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1360 THE LEADER. T^o. 508. Dec. 17, 1859...
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POLITICAL FORESHADOWING S.
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At Horsham on Wednesday, Mr. Seymouu Fit...
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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1360 The Leader. T^O. 508. Dec. 17, 1859...
1360 THE LEADER . T ^ o . 508 . Dec . 17 , 1859 .
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Political Foreshadowing S.
POLITICAL FORESHADOWING S .
At Horsham On Wednesday, Mr. Seymouu Fit...
At Horsham on Wednesday , Mr . Seymouu Fitzoerald , M . P ., spoke upon the national defences . He said : — " > Ve are possibly , I am afraid , entering upon troublous times . After long years of general and happy peace , there seems to be such an uneasy feeling abroad that men ' s minus are full of the anticipation of war . Now , I am not an ^ alarmist 1 am not one of those who think it possible that there should be an invasion of this country . On the contrary , I believe that the present ruler ofjrance for shown t desire to cultivate
a long time has an earnes an intimate alliance with this country . Long may that alliance subsist and endure , and I cannot conceive it possible that it should be in any danger . Heaven knows that on this side of the water there is no man who does hot feel that anything like hostilities with France would be the greatest national calamity which could befall us . 1 believe that equally among the people of trance the same feeling is commonly entertained , fauch , at all events , is my confident opinion , and I believe that I have very good reason for entertaining it . Surelythenupon the part of the Sovereign of
, , France personally there can be no desire to enter into anything like a quarrel with this country . Let him for one moment consider what his position is as ruler of France in alliance with this country . So long as France and England are combined , what coalition is therepossible on theface of the earth which could give a moment ' s anxiety either to the one Power or the other ? It is not only that , but so long as we are combined our commerce must increase , and we fetter the whole world iii those chains which 1 believe to be more firm , more enduring , and
stronger than any others -which you can fancy in political life . Nothing in point of fact can be better or ' more durable than the fettering together of nations by bonds of common interest and association . If this , then , he the position both of the people of France and the ruler of France , ¦ what reason can there be to anticipate anything like a rupture of the amicable relations which have so long subsisted between this country and our French neighbours ? Still less , what is there to give rise to that panic of invasion which has been so common throughout the
country of late ? At the same time I think it not only the interest , but the duty of every man present , and of every man who loves his country , to contribute to the utmost in his power to that movement ¦ which , I am happy to say , has been so general throughout the country , and the object of which is to improve and increase , by voluntary means , the defences of the country . This , at least , I may say , that no man here can forget that that which we now feel to be a want is that which was pointed out by a man who was the greatest warrior of his age , and one of the most distinguished politicians and statesmen of this country—namely , the late Duke
of Wellington—as an imperative national necessity . Therefore , I would ask you , not as the result of a sudden panic—for that would be beneath our dignity and beneath our position , as England is Btrong enough to defend herself , and she need fear no man—but I would ask you when your attention at any time is called specifically to that which is known to be a groat national want—namely , the want of a complete system of national defence , whether you would not be wanting to yourselves and the people at largo if you did not do nil in your the
power to put the defences of country upon a satisfactory and sound basis . I have availed myself of this opportunity of making these observations , because I consider them germane to the question of the axmy and navy . I am sure that you will reeeivo the toast with that respect which is duo to it , with that tribute of admiration to which the Qxploita of both services entitle it , and I am sure you will not be the lees satisfied , if our . gallant defenders should be called abroad , to know that you have still left among you those ready , if necessary , to shed their blood fox the honour of . their country . "
hoped the time was come when they might regard themselves as natural allies . The people of thia country did not want to attack any other nation All they wanted was to preserve their own , and with God ' s assistance they would be able to accomplish that object . They had recently seen it stated that great nations should not fear but appreciat e each other . Well , by this movement they showed that they did not fear , but that they appreciated their neighbours , and when the British people became , as he hoped it would , the British army under the influence of the present movement , they could roll back any army that might assail them , and not leave a man to tell the tale except those who might be spared by the victors . That being their position , the armin » of the people was the most effectual means of main °
