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530 TEE LEADER. [No/474, April 23, 185Q ...
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t • riuti'O Lgopoldo IT,, tho grnncluiMi...
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unaccompanied by any member of the Grand...
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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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Lord Ward And Dudlei. Lohx> Ward Has Nev...
Dudley . These places are governed on the sicvolo sic jubeo principle . According as the autocrat smiles or frowns , " blue or yellow" rises in the ascendant . At present the shadow of his countenance is turned away from the Conservative party to which he was formerly so . staunch , -without materially benefiting the Liberal party whose cause he professes to adopt . It is , we believe ,-vei * y fairly presumed that Sir Stafford-Northcote became member for Dudley because , at the time of his election , he enjoyed the privilege of Lord Ward's approval , and that he was dismissed from that ' position becaiise he forfeited that inappreciable blessing . Sir Stafford Northcote is deposed , and Lord Monde , the Whig place-seeker , reigns in his stead , as first favourite , of the Sultan of Dudley ;
and the ballot will become inevitable . It may be discreditable to electors to conceal their votes at all : it is still more discreditable to sacrifice a free suffrage to the orders of Lord Ward . . There is an end to freedom of election when the scales are weighed down by the sword of Brennus ; but when , instead of the excesses of the warrior , we have the " golden hand" of the capitalist nobleman , the disgrace becomes intolerable , and the election a mockery .
Other boroughs and places over which Lord Ward has control are satisfied with their situation— - vote for the " Ward" candidate , be he Whig or Tory , with wonderful equanimity , and take , without questioning , the goods that Lord Ward provides them . The borough of Dudley has , unfortunately for its peace of mind , a yearning af ter independence . In the terse and expressive language of Hansard , " the prevailing influence in this constituency is that of Lord Ward ; " in other words , Dudley is a pocket borough . Ori the occasion , however , of the
last election , the electors of Dudley grew weary of their state of political servitude , and , to the utter consternation of " Witley Court , " produced an iiir dependent candidate . The stroke was so bold and so unexpected that Mr . Henry 13 . Sheridan , who had undertaken to lead the forlorn hope , actually conquered , in spite of , and not by virtue of , the " Ward" influence . The feeling excited in the town against aristocratic domination was so strong , that Lord Ward ' s nominee considered . that prudence was . the better part of valour , and retired without ' a ¦¦ contest .
Since that time no effort lias been spared—no stone left unturned—to retrieve the fallen prestige of the Ward influence . Of Mr . Sheridan we know nothing personally : what little the public knows is certainly to his credit . He is an independent niember , not registered amongst the adherents either of the " Carlton " or the " Reform . " He has been a steady , hard-working member of Parliament . He is the very antipodes to the •' James" and "A yrton" class , who are always
thrusting themselves forward , in season and out of season . Upon commercial questions— -especially n those connected with the important subject of Assurance , on which he is a high authority—his ¦ p inion is listened to in the House with respect . Me is one of a class of whom we have too few—¦ ien . who do not mix themselves in the passing party truggles of the hour , but labour consistently for the promotion of some important object . Mr . Sheridan ' s hief merit , however , in our eyes , consists in the fact that he is the free and deliberate choice of the
electors of Dudley . They may or may not be mistaken in their choice—that is rather their concern than ours ; but we contend that they have an inherent right to the free exercise of their suffrages . Lord Ward thinks otherwise . Mv . Sheridan has committed the unpardonable sin of representing Dudley , instead of Ward , and , in consequence , the verdict has gone forth that he is to be condemned without hope of reprieve or pardon . Lord Monck has been selected as a " fit and proper person to represent Lord Ward in Parliament . " The electors of Dudley lire therefore to return Manck , and
discard Shendan . Lord Monck was formerly , a Whig Lord of the Admiralty ,, and in spito of Government influence , was rejected for Portsmouth at the lost election . This is about all that either wo or the electors of Dudley know concox'ning > him . A Whig lordiinj ; is to' bo the successor of a hardheaded man oi industry and ability . Wo Hjvy , without hesitation , that tho system of Corruption and intimidation which is now being oarriod on ut Dudley , under the " Ward ' . " colours , is as groat u disgrace to tho electoral system as tho
vulgar uproar at Finsbury and Lambeth meetings , which have occasioned such oxultation amongst tho opponents of popular rights . The latter excesses may bo oxcunud on tho score of ignorance ; the former onnuot plead tho banoh ' fc of this apolOffy . Wo arc no enthusiastic admirers of tho ballot , and wo like Mr . Sheridan none tho less for his bold avowal of a disliko to secret voting , and bis equally frank admission of its necessity for Dudley . At tho same time , wo fool that inuoli more of such aristocratic and , magisterial interference , as disgraces tho proaont Dudley election ,
