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Leader (1850-1860), 21st March 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 271

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      Untitled Article

      IRELAND . Me . Smith O'Bjuesi on Public Akfmus . —A long address to the people of Ireland has been issued by Mr . Smith O'Brien , who accuses the British nation of smuggling opium into China , and of enforcing that trade , illegal thougli it is , by-means of an infamous massacre of men , -women , and children . lie atill thinks that Irishmen should abstain from intermixing in allUritish parties ; and , after recapitulating the old grievances of Ireland , observes that , under a good domestic government , such as that of " revolutionized Belgium , " two millions of Irishmen who have perished or disappeared from the soil might have been saved . The former adherents of llcpeal hare been bought off by inferior posts under Government , but seats in the cabinet arc still deniod to Irishmen . Nay , even in Ireland itseli " , almost every administrative situation of importance is engrossed by tlie Anglo-Saxon . —Such ia the sum of Mr . O'JJrien's complaints .

      Giieat Stoiwi . —A storm of wind , of unusual violence , passed over tlie east coast of Ireland on Friday week , Saturday , and Sunday , causing a great destruction of shipping and other property . Assaulting a Jujdch . —While : Mr . Justice Ball was leaving court at the Cork Assizes a few even ings ngo , a young . man , who was standing amongst the crowd assembled upon the court-house steps , Hung a stone of considerable size at him as he was entering his carriage . The stono . smashed'one of the windows of tha vehicle , but did not injure the Judge , who immediately look his scat in the carriage , and drove home to his lodgings as if nothing hud occurred . Tlie culprit waa arrested on the spot .

      ClIAIUMASSIHP OF KlI . MAINJIAJT . TIlC Dublin papers announce the death , on Wednesday morning , of Mr . II . Kcinmis , Q . C , who fur several years lias filled the office of Chairman at Kilmainliani . The deceased ¦ was called to the bar in Easter Term , 1795 , jind must have bf : en considerably more than eighty years old . Tlie chairmanship ia worth 1 , 2001 a . year .

      Untitled Article

      THE CHINESE AND PERSIAN WARS . The contemplated meeting at the Freemasons' Hall , to consider the policy of the Chinese and Persian wars , took place on Monday evening , when the great room ¦ was crowded . It was not until some time after the hour appointed for . commencing ( seven , o'clock ) that aay of the speakers appeared on the platform ; but Mir . Layard and Mr . Cobd « n having at length arrived , Mr . William Simpson ( hi the temporary absence of Mr . lioebnek , -who afterwards came in , and presided ) took the chiiir , and the -proceedings commenced . Sir . Layard was the first speaker . He disavowed being a " peace-at-any-price" man . He had always upheld the war with liussia . ( litre there icere hisses and cheers . ) He had upheld it because ho thought it

      right ; but at any rate it was a struggle - with , a great and strong power , and did not massacre defenceless people , or destroy defenceless cities . It should be remembered that at this moment those who were in power were trading upon this question . He knew men who both in and out of Parliament had oi ^ posed every measure of reform , and who Mere Tories to the backbone , but wlio were likely to come into the next Parliament because they were supposed to be Pahnerston men . If they were required to make sacrilicus for ono man and for one cause , let them at least be certain that the . man was "the right man" and the cause the right cause . { Cries of " IV / te / 'o can you yet 'better ' / " ') He would not be led away by a cry , but would examine into the acts

      of Lord Palmeratou , and his probable future policy , before embarking with him . The cliargo of " faction " wiis absurd ; the names of the chief supporters of Mr . Cobden ' s motion refuted it . Both the Chinese and tha Persian -wars were entered into -without the consent of the people , n . s expressed through their representatives j and , - with respect to the latter war , they had even then no explanation . When that should come , lie believed that the casts would appear even worse than the Chinese war . He believed tlie Government would Jiave had a majority if Lord 1 'ulmcr . ston had said to the House of Commons , "Sir John liowring has violated Iiis instructions ; -weiiave recalled him ; but , as wu are in the war , and i \ a the Chinese have for a long time been violating 1 their ith

      treaty w us , we must go on , and avc call on you to asaial un . " At a private meeting of Lord i ' ahnerston ' s friends , the Premier waa ur ^ ed to follow that course , but he refused ; he cleiied the House of Commons , : uu I he was left in the minority . And whut had lie since done ? Had he supported ( Sir John Uowring ? No ; l > ut ho complained of a coalition between tho Liljorul-i and the Pct'litea . Why , lie hiiiisiulf had disavowed Sir . John l ! o \ m « g , *» ml hnd # ono to two Pcelitca to Beiid them out to Hong-Kong to take Sir John Bowring ' a place . How could he have . tho luce to turn round upon those who hud given him that very same advice ? ( L' / iecrx . ) Surely , if it were good now it waa good then , and if it were biid then it wan bad now . ( CAuers . ') Cobdcn

