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Leader (1850-1860), 27th November 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 1140, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      ditions requisite for the maintenance of heat , and are more than sufficient for the development of flesh and fat , becomes more valuable to the cattle-feeder than any compound hitherto discovered . Hence , without taking the fibre of the plant into consideration , it would appear that , for feeding purposes alone , a flax-crop is the most valuable that can possibly be raised by the farmer . When we add to it the value of the fibre and the employment of labour involved in its preparation , the national importance of the subject we have endeavoured to treat in previous numbers will be apparent to all . Nor is the political bearing of the question wholly without interest . At this moment ,

      should a general European war unhappily break out , and Russia be found amongst our opponents , what would become of our supplies of material for sails , cordage , and other naval equipments dependent upon a full supply of fibrous material ? It is beyond a doubt that , with the exception of manilla hemp , which will not take tar , and is principally serviceable for running rigging , and wholly useless for wearing purposes , Russia almost exclusively supplies our marine with flax and hemp . This dependence upon foreign countries , and above all upon Russia , may one day involve us in much difficulty , and demonstrate , when too late , the folly of neglecting our own internal resources .

      We have said enough to prove the value of the flaxplant , and it now only remains for us to suggest the formation of some institution whose object it should he to relieve the farmer of manufacturing processes by opening markets throughout the country for the purchase of flax in the straw , leaving the agriculturist the mere business of its production , and the separation of the seed , with proj ^ er guarantees that tire whole of the wood of the plant , after extraction of the fibre , shall be returned for consumption on his farm . Such an

      institution needs only to he conducted with common prudence to ensure a successful result . It is worthy the consideration of the largest among our large landholders , and should be formed exclusively amongst themselves . Tlieir business should begin by purchase of Flax straw ,-and terminate with its preparation for the use of the manufacturer . Confined strictly within these limits , and unfettered by antiquated ideas , the flax cause , in the hands of such an institution , would prosper to an extent to which it is difficult to foresee the-limits . The

      flax-plant has rightly been pronounced by Sir James Graham to be " peculiarly adapted to increase the fertility of the soil . " May it not now be declared as peculiarly fitted to develop and establish the industrial resources and prosperity of the country at large , and so to form the bond of union—to realize in visible and practical operation , the ever-fruitful principle of concert —so long and ho hopelessly looked for , between the manufacturer and the English farmer ? A consummation in which Protection will find a better metempsychosis than in any scheme of re-adjustment , and in which the sundered interests of land , commerce ! , and labour may , without sacrifice or compromise of the interests of each , co-operate harmoniously for the peace , contentment , ; ind prosperity of all .

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      HOW TO SOI 1 MJI A . MAN . Tjik Morning IFcrald supplies n recipe , for sobering a mini under the worst species of infoxienliori—blind zealotry . " Let i he blindest zealot , on 1 ho () ppositioii benches soberly ji . sk Iiiiriselfl . be question—Who is to take the seats so suddenly made , vacant , by those , who have rudely stopped the mouth which tho indignant country was on . tip-toe to see 0 }> cncd V We bavo lienrd of n 1112111 who always , when lie fell , the fire of anger rising williin him , repented tho ( livek alphabet , and found himself calmed . Hut , the Herald reoipo is still better . We can picture the process : first you have the zealot , who im blind , steadying himself , and beginning-- ¦ " Who , " iSr . c . Before lie bits done , he kccs I be Opposition rudely ( stopping an oracubir mouth , arid the country vainly waiting rustiriiit c . v / ieotaf , -on tip-too to i-ec that , mouth opened ; and tlie sober zealot iikIih himself , " Jf the mouth i , s nlopped , who in totake tho seals ? " It is a problem more powerful than . soda-water . IjOVmVi Si : k , \ riiiDi :. ---I suppose n man ' s vanity is . stronger I ban any other passion in him ; for I blush , even now , as I recal flu ; humiliation of ( host ! distant days , ( he memory of which still smarts , though the lever of baulked desire has p ; is . sed away more I linn a ncoro of years ago . When the writer ' s descendants come to read Ibis memoir , i wonder will they have lived to experience a similar defeat and shame ? Will ( bey ever have knelt to it woman , who has listened to them , and played with them , and laughed at . them , who beckoning them with hires and caresses , and with Yes , Niniling froni her eyes , lias tricked them on to their l <^ i ^ J ^ h ^ timitfdJtoifHmck , aiul left , them r Ml M'is u * li < i «»' 1 << ^ fl y- riliti 1 mil ! T ^~\ r to undergo ; and he submitted , / nutr wr ^ ii ^^^^ ijjWiM ^ lit I . V cniue crouching l « u : k for l- ^ ^ 7 !^^ WA ! ' [¦^ : 4 f ^ % fe ) < , y \ , i < i- » vjll , » F /« , «/ . .. ¦ « ¦ ¦ i , . * V \ V * rr \ -i u % 'A a vV .

