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No. 498. Oct. 8, 18590 T H E X E A D E B...
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There is nothing so revolutionary, becau...
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fidence they reposed in him. In Morocco,...
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ELECTION BRIBERY. Lkgisj-ation studiousl...
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.
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Transcript
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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.
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No. 498. Oct. 8, 18590 T H E X E A D E B...
No . 498 . Oct . 8 , 18590 T H E X E A D E B . 1129
Ad01306
SUBSCRIPTION TO " THE LEADER . " ONE GUINEA PER YEAR , UNSTAMPED , PREPAID . ( Delivered Gratis . ) NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS . No notice can be taken of- anonymoua correspondence Whatever in intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of his good faith . It is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we receive . Their insertion is often delayed , owing to a press of matter : and when omitted . it is frequently from reasons quite independent of the merits pf the communica-We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . OFFICE , NO . , CATHERINE-STREET , STEAN'D , ¦ VV . C .
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There Is Nothing So Revolutionary, Becau...
There is nothing so revolutionary , because there is nothing so unnatural and convulsive , as the strain to keep thing's fixed when all the world is by tha very law of its creation in eternal progress . —Dr . Arnold . . .
Fidence They Reposed In Him. In Morocco,...
fidence they reposed in him . In Morocco , ± ranee and Spain have a nice little quarrel , the trouble and cost of which cannot yet be calculated . In North America a bullying nllibuster of a general has almost involved his country and ours in a fratricidal war ; the opportunity for which arose out of the blundering of our aristocratic diplomacy in settling boundaries , and the slovenly way in which the surveying and mapping part of the business was carried out . In Turkey a great conspiracy almost succeeded , and reveals a state of society from which further explosions may be expected . In Moldo-Wallachia the people arc dissatisfied with their prince , whose incompetence was his chief recommendation , when the practical thing to be done was to diminish the jealousy excited against the union of the two
THE NATIONS FERMENTING . The state of the world is exciting and anxious , although not in reality so alarming as when the Emperor of the French made the memorable remark to the Austrian ambassador , which was interpreted as a promise to involve Europe in a war—the character and limits of which set conjecture at defiance . In conjunction with France we have a war in China , and shall be lucky if we escape fresh disasters , as . Lord John Russell has assured Mr . Bruce , that her Majesty ' s Government see nothing in his insane conduct to diminish the
conprovinces , and who , now the fusion is nccomplishert , is found , as was expected , unfit for his place . The Servians are still niorc discontented with their ruler , Milosch , whose qualifications are better adapted to pig-farming than to the government of a people anxious to join in the inarch of civilisation , and not liking to see high places filled with ci-deimnt footmen , and gentlemen whose education has scarcely got as far us pothooks and spelling . The East is assuredly fermenting , and diplomats will again enjoy their tit bits of Turkey ' s liver , cooked up with more sauce than sense . If we can manage to agree with France in some broad principle of action , no harm may arise out of this imbroglio ; but a mere continuance in our old efforts to preserve things as they are will bo of little avail .
the Italian patriots will do all they can to bring it about—there will be a rising all through the territories of the Church , Rome only excepted ; and Austria must either submit to the triumph of principles , fatal to the existence of her traditional policy , or repeat the folly of again plunging into war . Naples is in commotion and not unlikely to attempt an interference on behalf of the Pope , which would be the signal for extending the national movement ; and the unfortunate murder of Anviti , the absolutist conspirator , at
Parma , shows what ' stormy passions will , be excited if the Italians are molested in their orderly efforts to obtain their rights . As for the Germans , they are less likely than ever to quarrel in behalf of Austria ; their agitation for unity , which they do not know how to manage , occupies their thoughts , and it is impossible to calculate how many millions of pipes will have to be smoked before they agree to do anything but differ and propound theories far too learned and recondite for practical use . The emio-ration in London sends to " Fatherland "
its contribution of fog , and assists , without intending it , the designs of Austria , by recommending a stupid jealousy of Prussia , which is described as a " grasping and impotent power . Judging from these circumstances , it is probable that if the Court of Vienna gets entangled in a fresh war with Victor Emmanuel and Louis Napoleon , there will be no fear of a counter project in the shape ot a German invasion of France . If Francis Joseph had learnt his lessons of Maorenta and Solferino like a good boy , we should by this time have had proof of his amendment by a real reform of Austrian institutions ,
but nothing of the kind has taken place , and the concessions apparently made to the Protestants of Hungary turn out , now that their details are known , to be only an insulting delusion —quite as offensive as the Concordat with the Pope . The Zurich Conference may end in the signature of one document , or of three , as some of the French papers suppose , but the Italian question has gone beyond parchment , and thousands of ardent men sympathise with the hope expressed by Victor Emmanuel to Klapka , that the hour for further victory over the national enemy is almost at hand : These circumstances are quite sufficient
to account for the continuance of war preparations in France without assuming that the Emperor has a profound plot against these islands , and they encourage the belief that at any rate he would be glad to preserve our alliance until danger from other powers has passed away . In setting himself in opposition to the treaties of 1815 lie was not only acting upon a Napoleonic idea , -but embodying a national sentiment , recognised by Lnmartine in one of the earliest documents of the Provisional Government ; and no conduct -would be more dangerous than to suffer a re-establishment of Austrian influence in Italy after Franco has made
such efforts and sacrifices to secure its overthrow . There may be more pretence of anxiety for the restoration of the dismissed sovereigns , but the Italians will only regard it as an exemplification of the motto , Qni nescit dissimulare nescit regnare ; and they are firmly persuaded tliat Austria will have the benefit of the first half of the proverb , and that they will really be permitted to act for themselves . In this they are confirmed by the friendly feeling manifested in their behalf by Prince Napoloop , whose views are thought by no means to
difier from those of the Emperor , as much as the Morryy and Walewski tfarty would have the world suppose . It is probable that Louis Napoleon is as much surprised as any one else nt the good sense and union which the Italians have shown , and the . absence of those local jealousies that have been the chief cause of their degradation . The change ia not , however , inexplicable . The conduct of Victor Emmanuel haswongojdonopinions throughout the land , and every . Italian would be proud to have , for a sovereign the prince who has beaten the Austrians in a series or brilliant battles , and is ready and anxious to do it again ,
The state pf the principal European countries also portends further change . Lord John Russell's manly declaration in favour of the right of the Italians to choose their own rulora has produced excitement and hope in Italy , and has filled the court of Vienna with rage and alarm . The Pope has had a dfplomatio quarrel with the King of Sardinia , and as Austria is furnishing him with trained soldiers who are to wear the Papal uniform , an attack upon Garibaldi is a very pi ' obnble contingency . Should this take place — and
Election Bribery. Lkgisj-Ation Studiousl...
