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December 23, 1854.] THE LEADER. 1213
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STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AN...
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[IS THIS DEPARTMENT, AS ALL OPINIONS , H...
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LAST OF THE PRESTON STKIKE. {To the Edit...
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THE MARYL.EBONB ELECTION. (To tho Editor...
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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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President Pierce's Message. Pbesident Pi...
cessor . Now we have not learned any new reason for believing that supposition . President Pierce may count upon a greater press of necessity ; he may reckon that Espartero , being a man of plainer common sense , must see how impossible it is for Spain ultimately to keep "Cuba , and how the money-payment would be some gain for his country ; and the President may be correct in those calculations- But there is no reason to suppose that Espartero or an y Ministers at the present day will abate
one jot of Spanish pride . We can only make one exce ption to that statement ; and that would be a Minister appointed by the extreme Democratic party . Such a Ministry might give Cuba to the United States , not as a surrender of Spanish territory , but as a friendly readjustment and a fair exchange . In such a bargain , however , dollars would not be the equivalent , though political support might . From giving- that , however , President Pierce appears to preclude himself .
Ihe whole drift of his Message , in the part which is most forcible and most pertinent to the present time , is a disclatnour of interference in European affairs : — " As a nation , we are reminded that , wliatever interrupts the peace or checks the prosperity of any part of Christendom tends more or less to involve our own . . . . ... Hence it has been my earnest endeavour to maintain peace and friendly intercourse with all nations .
" The wise theory of this Government , so early adopted and steadily pursued , of avoiding all entangling alliances , has hitherto exempted it from many complications in which it would otherwise have become involved . ... . In plans for adjusting the balance of power among themselves they have assumed to talce us into account , and-would constrain us to conform our conduct to their views . One or another of the powers of Europe has , from
time to time , undertaken to enforce arbitrary regulations , contrary in many respects to established principles of international law . That law the United States have , in their foreign intercourse , uniformly respected and observed , and they cannot recognise any such interpolations therein as the temporary interests of others may suggest . They do not admit that the sovereigns of , one continent ,- or of a particular community of States , can legislate for all others . "
The President shows that the distrust occasioned by this standing aloof is unjust ; that the extension of the right of neutrals , promoted by the new treaty with Russia , is only consistent with the principle just laid down , and with the course that the United States have followed ever since they had an independent Government . This is true ; but , nevertheless , President Pierce fails to show us any grounds for accepting his doctrines of absolute American
neutrality as final or beneficent . It is exactly the policy which has been attributed to Great Britain as a reproach—a pedantic boast of selfrighteousness—a practical regard only to selfinterest , and a chivalry exercised only on behalf of commerce . Tlie United States unquestionably were made for better things than that . If the Republic has no men , born of its soil and enjoying its freedom , who can perceive higher duties accompanying ; their rights , alas ! for the future of the Republic .
At the present moment the whole of Europe is arraying itself on two sides—one to sustain arbitrary government—exactly the opposite to that which is uphold by the United States , and one to vindicate rights which aro fatal to the development of arbitray power , and which must by degrees lead to the development of popular power . " The Americans , " says General Pierce , " constitute un example to the
nations / True , but by tho fact of that example , they have an influence- of groat weight ; and their simple word of encouragement might givo euch life to numerous parties in Europe as to hasten the development of popular power by generations . At tho prosent moment it happens—wo eay it with pride and gratitudethat our own country is arrayed on tho right side i tho whole body of the English people is
standing up for the princi ples of national independence and justice , as opposed to arbitrary power and wrong-. By that simple exercise of our power , we are consolidating and strengthening amongst ourselves rights that have been weakened in recent years . The hearty goodwill of the United States at such a moment would greatly contribute to increase that
strength—to make Englishmen , in their social and political conduct , more like Americans . Is it consistent with patriotism that Americans should view such a condition of tlie English people with indifference and should . withhold the hand of brotherhood , in a cowardly and selfish regard to what some imbecile king or some vulgar czar might say ?
It so happens—we say it more with gratitude than with pride—that the national power of this country is exercised on the Continent for extending the principles by which we live politically ; and we might still further develop the vitality of Republicanism on the Continent —for it is Republicanism , although we act in the name o £ " her Majesty "—if America also would aid us with voice , counsel , and right hand . Ay , without any State subsidies or contingents of the standing army , the presence of the American flagi the services of a few American volunteers , the good word of
American statesmen , would give that strength to England which England could exercise only for good , and which would bind us still more strongly for the future to liberal constitutions and natural alliances with peoples instead of bureaucracies . Is it consistent , we say , with the hhig sense of the blessings that America enjoys , coldly to stand by when other states may be assisted in thoir struggles towards those blessings , instead of holding out the hand of help ; to let the arms fall coldly by the side , and look on in safe neutrality with a chivalry reserved for the protection only of commerce ? We sec * the reason of President Pierce ' s
policy , and regret it . There are in the Union at least two parties—one which calls itself , par excellence , democratic , and hates England , with a preference even for a low-minded Czar , so that he be the enemy of England ; and a more truly liberal party , which can look forward to a federation of all the high influences of the earth , and to a substantial spread of Republic by whatever names the institutions of different countries may be called . There is a party chivalrously eager to extend the
institutions and principles of Union , and one which proposes only to enjoy those blessings without doing anything to deserve them by extending them to others . A considerable portion of President Pierce ' s first term has expired , lie looks , of course , to be re-elected for another four years ; and already by this negative course trimming between his own party and its antagonists , he is taking enre to avoid offending any , hoping to remain unmoved in the still waters between tho conflicting streams .
