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Leader (1850-1860), 13th November 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 1090

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      notion lias "been abandoned , in obedience to the indignation which the bare idea had excited . The Morning Herald contradicts the report that such an idea was ever entertained ; but the occasion has been seized to re-arouse the national feeling . Suggestions have been made to omit the funeral altogether , or to put forth an announcement that Waterloo was buried with the Duke . The Times brings its own weight into the indignation movement , and imagines what the Duke himself would have said if he had been asked to discontinue the Waterloo banquet . Mr . Edmund Fry has been writing to the journal against the militia , and the Times makes the most of the quaker reductio ad ahsurdum , which that benevolent gentleman put forth at a time so inopportune for the peace

      party . Commerce and nationality arc indeed contending for the supremacy ; and , upon the whole , although commerce has possessed the ground up to this moment , signs are not wanting that nationality is beginning to recover its footing . The death of the hero of Waterloo has been useful to both nationality and commerce ; but in different ways . The funeral of the Duke has revived associations which force the public mind to comprehend the relation of this country with France . We are compelled once more to raise the national flan- ; the attempt to put it out of sight was going

      too far , and pacific commerce is obliged to disavow the purpose . If on no other place , at least at the tomb of Wellington , the flag must be elevated , with all its victorious recollections , all that may " offend the foreigner . " On the other hand , the show is turned by commerce to a pecuniarjr profit . From Charing Cross to St . Paul's , every shopkeeper intends to trade upon the pageant and its associations . Seats at so much a-piece derive a price from Waterloo which the lessors have disclaimed , but which they do not repudiate -while it is an element in their profit .

      Possibby , indeed , they might introduce the future as well as the past as an element in the cost of admission . Half-a-guinea for a piece of board next to a chimney-pot is a long sum , when it is only to look at Waterloo on its path to the grave . But the piece of gold might bo cheerfully paid , if the possibilities were brought into the bill of the play . There are incidents that might even reconcile men to pay 150 £ . for a

      room—for a private box , as it were , to sec the spectacle . It has been surmised that a gallant neighbour , burning to avenge and redeem Waterloo for his country ' s glory , would not be indisposed to seize the peculiarly interesting occasion of the funereal pageant of the conqueror ; and the anticipated invasion of the French might by possibility take place on that very day . The 18 f . Ii of . November might redeem the lHlh of June ; and the victory which

      England achieved on the alien Held of . Belgium might be reversed in the centre of our own capital the avengers making a barrack of the cathedral where Wellington was to be laid by the side of Nelson . If this scheme were carried out , the fuiHTC'd procession would be interrupted , and followed by an engagement in the streets . Here then is a t ah lean vicanl to crown the

      performance , — " Funeral of Wellington—Invasion of Louis Napoleon—grand combat in the Hfreets ¦—presentation of the keys of London by Queen Victoria ., on her knees , surrounded by her niinistei-H and ollieers , to Napoleon the Third ! " This would be worth a , heavy price of admission , and the scats might even be profitably offered by the name intelligent commerce on a future to-day , | , o witness Louis . Napoleon ' s triumphal procession from St . Paul ' s to St . James ' .

      The only thing likely to prevent no advnnt :: <> eoiis an opportunity tor London commerce is the rising spirit-of lOnglislinicn . Some military man has been making a present to the I ' rince of W ; dcs , on i"s birthday , of a , littic cannon , modelled after the best- hitherto used in the IJritish service . At- the same time , however , the trade reports boast- of a . new and improved , cannon , the manufacture of which lias hi ^ un at

      Hirininghii . ni . If Waterloo is buried in l . ho tomb on Wellington ' s death , perhaps there may yet be snort , in store for that birthday loy ; and commerce itself is inventing the better instrument for its own protection . II , appears , Mien , ¦ Mint wo have not . yd- got to the end ol ( be drama , ; and that ICiigla . nl may have to do some-1 , 1 , ing besides phiying vassal lo I ' rnnce . Mio prospect- does away with some calculations lor the spectacle on the IHth and u , Hubaoqueut day ,

      and though commerce will regret the loss of the present penny , perhaps it may console itself in the new manufacture at Birmingham .

