On this page

• Departments (1)
  • 
• Text (5)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    N !!!!!!^l______ THE MAI OE mull. 249

  • 

    TO THE READERS OF THE "STAR OF FREEDOM."...

  • 

    Stair af JFmfrottt* SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 2T, 1852.

  • 

    THE PARLIAMENTARY .BATTLE, Humour was wr...

  • 

    THE HAMLET OF NATIONS—PETITION FOR ITALY...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Notices To Coreespokdekts Stab, Of Freed...

    of Warsow reigns in Berlin , Munich , Vienna , Presbourg , Milan finma , „ \* u Prisons , torturesand murders cover the continen oIe ^ H * jiarae 0 f order , » thename of God ! You , sir , . ould IfS ^ indignation , the blasphemies , wluch the monsters of the Grace of God Ind the fiendisb ^ peml bastard have written with the foul air of dun Jon , with ste ? trith fire , with human teats , with numanblood . You made an ™™ i ? ' on behalfofme „ . Europe will thank you . V ^^^ S ^ *™ names and each name will be a hymn of liberty and your name and that of llim , * itl » whomthe idea of an European shilling . subscri ption oSed " ill h

    upon that list ! I grieve to hear that you are going to mire from the fie d of battle for want of ammunition . The nature and the intensity of my ataf is more than aparagraph for a newspaper , andmore than delicacy would permit roe to say in the paper of a man I love . In the absence of your Journal T tni „ k , it would be a good thing to circulate at least 20 . 000 hand-bilk , coinara jngan abridgment of your appeal , a subscription of a fe « r friends of the democratic cause would soon cover the expense

    Salut e freternite ^ ,. v nn i „™ J * C * Blu & esfeld . Dublin , Nov , 23 , 1852 . ( The contributions to the European Fund , forwarded with the above will be found acknowledged in another column . Our correspondent will oblige by forwarding his full address . ) ° '

    N !!!!!!^L______ The Mai Oe Mull. 249

    N !!!!!!^ l ______ THE MAI OE mull . 249

    To The Readers Of The "Star Of Freedom."...

    TO THE READERS OF THE " STAR OF FREEDOM . " Dear Friends . —This number terminates the present series—or , rather , the present publication of the Star of Freedom . 3 lany friends liave expressed their surprise and regret that the Stah should fall with only one week ' s notice . " Had there been more timely notice , such efforts ( they urge , ) might have been made as ¦ would probably , have secured the continuance of the paper . " There is reason and force hi this remonstrance , hut so also is there in the answer thereto : —

    AVe desired to avoid , before all other misfortunes , the humiliation of any begging appeal to our friends . Hence we struggled on , week by week , unaided from any resources but our own ; and it has come to pass that further sacrifice being for the present impossible we are compelled to renounce the paper ' s existence thus suddenly , to our own loss and that of our friends .

    Last week I intimated that means would he adopted to keep the readers of the paper together during the time it must cease publication . I regret to say that on more mature consideration , the means I contemplated are not available at present . It is unnecessary to particularise , hut I may state that the project I had in view was surrounded-with so many difficulties that—perforce—I have been compelled to abandon it for the present .

    Several friends and correspondents have suggested a cheap periodical and promised their active and earnest support . With very sincere thanks to them , I must decline the proposition . A mere penny periodical , incompetent to take up " events" and " occurrences , " would he a troublesome hut , comparatively speaking , useless speculation . Fully intending to re-establish this journal , I request one favour : that of ike name and residence of each of the present subscribers and readers ; of each and every man who , up to this time has been aieader

    of this paper ; of every one who approves the principles and sentiments of the Stab , of Freedom , and who desire to see such a paper established upon a sure foundation . In localities such as Bradford , Halifax , Manchester , Newcastle , Glasgow , Dundee , & c , & c , where there are many subscribers , and still more readers , active friends will greatly oblige by collecting lists of addresses and forwarding tJw same . Every letter containing an address , or list of addresses , I pledge myself to acknowledge per post , so that the friends of the paper may be assured that their names are registered and placed on record , that they may be communicated with the moment active operations can be

    recommenced . "Wanting the Star , andjnot possessed of any substitute , for the time being , my advocacy of the claims of the Refugees and the Shilling Subscription for European Freedom must necessarily be much crippled ; and , if I consulted only my own convenience , I would intimate that I could no longer receive subscriptions . But convenience must give way to duty . Those friends who may think proper to forward subscriptions for either of the above-named objects are hereby informed that their monies will be acknowledged in Reynolds ' s Neivspaper . Having communicated with the proprietor of that widelycirculated journal , I am , thanks to his courtesy , enabled to make the

