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Leader (1850-1860), 12th February 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 151, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      gentlemen , that the time has arrived for a new step in aid of their individual aetion . Much has been already achieved by their efforts ; more than enough to be an earnest of the large and honourable success which may be expected to result from a combined , systematic , and well-directed effort . It has been well and truly said , that " the sympathy of the working classes of this country with European liberty is real , and that if persons can be found to solicit the small proof of it , which this European Subscription contemplates , it will be readily given . "

      The work to be done is essentially this : —1 st . To obtain an increased publicity for this Subscription in aid of European Freedom . 2 nd . To find , among the friends of popular progress in all classes in this country , a sufficient number of persons able and willing to communicate the knowledge of it , and the opportunity of contributing to it , from circle to circle , from society to society , and if need be , from house to house . And , lastly , to systematise aid , and direct the labours of all who will labour in the good cause .

      For these objects a Committee has been formed , con eisting of the following gentlemen : — "W . H . Ashursfc , Jun . M . E . Marsden . C . D . Collet . David Masson . J . Davis . Wm . Tidd Matson . T . S . Duncombe , M . P . Edward Miall , M . P . Dr . Epps . B . Moore . J . Gilks . Professor Newman . Viscount G-oderich , M . P . C . F . Nicholls . S . M . Hawkes . H . Pointer . Austin Holyoake . W . Shaen . Q . J . Holyoake . James Stansfeld . Thornton Hunt . J . Watson . Douglas Jerrold . T . Wilson . Bobfc . Leblond .

      With power to add to their number . Robt . Leblond , Treasurer . Wm . Tidd Matson , JECon . See . The period of six months has been fixed for the tertnination of the labours both of the Collectors and of the Committee j and , having in view the shortness of the time , and the extent of the work to be achieved , it is earnestly hoped that all persons disposed in any manner to contribute to the objects of the Committee will place themselves in immediate correspondence with the gentleman appointed to act as its Secretary .

      Independently of the necessity of organizing the efforts which are already being made , abundant motives exis \ for an increased and multiplied activity , if we reflect on the condition of the nations of Europe , oppressed to the utmost limits of human endurance , and , especially at the present time , on the wholesale persecutions of the Emperor of Austria and the Pope , in Lombardy and Venice , and in the Roman States . Against the misdoings of despotic power , it is needful that there should be a protest , in the name of outraged

      Humauity , on » the part of all who feel and breathe for Liberty in England . It is time that there should issue from our land a word of comfort , of encouragement , and of approval for those wh o suffer a living martyrdom for their country ; that there should be a popular recognition of the sacredness and unity of the causes of all oppressed nations—Italy and Hungary standing together prominently amongst them , by virtue of their recent struggles , of their intimately connected position , of their indissoluble future , pregnant with downfall of the twin heads of that civil and ecclesiastical

      tyranny which would enslave the world . A popular recognition of these things is a duty incumbent on the people of this country . If nobly accomplished it will bring its own reward , in an increased consciousness of the power of popular sympathies and popular will ; and will assuredly bear fruit in the progross of Popular Reform at home . Six months hence must witness , for better or for worse , the completion of the tusk which the Committee has undertaken to fulfil . Immediate and active cooperation ih necessary to success . Let all wlio desire to help , help quickly . A defhrito and moderate amount of personal assistance , immediately given , will bo the best service that can individually bo rendered to tho cause . Wm . Tidd Maxhon , Hon . Sec . 10 , Oroat WinchnHtnr-Htront , Old Broad-street , City .

      Untitled Article

      JOSKPII MA / ZINI TO TIXK flKCRETABY OF TITS , HHILLING RUUSCnri'TIONPUNB . Peak Sib , —I thank you for your kind communication concerning the Shilling Subscription ill aid of European Freedom ; and I hope you will forward my thanks to tho gentlemen of tho Committee . Tho first noble Appeal from our friends , named at tho beginning of your Circular , though partially responded to , has ( dill met , on the whole , with less enthusiasm than they hnd a right to anticipate . Let us hope , for England ' s flfike , an well us ourn , that the renewed effort will conquer that more complete buccohb which tho scheme donerves .

