The Express.
London, England, 1849-10-31 00:00:00

THE PEACE CONGRESS.

GREAT MEETING AT EXETER-HALL,
r
The meeting whichrrsiatcws
thehs e
thesel beenedenselyd
~re,scr oeroofliwoht rdh,. :et
.pol ntaee.,
been
o the friends of tee peace movement in thin ciunery.."
y este rdey ev. mg in the great room of Exeter h'al
More nunerous gathering has, perhaps, nee
nosed. The vast area
one peculiarity in the assembly width is worthy of nd thee"' ye'
er
namely, that, unlike moot meetings convened in th ru'?'—
inn, it appeared to present a decided pre toile.
lairtu
mloaluAdet ailepq:u•
in the enetropodi, accompanied by a number IA distir7"--ZI
foreigners, came upon the platform, and were greeted-"u
r
gea
ic
MCOFBliirbeeebdindei:keit—in:4P Bassist,ier.sTelkdo.:vu!el eehli,l::D:Gjrt4ll4":"Chnla.il2:p.:b Campbell, 1141111,* Presidental
IGD.u.Prinit:;:01::::11:41;.:
iluseoe Stu
CEllqar,lth'lr.kljacihkoayL, gat.,
TLLlDho,mTashepinyasne,Fonwilcehrard,'Cß.ebritEly_eili
decadent
:h
e nn proposeddeodi hby
m late
rt
jart..Bk WilliamSatre
ci:E::eadur t
carried ,
pEa
Em e q.
r,. ; Da
DJ d
60y re
cLeyy.
s h oiehled
int ottie.tnh owa a(rco.
e bnrah m tley of a
c eubLjeets ufOW. but it
ne
by 'lectern stiou.
tLia
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, in inommere* e
shot speech which it is now my duty to addr,ss tolnthyOey
ethanetkiragt. It right
does to s.Anotet assartismt very
the
has entree:cc the late congress in Paris, and tie our futon
prinerdinua as the resul: of that conrecation. Ties suoj";
will be touched upon by the various vestals who will fullor
me, and opeciahy by one of 'he Le creative ef the I'
Congress. I am happy to aeneunce to you, end I Wiese I
may do so without the slightest hesitation, to at ie the sp.
punching year another peace cnektess will he he.d, -n
which we expect a vast usembhige of our brethrea
from lersece, Belgium, Germany arid America; and Mat
the scene of operations will be Frankfort (Low: meanly
Gentlemen, when I behold so vast a meeting as that wee*
now presents itself to my view, I am, 1 ewes, ore.
whelmed, and am led to regret that some fitter persue din
not occupy the chair. But the :eery Timm's, in the amen*
Makes nem me, as it were, my own individuality: weslf
seem to be impelled onward lay the irresistible tide of 1 Inn
opeeiot, which is letting with constant fl ,w in the %unmet
direction of perpetual peace. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, 1 feel
it to be my first uuty, as an Elie/belle-an, to welcome than
illustrious terrignere—(immense applsuse)—Oo hart lee
noured us with their ;stones— (reins ed applaute)—ame
distinguished in literature, especially the literature of pea.
cal economy, in France. Ameng those who are them be.
Enuring us this evehiant, there is one not very usual eharemee
in a peace meeti.g : we have a general here, whom lee
will, I am sure, all hail—General Klapka. (A burn n
applause followed the announcement of the prier:: e of Ibis
distinguished Hungarian general, the late commander of the
fortress of Cemorn, who appeared scarcely to hare summed
middle age, and who sat very near the crewmen, in frusta(
the platform.) You wi I hail (continued the chairman) the
presence even of a general at a meeting of the inmate
peace, en is
we may wail hope that that gallent oft ee
come here to intertwine the peaceful olive with the lords
of war. (Cheers) We tender our thanks to our exallett
friends from abroad for their presence on this ontilioa, ale
especially are we grateful tot the assistance and kindness
which we have bad the honour i f receiei..g in Pare.
(Hear, hear.) And here let me also expose oar
acknowledgments to the members of the press ia
that country—to the writers of the various public
journals in France who almost universally 'spotted
the cause of peace during the session of tee em.
geese. (Chive.) Be it Token to the honour o: Fiance nil
of Belgium, that there was scarcely au isolated paper in titkr
country which dad not, during the progress of our proceed.
ings, advocate the cause of peace, at least, in theory, if nut is
prac:ice. (Much cheering.) I wloh I could make a simile:
statement with respect to the press ed our nen emery.
(" Hear, hear," sod " Hisses.") We know it has been toe
often the habit when any great dottrine is first broached,
assail it merely because it Is new. But I hold that Men.
no logic in ridicule, and that a sneer is but a peer substitute
for a syllogism. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, pardonless note
who have assailed us, and not minding what Sbakspeancele
" the paper Pellets of brain," we may any in reterenta
their conduct on this question, what ha, ben
r said of their conduct on ether questions, that
perchance they may come to respect what they now ride
cult, thus resembling, in some degree, those who, having
" come to scull, remained to pray." We are told that the
present is an improper time for the agitation of this guinea.
I know of no time more suitable for unturlieig broadly the
, banner of peace than a period when the fires cf war men
to be undergoing extinction all over the continent of Europe,
, and when tne lust tedet gleams of peace are beginuirg te
dawn upon the horiz JO ere a constellation of humour sod
a concord is presented to our gaze. (llheen.) I ass sony
that what appeared the dawn has b.en dimmed and ie.
, faced by the effusion of blood. A famous English enter
once rod—" When the funeral fires et war were dying set,
and the sun of peace was just tinging the bonen,
- rubbers and 'seas ius toot advent:see of the twilight." I
6 grieve to ay that the assassins who have taken advantage of
a the twilight are the legalised assassins of an &Wilsey
government. (Hear, hear.) I grieve to think with regard
to the conduct of the government of Austria—Oftener—that
any Austrian, if such an one there be here, may well feel the
honest blush of shame when he considers what Mu concoct
en been. (Hear, hear) There is no Englishmen, on