      Mr . followed . " What 1 a « k you , " ho Haid , " i . % whether you think , it is the province of tins House of (' ommons to inquire into these oucations at all V . because what 1 understand is this *—that here is tho Executive Government uppeulinglo the country iigninut Parliament for having investigated those mutters which were brought before us . " After scornfully repudiating tho charge of coalition , Mr . Cobdcn proceeded : — " have met with many peoplu whom J have hoard passing a judgment upon the llouae of Commons , and declaring that the vote coiuo to waa unjust . 1 have asked them , l Have you read the documents V and tho answer hu . i been l 2 So . ' 'Then , ' I have Huid , ' cannot judge . ' 1 heard HOiuctliiiig » nid by my frkind ( Mr . Luyurd ) about cuitaiu purlieu who arc what aro

      It

      h « ard the sentiments of Sir James Duke , Baron BothschiM , Ur . Eaikes Carrie , and Mr . Crawford , themeeting coftsidered them eminently calculated to represent the CSty of London , and accordingly tendered them their support . Mr . Strode seconded the amendment , -which , xcpon a show of hands , was declared to be carried . Upon being proposed a 3 a substantive motion , Mr . Gedge moved tlae following amendment : — " That -whilst this meeting deplores and deprecates the policy pursued by tie Right Hoc Lord John Russell , one of the members for tie City , upon the Russian -war and the Canton . hostilities , yet , having regard to the great services rendered by the noble lord to the country , particularly

      to his statesmanlike , patriotic r and enlightened career for so long and trying a period upon the great and vital questions of reform , retrenchment , free trade , and civil and religious liberty j and also considering the great talents and . prominent position of the noble lord , and the political opinions and intentions so plainly put forward in Ma address to the electors upon , most of these questions , the meeting is of opinion that the noble lord should not be displaced from . Ms distinguished connexion during sixteen years in the City of London , as representative in Parliament , "—Mr . Sparkes seconded the amendment , which having been negatived , the resolution was carried , and a vote of thanks to the chairanan closed the proceedings .

      Lord John Russell addressed a large meeting of his supporters on Thursday afternoon al the London Tavern ; Mr . Hankey in the chair . His Lordship , on rising , -was oreceived with loud applause . He commenced by appealing against the proceedings of the association " pretending to represent the electors of the City of London , " which he accused of unfairness rn attempting to exclude him . from the representation . He proceeded : — " Let me say—as I complain of being unfairly treated—that , if & gentleman -was disposed to part -with his butler , his coachman , or his- gamekeeper , or if a merchant waa disposed to part with an old servant , he would have said to ... him / ' ' -John { roars of lattghter ) , it is true that you ¦ have-served ihe well { cheers and laughter ) , but I think

      that your faculties are somewhat decayed . You are growing old , and have made several mistakes ; and I think of putting a young man from Northampton , whom yon . know I have sent for , into your place . ' ( Laughter . ) [ Mib Lordship alluded to Mr . Raikes Currie . ] I think a gentleman would khave behaved in that way to his servant , and thereby have given John ( laugJiter ) an opportunity of saying -why he thought his faculties were not bo much decayed , and that perhaps he was able to go on for some fiv . e or six years longer . ( Cheers . ) ' Gentlemen , that opportunity was not given to me ; the question was decided in my absence , without any appeal or invitation to me ; and I come to you now to ask you and the electors of the City of London to reverse

      drop any of the principles upon -which it has risen . ( Cheers . ') If you have what - is called a Liberal party , which is not the advocate of any liberal measures , which makes no progress , which is not faithful to the cause of civil and religious liberty , you may be sure that the downfal of that Liberal party is at hand . " Having expressed a hope that Baron Lionel de

      Rothschild would be again returned , Lord John Russell spoke in favour of retrenchment of the expenditure . He believed that the estimates of the present year exceed by five millions those of 1853 . He thought the Government ought in the course of the present year to piepare for such reductions as will enable them to make tlie income balance the expenditure , and if possible to lighten taxation . After expressing his willingness to extend the suffrage , and alluding to the church-rate question , he exhorted the country to return men who are pledged to the cause of progress . " That progress should embrace an amelioration of the condition of the people , carefully considered , an increase of the popular franchise , and an increase of the popular power , but at the same time

      accompanied -with the increase and diffusion of education . I look to the diffusion of education as the security for our institutions , in tlie same way that the best and ablest men of the United States loolc to the diffusion of education as the best security for the peace and order of their community . Gentlemen , if these opinions axe approved by you , I hope to have your support at the forthcoming election . But , dearly as I prize your approbation , dearly as I value the honour of being returned- for this city in Parliament , I -will' not purchase the prize by forfeiting the approbation of my conscience . " { Loud cheers . )—A motion , pledging the meeting to support Lord John Russell was then unanimously carried , and the meeting separated .

