The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-19 00:00:00

THE MEETING AT LEEDS.

Tin great meeting at Leeds, on Wednesday, was
cue of which the inhabitants of that important
esatre of industrial activity may well be proud. The
attendance was so numerous that an adjournment to
the Cloth Hall Yard was found to be necessary. The
extraordinary exertions made by those who call
themselves the friends of peace, to convert it into a
demonstration in favour of their peculiar views, had
been so indefatigable as to excite a strong spirit of
opposition. Yet the proceedings of this crowded and
heterogeneous assembly were characterized by an ab-
sence of headstrong passion, and a calm, dispassionate,
judicial dignity, that were worthy of a senate. Mr.
COBDES was listened to with patience and re-
spect. He was treated by the speakers op-
posed to him with that deference which his
former great services deserve. But the almost
unanimous division against him showed that the
judgment of the men of Leeds is not to be biassed or
seduced by personal respect or plausible sophistry.
They have set a worthy example to the Legislature
and the nation at large. They have shown that
Englishmen know how to combine unrestricted
freedom of discussion with dignified self-respect. If
the Russian Government possess any intelligence,
they must be taught by the proceedings of Wed-
aseday, at Leeds, that the English people listen to
all before they resolve, but are inflexible in their
resolution when once it is taken.

The appearance made by Mr. COBDEN is inexpres-
sibly painful for those who cherish the recollection
of what he was when acting as the animating
and directing spirit of the Anti-Corn Law League.
Then he was inspired by a great idea which he fully
comprehended, and which he struggled to realise
by a rare mixture of uncompromising firmness, un-
impaired tact, and unintermittiog good temper. His
views were broad and comprehensive; his arguments
lucid, honourable, and straightforward. But his Wed-
nesday's speech was throughout sophistical, shuffling,
and low in its moral tone. Speaking of that small
section of public opinion which denounces all war in-
discriminately, Mr. COBDEN said :—" These gentle-
men themselves have ttempted to press their
opinions upon the policy of this country ; and I fault
here state that they have been the first to tell me to
disavow participation in their doctrines. I have
been told by members of the Society of Friends
to disavow their opinions, because they knew
I should lose all influence, by advocating
their opinions, on the public mind.* It is not true
that these gentlemen have abstained from pressing
their opinions upon the policy of the country. Ad-
dresses have been circulated by them, sent by post
to almost every male adult of the United Kingdoms.
We ourselves have received innumerable communics-
time from them, threatening us with pecuniary loss
if we persisted in the course we have pursued with
regard to the war. They have desired Mr. COB-
DEN to disavow their opinions, in order that he might
retaia his iuttuence on the public mind, and accom-
plish their ends for them while pretending to aim at
something else. And be has condescended to play
their game; endeavouring to persuade the nation
to abstain from all war, under all circum-
stances, while affecting to recognise that
some wars might be justifiable. This is shuffling,
both on his part and on the part of the Society of
Friends. Again, the unvaried tenor of Mr. Con.
DIN'S arguments against the war is based upon its
being expensive. He fancies that if he can persuade
the people that it will cost them much, be has said
enough to indite, them to desist from it. He appears
to be incapable of conceiving that men can make
pecuniary sacrifices for what they conceive to be just
and honourable. This is sordid. Lastly, he unscru-
pulously perverted facts ; and, by mutilated quota-
tions, attributed to others sentiments and opinions
which they never entertained or expressed. This is
sophbtiosl. Had Mr. COBDEN retired from public
life when the repeal of the Corn-laws was achieved,
he would have carried with him the respect of all—
even of opponents. He his lingered on the stage
only to add one more illustration of the truth,
that a man may be a successful agitator and
yet totally disqualified for acting es a legislator or
statesman. We write in sorrow, not in anger. We
write of a man whom we have loved, honoured,
labouied for, as we have done for no other. We
will endeavour henceforth to recollect only the
RICHARD COBDEN of the Anti-Corn-law League, and
forget what imperfectly-informed dogmatism and
wayward vanity have reduced him to be. We are
grateful for the good he has done; we can forget
and forgive the evil be has failed to do. Henceforth
he is inflames'.

We revert to a more pleasing subject—the general
tone of the meeting. Mr. BAINES said "He agreed
that the attack upon Sebastopol Ned been mode by
too small an army, end he thought that the Govern-
ment ought to have had mare information oa