Frenchman, no free man of any country in Europe,
r or in America, who does not blew with honor
, and detestation he sacrifice of human life which has hen
legally perpetrated by the military government of Meuse.
(" Hear, hear," and cheers.) Not in this country shoe, but
in the rudest wilds of America feelings of indignation MA
he excited by rich conduct. Now, it is, I believe, town
better that the verdict on this question should be panning
time of peace, when there is nothing to prevent the tette:e-
--1 non of universal accord than in a time of war. Amid the
din of war the indignant cries of its victims intuit be
drowned, and the sound of arms would taiga the remorse
the executioner; and it is desirable, therefore, net the
crimes of war—for I must call them erimes—(chei
should be visited with the general condemnation of %mite fal
Christendom, at a period when that cnneemealion meet
be interrupted by the dissonant sounds of battle, but wilts
uttered in the stronghold of universal psee. (Hear, lieu.)
I think, too, that the very fact of the exidence of press
will stamp with still more discredit, or rather infamy, the
conduct of theme who perpetrate deeds of blood, and that the
verdict of posterity, as well as of the present genereile,
will be indignantly pronounced with regard to se
times as discrace'ul se any that net blotted et
ensangnined the page of history. (Cheers.) Gentlemen,
I am sure that ernse who have (seeped teem sun
scenes as theme to which I am referring will be bailed is
England—England, which will, I trust, ever be the ale
mayhem of the unfortunate brave. (Loud cheers) The erne
before me leads me to the irresistible conclusion that peace
doctrines are making the most extensive progress in the
minds of the people of this country. (Immense applause.)
The inhabitants of London ailest this fact now; to-morrie it
will be attested in the vast town of Birmingham, and on the
succeeding day in the metropolis of our manufacturing ii-
dustey—Manehestsr. (Applause.) Perhaps I may be allowed
on this occasion to advert to the satisfaction with which the
friends of peace have observed the announcement nosily
made, on the part of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, that
a great commercial congress is to be held two years hence is
this metropolis—(cheers)—that an exhibition is to be made
here of all that art or manufacture in every eutoe
try in the world eau produce—in the P
—that the exhibition is not to be confined to the
fruits of our own exertions, but that we are to tin our gam
Tf°ase:u°.reei!
of the interests of commerce and casoee
wide open in order to welcome the proiluetions of trade setd
industry in every part of the world. (Hear.) Ass friend
of peace, I can honestly declare that I respect and boron
Prince Albert for making such a proposition, a propesithel
which not only does credit to his feelings and his Willi-
gence, but which will, in my opinion, immortalise hie name.
(Cheers) Gentlemen, I have adverted to the rreeenee of
many distinguished foreigners on this occasion. I hail with
peculiar pleasure the presence of our friends from Freon,
(Cheers.) May I not say to them, with the heartinees of
an English welcome, that we are rejoiced to see them
here, and that England sincerely desires the Peat,
the prosperity, and the happiness of France.
(Great cheering.) We do not, indeed, wish
lee France decked in the sub of a wild Bacchante of 'roe
lutlon, or covered with ensanguined robes like then wheal
she has formerly worn ; we desire rather to see her in the
sober majesty and the composed dignity which accords with
her ancient honour and with her modern civilisation.
itself(Chee
rgreslateGrenretruerces than
Gentlemen,
Could
dn
mighty republic (Laughter and cheers, eliceed by the
mistaken designation and its instant correction.) All that
is required fa that she should be fairly allowed to develop.
anythit countrymigh cokinngtadiann2w ith_an
iat
her gigantic strength, and that strength can only be deve-
loped by the two principles which are embodied in the
words " liberty" and " peace." We hops that Elegised
and France will now be knit together in an alliance which
will be not only enduring, bat everlasting. (Cheers.)
It had been said by one of oar greatest lyric
poen Collins— that, in ancient story, the Gaul
saw Britain linked to the now adverse strand. If the two
countries were linked geographically and materially in en.
eient times, may we not hope that they will he linked
amicably and morally in future. Yon will, I have no doubt,
hear this sentiment expressed far better than I can utter it
by our friends from France. Shakspesre says we all have
our exit* and our entrances." I feel that the period of
my own " exit," so far as this opening speech is eancerneel,
has now arrived, and I shall be indeed satisfied if you think
that I have not already ocmpied your time too long.
(Cheers.) Let me say, in conclusion, that for the forthcoming
oongrem, and for the future elimination of this great quer
ed States of
tion, we have four nations united together in holy orother
hood—France, England, Belgium, and the Unit
America. These four nations, thus united in the cause
of peace, are the freest nations in the world, and we
=net set them and peace against all the world and wan
(" Hear, hear," and cheers.) Thus combined in our onward
progress, I believe we shall see the coctrines of e.niversat
concord making way, and with their advance will be that of
liberty, of order, of civilisation, and of Christianity. (Lord
applause.)
The Rev. HENRY RICHARDS then narrated extent'
pore the peace operations of the last twelve months, pro
facing his remarks by stating that a printed report, convey:
ing much fuller information, would shortly be ready for des
tiibution. He afterwards read letters from various dil-
tinguished foreigners in relation to the object of the meet*
lag, regretting their inability to be present. Among thew

