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of the world , your own peacft and position up to to-day , had b « en at stake . ( Cheers . ) And mark still that progress . When I , as chief magistrate of Hungary , applied to England for mediation , I presented an opportunity to your Government to spare you the inevitable dangers of the coming war , did I ask your money— -did I ask your blood . ? Not a shilling ; not a drop—only one word . —(' Joud cheers )—one word , which , without the sacrifice of one shilling , and without the shedding of one English drop of blood , would have spared you the present war . ( Chews . ) That word was refused . We were sent insultingly to the doors of the Austrian Minister . It was certainly a signal compliment , but you have now to pay for it in your blood in torrents , and your money in innumerable millions . The storm has come
home to yourselves , and it bangs like a black cloud over Westminster Hall and Downing-street ( Cheers . ) Now , I would ask you , gentlemen , shall it be recorded in history that it has Deen the hereditary policy of England to share in the guilt of Austrian despotism ? With these warning ' facts or history before your eyes , will you persist in the false policy of courting Austria—that Austria which already has been so mischievous , and the alliance * of which , be ye victors or vanquished , could be but fatal to you ? Only please to consider now this mischievous policy embarrasses the activity of England ' s course already at the present moment . If there ever was a truth striking beyond any doubt , undisputed , such is the truth , that , except Finland , it is only in Poland , and by Poland , that TCnflaia »• imlnavaHij * ftAmKa-r / liftrr Adoccsa . QaKacf / vrvtl C * frvrt \
M- Tjr ~ i ~ nT •** V »»** H «*«* % W * V *« -WU 1 WIiUU * U& ^ uTUVrtJOt * ) fJVVliabVliVld VJLVJi " stsdt—taking [ Russian prizes , burning the Russian prizes , burn _ the Russian fleet , if you can get at them ; nay , burning St . Petersburg itself , may be all very noisy , good food for newspapers , but merely palliative , nothing of permanent effect . The Russians may perhaps themselves born St . Petersburg , as they burnt Moscow once . You ¦ will be none tlie better for it . , If your purpose is to light and vanquish [ Russian despotism—if yonr aim is to check the ascendancy of Russia—if your aim is to red nee the overwhelming preponderance of Russia , it is . in Poland ; it is by Poland that you must act—' - ( Icntd cheers )—or else you will never attain your aim . To you the reconstruction of Poland into an independent nation is not an act of
compassion larking somewhere behind the screen of future diplomatic arrangement at tlie end of the war . To yon the resurrection of Poland is an urgent , pressing , strategetical , tactical necessity at this very moment . To you the resurrection of Poland is not only a rational aim in this -war—it is a means indispensable to attaining any rational « nd at all . Now you are at war with . Russia ; therefore , it is certainly not tor any fond indulgence for Russia that England has not yet done that which justice , right , the « xpiation of former faults , and the wisdom of present necessities advises to do . Such an indulgence would be "weakness bordering on collusion ; madness bordering on ridicule . How is it then that these gentlemen are still standing here ( pointing to the Polish refugees present ) to plead for the cause or Poland before a Sheffield audience ,
instead of being landed from English war steamers in Samogitia , and calling from their native soil brave Poland to resurrection and liberty ? ( Cheers . ' ) Why is it ? It is out of sheer complacency for Austria , and Prussia . Your Government knows very well that the pulsations of a national resurrection cannot be restricted to a toe , or any other limb , but must spread to all the national body . Your Government knows well that the mere reconstruction of what is Russian Poland now would be mere moonshine , and as Austria and Prussia hold part of the plunder which will have to le disgorged to make again an independent Poland , then cut of regard for them , bat chiefly for Austria , you still neglect to do that without which you cannot succeed in your war .