      Sir Charles Ifapier addressed the electors of Southwark on "Wednesday evening ; Major Reed tliose of Finsbury ; and Mr . Roupell those of Lambeth ( on Liberal principles ) . Mr . Evrart appeared before the Liberals of Liverpool on Tuesday . Mr . Layard and Sir Eichard Bethell met the electors of Aylesbury on " Wednesday . On Blohday evening , Sir James Graham ¦ ¦ addressed a crowded meeting of his constituents at Carlisle , to whom he denied that he had entered into any coalition . He also accused Lord Pahnerston of being an enemy of all reform , and added that , as he did not feel confidence in him , he would not give a pledge to vote to that effect . Resolutions expressing confidence in all these candidates ¦ were carried at the respective meetings .

      Mr . Cobden addressed a meeting at Salford on Tuesday , when he informed the electors that he thought it better to decline their request to come forward , as he had received an invitation for Huddersfield . A . resolution was passed expressing regret . General Wyndham met the electors of East Norfolk on Tuesday , ¦ when a resolution approving of him as a candidate was unanimously carried .

      that decision . " ( Cheers . ) Lord John then briefly reviewed the measures he had contributed to pass in the interests of liberty and progress . He appealed to his support of the Budget against Mr . Disraeli and Mr . Gladstone as a proof that he had no factious feeling against Government . Mr . Locke King ' s motion , was defeated by the opposition of Government , combined with that of Mr . Disraeli , Mr . " Walpole , Sir John Takingtcn , Mr . Gladstone , and Mr . Sidney Herbert . " Now , gentlemen , do I say that this was ¦ ' a disgraceful coalition . ' ( Cheers . ) Do I say that it was 1 an infamous combination '—that it was even ' a fortuitous concourse of atoms ? ' { Laughter and cheers . ) Far from it . " Equally he denied that there was any

      combination in the vote of the majority on the China question . Ho then made a singular admission : — " Gentlemen , there have been many questions in my long political life in which I have voted either to keep Government in oflice or to support my party -where my opinion did not exactly coincide with what was proposed ; but I thought here was a question of such grave importance , and touching so deeply the interests of this country and mankind , that I had no other course than to give my ' vote according to my opinions . " With respect to the future , he said : — " It appears to me that there are three questions put before the country . Tho first question is , whether Lord Palmerston ' s Government should bo supported , or whether it should be replaced by any other Government . Upon that question , I give you my opinion that I think Lord Pulmeraton ' s Government ought to bo supported , and that having to choose between

      Lord Pfthneraton , as the head of tho Liberal party , and Lonl Derby , ns the head of the Conservative party , I should think it my duty to support the Government of Lord Palmeraton . ( Cheers . ) But there is a second question , namely , whether Lord Pnlm nothing so dangerous to that great party as to

      Untitled Article

      protect the people against corrupt and secret influences in . matters of legislation has been passed , almost without debate , by a vote of 104 to 83 . Immediately afterwards , however , a motion to reconsider was made , -and adopted by 56 to 128 ; and the bill avos then laid on the table . Formal charges of incompeteacy and improper conduct in the Bixrdell murder investigation have been preferred against Coroner Connery ; and his dismissal ia considered probable . From St . Domingo , there is news that Saataaa has been exiled .

      AMERICA . Mb . 13 ucha 3 ? an luia arrived at Washington , which city was extremely crowded at tho lunfc dates . Mcdara . Gilbert , Mutthesou , and ICdwaraa , members

      of the House of Representatives , who were convicted of corruption by the Investigating Committee , liave resigned tlieir seats . With respect to Mr . Welch , of Connecticut , the evidence has been declared insufficient . A Mr . Tripletfc , as well as Mr . Simonton , has been excluded from the reporters' seats . . The bill reported by the Investigating Committee to

      General Coinonfort , President of the Mexican Republic , lias sold ( according to a communication from that state published in the French HJontieur de Its . Flotte ) a tract « f land in the Isthmus of Telruantepec to aa American company , who are to have the right o-f cutting a canal to unite the Atlantic . and' tho Pacific . The intention is said to be to join the rivers Huascualco and ClumalapiUa by a canal which will be about thirty-five miles long , and which will thus connect the two oceans . Competent judges assert that the scheme is the moat practical aud least expensive yet suggested .

      Untitled Article

      Ma . ^ ch-21 , 1857 . ] THE LE 1 DEI . 271

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 21, 1857, page 271, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2185/page/7/