um lettere from Id. Vaulter., M. Luau-
‘a A bbilhOP of Pule. Bade M. Victor
t,
U.g., M Bunt, Y. Cequal, .ad H. blishel Olivet Or.
H7NW. SHOCK staved the lint rete:atima u

..Teat this mietiag dykes to express its gratitude to the
ems Ruler ot the cation for the signal somas which has
waded the lamas el the committee duels( the year, *spy.
yg,la raisiazion with the Peon Coopers held in the
gl Pal ia August last ; and it would retard that
se se liessetive to itiereesed ezertion in the future
ir its szoglyiralemerat of the undereiking so auspicioaely
Mr I. B. SMITH, M.P., said that after the meeting
*eel boa to long engaged with the preliminary prt.med
ebseld best &omit their feelings and kis own by simply
eerdldlJJ serandieg the *salaries.
MIRE. GURNEY, E q , who was recri.ed with loud
,opek. es follows : —My fries& and fellow citizens, I
bliNefwthe this is • very maims ossossitsa oa whisk to address
oreoe las aeon &bast to do. I feel that the ellese *Melt
yaps,
wee met to promote is one in whin not only the highest
the Mums eheaseter is *volved, but which also
M, me of the rarest principles of Christianity ; and
Este two principles sre ws intimately omalsised that they
owl be aver-d. (Applause.) I have been
and
to as
••g rage from Lon.hud.street." (A planes, and " Ton are
awry awl one !") I wish to confirm what has already been
seeepubl is ender my signature, that if the else salable system
fagesdisie aralee is meentained, as it has been aalnteined,
gis Yemeni: diMessiles of the notions of Burin will in-
seam n them. (Cheers.) But, my friends, that is only
ea interior point amongst the horrid results of a state of
raerfate. It has Dees el- eady stated that war in all its
wino dens ant present one *mumble feature. The con-
m hes been Awed with a want of triad ; a great deal
eleneempt ben thrown tips.* it ; end It Ism been al-
leged that the horrors of war are more to be brine with than
08 priaciplee of pease se they have been edvosited and
hid ferth. lam one vibe goes ea far as to believe that all
yet ie all its bearing*, is against the principles of Chrisl
sad that it is equally adverse to aU the princiles of
sword p dire. (Cheers ) Can it be mad* 'Past that the
sershant of 11..ra shell fi out his rhip, end steal the ship
of the merehmt of Plymouth? (Hear, hear) Can any
Me• e
ul men take that honest ? (Hear, beat) We
Mee s n chug d with taking a meet Impracticable line. I
don t fork so. I belie* that the caws we promote has sl-
imly rade considerable program is the world. Nnt only
have the naiad* of men been enlightened in a large degree,
but the e.antes of war have bran limited much more than
they formerly ware. lack at the state of this anintry GOO ea
00
,r 4 ago, what harm was arrayed mains% berm, when
th. it retain.* were armed, and all differences ware settled
by three. Had there been a purse in them data that press
would hate thought it equally improbable and impracticable
that the :amily &ad baronial wars which then Mittel. the coun-
try eh. old come to an end, sad would have taken as strong •
Freund aghast any pc es movenwat as is taken by the press
of the pr.ltat day. (Carats.) I think it ia not ueremona.
We or ezirstsgant to suppose that, so light is thrown arm
this qu,etios, more especially as Christianity growl apes the
fare ;he earth, the feelings of men will more and mem
at. I:0 a down t.. • system of Christen feeling toward&
amts
an ett. r, and that the day will cum, of which we ham the
clew, tt whey r.atien shall not lift up the sword
aento. n nem, arida*. shall they learn the art of war any
more." (ilea, boas.) I am not so sanguice as to suppose
that this happy state of things is near at heed but
it is ry day growing nearer; and I apprthen lit is
the 0.1 c of a peace enegras to pine life to this subject, to
remote Ira growth, to press forward the cause, awl to do
Mat to them ht s to hasten oe tin.* brighter days. (Cheers.)
