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Leader (1850-1860), 8th October 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1120, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      POLITICAL FORESHADOWINGS . At an agricultural meeting held at Woking ham , Mr . Walter , M . P ., made a very effective speech , in the course of which he spoke of the c onnexion and influence exercised in the Church and the Army and Navy by Parliament . With respect to the army and other military establishments , it was well known that the House of Commons not only voted the number of men and the supplies necessary , but also determined in what manner the bill should be paid ; and he must say that it always appeared to him to be a very difficult and mysterious matter to ascertain how it was that , witli so vast an expenditure which we unquestionably pay for our naval and military establishments , we had so little to show

      for the money we expended . No doubt that the extent of our empire prevented that concentration of forces in this country which was to be seen in the continental countries , and as he had lately seen in Paris arid other great foreign capitals ; but at the same time it was impossible for him to say , and he did not think it had been proved , in . what way any practical economy could be effected in the military portion of our establishments . With regard to the navy , they had been informed that unquestionably there had been a great waste in the material fabric of that department ; and if it were true , as had been stated by the Secretary to the Admiralty , that , no less than 5 , 000 , 000 * . sterling had been utterly wasted in repairs _ alterations that were not needed , and which a little

      foresight would have prevented , that was a question for Parliament to consider . With regard to the advantages of our Parliamentary system , he observed that it was one of the happiest features in their social meetings , that whatever their political differences might be , and however ready they might be to take party sides , and to hoist party banners while political discussions were going on , yet no sooner did the great talking machinte suspend its action than the excitement passed away , and they behaved towards each other as if no politics existed . He thought that was one of the happiest circumstances in the constitution of this country , and it often caused him to think how much better they went on when Parliament was not sitting , and it

      made him very much doubt whether they were apt to humbug their constituents about the services wliich they professed to render them in Parliament . He admitted that agricultural associations Avere advantageous , so far as they confined themselves to giving prizes for agricultural skill , but he did not approve of . their other objects . He had been in the habit of employing a great number of men , and he had never found that there was any necessity for the encouragement of them beyond what lay in his power to afford , and he must say that ,. as regarded the agricultural labourer , he did not understand why he should be singled out by associations as ah object for reward . Ho did not find in

      manufacturing districts that that encouragement was ever thought necessary , or that an artisan was thought to be incapnblo of being intrusted with the good offices of his employer . But it "so happened , that about twenty-five years ago there was a strong feeling in this country tlint the agricultural labourer was going to the bad , that pauperism was to be the order of tho day , that the land was to be uutilled , the workhouses to be filled , nnd the poor-rates to become heavy . It was thought , however , by some , that giving the labourer such sops by associations of this kind , and rewarding him for bringing up his family without parochial relief , and for moral conduct , would in a groat measure check the apprehended ovil . Ho hover sharod in that opinion .

      In a speech delivered by Mr . Dioby Sevmouh , M . P ., to his constituents nt Southampton , he gave an account of his position as a member of the Indopendont Liberal party at tho time whon an adverse vote overturned tho Derby Administration , lie describes himsolf as labouring undor an agony of care , for at least ono night , because ho could not walk into the same lobby with Lord Puliuorston and Lord J . Ruasoll until ho had some distinct avowal from thom as to " their lino of Hoform policy . Ho entered into a correspondence with Sir W . Ilay ^ or , for tho purpose of obtaining such a declaration ot policy us would warrant him . in voting with tho Liberal party on that occasion , and it was not until ho had rucolvod tho plodgo 1 ) 0 required , in tho speech which Lord John ltussoll mado , i that ho consented to assist tho present Government in obtaining

      power . A banquot was given on Monday by tho Mayor at Liverpool to tho Bight Hon . Jambs Wilson , who . adverting to his oonnoxlon with tho Ministry , said in was in tho yoar 1853 that ho took ofilco undor Lord Aberdeen ' s Govornmont . anil ho saw around

      him , on this occasion , many honourable members of Parliament from whom he ; derived great assistance in fulfilling the duties of the office to which he w ^ s appointed ; and it was , consequently , to him a sin * cere pleasure to meet them again . He mentioned as a remarkable fact in the financial history of this country , that during the six years he found by the returns of the income tax that the income of this country was eighteen millions a year more than it was in 1853 . The prosperity thus indicated was not confined merely to any one commercial port , or to any particular manufacturing district ; he found upon analysing the various income-tax returns that it was pretty equally distributed throughout" ? the and this showed thatin