taining peace . He trusted that the movement would be no class movement , but that the ' mechanics and artizans , who had a great stake in the peace and prosperity of the country , should be called forth in its defence . He did not believe that the Emperor Napoleon desired to invade this country ; but he was at the head of a powerful army , and lie might not always be able to restrain their wishes and warlike propensities . They ought , therefore , to guard against being taken unprepared . lie would also recommend them not to be over - confident . The time was when it was the general belief in England that every Englishman could beat two Frenchmen . But he believed the French were the best soldiers on the Continent—he did not say they were the best off the Continent—and as he was
armed thrice who had his quarrel just , there was no boasting in sayin g that an Englishman at home was equal to a Frenchman abroad . Their great national poet said : — " Beware Of entrance to a quarrel ; but , being in , Bear it , that the opposcr may beware of thec . " That was the feeling that ought to animate the people of England at that moment . On still higher authority he would say to them , "Be of good courage : play the man for the cities of your God , and the Lord do what seemeth him KOod . "
At the same meeting Mr . E . James , M . P ., said : — "A country like England ought to be at least prepared to meet any attempt that—might be made against her . They heard of great naval armaments in France , of depots o _ f coal for her steamers in her arsenals . Was not this calculated to make England feel uneasy , and to make them ask if ail this was meant for England ? As a military nation , they were ready to acknowledge the high position of France ; but the commerce of France was not so extensive as to require the protection of such a navy as she possessed and was preparing . For whom , then , were these mighty armaments intended ? He did not say they were intended against us , because he did not believe that the Emperor Napoleon
dreamed of making war upon us at that . He believed that the Emperor Napoleon was too sagacious for that , but they could not tell what might take place when the question of war depended on the flat of one man . Umler such circumstances it was the duty of England to be prepared for any eventuality . He hoped tlic present movement would be entered upon seriously and solemnly , and not for the purpose of mere display . Ho . therefore , hoped that the working class , whose patriotism and love of country were as sincere as those of any other class , would be enabled to t : iko part in it . that Lord
He hoped it was not got up . in order a Mayor as such should be the colonel , and an aldcrman as such the captain of the corps . 1 hey were much better employed in presiding Jit dinners at tne Mansion-house than in playing at soldiers . He supported the movement , because it tended to sprciui » feeling of loynlty amongst the people . Jlo i » u nw . believe that chivalry was tlcjid mnongst tlio pcoj c of England , but that they were still prepared to tiuce arms , not for the purpose of carrying tlio l "' ' rill ° " war into other countries , but to prevent them , w >« to show their love of country and their devotion iu
At another meeting Alderman Hobm . f n s ? f his opinion that tho country was in inmnnoiit pcni . We were no longer superior to France upon t ioboo . He was ready to prove what ho aalil . Ho UKl '" mean to revile the Emperor Napoleon , wlio «•» merely carrying out tho movomonta which » atl ™" projected by the Orloanists , and if tho Ukrm nontnno party ruled in Franco they would bo bitterer oiiomttj still . Even tho French Kopublio had P " . , W nJ programme laying down tho necessity lot »»»< £ ' » thirty flwt-rato mon-of-war . What had Louw JNJ poleon dono ? In ono yenr ho built two , In iinoj'JJ three , in another eight , and next your nlno Hno-uj Hut tin f > hlr » a wlt . W twnnkv . fnur StCllin trails ""* > ft
upon its Government to defend it , but that , if occasion required * the population were ready to come forward en masse to resist aggression . If the volunteer movement , now commenced , were carried out judiciously , it would be a great blessing . The only evil that could result from it was that it might induce the people to look lightly upon the regular army . In his opinion the volunteers ought to be regarded as the adjunct of the army , and not as intended in any way to take the place of the army . It was necessary , also , that the volunteers should be enrolled in battalions and taught something beyond shooting . A man might be a very good shot , but unless he knew what military men called " his right hand from his left" he would be of very little use to a general . view
