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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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NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS . [ ABB * - —Not to our knowledge . > notice can be taken of anonymous communications nThatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated jythe name and address of the writer ; not necessarily or publication , but as a guarantee of his good faith . [ 9 impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we reteive . Their insertion-is often delayed , owing to a press if matter ; and when omitted it is frequently from reaons quite independent of the merits of the communicaion . 3 cannot undertake to return rejected communications , iring the Session of Parliament it is often impossible to Ind room for correspondence , oven the briefest . ¦ I - ~ - ^—^^^^^^»^»^^^^^^^^^^^** ' _ . _ . ^^^_ ^ ^
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ere is nothing so revolutionary , because there is tothing so unnatural and convulsive , as the strain a keep things fixed when all the -world is by the very iw of its creation , in eternal progress . —Db . Abnoud .
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THE BLAZES . [ Ubsdatt night was an example of Governnt on tlie " panis et circenses" principle , rather the circenses without the panis . A md amusement was provided for the people , 1 whatever may have been the " march of ellect , " the people were amused in propora to the display . The Government , there-3 , has at least learned one lesson , which rd Palmeestoit has proved himself an apt ) il at learning . In his reply to the depuion respecting the Sunday music , he avowed lself anxious to provide " innocent . and ithy recreation'' for the people . He ex > sses regret , and we believe a sincere ret , in being crossed by the bigotry of
t . He repeated that mode of ministerto the public on Thursday , and with feet success . The most magnificent display pyrotechnical resources and of illumination gas was partly given to the public , partly , wn from the public itself . The consesnee was , that the immense multitude of people were led about from one end of metropolis to another as they were invited the attractions ; and they were pleased . 3 whole face of the community was excited I gratified , aud the unbroken good-humour t reigned in every part of the vast expanse ved how thoroughly the satisfaction went ; he hearts of the people . Shreat endeavours have been made to
assoe this enjoyment of an illumination and otechnicol display with some demonstra-1 on the part of the people . Now we it to the fact , and we are sustained by facts , in asserting that there was no lonstration on the part of the people ; 3 pt the grand demonstration that the jnsh people can govern itself without intervention of police or soldiers . If the lion and more who thronged the streets of idon on Thursday night had been dis-3 d to mischief , if they had been prone to bation , there was not a force in the
mejolis , either in blue coat or red , which Id have controlled them . Men , women , children , human beings , horses , and car-; es of every description , were mingled in Token streams , which passed between * other , and intersected each other , at all chief points , without confusion and withany conflict , except very slight cntangloits arising from the more mechanical pres-> ,, of- numbers behind , and these were sed slight and transitor }' . Tho fact was t tho people , in tho most moral sense of word , governed themselves . ] 3 ach indilal there—man . woman , and child—was
content to move in his own sphere , not impatient to tread upon his neighbour , resentful only of any attempt to impede the general movement and break the good humour . There never was a more substantial and thorough-going example of self-government . But the people , we say , as a body , did not take part in the demonstration . This was shown by the fact that the illuminations were furnished by the public departments , the clubs , distinguished persons who were " bound to illuminate , " tradesmen not undesirous of being noted ; with a sprinkling , no doubt , of enthusiasts , who burned candles in their private houses , and some silly folk who did so in the fear of brokeu windows .
Those who remember illuminations for events that really moved the public , will recollect that the people—the rougher sort of themwould not tolerate this negative indifference on the part of the householders . " Light up ! " was the cry , not dictated by sympathy with the glazier , but by the popular desire to have a national agreement in rejoicing , say for the downfal of " Boney , " or for the
vindication of the unhappy , foolish , but oppressed Queen Caroline . There was not a sound of the kind on Thursday night . The roving public had no desire that the householder should meddle with the business . It was quite content to take the splendours that were provided for it , and it enjoyed them as it will enjoy anything that happens to break the monotony of life .,
The Government saw how easy it was to please the people ; but there ought to be two parties to the study of that lesson . If it is easy to lead the public by the eyes , ought not those who care for the independence of the people , and for the maintenance of the self-government which we saw on Thursday night , to take care that something is done by our public ministers besides amusing
us ? It may be that if we suffer ourselves to be too much taken by amusement , we shall teach our rulers to amuse us that they may delude us . That , in fact , is the actual method of France on the imperial principle . They understand it well at Home ; and we believe they will be apt scholars to understand it at Downing-street , since they have a fine school for teaching it in the Tuileries , and they attend that school .