      whole of the schedules ; , spite of adverse circumstances , the prosperity ¦ of the country was steadily advancing . He next referred to the country in which it had pleased her Majesty to appoint him to high office ; and when he considered that that country contained 200 , 000 , 000 of her Majesty ' s subjects , who were equally entitled to the protection of the laws and to the benefits of good government with the people of this country , he could only say that in any measures he should advocate , he should look to the permanent interests and well-being of that country as he would to the interests and well-being of her Majesty ' s subjects in this country . He believed that good government and wise regulations would ultimately develope the vast and almost untold resources of India to an extent that would greatly add to the

      prosperity and welfare of this country , for the interests of both were , to an extent , identical . —On this occasion Mr . Hoesfalb , M . P ., was present , and said that he had read Mr . Wilson ' s address at Ha wick , and there was one subject to which he wished to allude , and that was the right lion , gentleman ' s reference to the subject of Christianity , which , he said , it would not do to force on the people of India . With that sentiment he agreed , but at the same time he wished to say that it would be prudent arid proper to encourage-and countenance Christianity , for it must be remembered that during the recent mutiny in India , out of a population of 100 , 000 of native Christians , not one instance of mutiny had occurred amongst them . ; but , on the contrary , numerous cases of loyalty and devoted self-sacrifice in defence of British interests .

      At a meeting of the Cotton Supply Association at Manchester , Mr . Wilson dwelt on the question . when has been so long debated—whether India can be made to assist or to take the place of the United States in furnishing cotton for the Lancashire mills . On this point the new Indian financier is hopeful , but he disposes of the question of colonization summarily enough , showing that the rates of wages in India is such that it would be impossible for an Englishman to live on them , and that it is to native labour , directed and elevated by English superintendence , that we must look for the future prosperity of the country . " What you want in India—with abundance , as you have , of the cheapest labour in the world—is superintending intelligence , which may be easily and rapidly furnished from this country by enterprising young men

      well backed from home , commanding a sufficient amount of capital to purchase the raw products of the country , and to give a price corresponding with the better qualities produced . " The natives , adds Mr . Wilson , when they find that the better qualities command higher rates , will set to work to improve the staple . We ( Liverpool Albion ) hoar that the Tory banquet , which will take place on Saturday tho 29 th inst ., in the Philharmonic-hall , is to be on a scale of magnificence never before equalled in Liverpool ; that the demand for tickets ( at two guineas ) is very great , and that tho boxes and stalls will bo crammed with those who can only afford to see the " Lions" feed . It is said that tho I&irl of Derby , Mr . Disraeli , and most of the leading men of the Conservative party have already accepted invitations .

      A demonstration in favour of Mr . Ralph Walters ^ the unseated liberal member for Beverloy , took place on Wednesday evening . Mr . Walters made a public entrance from the Hull-road , whore a procession was formed , and ho was then escorted round tho town to his lodgings in tho marketplace , from which plaoo he addressed tho people . A meeting of Mr . Walters ' friends was to take place last evening in tho Mechanics' Institute , and addresses of sympathy wcro to bo prosented to him on behalf of the electors and non-eloctora .

      Untitled Article

      THE BtTILDERS' STRIKE . Tub building operatives haVo now « pmplotod tho eleventh week of tho strife with thoir masters , and on both sides there is a determination not to yield except upon thoir own terms . Tho subscriptions for ilio relief of tho operatives yet out of work continue to come in well . Ono account , however , says that " notwithstanding tho disgraceful system of coercion and intimidation pursued by the ' outs , ' it

      would seem that not less than 10 , 000 men are at work under the declaration . " A private meeting of the Conference of the United Building Trades was held on Wednesday 5 evening at the Paviors' Arms . In the course of the sitting Mr . Ayrton , M . P ., had an interview with the members , which lasted , we understand , about an hour during which the honourable gentleman made certain proposals by way of mediation , with a view to the securing of a speedy settlement of the existing differences between the employers and the operatives ! Mr . Ayrton undertook to act as the representative ' to a certain extent , of the Conference at a special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Central Association of Masters , to be . held oh Friday , and the Conference resolved that on condition of the withdrawal of the declaration , they would agree to

