ( cheers ) . Well , I need not say on that subject that this rumour was totally unfounded—that it had no circumstance on which it rested—that no opinion of mine that I had given in public made me subject to that insinuation . Whether this was a charge or whether it was an observation —( laughter )—that made me subject at all to the statement that I had changed to these opinions and

    was about to advance in this dangerous and democratieal direction I will not say . A right hon . friend of mine ( Sir George Grey ) told me that he in his canvass found sonw persons who attached some credence to this matter . I asked him what explanation he gave ? He said bis explanation was very simple and very direct ; it was by using a monosyllable I will not now repeat to you ( laughter ) . But , gentlemen , we will look to what is this alarm which is attempted to be created at the present time . Does it mean that the peeple of this country—who are , in other words , the democracy of this country—are seeking to add to their own power at the expense of the Crown or of the House of Lords ? Does any one mean to say , really and soberly , that

    the people of this country are endeavouring to diminish anything of the prerogatives of the Crown ? I really believe that nobody could stand up and say that that was his opinion , because the notorious fact is that at no time in the history of this country have its people been more attached to the monarchy , or more loyal and affectionate to their Sovereign ( loud cheers ) . Well , then , does it mean that they are attempting to take away the lawful privileges which the House of Lords holds , and to deprive it jL its part in the constitution of this country ? Sov . ^^ I may appeal to my noble friend , who latelv -utered the House of Lords , whether he has ever h **** . « J ? ilChafc

    attempt , where it has been made . - * " ^ pediment there has been to the lawful -ercise of any power or any privilege which by the constitution of this country the House of Lords possesses ? Well , then , if that has been so , that at least is not the charge that is made . It does not mean that the democracy of this country—and , be it observed , democracy has as fair a claim to the enjoyment ot its rights as ' monarchy or nobility—it does not mean that the democracy of this country is in a state of discontent and disaffection , and is endeavouring to push down this constitution , and to deprive the other branches of the constitution of any powers which lawfully belong to them . That , cannot bo—that I think wo must immediately say

    cannot for a moment be maintained . But it may mean something else—it may mean something else which it behoves us all to wish—that the democracy of this countrymeaning by that term the people of this country—by increase ! < if power , by increase of intelligence , by increase' o wealth— -have increased in that weight which they must have , not only in this country , but in all othor country of the wen-Id—have gained an increase ; in that w «( , ' ¦ which is due to a people highly industrious , and <« " > k competence by their labour , physical and uxWUcmum employing the'ir minds in the oequiromo" * »* <" ( JVV ' V ' mid in th , ! forming and fostering f that public opiimu which is so much the guiel * and government oi t "J ... . . 1 . _ iP « lw . u , » nlfmnnt . )! to WlUl' 1 1 Hut tlem if * attempts to wh *

    country . , gen -, ««« . have , lately alluded - «> attempts winch , though they h exis ( ,, l , „ ,, „ !•* t » * ' <> discouraged and _ resist * -Him ¦ u , „¦„«¦ ih of the * power of democracy—thin growth oi i " nVnee - this growth of wealth -this forming ol opi . n" im > r «> enlightened and moro calculatcel to carry on i » «•" enlightened manner the government of the world- ui an increased power which ought not to bo cruij liwl , i ought to bo encouraged and maintained < l J manner of ele > . ding with that increase ot th » P <>« J n , _ democracy e-endei not be > according to the old » tol " . V .,, ( . Htmint with which I was but too familiar during ""' , ; , lew ye . ars afte'r I entered Parliament in 1817 mid in i » •» which , besides nil the * limits of an irritation prtmiotin ^ which , hcKMles nil the mulls e > i an irmui / iu" i"" |» rlv ^

    discontent whieh it was intended to check , proved u . _ powerless , anel bad much the samel died as il p « rM 0 ! ' „„ . to nttempt te > dum up your magnificent rivor v ' . ^ ji ,. view of presenting an ' inundation -or , to u «<» " , ;„„ ., which applies perhaps more properly to the l ) irK "' ; : , n ,,,, | , as if persons were ! to lock up nil the gate'H ol M »> , ; u with t . lu ! hope that tho express train would l > o , / * ,, ot , its course ! ( laughter and chcer ») . Weill , then , J' ' . ,, ; y tlie mode in which this increase- of the po' ^' ' "' mV < . r i ) l ' ought to he ! dealt with ; but the way in vvhieili M' < l ^ , eh-inoenicy ought to bo dealt with w by llHtmlirf \ , ; vi . if , ' complaint , by e-onHieleiring ovory grievance ,, ana / jhl ( , . ( - ii . legitimate ! anel le-gal organ fo that pownr in . •„ . which otherwise may be ! mischievous , irrcgini , ^ rious ( louel e-he ^ ring ) . That is my way oi V "? | jcrttti « this which is e-omph . in .-el of -Uiirt increase ol

    power in thin country . JuriH Ilo stigmatised Mm attempt to t f *' " 1 > ^ J , about democracy us a cry for party purpose * , fc ^ con . u'nl the elilUculf , position of tho party ni p <> _ { t ] m wild Iks Purliamenf ; will meet in Noyvinl *" ' | lt ,,, wo Hhiill hear what in to bo dono . H « wait

    " ( Jentlemen , in conne \ ion with this Hiibjed ,, I muni , mention , henvevcr , an alarm which bun lately been I was going to nay excited , but it is not , an alarm which has reially been exciteel , but an alarm which him boon at-

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    934 THE LEADER . [ Saturday

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1852, page 934, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1954/page/2/