The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-14 00:00:00

SYMPATHY WITH FRANCE.

On Tuesday evening a crowded nublic meeting wax
held in S. James's-ball, London, Picifessor Beesly in
the "to c ill upon tie Gloverninent to recognise
the French Republic, and to resist the policy of tern-
tonal spoilation."

The Chairman said he was not one of those who wood cut
down the power ca a government, who would fetter their
discretion, and so diminish their responsibility as to re-
duce them to be a mere instrument of hasty popular Im-
pulse. lint at the same time he ma. of opinion thtt the
people was competent to form a juagenent upon the
broad lines of its policy, and the general dliectlon which
Its national action should take, and that the popular
instinct was rarely at fault in discriminating between
its friends no 1 its foes. In the last le years we had
twice seen putilfc opinion in London warmly agitated
on lento questions, and puttee meeting. had been
held at which a certain policy had hen urgea on
the Government, which policy had not been adopted;
and notwnhsnanding the insolent sneers which were
often directed against workmen; and what were called
platform agitators, for presuming to offer advice to profes-
sional statesmen upon questions of foreign policy, he ven-
tured to think that, looking hack upon those occasions, we
were Beatified in saying that our professional statenmen
mieht have done worse than follow the a mice given th: m.
When the workuma of Loudon na.-t in St James's-hall, and
urged the Government to do esometring for Polond, if the .
Governmeet had listened to the advice given, we stimuli' not
now be crawling Into a Conference to eat the leek tendered
by Prince Gortechakoff When again they met iii Exeter-hell,
and other places, to ask the Government to assume a friendly
attitude tow:ere!. the Northern States of America,
to abstain from irritating speeches mid de, patches, and
above all not to allow Southern pirates to sally forth
from, and return to, our ports—,cheees)—if the prayers of
the work-lug men to the G ivernment hat been listened to at
that tisne, we should not have be ell p iralysed in this, Our
hour of d.Mculty, by the re-appearauce of the Alabama
spectre. Beteer. ) Earl Russell had since thou sallow
longed ha mistake, hut Mr. Gladstone lied remained
silent, thinking. ',crimps, for once in his life, that "least
said soonest mentleii." (Cheers ) In the present alarming
crate, public opinton had again pronounced with extra-
ordimary force and unanimity. Meetings were befog held
in all parte of London every tight on behalf of F:anee,
and it was a very sigeific int tot that the parth:ans of
Germany, if there were any, did not venture to call a
single meeting. From the moment it became clear that
Germany was no longer waging a war of defiance hut of
angiesetnin and that she was bent upon taking territory
from Femme against the will of the people, the workmeu
of the kingdom made up their minds at once upon the
question. Cheers)( We were toll that the bitterest
hostility prevailed against Eneland, and that the PrOlniall
Moms were erten:goo in discussing tile invasion of E.:glared.
(Laughter) Be offered no opinion upon the euertre of
E swish ships, that being a question for the lawyers; but he
hoped Mr. Gladstone would take care to get a pri•per Mem-
airy, not merely to the owners of the Hap., but to the poor
fellows comprising the crews. (Cheer:). Eoglishmen hed
Dow got to ask whether it was consistent with their safety
or interest to allow the only country which was able
to eive an effectual check to the arrogance and
ferocity of Germany; to be entirely crushed down with.
out assis'auce Iron its. " No, no.") England could
not afford to do w ideate ow or more allies co the Con-
tinent, nor wl:hous t: e alliance of France; and more par-
tient, r'y English workmen could not aff ird to see Fretich
liber y crnitied, hit struggle et Initurty was h eunit
rip we Ii France. ted may bin v struck by German
dequits yea net French liberty would tell aga!nst the liberty
and social pnedtion of werkmen all over the wi dd. (Coerce.)
Ue was afraid sometimes teat English workmen were Clot
aware I ow many dangers there were beam them: they hat
&chit ved ci n I lerable victories of late, sun he believed the
Prevail ng for ling amougst them waa one of blind unreason-
ing confidence in a g eat tin c rapidly cetrieg. Our statemen
had all loan engaged in 'llium theta wde an cert.:aerated
Idea of their own strength, while their own leaders were
predicting the neer Bien-phi of demecracy. He believe I,
however, there was many a dark hour of trouble and ad-
versity before us, &nit he hoped the workmen of I:eels:id
would be ready to meet disappointment and endure trial
when it cam.. When such Cite., came the reeporisiiiilities
amid +ratted be heavy upon these who had deliberately set
themselves to corrupt the public confidence. (Caeere.)
ale Meer, In moving the first resolution, said it was a
matter for great regret that they should have to
conic again to that hall to express ”mliatlay with
I ranee. lie had BOW to move:—" that this meeting
warmly se3 monthlies with France in her struggle
agebdt Biretta invasion, welcomes the restoration of the
Republic, and applauds M. 0 imbed& and the French
Government for their pate-lotto elf ids to defend it against
all enemies." Tracing the history of the war, he asked
what wan the duty of Bismarck and the Wits moteirch
(Laughter.) I was to ensure peace. But for Bisntarck there
mount be no ye until he bad his den foot upon the whole
of Europe. It was this the meeting protested against.
Earnest, honest, noble hearted and patriotic Gausbetta,
In his noble efforts had our warmest synuttithy. (Lou:!
chi ere) in was ow: duty to ask what It was that Prussia
demanded of France, for up to this time tiohody knew.
If what kenisla wanted was emiliation. Eugland should at
once cell up in the neutral Powers of E trope to unite wish
us in saying that Prussia itdd have nothing of the kind.
That wen what Enal and should have gone from the outset.
(Cheers ; The English Gevernment had not yet recognised
the Recublic. ("Shame.") it was a shame, because France
Teas a Republic in every sense of the word, and had the sym-
pathy and sul port of every sound thinking man In France.
It WM the duty of England to see that the eld tiny, vampire-