" Be forewarned , people of England , be forewarned . Look to history . There in the mirror of the past your own future is dangerous . Remember the campaign of Napoleon in Moscow . in 1801 . My brave friend here , Colonel Jtasz , was there . ( Cheers . ) Napoleon undertook to check the growing ascendancy of Russia , just as 70 a do now . And with all due regard for the Lords Raglan and Marshals St . Arnaud , be it said the little corporal knew something about -war . He knew that Russia , though not formidable abroad , is anything but weak in defence . He prepared a largo army . The forces ' . which he employed amounted to 610 , 000 men , 182 , 000 horses , and 1372 guns . What is the combined Anglo-French army in the East when compared to this ? A Ghobham camp parade . { Laughter . } Napoleon knew that it is not on the sea that a decisive battle can be fought
against Russia . He went on by land . He knew—and he marked well this fact—that without a large cavalry , there is no possibility of holding a bivouac for twenty-four hours against the Russian army , and he took care to have much of cavalry . The cavalry of his centre alone was 40 , 000 strong . How much have you , by-the-by , in the East ? He did not even neglect the pitiful expedient to substitute for Polish nationality the > idea of Polish legions just as you begin to do in the East . Besides , he also looked for alliances just as you do , only less a politician than a soldier , he addressed himself to -wrong quarters . He addressed himself to 'whom r To Austria and Prussia precisely as your Government does . Only he had strongor claims on the fidelity of Austria than you have . Haying had to dispose of the very existence of Austria ., ho just pardoned or saved her , und to make the alliance au . ro , he
married the daughter of tlie Emperor Francis of Austria . Both Prussia and Austria yielded to the courting of the mighty Ctes-ar , became hia allies , and sent two auxiliary armies to aid liim in hia campaign against Russia . You know the rest of it . Napoleon lost 652 , 1 ) 0 0 men , 1 ( 57 000 horses , and 1 , 222 guns . One of his dear allies betrayed I dm on the battle field , the other compromised bim by inactivity , and then both—one of them being hia fatlier-in-hiw—turned against him , and sent him to die . a fettered giant , on the rock or St . Helena . ( Cheers . ) You have been told by superficial professors in your schoolu that it was Generula Frost and Famine which defeated Napoleon . No ; ho waa defeated by having taken Austria and Prussia for allioa against Russia . You will not doubt thia fuct if you -will let yourselves bo
reminded only of the truth that without Poland being a reconstructed and independent nation , no expedition against Russia can succeed , the Aim of which is to reduce the power of Russia to proportions innocuous to European freedom . I repeat that without Poland being reconstructed an independent natior , no ^ expedition against Russia can succeed , th « aim of which is to reduce the power of Russia to proportions innocuous to European liberty . ( Cheers . ) Now , would yon think that Napoleon , with his comprehensive genius , did not understand that truth ? Certainly he did . How , then , came it to pass that he advanced against Russia without having , in the very onset , reconstructed the independence of Poland ? Why it was simply a tacit but necessary consequence of his having taken Austria and
Prussia for allies . To -reconstruct Russian Poland has been till now , and will be in all future , a ridiculous compromise between heaven and hell , by which no soul is to , be saved . Ifc wonld be a second edition of th « Cracow republic , doomed at the very hour of its creation to foreign dependence and reiterated absorption . Napoleon knew this —le did profess it . But to reconstruct Poland without Gallicia and Posen , its vital limbs , he could not , because he was allied to Austria and Prussia . Thus this unnatural alliance deprived him of the possibility of realising that measure without which , in my humble opinion , and 1 have studied history , there was and there is a madness in believing that Russia is to be vanquished , Mark this striking lesson of history well . You are in the same predicament ; the situation is the same , the conditions indispensable to
success are the same , the dangers of unnatural alliances th « same ; the only difference in the situation is , that Rassia has grown stronger in the mean while by your own fault , and that you have not an army of 600 ' , 000 men in the field . If , with all these evident practical warnings of history , England still persists in courting the false favours of Austria , and thus persists in paralyzing those two nationalities , without the co-operation , of which neither Turkey can be conserved , nor Russia ' s power rednced , nor a solid and durable European peace gained , England will step by step entangle herself in increasing difficulties , tumble from one false situation into another , as she has been tumbling from the very beginning up to the present day , and the end will be vain sacrifices , ruin , and shame .
" Gentlemen , I have lately read in the fast-day sermon of the _ Rev . J . Crompfcon , of Norwich , these words' The sins by which Poland , Hungary - , and Italy have been sacrificed , doubtless are now come down upon England . L « t us not disguise the fact , nor fritter it into unmeaning plirases and Mpworship , but acknowledge that we have sinned by seeing in silence injustice done ; and our brethren crushed and lilertj broke-n . Let us pray God that for our sins of national policy and xegfect of public duties , we may not be punished by freedom suffering defeat jn our hands . ( JLoud applause . * ) Believe me , there is profound wisdom in these truly Christian words . The sins of the past are come down upon England . In the case of Poland it was the sin of neglect of
tlie duty of political morality , the result of vhieh had grown to such an extent that without redressing the wrong done , you can entertain do prospect-of success in your war . In the case of Hungary , that neglect has already drifted England to a most unjustifiable impolicy . You have already * to lament that effect ; yet I , strong in my right , and speaking to freemen , who will know how to bear the truth , I exclaim—• Proud England , mind I five years ago , from sheer complacency for despotic Austria , thou didst prevent the alliance "between Turkey and Hungary , historically proved to be natural to both and necessary to Europe ' s iberties , take care not to commit the same error now again Look to the warnings of history ; mind that a fault repeated with conscious premeditation becomes a political crime .