But if our Government desires to be x * eally powerful , if our governing classes want to taste the pleasure of wielding potent iustrumenta , of being positively the idols of a people , and of standing at the head of tho greatest nation of the world—that nation called forth to the utmost of its strength— we can show them the way of capping the spectacle of Thursday with one of greater magnificence . We can give them a hint how to make the splendours not burst forth alone in ' Green , Hyde , Victoria Parka , and Primroso Hill , '
nor shine along the great thoroughfares where nobleiuen are " bound to illuminate , " cluba to be open-handed , or tradesmen anxious to advertize , but how to make tho more varied signs of" a universal pride burst forth from every open ground of the metropolis , from Wimbledon , Hampstcad , and Clapham , as well as from Primroso Hill — from every hill , in fact , throughout tho United Kingdom , from every garden—a mode which would make tho splendours shine along every private street ,
and draw tho map of every town in au outline of illumination . We may see that celebration of peace , if the war , whether that war bo conducted 011 tho field of council or of battle , shall have resulted in the emancipation of the nations na well as in tho vindication of Turkey ; when a sincere alliance shall bring England to the roal support of Sardinia for the emancipation of Italy ; when in a real " moral pressure" upon Austria nlie may
make her restore the freedom of Hungary ; when the boasted reforms of Russia shall have ended in restitution to Poland ; when the French themselves shall be allies with us as well as their rulers . When we have done these things , which we might do by the simple will to do them—and when , too , we shall have seen our Ministers cease
to get up a paltry quarrel with the Western Republic in order to divert public attentionthen the public of this country will illuminate for themselves ; and then the multitude , ranging forth to view splendours that would pale those of Thursday night , will exhibit not only the smiling countenance of amusement , but the earnest sympathy of national , i ° y .
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PALMER'S STORY—THE UNTOLD PART . The horrid romance winch was unfolded before the Central Criminal Court , breaks off with the larger part of the story untold . We have , in fact , some of the crimes established , but not all . Palmier , who is convicted of having poisoned Cooke , is accused of having poisoned other personstwo more at least ; he is suspected of having commenced designs against the life of a third ;
and all these schemes are completely interwoven with the whole conduct of the man , and interwoveu , also , with the conduct of others . Of his actual victims , Cooke was , perhaps , the one who was least blameless , for we must remember that he was engaged in a reckless course of gambling , and was observed in one scene attempting to aid Palmeb in raising money upon a life insurance . Walter . Palmer ' s own
intemperance at least assisted his brother ' s criminal scheming , but there is no evidence that Walter Palmer had any malignant vices , there is proof that his character was such as to engage the affection of a lady , who evidently had some discernment and self-command . Anne Palmer has been accused of complicity in forgery , but by whom is she accused ? By the convicted criminal , who is himself a wholesale forger , and who violated truth at every turn . Were there any other victims ? Our mode of investigating the case prevents any answer to that question .
It may be said with strict accuracy , that the crime of which William Palmer was accused was not distinctly established by the evidence . There is in precise logic no actual proof that Cooke died from the effects of strychnine , or that strychnine was administered . We can trace tho poison into the hands of Palmer , who was constantly with Cooke ; we can see the motives ; we have proved that Palmer was a man addicted to criminal
courses ; we have "had it atated clearly enoug that Cookk died from eome causes with symptoms resembling those produced by strychnine : but the actual giving of tho poison by Palmer ' s hand to Coo jus ' s lips ™ wot established . . So fair there is a certain flaw in tho positive proof of the case ; but how much greater the defect in tho other direction ( How many crimes aro indicated which the law abstains from exploring ; crimes committed by Palmer , but crimes , also , in which ho could not have been without accomplices more or less involved . Justice looka down those dark passages , but arrests her foot , and examines no further .
It is said that tho story of this case will dotor tho criminal to whom need may suggest abort cuts to supplies of money . But does not the whole story , which muBt be before many people more distinctly than it wn « before tho court of justice , tell them , that although Palmer may have failed in one instance , ho succeeded in many , and that others may work with absolute impunity r Tho hanging of tho one man is only telnng the
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SATURDAY , MAY 31 , 185 G .
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Ma 31 , 1856 . ] THE LEADER . 517 _ | I ^^¦ ^^¦ . ^¦ ^^^^ m ^^ , ^ f
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 31, 1856, page 517, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2143/page/13/
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