like, should no longer keep big claws hi the beast of the
French nation ; and in passing this motion the meeting
wren I.ave the pleasure of I 'cling Mut the protest of EOO,
laud would go tar towards shekulig IsMi off. (Loud cheers )
Mr. Lloyd Jones seconded the reeolutiou He read •
doe :merit issued by the Government of Defence in Pat is, and
for the accurasy of which he said he voted vouch, mating
that tilers were at the present time 50) WO men Cu arum,
cachetso of the regular army of Paris. and 1,00 cannon of
the bent pattern and longest range. o,u- sympathies, like
our Interosts, were with France, fur we end at have
Pti139,611 mastership in erope Our political existen ue SO a
notion letennhul U on 1 or presenting this motershio, for
Oil? supteur cy oil the seas woald (4oparillse lif Prussia
found her way to the seabmrd of the German Ocean. There
were some things we must do hi defence of principles and
interests ; and whenever the Imp...ding struggle came,
whit, ever the press or Ministers might as;, the nice of Eng-
land TV: old stood shoulder to shisulder with the men of
France. , Loud cheers.)
The resolution wascosried numdmously.
Mr. Marriott, barrister, moved .—" lhat tills meeting
condemns and resents the conduct of Mr. Gladstone (" No.
no," and "Yi s, yes"); firstly, for hie persistent Tofu :al to
accord full official memo:Woo to the misting Governlnent of
France; and secondly, for cornproinxing the tumour and
eatety of this country by the vactlistion and Mehl..., of
his foreign policy (interropitour.) it was a matter for
proforn,i reeret that such a resolution as this sirmid ho
necessary, for two years ago they would have hailed Mr.
0 iwistoneas the hest and wisest Prime Minister England had
ever had. (`• No, no," "Yes, yes," and "Thee,: chPer, for
Gladrone.'') It was for the meeting to say whether the cee,
as stated In the resolution, was made out and the reso.u.
lion, It must be borne 111 mind was • vote of censure op in
the Premier. (interrimthilm.) At present our Ambessoor,
and every E gush ceosul in France, sete accredited to the
Emperor Napoleon, and It could nit, therefore, b 3 said we
had imbetantially recognised the Republ'c Was it bee
that the Government was vacillating MO feeble ('' No,
no," and Yes,; es ''' In the mutter of Belgian neutrality
mid the exportation Of arms. our Mini-try b, nee. both
V.sciiisting and feeble, but our Government, although It has
11.6 recognised the G einrommit ot F.,ce .1111 boil St to
imogratulate the King of Peewits upon assunstog the purple.
litece ) lie called upon the auras:lto of England to ÜbV
retry m-ans in their powor to compel to Goverafaellt to
recognive the Frebeh goouldie, and thereby give our sym-
pathy to the French people. (Loud ('heers.)
Mr. G. Howell seconded the motion.