    above announcement . . . . For a long time past I have been continually receiving invitations to visit different parts of the country , and specially Yorkshire . I take this opportunity of saying that while I very sincerely thank my friendsfor their promised welcome , lam strongly dismchned to go upon any " lecturing tour , " or " stump-orator expedition , unless morally assured that some public good is to result therefrom . To jro forth , from town to town , merely for the sake of talking , eliciting inn * rhPPrs " and collecting pence At the door , I must absolutely

    decline That kind of thing I leave to the professionals . lx satisnea that as regards either Home or Continental Politics , I could do any good by addressing meetings , and substitute action for indifference amlgth ^ assellmight be inclined to visit the country ; tailing that assurance I should prefer absolute silence . ttSaction ! Though for some time to come I should neither write "leading articles , " nor " make speeches , my friends may be I " wed that I shall not be idle ; but very much the reverse . Despite ^^^ uBBpemOBi ^ 1 have not lost faith m our pnncxmisiortvme , * n » - ui v Q-nnrnfleh of a more tremenbelief is still strong in the approach of a more

    tremennl sandmy Es ^ e for their supremacy than any the world has yet seen In ^ day lSnthe efforts of all honest and earnest men will be "ife ^ cawst" ^ f * 5 SSss £ i i j mi t , « ^ -oItijiWp at a future time , IJie suggestions oi my wt » S — deservethe serious consideration of irradOnwsTOPiu . ifanything like an energetic desire to all n-ell-wishers to tlie ^^ " ^ ^ M be manifested t > y our toe such » V S ^ TSiU eC before this jour Jl will E ^ KSS . ' H ^ ooSdepend ^ u the onions of the true

    TtoMtftaSM * «**¦»« . « even its withdrawal for a « mnst for the P ^ ent « tee horn fe ring *• dresmirces Kvboayforthepmerd- » «/ Xt " SSs-like , we touch earth & W ^ ftE ?* X ^^ and our S ^ bean , ^ wlhUth ^^ ^ e ^ . st 00 d

    your much valued friendship . . I remain , Dear Friends , » Bating ; no jot of heart or hope , Your devoted brother Democrat , G . Julian Harney . Js - # ^ £ ^ tf £ ip 2 Z reader , and friend of the ; stajj u * a n ennare Bloonisbury , he addressed to Ko . 4 , Brunswick-row , Queen-square , jmoo s „ Loudon .

    Stair Af Jfmfrottt* Saturday , November 2t, 1852.

    Stair af JFmfrottt * SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 2 T , 1852 .

    The Parliamentary .Battle, Humour Was Wr...

    THE PARLIAMENTARY . BATTLE , Humour was wrong last week . It was reported that Mr . Disraeli would let Mr . Yillier ' s motion pass , and make no sign . Mr . Disraelt has not done so—he has proposed an amendment , differing in its view of the past , hut almost identical with the motion , so far as the future is concerned . Rumour however , was only wrong by accident , and the cause lets us into a peep at a very pretty aspect of party politics .

    Every body knows that there are three resolutions before parliament . First , that of Mr . Viixiees which ensures the continuance of the Free Trade policy , and characterises its establishment in 1846 as "just , wise , and beneficial . " Secondly , the amendment of Mr . Disraeli—which recognises Free Trade , and assents to its being carried out , but leaves the " wise , just

    and beneficial'' aspect of its beginning to be imposed by those whom it pleases , and decried by those whom it does not . Third , the form suggested as a com promise by Lord Palmerston , which adopts the words of Mr . Villiers' motion , all but the particular phrase so obnoxious to ex-protectionist feelings . The history of these resolutions is a curious one , and might be entitled " A party in search of a quarrel . "

    The Manchester men , and the Whigs united , had made up their minds to two things . —To have Free Trade finally adopted by the House , and to have the Derbyitcs out of office . How to do that was debated in full conclave , and a resolution was drawn up with considerable care , which it was thought would answer both purposes . This was the identical resolution proposed to the House by Lord Palmerston . The Free Traders , had , however , miscalculated the flexibility of the Government . In order to keep office they

    were ready not only to swallow their own words , but to gulp down the acknowledgement that what they have hitherto opposed was wrong . They A \ ere only glad to be let off so easily . No sooner did they hear what was to be proposed than the Cabinet got their supporters together and made them agree to make the submission required . No doubt a few of the " Country party" absolutely refused ; but their number was very insignificant . No doubt also that the rest made any wry faces , but they did consent to take the physic .