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      THE WAR OP IDEAS . SUBMITTED TO ANTI-SLAVEBY LEADEKS AT HOME AND ABROAD . The . Editor of the Boston Liberator , by his heroic initiative , and no less heroic persistence , has won for himself the representation of the anti-slavery literature and anti-slavery question in both hemispheres . And it is through his recognised name that we solicit attention to this great theme . Our strictures in this , as in our previous paper , * shall be free , but they shall be impartial . We will not do Mr . Garrison , whom we have chiefly in view , on account of the deserved influence he exercises over his colleagues , the injustice of judging him , we will not say condemning him , in any respect unheard . He shall speak for himself . He has done so in these words : — " I am aware that many object to the severity of my language ; but is there not cause for severity ? 1 will be as harsh as truth , and as uncompromising as justice . I am in earnest—I will not equivocate—I will not excuse —I will nofc retreat a single inch—and I will be heard . " It is pretended that I am retarding the cause of emancipation by the coarseness of my invective , and the precipitancy of my measures . The charge is not true . On this question my influence , humble as it is , is felt at this moment to a considerable extent , and shall be felt in coming years—not perniciously , but beneficially—not as a curse , but as a blessing ; and posterity will bear testimony that I was right . I desire to thank God that he enables me to disregard ' the fear of man which bringeth a snare / and to speak his truth in its simplicity and power . "

      This is a defence which has been generally accepted on this side the Atlantic , and many are the Abolitionists among us whom it has encouraged in honesty and impotence : and whom it has converted into conscientious hindrances . Those who venture to suggest that the most earnest advocates may sometimes retard their cause do not always affect these scruples . We hope Mr . Garrison will not count us among those who " pretend" this fear . The j nstificatory words avg have quoted are spoken with the spirit of a hero , but not with the wisdom of the statesman . Let us suggest a slight alteration in this language , which will explain what we mean . We would have Mr . Garrison to say ,

      " I will he as harsh as progress , as uncompromising as success . " If a man speaks for his own gratification he may be as " harsh" as ho pleases ; but if he speaks for the down-trodden and oppressed , he must be content to put a curb on the tongue of holiest passion , and speak only as harshly as is compatible with the amelioration of the evil he proposes to redress . Let the question be again repeated : Do you seek for the slave vengeance or redress ? If you seek retaliation , go on denouncing . But distant Europe honours Lloyd Garrison , because it credits him with seeking for the slave simply redress . \ Ve say , therefore , that " uncompromising" policy is not to be measured by absolute justice , but by practical amelioration of the slave's condition . Amelioration as fast as you can get itabsolute justice us soon ns you can reach it .

      We would not have Mr . Garrison regard that " fear of man which bringeth a . snare ;; " but we would have him regard that treatment of opponents which bring eth delay and defeat . Mr . Garrison , as nil propagandists have , been encouraged to do , regards advocacy of liberty as simply a question of courage , and supposes that to dare all tilings is to win all things , Mr . Garrison is u man of honourable character , and we will suggest an honourable reply to him . Lot the graves of the martyrs answer him . Above their sacred resting-places the solemn voices of the brave nre heard , telling all who have oars to hear--Unit " Hravery indeed ennobles

      patriotism and humanity ; but . wisdom is required to win the victory . " We will not be guilty of the presumption of asking , that , ho eminent : i man as JVIr . Garrison should pause and recast , his policy nt the solicit nt . ion , however earnest , of an obscure English writer . We recall to him the wise aphorism of the grout moralist , of the oriental world , who wrote before the rhetorical discoveries of modern experience . Three inquirers said to Oonfueius , " Were you lending troops to the field , which of us would you take for a lieutenant , ? " The philosopher answered - "The man who

      with hi . s own hands would engage us in a combat with a tiger ; who without , adequate motive- would wish us to ford a river ; who would throw nwiiy bis life without Hiitticicnt , reason or remorse - I certainly would vot . take for my lieutenant . I should want : i man who would maintain n steady vigilance in the direction oi alfaii'H ; who was capable ui' fanning p lans , and of executing Hi fin . " A hundred people will form plans for one with the capacity of carrying them out . The philosopher was right , in placing wisdom and executive

      capacity abovo courage ; for down to this day popular movements are led by heroes who fear nothi ^ and who win nothing . & » Could we but keep before us the first sad view of life which breaks in upon the working man , whethe . he be a-white slave or a black one , we should be abl to see advocacy from a more advantageous point . V ° should learn at once sternness and moderation . * Do \ v ° not find ourselves in an armed world , where " Might ' ° God , and Poverty is fettered ? Every stick and stone * every blade of grass , every bird and flower , every pen ! niless man , woman , and child , has an owner in England no less than in New Orleans . The bayonet or ' the

      baton bristles round every altar and at the corner of every lane and street . War is the only stud y worth a moment's attention by the workman or the slave . To fight or perish is the only alternative , and he who hesitates is lost to manliness and freedom . He who writes these words holds no other creed , and they criticise to little purpose who fail to detect this under-current in all he advances here or elsewhere . The reader who assumes that he finds the counsels of cowardice in these . columns is only skilled in blatant symptoms , and has yet to learn how the working purpose clothes itself . There is no question raised in these articles as to the