ELECTION BRIBERY . Lkgisj-ation studiously contrived not to answer its avowed purpose ought . to bo characterised as fraudulent ; and of this fraudulent legislation , we have specimens in the various enactments pertaining to election bribery , of which it is not too much to say , -that in no single instance did either the House of Lords or the House of Commons imagine for one moment that they-wore provjdinga
remedy which had the slightest chance of being effective . So far back as 1819 , Mr . Curwen endeavoured to obtain the imposition of-a bribery oath pf a comprehensive description , ' upon all members of Parliament , but only such portions of his bill were permitted to pass , as were pretty certain to be of no use . A similar treatment has been accorded to every bill since brought into the House of Commons , and containing serviceable provisions ; and when the absurd Act of 1854 became law , every one knew that the true preamble for it would have been— " Whereas the House of Commons likes bribery , and means to stick to it , it is expedient to make further provision for its more comfortable exercise . "
To keep up the pretence of a virtue which pur legislators do not possess , and are determined , if they can avoid it , not to acquire , we have a complicated and expensive apparatus of election committees , and occasionally special commissions , which provide good jobs for adherents of the ministry , afford a little gossip , and lead to no useful result . At a great outlay the Gloucester commission is learning what most people knew beforehand , and what the Cabinet has no idea of turning to any useful purpose , unless an unexpected pressure of public opinion should occur . Indeed , how can the Whigs , with any decency * be severe , when their own Sir William Hayter and their own Reform Club are compromised in these transactions , and when they are in the well
known habit of negotiating with the Tories for the withdrawal or suppression of petitions on both sides ? There is nothing peculiar in the Gloucester case ; there are dozens of other towns . to which Whig and Tory functionaries send confidential agents who change their names , and may ^ be trusted to employ £ . 500 or any other sum ; nor is the barefaced impudence with which vote 3 are sold , or the hypocritical pretence of perfect innocence , at all singular . Scores of other towns have their families like the Coopeys , for which " £ 80 will do , " and for whom " the bargain is struck as if it were a deal for pigs . " In another West of England town it is not long since a grocer illustrated thu matter over the counter to his customers .
" You see / ' he said , " these pounds of sugarnow anybody may have one for sixpence ; but why should I give thein away ? If a ^ London o-ent comes down and asks for it , why should I give him a pound of sugar ? and if I should not give him the sugar , why should I give him my vote , which is as much my property and is worth as many pounds as the sugar is pence . " This is the kind of morality which our statesmen and legislators encourage , and which will continue to be a national disgrace until a real desire for its correction can be excited in the public mind . Mr . Price ' s account of the passing the Corrupt Practices Act was strictl y true . He told the commission that he was in the House at
the lime , and " considered it so much wast " paper . " He added , " livery attempt to introdv . ee efficient amendments having been opposed by both parties , he troubled himself no more about it . " A few years ago Mr . Chisholm Anstey and Mr . Keogh attempted to bring bribery cases within reach of the county , courts , but were of course thwarted , and every endeavour lias met a similar fate , their only use being to furnish suggestions whenever a serviceable bill is really required . In 1835 Mr . Parkos recommended that all applications of money to influence elections should be prohibited , and that hired ngents and paid agents of every kind should be prohibited . Sir A . Cockburn recoiniyoivded that a member •* . ! ,. r i ,,, ; im « v il . onlil nover be allowed to
„„ sit a <* oin ; and the bcflt informed and most ; lntellitrenfwitnosscis examined at that time concurred in recommending tho members' bribery oath , to which we have already referred , and Mr . 1 arlces proposed a penalty for its violation , otherwise ho thought it would be taken in a conventional sense . Sir A . Cookburn suggeHted that when aprlma facie case was made out against a member , ho should do obliged to oomo forward and purge himself of participation in any olftinooH that had been committed . Plenty of werviccable suggestions have been made benides the ballot ) , but they have been examined onlv for tho purpose of ensuring tho rejection ot
such as are likely to bo effective . Well conducted elections would be a usetul stimulant of public feeling ; at present they ure an expensive disgrace , demoralising and
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 8, 1859, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08101859/page/13/
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