    The Eree-traders were taken aback at this . When people want a row , a pacific attitude at once puzzles and displeases them . Thty not only desired Free-trade to be acknowledged , but they wanted to have both the profit and the glory of carrying it out . So they thought they would try whether a still stronger dose of aggravation would not have the effect of

    exciting opposition . So they cast about for what , in vulgar phrase , is denominated a row . At last they hit upon the very thing ; they said , wo will not only askf them to confess that they are wrong now , but that they havo always been wrong . "W e will make them either fight , or fix upon themselves the obloquy of having been for six years battling against justice and wisdom ; and then Mr . Villier ' s present resolution was planned .

    There is a point beyond which the greatest Stoicism , or the most obdurate callousness wiil not enable a man to submit to indignity . Different people have differ ant notions of where that point is . Some folks , for example , will p at up with being calumniated or rebuked , or even robbed , but not to having their noses pulled . This resolution of Mr . Villier ' s came fully up to the nose-pulling point , it added insult to injury , and pded ridicule upon oppression . The most bucolic party

    that ever existed could not stand that . No , no ; they were quite ready to promise to be better in future , but sternly refused to admit that they had been in the wrong all along . Not all the sweets of office could make that palatable —not all the hopes of " compensation" gild the degradation . They proved at all events that some self-respect . In this dilemma they made up their minds to read their own recantation in their own way , and Mr . Disraeli's amendment was

    concocted . So much for the history of the resolutions . Now for the debate . Mr . Villiers opened the fray by a speech , which does not do much credit either to himself or his party . It was neither clever nor in good taste . The speaker was evidently embarrassed by having too much to say on the one hand , and too little excuse or occasion for saying it upon the other . No doubt , if he had been arguing the Free Trade question , he could have brought up all the old arguments , facts , fictions , statistics , and clap-traps of the league as good as new . He could have contrasted a bisc loaf and a little loaf , with the best

    effect , could have denounced the law of taxing the people ' s food with the emphasis of a messenger from on high , and pointed to a coming prosperity in a cotton nightcap , with all the enthusiasm of stimulated patriotism . In fact , like an old horse , which has acquired a habit of going at a certain pace , he once or twice did fall into that view . Much to the horror and dismay of the house , he was going to read lengthy extracts to prove nothing—but he felt that it was out of place , and shifted very awkwardly , to the provocation of his friends opposite . He but he rned

    thought they ought to agree to his proposition , wa them that if they did so , they would reach the depth of inconsistency . He thougt they oughth to acknowledge that they had been either fools or rogues for years past ; but he gave them notice that , in either case , nobody would ever trust them again . Mr . Disuaeli followed in one of his most subtle and slippery speeches . It was quite as good as the promised exhibition of o-etting into a quart bottle . As for inconsistency , he said , his friends opposite could not taunt him wifctythat , they had quite enough of it themselves . Lord John . Russell had been inconsistent enough t <> admit agricultural distress , and Mr .

    Gladstone had supported his ( Mr . Disraeli ' s ) motion for compensation by way of revision of taxation ' . Numbers of other gentlemen opposite were in the same position . He read a little from Hansard to prove it , and he was ready to read more Then as to his having opposed free trade , neither he nor any of the ministry had endeavoured to disturb the new settlement . They thought it was wrong they did not care for themselves ; they did not mind their own rents going down , but they were anxious for the labourer . Once they were convinced that the labourer would not suffer , and they resigned

    The Parliamentary .Battle, Humour Was Wr...

    the struggle . To hear this from Mr . Disraeli , the ally of the Duke of Richmond and Gr . F . Young , and Booker , and Chowlek , was certainly very funny ; but it will still be most amusing to see that it was so expertly done , that a good many took it for true . Mr . Bright followed and failed to make any impression . He was like a man attacking an optical delusion or following a Will-o the Wisp ; all the points of his adversary were

    vanishing points , and he could not grasp them . He told how the Protectionists bad fought for import duties . Mr . Disraeli smiled with cynical courtesy—he had admitted that already . Ho recounted how the gaping countrymen at market tables had been talked to , but he could not fix on Mr . Disraeli , or his party , any parliamentary opposition since the passing of the Free Trade measures , and then Mr . Beighx sat down without having grasped his wily adversary .

    The last scene was an unexpected one . Lord Palmerston appeared in an old character , that of " the Judicious Bottleholder . " He thought it was a very good fight indeed , and that both parties had some reason on their side . He did not wonder at Mr . Villieks pressing his motion , but he wondered still less at Mr . Disraeli rejecting it . He thought , however , it was a pity to fight any longer about words , and he proposed the very resolution which the Free Traders had first framed and then rejected , and which the ministerialists had agreed on . The cheers which greeted this proposal from the ministerial benches shewed the consent of the cabinet . The silence of the

    opposition benches , evinced their disapprobation , but we cannot help thinking that Lord Palmerston has made an artful move , and there are signs that Her Majesty ' s opposition , fearful of defeat , on the middle ground thus opened , will withdraw from the position they have taken and give the ex-Foreign Secretary the satisfaction of having once more balked Lord John Russell by saving the Derby Cabinet .