      To help , whenever possible , political prisoners out of their dungeons—to provide additional strength for the first decisive movement of the impending unavoidable Btruggle between the oppressed nations and their oppressors—to enable the proscribed , now scattered on distant foreign lands , to muster , once the signal given by their own country , around . the good flag—and , more than all , to number the men of England who believe in the final triumph of right against brutal , force—to refute at once , by a mighty show of hands , the opinion gaining ground erery day more in Europe since the formation of the Malmesbury cabinet , that England has

      joined the league ofthe absolutist powers—to raise a powerful manifestation for Liberty of Conscience against the Pope—for Free Political Life against the Emperor and his associates—to protest , by a pledge of general alliance between the Free , against the forthcoming Empire—to record the sympathies of England for the wronged nations—to enlist the sympathies of all wronged nations for England—such is' the meaning of the Fund for European Freedom , which you advocate . Is there a single liberal-minded Englishman who can , without sinning towards his own conscience , refuse his shilling to it ? Is there a single Editor of a liberal paper who can , without a flagrant inconsistency , refuse to open his columns to your Circulars—his office to your subscribers ?

      What you need is publicity : to teach the humble cottager , the working man , the inhabitant of the village , the woman of the people ; and to say to them : the beautiful Earth of God is defaced by Tyranny ; the Sacred Truth of God is denied by Popes , Emperors , and Prince-Presidents : Lies reign by Terror ; Bayonets and Grape-shot supply , throughout two-thirds of Europe , the place of Argument and Education ; thousands of your felloiv-men are wandering away from home and family blessing ' s ; thousands are dying of slow dungeon fever , for having asserted their rights of free , rational , responsible creatures ; xoill you join us in the name of God and Liberty , and protest by a visible palpable sign , by an act , against such a foul ,

      immoral , irrational state of things ? The answer is not doubtful for me . I trust the straightforward , consistent , unsophisticated good sense and feeling of the majority of your fellow-citizens . Peace-preachers may sing idyls on European life groping its way between the scaffold and the prison : cold , short-sighted Economists may contrive to apply the laissez faire , laissez passer to usurpation , injustice , and crime ; but there lies something in the depth of your nation ' s heart that neither Peace-preachers nor Economists can quench—a noble feeling of manly resistance to godless tyrannya quick-stirring sympathy for all those who struggle , suffer , and are going to conquer or die for a noble cause—a recollection of times , Cromwell ' s and Milton ' g

      times , in which England was valiantly protecting the cause of liberty of conscience from home to the poor inhabitants of the Piedmontese valleys . Let your Appeals find their way through , not the few eectarian circles , but the millions ; the millions will yield a worthy response : they will help us to " hurl the inkstand at the head of the devil . " This Liberty-tax will ucceed . Yours faithfully , Josbph MAZzmci . Soptember f Oth , 1853 .

      Untitled Article

      CHURCH MATTERS . We arc requested to announce , says the Times , that Her Majesty has graciously intimated to tho Archbishop of Canterbury her intention to receive the address of tho prelates and clergy of tho Convocation of the province of Canterbury on Wednesday , the lGth hist ., at one o ' clock , at Buckingham Palace , Tho following resolutions contain the recognition of an important principle , and we are glad to register them . Tho South Church Union met recently in the Brighton Town-hall , and agreed to the following : —

      " 1 . It being a question of tho first importanco what course Churchmen in those ? days tthould take with respect to giving their support to tho diiloront political parties which may successively hold the reins of tins country , ru-Bolvcd that , considering tho anomalous rotation in which tho Church of England stands to tho State , composed as tho latter is of nion holding different religious opinions , and that tho great object of tho Churchmen is to procuro froodom from Erastian interforonoo , it appears to this munting that ovory precaution should ho taken to knop tho Church freo from being identified with any political party or Government .

      " 2 . That , with regard to tho lato election at Oxford , it is most desirable and right that tho rau . son of dillbronoo hntwoon Churchmen on that occasion should ho as far as pOHsihlo forgotten , and that 'Churchmen on both sidos should unite in tho prosecution of tlmir common object . " They had been anticipated by tho Bristol Church Union , which , on the 10 th of January , came to tho following conclusion : — " That this union considers it expedient , at tho present crisis , to doelaro generally its belief , that tho sacred canso of tho Church is independent of nil political parties whatsoever , and that it is t h o duty of Churchmen to unite in

      maintaining that cause without identifying themselves with any party in the state , in the full persuasion that tho justice of their claims must eventually bo recognised by all fair and unprejudiced minds . " Neither of these resolutions need comment here . Mr . Denison has addressed to the Bristol Union a long and able defence of the line of conduct he has lately adopted , which we shall not forget when occasion offers . He has also forwarded the following to . the morning journals : — . " Resolutions to be moved in the Zower House of Convocation , ' February , 1853 .