And no fault in politics escaped punishment and none ever will . Remember that inexorable fate , which presides over the logic of events , will not always be content to limit the expiation of political errors to mere pounds , shillings , and pence . For the unsound and false policy of hindering natural alliances and courting unnatural gnes , there may t > e yet other evils , in store of retribution than a doubled income tax , or an augmentation of the national debt , though this already be not a slight matter any how . ' " And really , gentlemen , to no people has the course to be followed been more clearly traced , by precedents , than to England on the present occasion . All you want is to fix in your minds with scrupulous precision , the aim which you desire to attain by this war . Be not content to shout —* We fight against despotism ; we fight for justice ;
we fight lor 1 he liberties of Europe . ' That ' s all very well said , but if yonr national policy does not answer that saying , it is mere lip-worship . Liberty is a high and sacred iiume ; still not so high and sacred , as the name of the Almighty , and yet this very name is taken often in vain . Define what you mean by that liberty which you intend to light for . Yon wish to maintain the independence of Turkey . ! You wish to reduce the inordinate ascendancy of Russia . That's all very good , but how ? In what manner shall this be achieved ? This you must define . Have you defined this ? Then you can but come to the name conclusions to which I come , and they are the following . If Sou mean to fight for freedom you cannot side with Austria . le who sides with despotic Austria aides with despotism .
{ Loud applause . ) If you mean to right for the rights and independence of nations , you cannot side with Austria . Austria ia the impersonitied violation of the ri g hts and independence of nations . If you desire to vanquish despotism , oppose liberty to it nnd not Austria . Austria ia despotism . ( Loud applause . ) If you desire to secure the independence of Turkey do not hinder the independence of Hungary ; and as a means to this effect mind not to prevent Turkey from taking the Hungarian nation for an ally as yourGoverninent wua and is preventing at Constantinople . ( Cheera . ) If you moan to check the preponderance or Russia , you must help Poland to reconstruct itself an independent nation , or else Russia ' s preponderance will not bo checked . But 1 do not aay 4 reconstruct Poland ; ' I Bay ' help Poland to reconstruct herself . ' There is an essential difference . Nations
manufactured by diplomatic treaties never have lasted , and are of no use . ( Applause . ) A gift of to-day may be retired tomorrow . « Who would be free themselves must Btrike the blow . ( Loud cheers . ) Therefore , if you desire to see Poland reconstructed aa independent nation , help Poland by fighting tor it . lo adjourn the question to some future diplomatic manufacture at the end of the war , would be a great mistake , it would compromise , not only the issue , but also the operations during the war . Besides , who knows how matters will stand at the end , should England neglect the taeans indispensable to success ? And 1 was saying help Poland to reconstruct itself an independent nation " She whose existence is depending on foreign protection is not independent Nations must know to stand by themselves-and
bj having friends ror neighbours , united to them by community of interest—nei g hbours with whom they form , one for another , a reciprocal barrier against foreign aggression . Therefore please to mind this : a patch of laBcT invested with the name of Poland would not be a reconstruction of the Polish nation . It would be & mere fiction—nothing « lse . Only Poland can be Poland—nothing less . ( Applause . ) Whoever remembers 1818 , will acknowledge my ri g ht to say tiiat if there be one man all over Europe who may boast of having proved himself to be a friend of Poland , I caa say 8 « much . ( Applause . ) Now , I know , backed by some English , statesman , there are some pretended diplomatists , with Polish names , who are now fawning on Austria ,, at Constantinople , with the purpose of gaining her over totlieir scheme of . patching up some portion of the quartered linrtta of Poland . I don ' t know for what aim . Wedl , let them fawn ! As to the form of government of reconstructed Poland , I ha \ e certainl y no right to interfere . It is the Polish nation alone which mast be left ; free to decide