    The Hamlet Of Nations—Petition For Italy...

    THE HAMLET OF NATIONS—PETITION FOR ITALY . In that speech so sublime in its simplicity , so eloquent in its unvarnished appeal to the holy sentiment of Duty , lately delivered by Joseph Mazzini , to the " Society of the Friends of Italy , " the great Italian addressing his English hearers , said , " It seems to me that there is a disease in the political life of England , it is not perversity , but apathy—a want of equipoise between thought and action . It is a Hamlet- like state of mind you are suffering from , in which vou think well , and vet cannot act well ; in which there

    is found a sort of impossibility to bring into harmony the realisation and the idea . Certainly , if we could go round England and interrogate Englishmen , your vast people and public would be found sympathising with those principles which you encourage here . But , if you were to test that by an appeal for action—if you were to ask even so little as a one shilling subscription to aid this cause , you would meet with but little success . That is not reluctance , it is indolence and apathy . Let us , however , ask the possible to be done . Here is a petition I am going to

    introduce to you . It concerns Rome—Rome being the centre and the representative of our Italian patriotic cause . This petition will go to the House of Commons , and will there perhaps , with other petitions , sink into oblivion . But do not let it . You , each , as you go home , can become yourselves a centre of action for sustaining this appeal to your Parliament by obtaining similar shorter petitions , signed by tens or twenties , or one hundreds ; and I ask you , if you did this , and if the movement spread from hamlet to hamlet , and from town to town , would there not be an effect V * ( Loud cheers . )

    Though but an outline , sketched by a momentary pencil-dash , that portrait of England with its HAMLET-like indecision of mind is the work of a master hand . Poland falls exhausted , bleeding ; and pity for the victim , combined with hatred of the oppressor pervades the English people , and finds eloquent expression through , the poetry of Campbell , and the speech of many a platform orator . But all the result is '' loud cheersV Hungary is assailed by Cossack and by Croat hordes . The " feeling" im favour of the Magyar-land is warm—intense . There is again ai

    very flood of eloquence directed against Russian force and Austrian ! fraud ; but no action—the result is simply "loud cheers . '' Thes frauds and crimes of the Papal despotism , excite very earnest indignation on the part ofthe masses ; yet , in spite of that indignation , the Protestant government of England conspires with thee Catholic absolutist powers to restore the Pope and his abominablee rule , when both had been abolished . by the Roman peoples , Englishmen hear with horror of the sufferings of the Italiann people ; and each man shudders as he reads in his paper obi

    Italian patriots butchered like sheep by the Papal and foreign n , oppressors of that unhappy land . There is pity , in abundance jej but little or nothing more . Ask any man if this horrible state oe things should be allowed to endure ? He will answer "No ! T Tell him it is his duty to do his best , as one man , to induce thdn British Government to play a part worthy of the British nameie and demanded bv the interests of Humanity , he most probablvU will acquiesce ; but will do nothing . " Loud cheers " will responoK to the appeals of Mazzini ; but resolute deeds—where be they ? ? Must this oscillation between sympathy and apathy , betweeisi

    good wishes and indolence , continue still to disgrace us as \ : i people , and render our nation ' s name a loathing mockery in thclm ears of the oppressed ? It is not so much that is asked of us tt tu testify that life there is still in the British nation . A paltrtr shilling—a signature to a petition . The sacrifice is not fnuchch the labour of the lightest possible kind . Yet these means woulul not be ineffective if taken up nationally . On the contrary , thehe would supply real and important aid—moral and material- ! - to the Italian Republicans , and through them to the corom batants for European Ereedom generally .

    In another column will be found the "Petition of the Friendncl of Italy , " together with an introductory letter from the pen o c Joseph Mazzini , We entreat attention to both . The petitiotioi presents the Italian question , —specially as regards the liomana . States , and indirectly as regards Italy at large—in so clear an am masterly a manner , that every individual , whether in public cc c private life , possessed of a copy of this important document mu « u « understand the merits of the noble cause sanctified bv the blocloc

    of so many martyrs . Understanding the question , DuTYenjoirjoirr action in the way pointed out by the Italian . triumvir . Wheiheii the length ofthe petition may be any bar to its being copied ail ara signed , an abridgment embodying its spirit may be substituteaten Whatever the form or length of the petition , let the prayer be oie on and the same , for the House of Commons to employ its just art ar :

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 27, 1852, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_27111852/page/9/