      work to be done , but only as to the mode of really doing it . The platform resounds with announcements of principle , which is but asserting a right , while nothing but contempt is showered on policy which is the realization of right . The air is filled with all hi"h cries and spirited denunciations ; indignation is at a premium ; and this is called advocacy . Tims men dash themselves against the stone walls by which societ y surrounds its powers and privileges . Tyranny and custom , a dense , compact , wedged throng , hard as a wall and high as a mountain , hems in the wretched ; and

      the few who are valiant among us run their heads against it , and counsel us to do the same—and that is accounted leadership ! Objecting to such leadership , I do not therefore object to be led . I believe in war none the less for protesting against suicide . I may not be willing to run head-first against the wall , but I mean to go tlirovgh it no less than those who do . 1 only cast about for the best mode of penetration , lint to calculate , to make sure of your aim , is to be decried as one who is too cold to feel , too genteel to strike . While strong men are found to say this , no wonder tlisit wonk men are found to believe it . If an artillery

      officer throws shell after shell which never reach the enemy , he is replaced by some one with a better eye and a surer aim . But in the artillery battle of opinion , to mean to hit is quite sufficient ; and if y have a certain grand iiidhTerence as to whether you hit or not , you may count on public applause . The only question is , do we propose to fight , or reason ? That war is the destiny of the slave , white or black , admits of no discussion to one who finds himself with

      open eyes in the lazaretto of society . Whether we light for ourselves , for our relatives , or the negro , the laws of arms are the name . For myself , I have no objection to lighting in the gross form . It is u P ivat instinct , 1 never looked on life from any other point than that of warfare . Hut it does not answer in the old way ; society has outgrown it , in Kngland , at , least , iiml 1 therefore take the side of Reason , but a niiin needbe no less militant , us the soldier of facts , than as the ^( inl of swords . Hut the arena of argument needs discip line no less than that , of arms . It is this which the An ishivory party seem to me not , only to overlook bn ^ despise . They do not , put their valour to drill . . Nc' , ' [ on the field nor the platform has courage any inhere "

      capacity of taking care of itseH . )() America ' s wisest teacher has spoken noble w < " " ^ , the Abolitionists . No other could speak so well , i"j < , no other man has so groat n rig ht , to take I lie h "'^ _ imperial candour . These are Kniorson ' s royal u <) 1 <' . "The institution of slavery nooiiih (<> ' < M "I ' "' , "''' ) , / ,, i ' have hut , one Hide , mid lie lei-Is that """ . ' "'' ' ! ^ 1 .,,-ls . a tnaliipia-nl porson cum hesitate on a , view ' ... '' , ' .., ii-Under ' kiicIi an impulso , I was about , to nay , ^ { l - , l ( not , uponk , or oiuiiiol , hour tin- wii-iImoI' Im' """ ' , g ,, hence ; ' I had almost wml , ' ( Veep ml" V "' J | j ^^ y the universe hart no need of you ! ' Bull lmN' . | 11 ; hiim better . Lot , bin . not # > . When wo consider * nn * |( , - lo ho done for ( hi . s interest , in Mum country , •'" ' , , im | rd . humanity make us tender of i-uich us are « ' <>•¦ 3 ' ' ' ' The hardest seljis / iness is to ho home ¦ icdli . ,.,,,,, llllllll IH « MI •¦ - » - ¦

      ^ 1111 ' / ff 1 fl < l'Of ' ^ ' | J \\ \ \ I * ' J " Lot , uh withhold every re /> ro « ehfiit , """ l ( 1 . . , 11 ik '' ( ivory indh / mnit , remark . 1 " "' is « iniw' «' . '' "'| ^^ ,,,,, 11 our temper and the riniiitfN of pride . II I "' ' (( , ,., „„ - Who thinks the ruin of n . nice of men 11 Minn" ' ^ , iir . „„ ¦„ pnrod with ( . ho hint , decoration . "id '" ""' I ' ' ' . "" ' | , | , i . < i "" romforl , who would iu , i , w > murh iih J >« ' -i- * I ll . i " ' cream to mivn Miem from nipme and "'""" , () | , j , , ¦ . ¦<• " ¦" I iiiuhI . not . hesitate lotmlisfv t / uit n ' '" ¦ ' || 1 ( , im'H 1 " and vanilla urn wilor and cheaper by l » nw' j \{ tln > nation <» . u lair fooling Mum b y robbing 1 ^ , „ , ¦ , „ , , Virginia" piques himself < m I ho piel ureM | UO ^ | i (| 11 M , vuHH ., l .. go , on the heavy Kll . iopi . m . m «» ' »; " : , . „„„ , th ^ ..... vmmIh , their Hilenl . ol . o . l . eno ,- their .. << ' ^ th « turbiuicd liowln , and would not oxcliai >{ , °

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      * Hoo Loader , JNo . 130 .

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      1090 THE LEADE R . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 13, 1852, page 1090, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1960/page/14/