If them days h. the high• et perhciion and reality of
Christianity, I have no heritation in sating that every step
takes tewatde that blessed state is • good step. (Cheers.)
Aid it is not only • good step, but • step perfectly free
from ell folly, or anything calculated to raise contempt;
foe entry dip so taken has in Half the essence of the
sounded pulley. (Hear, hear.) It is nay earnest desire that
in the coudeeting of all meetings of this character, it should
he our main d sire to promote the principle cut Ceristi .eity,
✓ the anuedest and most certain to produce the happy es
sell we denim. (Haar) May I venture to give a caution
is the prams, of ties mum under the care of our congress—
a testi ,e, I apprehend, whieh may rot prom very palat-
able. 1 aperebend that all alseioes to the particular
psi I t ene party or asotlise, do somewhat tend
* toe, r twee holy cause. (Beer.) And it is my de-
site t tt : s 'he progress of this mum we may more and
mere t n the simple ground of Christianity, sad
th.t et .re ; for I am convinced that no policy is so mend for
the happiness min as the promotton of Christianity.
(Applause ) it is sometimes stated, and with a greet deal
el plaudhdity, that in the present state of the world, it
wadi t-s a very dangerous thing for • country thus to not
itself tip's Christ:au principles and Cnristian duty. I do
wed thr kes t Applause.) It is lay conviction that if any
matey (and hue should I rejoice. were our country to take
the lead) weel,l !madly ard faithfully cut 'bolt tame '
Christi ,n carded—the people premien the exercise of
Chrielatity upon their government—that country would be
aeompaied ray a degree of prosperity which I am sure is
earth r destroyer by any degree of war. (Applause.)
Are we a people peofmang Christianity or not ? I am happy
*Winne. in this place, not only Englishmen, but gentlemen
hem o.htt leads; and truly do I feel that everything I any
eppeele to theta as well as to my own countrymen ; for
inuals I neutrally feel a preference for my own emstry, I
ma deeply interested in the welfare of France end the other
eimatrus of disrupt. (C tiers) As a people professing
Christianity, we profess to Mimes is the protectiog rare and
eageriateedesee of the Almighty. Should we dare to say that
the natters that will thus cut Welt on simple Christie, sty, is
she mar the special care of the Almighty ? (Hear, hear )
Is it mreemeable to say that that as a safe reliance. (Hear,
bar., Bu , ens ea political grounds, I behave there ia
semakii g so wassailed in a conduct of love, that, wen It
*Mistreat into the relations of nations—did they render
red to,rill—were they desirous of blessing those who
Mimed titer, and of doing gond to those who desired to do
eta to ti.em—its Magenta would be so powerful, that the
nettatry acting oa that prineipte, would be tar safer than
*see which put their trust in their armies and drat., the
.*manta say of which all men must know. (Applause) It is
my gannet &sae that all our future proceedings may be
Nero reed mere tinged with the Carina= principle. I
knew full will that if we go nn further than • love of peace
en jest, and • Sorel of war a. uujust, we shall get a unasi-
mess Cute in this country. 1h• n ye there are few relight.
end • Ishen and sailors bat would admit that priseiple ;
het t` at is oniy going ekin-deep in the question, It 1 may so
apses it. (Cries of 'thou, heel.) The real qiestion
Ise is. to divide is this,—whet degree of hard-
ship—of ildusegs—ought a nation to submit to,
upset Christiaa grounds, rather than take up arms to murder
their Bellow-ereatures? Now, it is my Ilene conviction that
then is so snsuder wisdom for • nation than thus to cast
itself upna the Christian principle and on the protecting arms
sl the Almighty. (Applause) I do not despair of these
sentiments gradually extending is the, world. la fact, it is
my %lidos that they hate programa, are progressing, and