An amendment WM handed up ta the elialrman, cIIIn
upon the Reoul•liesne of Ragland to robe an army of 29,1,00
men to j do I; iriheldi ii. patting down the llerman brigand
and hie myrail,lous.

the Cialinuan deelael that the 1,11 Lid nwit hut nothing
to do with the question, and ta i•d it.
Toe motion was carried by • na.jority, the chairman
rt Iting that about PA) hinds were helo up against It.

„
Mr. Frederic liarrhon moved, 'That this meeting nrgs s
Up .0 the Kalish Government the art-entity of asoert..b.h.g
orticially Loni Weromuy the terms upon whieh she will con.
gismo pence.andileelarie that to the event of her luslatirns on
tho dissuesuhernient of Franoe, ithetai,d should call upon the
neutral Powers to smite with her in resisting it” (Cheers)
He did trot belong to the peace-atiany.price party, which had
igoomiolonsly Issued at the cost of the iiiehonour and shame
of the country. He did not aupport the policy which Md. US
into the En,sine war, but tt was the pea...at-my -price party
ah made that war necessary. (" No, no.", Whealke flaw Chet
pee.cedit-any pike party, wAch was no longer de-
fended by he manly sense of Mr. Oablen, or the eloquence
of Ole. Bright ; he perceived it was a discredited party, and
he WWI slot going to take up with the tall of a party which
Wet oily n..w sir.marted by a few psalm-Minting fanal:cs.
.•o‘l, Gil,' and homes ) lie would have peace Reellroti Sty
oil extension of the Trades Union principle. (' Q
The quaker continued gOattint call of time "to support the
terms of his motion.
Captain Manse socanded it, observing that if the pessimist
state of Edrope was the sesult of h sving what wis
prac Iced Merl at On head of affairs, it would be surely worth
while to send for the phdosophers. the visionaries, the enthu-
siasts, and tho i,rncaocllabien. There was a peace par y tra-
velling about the country preaching abject Buhl:Marlon to
whatsoever might occur. ('' No, no.") That party, however,
was not a peace, but a war party. trance was right in rsnostiug,
and it might be Wind-sty to help her. (Cheers.) Official E,rope
was Oneida to act, end England muit, therefore, take the
Initiative in ascertaining the precise nature of Prussia's
terms of peace. if Bittnarck were driven back to the EMlnn
he would no doubt say lie had never wanted anything hut
I inviolability of territory. (Laughter.) Should remonstrate
sod protest be unavailing we ahouid why ourselves with
France in order to resist an oppremiou to her, and a manna°
to Europe. ((Sheen )
Three amendments were handed to the chairman and
read The first y..r. posed Viet ni who voted for the motion
alt tilt! lie to the (ront. (Langhter). The second, while gym-
pathisleg wlth the French people, said it was imolai:tic to
Vance into war, but we should evince our Indignation at the
aggrandising conqueror, by withholding commercial relations
with rrunia, by stopping the payments of German Priocei—
,l,ud esies)—and by permitting all Euglishmen who wished
to join the French asmy. The other amendment proposed
the omission of the latter par; of the resolution. The weal-
th, at the invitation of the chairman decided not to accept
the first and second, and the third wan moved by
Mr. Lamatt, who, amidst continual interruptions, pro-
ceeded to protest against the war feeling of the country, bat
was obliged to wall:thaw befom the hostility of -the meeting
A gebtleman who wished to second the ameueline..t wee

out:spud from the same cause, nn . ft ill, chairman inter.ror.ed
Ile then protested agalost England luteriering with the war,
amilst loud erica of "Slt down."
Mr. Bradlaugh aupporte I the original motion.
Toe amendment was withdrawn, Mr. Lama announcing
that a paolic meeting %mild ht held to test the real cp.nisnd
of the working men of Loudon on the question of "pe .ce Or
war."

The retolutfon was then carried, and a w)te of that.k to
the chairman cloceL the poooeolege, ft haviup,b,ch decided
Mut coptes of the retendlon &hada be forwarded to the
G J vernment.

Rlistellancous