530 Tee Leader. [No/474, April 23, 185q ...
530 TEE LEADER . [ No / 474 , April 23 , 185 Q MMtinpMPM » g » ii « wi »« pa ° —¦»» m » O' ¦¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ !¦¦! m »» Ma ^ Ji iw i «—« b—mmb ^ whh i ttt-i ... i ..-.- . „¦ ¦¦¦ ,., .. ¦¦ ..- - Jjpncaj . ¦ i i ypmi ihtth iiii '''¦' -- —___
T • Riuti'o Lgopoldo It,, Tho Grnncluimi...
t riuti'O Lgopoldo IT ,, tho grnncluiMior of Ilto proauut Qmncl Duku , 1 h ono oi tho HOvuruiiriiH moro nurUouliirly aHudotl to , J t ObHitrvo , that It 1 h ffroiiMy to tli < i ndvuutiift * ' of" AtiHtrlii to Boiulhur ( roopH Into tlio ItuUiiu duchluM , am they ium thon malntuiuud iVuo ol cost .
Unaccompanied By Any Member Of The Grand...
unaccompanied by any member of the Grand Duke ' s family , who prolonged their stay at Nanle * notwithstanding the urgent and repeated entreaties of the ministry that they would return . Upon the arrival or' the corse at Florence by a special train the people wished to accompany the ' funeral party ' but this demonstration of affection was prevented by the police , because it was looked upon as a movement against the Grand Duke and m favour of the hereditary Prince . The population of Tuscany arc fully nrrecd on the line of . politics which ought to be followed at tins important crisis , isTo very decided element of
democratic . -agitation . can be said to exist in Tuscany . It is known that the troops , which , are now in u greatly improved state , will refuse to len d their ¦ -assistance' to resist any-pressure which the constitutional party may exercise against Government "when matters attain to a greater height in Italy , nor will they go to Lomburdyto figlifwith the Austrians against the- Piedmontese . Many of the superior oflicers have explicitly declared their determination on this point , and their actions will not belie this decision . . ¦ It . ' natural that the Tuscan Liberals should look , to-, Piedmont with sincere love and gratitude ; At the marriage of the Princess Clotilda , the Sardinian Ambassador at Florence and the Sardinian Consul at Leghorn were the objects of great demonstrations of sympathy . JS \> t fewer than 2 , 000 . visiting cards were left at their doors . Docs this signify that . Tuscany desires' to become a province of Piediiiout ? No . Such a thing is not to be desired- for Piedmont , and still less would it be for . the advantage-of . Italy , in general . Those who for many years have wished to reconstruct and strengthen- Italy , and render its several States independent , have felt the necessity of creating certain enlarged boundaries . The duchies of Modena and Parma , and the Legations , have been thought of as additions to the larger States . In the favourite'project of a central Italian Government , which would separate the -extremities , of Italy , Tuscany might advantageously be enlarged by some of the above-mentioned provinces Public opinion would certainly have been favourable , aiid have assisted in forwarding this , object , if the Prince , as he ought to have done , had preserved the institutions which he had granted , anil had not needlessly offended the national feeling . If , as it is generally believed , the condition of Italy is soon to become more alarming , Tuscany cannot remain u quiet spectator of the ft nigg le between Austria and Piedmont . She will 'not Ik * deaf to the counsels of that country as to her internal organisation , and will desire to consult tho general
interests of Italy . Meanwhile , from every city in Tuscany volunteers are setting out to enrol themselves u » the Piedmont ranks ; their number ;* already amounting to at least a thousand . A subscription has been opened to assist the Tuscan volunteers , and the most : respectable men in the counttv , MH'hiilmg several Professors of the University of 1 ' isn , l' ^' taken a share in tin ' s expense . At . Iliw moment signatures are being obtained in all tin' t uscan cities to a paper expressing adluM-cnci- to t lit * |> vmcinlc * of nalionulity set , forth in the pumping , " Toseunu c Austria" ol * which wi « gave «"
POLITICAL CONDITION OF TUSCANY . Tuscany is not less interested in the Italian question than other parts of the Peninsula . From its high state of civilisation , the natural gentleness ofits inhabitants , and ' the-ineffaceable influence of the institutions - which it , enjoyed under former reigns , comparatively little intensity of feeling may be manifested ;* yet the subservience of the Government to Austria , and the exclusion , during the last ten years , of the middle classes—who are both rich and well educated— -from all share of power , has left the Government in an isolated position , and increased the division between the country and its rulers . When the Prince was recalled , in April , 1849 , by a popular decree which overturned the dictatorship of the sans culottes of Leghorn , nothing could be more unjust or impolitic than to put an Austrian garrison in Tuscany , and to cancel the constitution . This most serious error , to call it by no severer or truer naine , destroyed the benefits resulting from the paternal Government of past years , and unsettled and shook public confidence . The . false step lias never beeii retraced , and Tuscany , like