will proper ; sad, if we are to better. prophesies of un-
doubted aunnority, they will hoseene universe'. Therefore,
there is no grand for us to he discouraged. (Applause.)
Though I am aware this isnot a abject to excite the feelings
of sass eablege d thiskisd, yet I hogs therein calmly and
illepationatoly look at the matter la the point of view in
which 1 have endeavoured to place it. It la not by ptodue.
lag excitement in meetings of this kind that a cause is pro.
mots ', but by bolding up the dcoteine, hers and on all escu-
dos., that war in all its bearings is bad, that it cannot be
mend, that it is wholly icadmissible according to the tracts
el Own:lenity ; and that peace, is all its bearings, is the
reasonable, beet, and prop. r state of society, whim all man-
kind should dwell ender. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the neeplutios, and declared
it carried in...dmuissly.
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., was greeted with ton 1 and pro-
lamed climbs,. He cold—The resolution which has been
pet tato my heads is :
" That this awake receives with the highest satisfaction
the ateuresees of sympathy in this game movement, as cat
*pet rte the krises whisk have been reed from the Area.
hYlep it Paris, from MM. Lemartise. Victor Hugo, Beata
de Oiranite, and other distiagaished *ragas* ; and It hails
with di debt she ueesence of the gentleman who have
leseend this assembly with their attendance cm the pre-
set retaeins, and tree* that their visits to this oomitry
will prone .0 them a same of personal gratifimtioa, and
that it will powerfully tend to edemas the period when
mina animoratiee Mal be ler ever forrtteo, and pew
and goodwill emelt tiriougheut the world.'
It I. now, I believe, exactly two yeses dale this island was
bighted from its propriety by theory of a threatened invasion
from Frame. (Hear, hear.) Yon all remember how great
woe the slim of that etecesion. We heard of the French
may marching in at one end of London, arid the HOMO
Hearth marching oat at the other. (Laughter.) Yoe
bow that the highest military authority in the country
swelled the etranua of that alarm. (Hear,Lear.) Yen know
Net order, wen gives to prepare our ce defences, to add
beer *teem fleet, to make doubly 'elm ear equadros of
molatien, and to trepan to repel the attack of these hostile
Frenchmen team ear shores ? (Laughter.) Well, and what
did the men of peace on that occasion ? I Can soy for
myself that. It was that wicked cry, that coneassmatim
Ma warlike erten, that brought me into the mkt of the
puts party of this estuary. (Cheers.) We held our public
mortifies, sad we pretested that we did not regard the French
as beigetda or ea pints—(tear, bear)—that we had kith
that they had no intention whatever of making a wanton
attack spot ear shores. (Hear, hear.) Bat we did soon.
We proposed to go and see these fleet* ad warlike people.
(Applause., Whilst the brave men, who trust so much to
their arced forces, were digging fresh steactidocks, launch-
las fr sh eteam.sh!ps, and putting their coast defences in
order, the min of peace were making their preparations to
moss th.. Channel, and hold out the right hand of friendship
teed of peace to the French people. And now we come to
tell you that we have p id that visit, and that the bash we
tendered has bees most r:rdially grasped. (Chan.) We
have now the pleasure of seeing here a deputation from
France ; and it is is honour of those gentlemen and of the
other torefgeere who are here today, that I, la the name of
you, et. d it, the terms of this motion, beg to tender them oar
*any welcome. (Cheers.) When I look beck only
he two years, sad when I remember the emu-
moats tl.at were then adduced, openly and pubtely,
net anti in our newspawn, bat in our public
seenabli,r, when I remember the disparaging, insultieF,
laPiti°o language that was- applied to the people of
t hear)—when I remember how every maa