this-It ia meritorious in the party to which these gentlemea be-Long , that by calling itself democratic , it means solemnly to acknowledge that it is the nation at large which has exclusively to regulate its own domestic aJ » irs . ( Appfotuh . ) But though I have no right to interfere with the domestic affairs of an . / foreign nation , still , as a true friend of Poland , I may say so much , that suck an idea ofj patching tip one portion , of Poland might well auit , ¦ perbapavjBome [ personal or party purposes : but the idea is neither Polish aor national . We have all heard of Poland being partitioned by foreign powers ; but I trust to Polish ; honour-we sever shall hear that that aation has lent her own suicidal lands to a partitional body . ( Cheers . ) No , Poland only can be Poland ; any miserable substitute would not even
le an advantage to Europe , as , without foreign protection , 5 t absolutely could not stand . And , again , please to consider that if even such a Poland , as it should be , were - patched up between the three great despotic powers- —Ragsia , Austria , and Prussia—a free country it never could , be , and would soon perish again for want of free air- But Poland , reconstructed with its national territory , and , laying for its neighbour , Hungary , free and independent—such a Poland thus -placed will be secure , independent , free , and an insurmountable barrier against Hussia ' s encroachments upon Europe . Thus only is Russia ' s power to be reducedr-thus only is Turkey to be secured . If y ou wish Russia to re-cross tlie Pruth and patch up some miserable status gut ? paper treaty , and then come , homo to sleep . upon your laurels ; it uebcer to to witnout laurels
were go sieep ac once any ; , out if you are in earnest in the profession of your bettei aims , then in my bumble opinion What you want is—first , to have the war popular with your own people . " Now , either I am grossly mistaken , or else the case is . all over England the same as we have to-day witnessed in Sheffield ; the war is popular with tha people of Kngland because it means to fight for freedom , and it hopes that some real advantage may be brought about by the war for the oppressed nationalities . I have taken great care in ascertaining that fact , and I am perfectly convinced that it is only by this reason that the war is popular among those who do not measure great objects with the short yard o-f small party purposes ; with all those who know of some wise and
nobler aims than to help either the Tories or the Whigs to make political capital out of whatever object ; and with all those who bear not a sordid piece of coin " but a sound heart in their true English "breasts . ( Loud cheers . ) Mow , if England is joined by despotic Austria , and thus England sacrifices Poland , and Hungary , and Ita . lv , in my opinion , in the long run , it would be impossible to throw dust in the eyes of the people . It will be clear , and the war will have ceased to be popular . ( Cheers . ) w hat you further want is the support ox public opinion abroad . You will lese it bytaking despotic Austrian )! an ally , because he who fights side by side with Austria , fights for Austria ; and to fight for Austria is to fight against liberty . However we may
call the word , tnat is tlie issue . ( Cneers . ) 11 What you further want is , if not co-operation , at least the good-will of the Christian provinces of tho Turkish empire . Now , if you dra-w Austria to yourselves ,, you will drive Servia , Bulgaria , and , in all probability , also wellachia , to the Czar . No European statesman who pretends to know anything abomt the real condition of tlie world can deny the fact that , in all those Turkish provinces , Austria is by far more hated than Russia is . I want not to reason on this subject . I can point to the declaration of the Servian Government , addressed to Reuchid Pacha , on the 17 th April last . Tuore I find these words . The Government of Servia writes to tho Sultan ' s Government : — ' Even admitting that the Czar should attempt to enter Servia , we can boldJy affirm
that the entrance of Austrians would be a very unfortunate measure . Any auxiliary force whatever would be preferable to those of Austria . The Servian nation entertains ao great a , mistrust , not to say pronounced hatred , of Austria , that the whole action of the Servians would be turned ageinst tLe Austrian troops , and all tho energy of the nation urould be employed against this enemy , in whom we behold the personification of a grasping ambition . Now ia that clear enough ? And recollect , it is tho Government which upoak this : and Governments use always , of course , some reserve in expressing popular sentiments . But certainly I know that the Servian can sp « ak calmly o > f the Czar , -whilst he cannot even pronounce the name of Austria without a curse . And that Servia is there , on the theatre of war , and can
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June 10 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 533 * ' ' ™~~^ ¦ ¦ ¦ . I . . — ^^
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Leader (1850-1860), June 10, 1854, page 533, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2042/page/5/
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