December 23, 1854.] The Leader. 1213
December 23 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1213
Steam Communication Between Australia An...
STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND ENGLAND . Tjie last mail from Australia brought the Ttoport of the select committee of tho Sydney Chamber of Commerce upon postal communication by steam with tills country . At the present moment this document is of striking importance , for since it was printed those colonies have "been deprived of tho then existing lines of contract stonmors , whoso services were declared insufficient to meet tho growing requirements of Australian commerce . By the withdrawal of the steamers vid tho Capo and India , tho colonists of Australia aro loft to rely upon the postal sorvico of Bailing clipper-ships , the finest in the world , no doubt , but not ondowed -with the certainty , of steam . Tho urgont recommendation which the Sydney committee gave for tho adoption of the Panama route must now possess far greater weight . Tho colonists of tho " Groat South Land" must howovor , put their own ahouldoria to tho wheel , and , not looking too much to England , take tho initiative , as they are tho moat deeply interested . ' ]
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[Is This Department, As All Opinions , H...
[ IS THIS DEPARTMENT , AS ALL OPINIONS , HOWEVER KXTBE 1 IE . ABK ALLOWED AN EXPRESSION , THB BDITOE NECESSARILY « 0 IJ > S HIMSELF BESPONSIEI . E FOB . NONE . ] "va ^ a uui
Last Of The Preston Stkike. {To The Edit...
LAST OF THE PRESTON STKIKE . { To the Editor of the Leader . ) December 20 , 1854 . Sir , —I am extremely sorry that it should be necessary to encroach upon your valuable space with any subject possessing so little of public importance , at a time when more interesting matters are crowding upon you daily ; but , having received several letters from various places inquiring concerning my imprisonment , and finding also that iu consequence of it not being generally known that I am again at liberty , other letters have been addressed to me which have not reached me , I feel compelled to adopt this course in order to satisfy that portion of tho public "who take an interest in me or the cause for which I was imprisoned .
Allow me then to say that I was imprisoned at the suit of John Benjamin ¦ Horsfall , printer , of Roy ton , for the sum of 164 ? . 12 s . 6 d ., the balance of an account for printing the weekly reports or balance sheets , which debt was contracted during the last four weeks of the " Preston Lock Out , " and for which I and several others of the Executive Committee had become responsible . Immediately upon my imprisonment , a few of my personal friends commenced a subscription for my liberation ; and at a public meeting called by thein for the purpose , a committee was formed to collect the necessary amount ; but on the 20 th of November arrangements were made between the committee and Mr . Horsfall ' s agent that I should be liberated on the payment of 45 / ., which sum was immediately borrowed , and I was accordingly liberated on the 22 nd inst ., having been in prison fifteen days .
I find , upon inquiry from the secretary of the committee , that the above sum , together with solicitor ' s fees on my behalf , amount to 57 / ., and that 20 ? . 5 s . lid . lias been subscribed towards it , leaving 36 / . 14 s . Id . still to be raised . Much has been said in many places respecting the apathy of the Preston people ; and , although I am not now about to vindicate their conduct , I roust , in justice to them , say that , in consequence of the
length of the recent struggle and the present depressed state of trade in the town , coupled with , the high price of every article of consumption , their means are , indeed , very email even for their own wants , nay , absolutely inadequate to meet them , and I would therefore humbly , but earnestly , appeal to the various trades who so nobly supported them during the contest , to assist in removing this responsibility from the shoulders of two or three individuals .
Mr . Horsfiall was only one of several parties to whom the committee were indebted ; it will be seen , by reference to the final balance-sheet issued by the Weavers' Committee , that the sum of 900 / . had been borrowed for the purposes of the contest , which sum has since been reduced to 530 / ., and while deeply thankful to all parties for what lias been done in my behalf , I must not forget to thank the remaining creditors for tho lenity they have displayed , and trust that with tho return of more prosperous times wo shall be able to repay them to the last farthing . Apologising for the length of this letter , and trusting to your usual kindness for its insertion in your next , I remain your humble servant , Geokcie Cowujll .. 12 , Young-street , Pibloton-lanc , Preston .
All communications to bo addressed to James Southworth , Secretary , No . 7 , Old Shambles Marketplace , Post-office orders to bo made payable to Edwin Whittle , coal-doaler , Hawnrden-streot , North-road Preston .
The Maryl.Ebonb Election. (To Tho Editor...
THE MARYL . EBONB ELECTION . ( To tho Editor of the leader . ) Deah Sin , —The Murylobonc Election has ended in tho return of an aristooratic Whig lord , contrary to tho general expectation !* of tho electors , who had considered Mr . Boll was tho fnvourito candidate and certain of success . But the- facts arc , a disgraceful compact was entered into between the pscuclo lieformers and the XVhitjs and Tories , and they worked togethar , sparing no pains or means to damage tho interest and character of tho independent candidate . True , Mr . Bull docs not conio up to the standard of the Maryloboiio liefbrinorH , and what with his shortcomings and tho disgust felt for tho aristocratic nominee , two-thirds of tho Reformers resolved not to vote at all .
.... Enormous puiiih of money wore spout by th « EbrinKtou party in public-houscB , cabs , and scurrilous billa , and this is called purity of election . I am , sir , your obedient , servant , An Kj . kcxou ov Ma-uvjubdonb
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 23, 1854, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23121854/page/13/
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