was dialed wko ventured wpm a muslin that it woo pos.

aible the gnat laus of the French people wen not dirposed
fur war—when I mamba ilium things, I thmk of the
altered tone of ear organs of public opinion—when I think
of the tone in ',kWh they then assailed tie, because we had
contllence triatithe sus of the French people were not thase
brigands which they bad been represented—and when I
remember that them same organs hays within the last month
told as that these very Frencn people—whom they said were

ready to busk forth upon their neighbours the moment
Louts Philippe should die—are too pse:flo, sad emus to take

say fatereei is foreign polities at all, I am tempted to uk,
wWthese argon of the press ever lowa modesty ? (Cheers.)
_ .

Will tits linens of then two short years bars no effect upon

them? Do they think the English people have got say
Dummies ? (Hem, hem.) Will they leant modesty after
this exposure? I will wait till to-marrow morning
before I oder an op'wfoo. ((Amin and laughter.)
My esteemed Mead who ha. jail spokes ham dwelt upon

the most exalted sad ;lost ;KIWI view of this

question. (Hear, hear) I join with him in owning
homage to those high priuciples of Claistianity which he

has so well enforced. I became a party to the pests move-
ment with the Ara coavic•ion that those principles of peace
which ue anecdotal by the principles enjoined in the Now
Testament, would be advocated by °then .41 the highest if.

ligi ,us grounds, and that all that could be said on that line
of argument would be exhausted by men, mire competent
by study, and more 'Wide,' by position and by peefeesion,
to dee. with those arguments than myself. (Lieu, hear.)