the other Italian States , experiences the direful , and pernicious influence of Vienna , allies itself with absolute Governments , assumes a hostile attitude towards Piedmont , bends to the will , and humbles the country before Austria , touches to the quick the wounds of 1848 , and lets no opportunity pass of slighting the constitutional party , though composed of the most distinguished and universally esteemed men in the country . This has been the conduct of the Government from 1849 to the present moment . It is sufficient here to record some of the -fatal acts of past years , the
remembrance of which is still fresh . Such are the suppressions of the municipal law of popular election , and the return to the retrograde system , which was in vigour before 1848 ; depression of the University of Pisa , the scientific aiuHiteniry glory of Tuscany , which was broken up into two or three parts and scattered between Florence and Sienna ; the ] 3 iiblic trials of some of the most eminent men of the country , Capponi , Ilidolfi , and Ricasolo , because they were present at a funeral service to the memory of the Tuscans who fell at Curtatone , on the 29 th May , 1848 , and ,
finally , the suppression of the constitution . To whom belongs tha blame of this monstrous and unjustifiable reaction ? It is impossible to distinguish , with truth and accuracy , between the more or less active elements of the component parts , of Government which have been employed in working out the . undermining process . Those who know the weakness of the counsellors of the Prince , and their total ignorance of politics , can b . ut look higher for the reason of the sad condition'of Tuscany . One of the latest acts of most pernicious tendency whs the journey of the Grand Ducal family to Naples for tho rejoicings on the marriage of tho hereditary nrince . tho son of Ferdinand . V » UUV m IV « Xf % ¦ V % « * J I / I iliVV ^ V i . w » - * ^ - * * v A . A . v > < ii > ilt *>) ' >> l
* This journey , which cost not less than 30 , 000 / . or 12 , 000 J . sterling , was paid out of the bui-thenod finances , still sult ' oring from tho heavy expenses of tho Austrian troonsf during their long , occupation of Tuscany . They are called in the budget " auxiliary troops , " that is , Austrian , and are universally disliked in tho country . The circumstances attending tho ( loath of the ArohduehoHS Anna , who , separated from her infant ,, diod at Naples , filled up the measure of public indignation . She was much beloved for hor kindlineBS and sincerity ; and tho , denionMtrationnof friontlnhip which tho Grand Duko chouu to inalco publicly in favour of tho King of Naples , oxuitud universal discontent . Whon tho body of tho Grand Duclions " was sent from- Naples to Lughom by won it was
abstmot- last week . Thousands of mimes may already be enumerated , and among tlioin ( Ikwc W the first men nn each town . What , meainvlnHS » the conduct of the Government K ^ « ' fl ' ™ .,, say tliat nothing can bo more * l »* pl < 'i ; a 1 »!« . or madvined . A . law , of the press , formerly < ' ^ c l advined . A' law , of tuo pr ess ) ionmii . » *¦ - - lioiit omiui
which permitted Of tho publication , wu - nation , of any writing not execi'ding . » ;»•• '' * 'i ' ' ' , ' length . This law has been revoked wMlim tut last few days . Tho work " Austnu . i > I «> "' in , which was legally published Imfbre the si . »| » sh . nof the law , so irritated tho ministry t . liiil y ordered tho sofiuestration of tlu * l »«»«» lv . A ' A" : _ the illegality of thin step tho wlmle l »< " ) ' 'I " ' vocates throughout Tuscany have ciiviil . il' - « tests . The hlin . lnoss of government , has , u « u , ^ far as to stimulate , the troop * to nmke h [ "' "" " ]?{{ , tir > n nt JJoboli . Though it seems scarcely » -rj " ; wo Imvo tho boBt autliui-iiy for stntmg "'! / V Tusi-un HolclierH wore instructed to « 'i « v , j '] ( . nautmlita dallu Toscuna ! Vim la / utva ! ( J . »« neutrality ! Pmcofor cvor . ) A ^» - « ' " > ;& beliof dwhiro Mint , they saw the wlnu- Ihiiui . w tho arms of the Grand Uuku- pnimrod l «» « ' » ini ? s riglit Uiafc it should bo umlorstooiUlio ^
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 23, 1859, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23041859/page/18/
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