Mr . S . Cave , M . P ., said lie took a different of the duty of a member of Parliament from that which was generally taken . Of late years constituencies were rarely satisfied unless their representatives were perpetually getting up and speaking in the House . of Commons . His own opinion was that a large majority of the hon . members who adopted that practice had much better sit still and hold their tongues , because by unnecessarily occupying the attention of the House they did a great wrong to the country , by taking up time which would be much better occupied in other ways . He had had but a short experience in the House of Comhad learned to be
mons , but during that time lie really positively afraid of the voice of one or two hon . members . Sidney Smith once said , " Life has been disagreeably abridged since the Flood , and it is very difficult to master more than two subjects . " Nevertheless , there were some hon . members who spoke upon every subject brought before the House , and very recently one hon . member told his constituents , in the pride of his heart , that hardly a debate had taken place last session , upon any subject whatever , in which he had not taken apart . The course pursued by the hon . member might have been very satisfactory to his constituents , but could not have failed to be extremely unsatisfactory
to the House itself . At Blackburn a few days ago , Mr . Hosnby , M . P ., made a speech upon the reform question ) in the course of which he said : —" Looking over the speech which Mr . Bright delivered at Liverpool , when he stated that the working classes were not represented in the House of Commons , it immediately struck me that ' I could say that , sdfar as the borough of Blackburn was concerned , the working classes were represented in the of House Commons by the members who represented the borough . Anil the reason I have for that statement is , that I believe any measure which would be injurious to the working classes would be injurious to our own interests ,
and consequently would be opposed by us . The hon . member for Birmingham is a very able and a very talented , man , and he may make a statement of the same sort , although he was not thinking of it when he said the working classes were not represented in the House of Commons , for I do him the credit of believing that he ia a very firm supporter of the working classes in the House of Commons , With regard to the Reform Bill which will be proposed next session , which will be the great subject of discussion , and may upset another Government , and possibiy throw away another year in doing no more than the last session did , the question is one which neither I nor my colleague can expect to have settled according to
our individual notions . We shall neither of ug oppose any measure which will be of decided benefit to the country , and , therefore , it is not to be supposed that the opponents of a particular Reform Bill are afraid- of Itcform or opposed to Iieform . The question with both myself and my colleague is , whether those great changes which a Iieform Bill proposes , are changes which will bo a substantial advantage to the country . I only hope we may come to a quick and final settlemont of the question ; a settlement which may last for such another term as the settlement of 1832 has lasted , for to have such a question hanging overhead caused great injury to the country , and very little benefit was derived from tho discussion . I , myself , fear no Iieform Bill . I care not whether the
franchise is made lower than at present . I have a strong conviction that the soundness and the feeling of the public , which has greatly improved of late years , will induce them to select as their representatives thoso who arc capable of being so . X can assure you I fear nothing from a reduction of the franchise . " A number of speeches have been made this week at meetings on tho volunteer movement , which foreshadow , protty clearly , the general public opinion aato the policy of the Emperor of tho French , and tho necessity of boing prepared to chock his ambitious views in time . In St . Pancrns tlie Bev . Canon Dajuu said that ho sincerely desired that friendly relations might exist between France and England . Ho recollected tho tlmo , indeed , when the two countries regarded themselves as natural enemies , but ho
oaohcapablo of carrying 2 , 000 men with horaos twelve hundred tons of cargo . Mlgjit veft ™ l ^ Sir H . Douglas had Informed our Governincnt o what was going on , and thoy commlttou tiur » i . donablo crime of neglecting the warning . » " * , an Occident tho last Napoleon wouW Imvu Iimiucu
The Hon Captain Wyndham , M . P ., spoke of the reforms of late years in the army , and said that much was still required to improve thq condition of tho soldier . Ho also was no alarmist , and did not join in auy apprehension of an invasion . Ho believed that if our troops wore called upon to act at all , it would bo in an indirect manner on the continent of Europe ; but , ut the same time , though there might nob bo cause for f « ar , there was every cause for precaution . Upon that ground he hailed with deep satisfaction tho volunteer movement . He believed that tho moral effect which that movement would produce upon tlio Continent would bo immense , ft would show the despotic Powers that a free country like this had no occasion to rely alone
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 17, 1859, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17121859/page/4/
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