Dot 1 am TM moth amid—and our esteemed friend Mr.

Gurney himaelf will tell yoa—teat those arguments are not
alone sufficient t) charge the politicising of this dey.(Cheens.)
I am 'try much afraid to say it, but I bargee, that that
latter of Mr. Gurney's, in which he gave his opinion as to
the Gnat vial consequences of this warlike ertem, bad more

effect upon the minds of the p Aiticiaus and iutiaential
statesmen of this country than ell the appeals he ever hos
made, or ever could mike, to their higher religious feelings.
(Bear, hear.) Hoeing human beings to deal with,

and human objects to accomplub, we must bear in mind
that, even if we hays the sanction of Caristianity for our
principles, we must work by human instruments
to hurt= ends, and that 04 doss not condescend in our
day t.. work miracles when man can accomplish his work
without them. (Applause.) I confess what l like to do
when I IWO myself in the midst of an assembly like this.
I Fke to taco up my position on what the sneak calls our
weakest Bank, and to show, as a practical man tnd a
politician—(leaving to other, the demos of tha► inviregs
sable position on which Mr. Gurney has planted Wawa()
not only that the *teak of the so-callei statesmen of the day
may be repeihd, but that they may be utterly demolish*
on their own ground. (Applause.) Ous of tau highest arts
of state-craft ie diplomacy. (Near, loser.) Now, who are
the best diplomatists? Haw the politicians who have been
telling its that the French were coming to attack as, Led
striving to r, vive the old cry of national enmity, proved the
best diplomatists, or the men of peace, who went over to
Paris, to be laughed at for lidding out the hand of fellow.

ship to the Frisch? How stands the ease of Europe at the
present moment Tne question of peace or war has been
lately raised is connexion with the affairs of the East.
We have had apprehensions entertained of a northern
power; and on what has the maintensnoe of peace
depended ? On the cordial, good understanding between
France and England. (Applause.) Who has preserved the
good understanding between then? The men who, two
yew, ago, stied out kw more ships of war and more steam
docks ? (Hear, hear.) This is a strange way of maintain-
ing the was* cordials, to be arming yourselves, and
making Jour coasts bristle with cannon. (Cheers.) No, it