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      UNIOX AMONG REFORMERS RECOMMENDED . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sir , —It was under somewhat similar circumstances to those in which we are at present placed , that Junius addressed a letter under this heading to the liberal party . Perhaps you will permit me , in your columns , to give such a paraphrase of his letter as may seem suited to present affairs .

      To adopt , then , his words , " no man laments more sincerely than I do the unhappy differences which have arisen among the friends of the people , and divided them from each other . The cause undoubtedly suffers as well by the diminution of that strength which union gives , as by the separate loss of personal reputation , which every man sustains by his character and conduct being held forth to repeated acts of scorn and of contempt . " It is time for those who really mean the cause and the people , who have no view to private advantage , and who have virtue enough to prefer the common weal to the gratification of personal animosity —it is time for such men to interpose ; and if we

      cannot reconcile those dissensions , let us guard against the worst eflects of division , and endeavour to persuade those alienated partisans , if they will not consent to draw together , to try separately to benefit the cause to which they all profess to be attached . Tho general advance of liberal principles may still go on , though Hume and Russell , Cobden , and tho Editor of the Tablet , cannot lie brought into harmonious co-operation . I speak to the people as one of the people . Let us employ those ; men in whatever departments tlieir various abilities are best . suited to , and us much to the advantage ; of the common cause as tlieir different inclinations will admit . Their selfish or disinterested

      struggles will equally tend to advance the cause , if we view them as our servants , and not as our masters . As lor diHerenccs of opinion upon speculative questions , if we wait until they are reconciled , the action of human affairs will be suspended for ever . Nor are we to look for perfection in anyone man , nor for agreement among many . Iff should , than / ore , not general / 1 / re / jrt'l I he friendship or services of any man because lu > . differs from- us in . a , parlicul ar opinion . In public ail'airs there is little chance of 11 perfect concurrence of . sentiment , or inclination . Vet every man \ h able to contribute soinethiiiir to the common . stock , and

      110 man ' s contribution should be rejected . liy whatever principle the new born or the veteran patriot i . animated , bis measures and bis support may bo beneficial to the community . The nation is interested in his conduct . His motives arc his own . Tim properties of a patriot , arc ; perishable ; in the individual , but there is a quick succession of subjects , and the breed is worth preserving . Indeed , we need not reject , a bill for tbi ! extension of the sullrage though it should be brought , in by Disraeli and supported by I he bucolic Ministry . Let us , then , says . Junius , take mankind as they are . Lei , us distribute the ; virtues and abilities of individuals according to the ofliccK they appear most , suited for ; and wlicn they quit , the service , let uh endeavour to supply their places with better men than wo have lost . In this country there , arc always candidates enough Unpopular favour . Tho l . cmplo of f . iine is the shortest road to riches and preferment .. We LhiiH Hen that ( ho body of reformers in not , for the first , lime , in a , slate of disunion . ¦ It . huoium often to bavo been in the ; condition of the rope , of Hand , and it may be questioned ifthiu bo not it « normal , and

      perhaps most useful condition . At least , where the differences of opinion are not attended with bitterness " diversity is one element of strength and growth . All liberal questions hang more or less together , and if one patriot can ride his wooden hobby-horse through the walls of Tory prejudices , he is able and willing generally to prepare the way for the advance of his party and their friends . ' ^ The more , however , any one question is made -the testing principle and shibboleth of party , the more the party will be weakened , for many who cannot join in . this particular will be excluded from it , and perhaps driven to the opposite . I am , your obedient servant , OCTAYIUS .

