The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-05 00:00:00

PEACE MOVEMENT.

A meeting of working men was held at Hit-
mingl,litui, on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of adopt-
ing en address to the people of France and Germany
in the interests of peace ;" Mr. Alderman &TAGS
presided.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said—This
movement was the more gratifying, as it seemed to be
going on mainly among the working classes. It was to be
Loped thatthey would not much longer consent to be wade
food for powder for the gratification of the ambition of the
ruling class. As soon as ever they pleased, unitedly, they
might put an end to war. To illustrate the burden of war
on the resources of a country, he might mention that the
war asses in England in the present time of peace
amounted to wore than • shilling • week for every
man, woman, and child in the country. But this was
not aIL The loss of the labour of those withdrawn from
useful industrial occupations for purposes of war was
greater than the direct expense. It was one of the
beautiful provisions of Providence that one working man
found work for another, and one idle man caused another
to be idle. Anything they could do to encourage this
movement on the continent it was their duty to do, and
by sending an address from Birmingham he hoped some
little good might be done.
Mr. ARTHUR read SA address, which was pre-
pared by Mr. Elihu Burritt.
Mr..l. S. WRIGHT, President of the Chamber of Com-
merce, moved the adoption of the address. He
hoped (he said) that the people of Birmingham
would do all they could to assist this movement,
which had been begun on the Continent during the last
few months. It might, he said, be • small and compara-
tively uninliuential movement at present, but they had
had lessons enough not to despise the doing of small
things. (Hear, hear.) This was • most remarkable age,
viewed from any standpoint. Io Paris at present there was
the most perfect exhibition of the products of art and in-1
dastry ever brought together. But the prominence given
there to implements used for the destruction of mankind
was most remarkable. A cannon was the most conspicuous
object in the Exhibition, and the most remarkable of the
English contributions were from the War Department.
Probably 30,000/. had been taken from the taxes of this
country to send over to France specimens of everything
used in England for the purposes of war, to taunt the
nations, by proclaiming how powerful England was for the
destruction of mankind. The people should look after
these things, and they should remember that powerful
armies had ever been used to repress the aspirations of
peoples and crush their liberties. (Hear, hear.) No na-
tion with a large standing army could ever take its proper
position as • nation of free men. He gave the results of
calculations to show the bankruptcy and misery caused by
the enormous standing armies maintained in Europe. The
people were taxed to the uttermost, and yet the govern-
ments were spending more than they could get from
the people, and were thus running mere deeply in debt
every year, and laying by stores of misery for future
generations. The expenditure of France was 87.000,01,01.
sterling per annum—seven millions more than her in-
come ; and he reckoned that the 6,000,0001. spent on the
fortifications of Cherbourg would alone have supplied
every great town in France with pure water and gas free
for ever. Every family in England in the present time of
peace was paying, on an average, 4s. • week for debts
created by past wars. and for the maintenance of the pre-
sent armaments. lie could not help thinking that one
of the test questions treated by the reformed
parlia-
ment would be the military and naval expenditure—
(applause)—cod if not, he should think the country had
gained but little by reform. (Hear, hey.) But they
must not depend exclusively upon their representatives in
parliament. The people must bestir themselves. Ministers,
peers, and members of the House of Commons could
very well afford their share of the taxes, but to the work.
big classes the question of war taxation was a question of
bread. (Hear, hear.) There was hope when the people
of England, France, and Germany were beginning to take
the matter up sincerely, But England must speak with
no uncertain sound. Meetings must be held—not little
meetings in little rooms like that—but such meetings as
were recently held in the Brooklields. (Cheers.) 'Bir-
mingham had inaugurated some movements before; might
it be theirs to urge onward the glorious movement which
had for its object the benefit of mankind, the elevation of
the working classes throughout Europe, and the ennobling
of the rue. God grant the time might soon come. (Ap-
plause.)
The Hee. H. C. LEONARD seconded the motion, which
woe carried, and the address adopted.

BURY Si. EDMUNDS AND TM:I7OIRD RAILWAY.—
The directors of this company here resolved to proceed
with a portion of the line involving the heaviest work at
Tintworth and Ingham. Mr. the company's engi-
neer, has been instructed to prepare plans, so that One
execution of the section may be submitted to public oom•
petition.