      " 1 . That ifc appears to this House that the education and training of candidates for holy orders is , very generally , defective and inadequate , especially in respect of a . course of theolog ical reading and practical preparation for some time previous to their presenting themselves to the Bishop to be examined and inquired of , with a view to ordination . . " 2 . That this House do make a humble representation to his Grace the Archbishop and the Lords the Bishops , the Upper House , respectfully calling their attention to the urgency of the case , and praying their concurrence in appointing committees of both Houses to consider conjointly of the best means of remedying this defect , and ling this want in our Church system .

      suppy " 3 . That a committee of this House be now named , with instructions to prepare a draught of such representation , and to submit it to this House for approval at their next session . " Gkoegr Akthovt Denisow , " Archdeacon of Taunton . " East Brent , Jan . 31 . " But the Vicar of East Brent will not come into Convocation with clean hands this session . " We beg our readers' attention" says the Morning Herald of Wednesday , " to the following paragraph , as throwing some light on the views and purposes of the Tractarian party : —

      "' A vestry meeting was held at Frome on Thursday to make a church rate , when the vicar , the Rev . "W . J . Bennett , took a most extraordinary course . Having taken the chair , he opened the business of the meeting , and stated the origin , purpose , rules , and legal opinions on church rates ; and that he had for many years objected to the principle of such , rates , and advised the meeting to abolish them altogether . H . Miller , Esq ., churchwarden , moved that a rate of 2 d . in the pound be granted , which was seconded by Mr . W . Mees . An amendment was moved by the Rev . S . Manning , and seconded by the Rev . C . J . Middleditch , that no rate be granted , and , on a show of hands , the rate was lost by a large majority . '

      " The fact seems so strange that many persons , we are aware , can scarcely credit it , that the most extreme of all the subdivisions at present existing- within tho Church , is the party most desirous of terminating tho connexion between Church and State . We have often noticed this tendency ; but we are aware that incredulity on this point is both common and very natural . We , therefore , think it right to point out any clear exhibitions of this desire , when they come under our notice . "

      Untitled Article

      PROTECTION WINDS UP ITS AFFAIRS . Long as the death of Protection has been registered , the corpse of the old belief has lain sonic years above ground , not exactly in state , and its burial deferred . Derby deserted it , Disraeli scoffed at it , Christopher played it false , fifty-three gallant indefatigables alone stood around it in Parliament , and the country generally laughed at its cheap bread , and was happy . But it was reserved for the 7 th of" February to see tho final disappearance of tho corpse .

      Assembled together at the South Sea House , on Monday , were tho band of indomitublcs who constituted the National Association for Protection . There was the frank Duke of Richmond , the prosy Mr . Nowdegafco , the naive Mr . Ball , the fiery Mr . Chowler , the Essex Baronet who seeks distinction by converting plain Smith into Smijth , the trusty Mr . Elhnan , several bread-taxing parsons , and a host of unconverted and unconvertible stout yeomon of the broad lands of England . The Duke , as a matter of course , assumed the , Chair . A lugubrious solemnity pervaded Uio place . It wiw impossible to cot up enthusiasm .

      The first portion of the ceremony was the reading of a letter from Mr . Ucorge Frederick Young , dated ( Jenevn , December tho 18 th , 1852 , intimating that he reinuins still a Protectionist ; that the present prosperity is not a consequence of Freo-trudo at , all , and deploring tho " incautious facility" with which " many of our party have admitted that , connexion ; that the prosperity would have !»<> eii greater had Protection been maintained ; but that seeing no hope of success , ho suggests dissolution of tho society . "

      With these views the Duke of Richmond expressed his entire concurrence . " Tho country never can ho great , prosperous , and freo uihVhh we have some return to n just and adequate system of Protection . " Tho gold discovery lias made all the prosperity . Ilc-actAou will come—when the liuuiufuctururK of America etui undersell thorn ; of Manchester , which will bo tho cuso as « oon a « wiiges have risen high enough . The duty of moving tho resolution that no rational

      Untitled Article

      February 12 , 1853 . ] . THE LEADER . ___ 151

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 12, 1853, page 151, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1973/page/7/