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      THE WRONGS OF WOMAN . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sie , —Would you permit me to draw your attention and that of your readers , to a relic of the dark ages , which , both in public opinion and in law disgraces our jurisprudence . I allude to our laws of bastardy , and our treatment of children born , by no fault of their own , of unmarried parents . Besides the injustice that children should be brought into the world perhaps of the very same parents , and yet so unequal ; the burden of everything , the loss of reputation , the degradation , falls upon only one of the parties , and that one , if not the least guilty , at any rate the most helpless . I beg to suggest , that on the proving of the paternit y of a child , it should he placed on the same footing as the father ' s other children with regard to succession . This may seem a bold assertion , and may be quarrelled with as having a tendency to alter succession to estates , and produce injustice . I do not believe it would do so . The present system is fully as likely to do so . And not only should the children be so treated , but the mother should have the position of wife , so far , at least , as provision for her extends . Nothing would so effectually clip the wings of those wretched men of gallantry , as they are called , who are often the pests of society , as such a law ; for the provision to be made for the mother should be in proportion to the means of the father , and not to the wants of the mother . When it is said in the Scriptures that the sins of the parents will be visited on the children , a mere fact is chronicled , and even deprecated . Such , from our hardness of heart , is the case , but it ought not to be so . The Supreme Ruler does not respect persons . This alteration of the law would have the effect of punishing the strong , and not the weak . It would cut down one great source of injustice to its very roots . I hope , however little you may agree with these views , you will allow them the benefit of appearing in that useful arena of public opinion , your Open Council . Your obedient servant , IairMAKT ..

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      1140 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

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      There is no learned man but will confess he hath . much , profitedby readingcontroversies , his senses awakened , and nis judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . —Milton .

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      [ in this department , as all opinions , howevee extbime ake allowed an expression , the editor necessabily holds himself responsible fob none . l

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      Tun OoMJfON Lot . —Cmi anyone , who hns passed through the world and watched the nature of men and women there , doubt what bad befallen her ? 1 " seen , to bo sure , some people carry down with them info old nge the actual bloom of their youthful love , and 1 know that Mr . Thomas Parr lived to be a hundivU and sixty year * old . Hut , for all that , three score and ten is tile age of men , and few gel , beyond it ; "i" 1 tlrf certain that a man who marries for mere beaux // '' «•> ' > as iny lord did , considers bis part of the contract « l end when the woman ceases to fulfil hers , and Iiw «> y « does not , survive her beauty . I know 'tis often otlieiwise , I nay ; and can think ( as most , men in their ovvu

      experience may ) of many 11 house , where , hgn " early years , the sainted lamp of love bath never been extinguished ; bill , so , there is Mr . Purr , and ho <• > " « ' ' the great giant , at , the fair that is eight , ieet higl > - ^' eeption . s to ' men- and that poor lamp whereof I * F' ^ j l . l . nt lights at , lirsl , the nuptial chamber is oxtintfUiNi " by a hundred winds and draughts down tll <} <; l """" J or sputters out , for want , of feeling . And tl «> " " Hutu it is Chloe , in lint dark , stark awake , and J '" H snoring unheeding ; or •«*<•« wrx / i , 'ti » P <> ' , ( . , lllt ( , that I iiih married an artless jilt , and awoke out 01 - ^ absurd vision of conjugal felicity , which wan to »»• over , and w over like any other drcuin . <>" « » IM j ^ j hart made his bed , and no must , lie in if , until ( lm ' day , when lite aids , and they h 1 «< W HOpa ""* - TiiAOKXCKAV ' s Jtismond .

      What is Fame ?—To bo rich , to he famous ? What do these profit a year hence , when other names sound louder than yours , when you lie hidden away under ground , along with the idle titles engraven on your coffin ? lint only true love lives alter you , —follows your memory with secret blessing , —or precedes you , and intercedes for you . Non omnis moriar , —if dyinj , ' , 1 yet live in a tender heart or two ; nor am lost and hopeless living , if a sainted departed noul still loves and prays for me . — Thackeray ' s Esmond .

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 27, 1852, page 1140, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1962/page/16/