      an examination by a competent ; impartial authority , of the rules and regulations of the various trades ' societies represented at the Conference , in order that any rules which might , by such authority , be considered illegal , might be made , with the least delay , conformable to the law . Mr . Jay , one of the most extensive builders in the metropolis , is most desirous that work should be resumed at his establishment , and he has all but withdraSvn the document . Should Mr . Jay happily withdraw the document , there is little doubt that his example will be followed by Mr . Myers , and probably some of the other large firms . On Thursday night a general meeting of the masons of London and vicinity was held at Wilcocke ' s Assembly-rooms , Westminster-bridge-road , Lambeth , " for the purpose of taking into consideration important matters in connection with the present dispute . " The meeting was a private one .

      The Building News remarks— " Having entered upon the third month of the building strike , we are sorry not to have it in our power to announce at least the prospect of an early and amicable settlement of the unhappy dispute . With neither the operatives nor their employers is it possible to take part . Both have sadly erred and failed in their duties towards one another , as well as to the public . Their ambition seems to be to rival one another in stupidity and wrongheadedrtess , and to strive for the sad distinction of doing the most mischief . While they are quarrelling upon points of etiquette , like yellow mandarins , they are all fast drifting on the shore to wreck and ruin ; and , what is worse , the interests of society are wilfully and scandalously sacrificed . "

      Untitled Article

      NAVAL AND MILITARY , A gakbison court-martial assembled during the latter portion of last week , at Woolwich , for the trial of five privates of the dep 6 t brigade , R . A ., on charges of desertion , some of which were attended with circumstances of an aggravated nature . The whole of the prisoners were sentenced to be flogged , and to be imprisoned in Fort Clarence for the term of fifty-six days . The sentence was read by the adjutant of the corps on public

      parade , in the presence of the whole available force of the depftt . After the promulgation ot the sentence pronounced by the court-martial , it was further announced that General Dacres , commanding tho garrison , according to powers witli which he had been intrusted , had been pleased to remit in each individual case the punishment ot tho lash , l > ut the imprisonment would be rigiuiy carried out . The prisoners were transferred to i ore

      Clarence . The Moniteur ch la Flotta has been giving or some time past a series of articles on thobnalibji navy . In Europe , it says , that we have 132 ships , carrying 5 , 513 guns , and representing a steam pouei of 37 , 405 horses . This includes the B ^ nlsh-ros . ™ Asia it finds 46 vessels , 137 guns , 0 , 083 orsc power ; in Africa 23 vessels , 224 guns , 3 , 082 Horse power in America 22 vessels , 440 B « n % . f " 4 , 547 horse power ? in Australia , &c , 18 «« jP 9 435 guns , and 2 , 040 horse power . l ™ . " { ° nitwr da la Flftfte then makes the iol low Ing remarks ^ " JBVom'what precedes , it results' ™ » J naval forces of tho United Kingdom , » ftV * Sf " B " Mm flvr . imrtaof Hid world , are composed ot about it

      300 armed war ships , two-thirds of wI <»« steamers , and move than half ships ot thc l / " ° ° J frigates of tho largost class , and wo own that u ¦ difficult for us to understand the cries of alarm oi tho English journals concerning the P ' * " ^ , " feriority of their navy , and tho necessity of * ° ™\ W ing it to the point of . having , as soon as PO » "JJJ » " , . screw linora and 70 largo frigates , with a oorro-pu a inff number of corvettes and S r o " ts- nf ° ltot ] , that possesses the forco wo have just on « "f " " u with a reserve almost ua largo , has it not , mow resources than It needs to make its territory * speoted . and to nasuro tho protection ot Its ¦ ooi mcrcu on all tiio seas > and should it not bo wo , on tho < wn trary , who ouglit to conceive nPP » on " ! ° " : ot presence of a maritime State , tho ^ vol ci meat o Vhloh increases ? beyond inoasuro ? It the Js . mporoi

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      Untitled Article

      U 20 THE LEADEK . ' . f No ; 498 . Oct . 8 , 1859 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 8, 1859, page 1120, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2315/page/4/