was the men who went over in all the confidence of huma-
nity to France, who had faith in the French people, who be-
lieved that they had justice and magnanimity in their
national character,—it was these men who pmerv.d the
good understanding between Frain and England; and It
is the good understanding between Fiance and England—
I will not say that has preserved the nue of E wom—
bat that has rendered war between Russia and Turkey im-
gullible. (Cheers.) Let us hear so more of their diplo-
macy ; let us hear no more taunts against the pease party,
as though they had no judgment in their heads. (Ap-
plause.) What is the very essential of state-craft ? Finance.
How shall we find then men, if we try them by the test
of their financial position just now ? There is • great move-
ment In the country for financial reform. Again, the
peace party have anticipated them in the field ; for there
can be no financial reform, no reduction of taxation, unless
you resort to our principle of diminishing the armaments,
and taking other precautions against war than that or keep-
ing yourselves oonstantly armed to the teeth. (Cheers.)
What Is the amount of our expaaditun for ell purposes,
besides Sues of war and warlike preparations? Let us
bring our financial reformers to book, and tell them what it
is in two lines. List year our expenditure, in round
numbers, was 54 millions starling; out of which, 47 mil-
lions wen expended on the interest of debts for pest wars,
or the expenses of our standing armies. (Hear, hear.)
Seven millions out of 54 paid the whole expense of the
civil government, the civil list, the impulse of the Queen's
establishment, the administration of justice, the poor-
law office, the saws of the home and fonign secre-
taries—paid, in fact, the whole cost of conduct-
ing the civil machinery of the sat•. (Hear, hear.)
We prow that nations, like ledividuals, should Fettle their
disputes by whit:6llov. It is said our notion is very good in
theory, but Is nut practicable. All we want the penons who
say it is not practicable to do, is to try. (Hear, bear.) I
have not sufficient confidence in their judgment to take their
word fur anything 1 want to be done in this way. (Hear,
►ear.) I want them to try, and if they do not succeed, then
we will at all events give them credit for having done their
best. (" lieu, hear," and laughter.) Nett session, besides
heisting forward the arbitration question, I intend to try if
I emu induce the Foreign Secretary to join wish us in
diminishing the extent of our naval and military forte.
(Hear, hear.) This is certain, that if we all do no more than
discontinue building line of battle ships, we shall all of us
remain is the same relative position with cur neighbours
that we now occupy. (Hear.) There is no disinterested
person in our own country or is any country •boat us who
will dissent from that proposition. I have put it to public as t•,
private men, here and abroad, to foreign statesmen as
to our own, and all concur in the admission that it would
suit them treaty well to put a stop to this expenditure; that
it would be a most admirable financial benefit ; but wan
we go ea to propose th►t moms one among them should begin
eke good week, should set an example, or even make a
rational proposal to the others to begin simultaneously
this saving of expense, or even the preventiso of
increase, we can never get them, or any one of them, to set
about it. (Hear, hear.) Our navy has bi en kept up solely
with retinue to France. We have increased our fleet as
Francs has increased hers; and so far front proposing,
as I want them to do, that both eountries should cease from
adding to their armaments, our government sends spies to
ferret about t►e Preach eicekpards, and no sooner
is • fresh keel laid down then, or a fresh
forge set up, than my Leeds of the Admiralty
avail themselves of the pretest to lay down • fresh keel, to
set up a hash forge here. (Hear, bear.) Then is not •
private trades amongst us who could carry on his business
on the same prindplas that the governments of England and
Frazee ferry on theirs witboat getting constantly into the
Insolvent Court—(hear, hear)—and I sm satisfied that
thus governments continue is the tame course finandal diffi-
mdtinand ruin await them, and they will go into the Go
sate without deserving a certificate at the bands of the
people. (Cheers and laughter.) Already, however, the
progress of discussion on this subject has been attended with
the best results. Two years ago we were told that great
armies and navies were kept up as • mesas of defending come-
Wise against powerful neighbour. Now, such Is the
force of truth elicited by the progress of discus-
sion on this subject, it is admitted by the very partite
who vilified us then for taking the same position, that war
between two nations is not the evil to be guarded against;
bet, say they, it is insurrectionary movement, wan of re-
bellion which have to be guarded against. (Hear, hear.)
If such be the ratement, all I have to say is, that the
system of keeping up armies of hundreds of amends of
soldiers to keep down the people does not answer the per.
pose of thou who enforce it. The system has been tried
long enough, and has bean proved • failure. When I went,
two years ago, to attend the Peace Congress at Brussels, I
put down on paper the statement that there were at
that time in the aggregate two 'slalom' of armed men in
elm pay of the different governments of Europe. What has
Anse happened ? This : that in spite of these armed myriads
sash ditee have swept so fiercely the continent that scarcely
a siagle throw has not been shaken to its bane, though pro-
filed by this aggregate of two million bayonets. (Hear,
hear.) Some of thrones have, mon or less, recovered
their equilibrium, bet, Wetted of trying some new system in
Saes of that which they have found so eerire a failure, they
ban only eat about increasing their armies, so that wh, re
diets were three soldiers two years ago there are now, I
should say, four. (Hear, hear.) I have often been palsied
Y seeking to **ensue what can be the m tire of the old
peernments of Europe in adhering ti this absurd course ;
and faitly at a lees to account for it upon any
rational or Donal, grounds, I heed really enmities,
been disposed to think that the object with these
authorities was to bring their various countries Into