The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-02 00:00:00

GARIBALDI AND THE REFORM LEAGUE.

A public meeting, convened by the Reform
League, was held in St. James's-ball last evening, to ex-
press sympathy with General Garibaldi; and their
nation at his imprisonment The spacious hall and
galleries were well tilled. Mr. Enema' Basun presided
and on the platform were Riociotti Garibaldi, the son of
the General ; Mr. Handel Coseham, Colonel Dickson,
Mr. J. J. Merriam', Mr. C. Bradlaugh, Mr. J. Richard-
son, Mr. James Acland, and other members of the
executive of the League. Mrs. Chambers, the wife of
Colonel Chambers, the friend of General Garibaldi, with
several other ladies, was alsomated on the platform.
Letters were read from Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., Mr. J.
brAdem, of Glasgow, and Mr. H. Vincent, excusing
their non-attendance, but expressing sympathy with the
object of the meeting.
Mr. MANTLE moved the first resolution :—" That
this meeting denounces the gross violation of all gratitude,
law, and freedom perpetrated by the Italian government
in the arbitrary arrest of General Garibaldi, one of Italy's
noblest citizens and patriots, the liberator of Sicily and
Naples, and chosen chief of the Roman people, in pretended
observance of the shameful scovention entered into with
an alien power for preventing that people froze achieving
their independence, and consolidating the unity and liberty
of their country."
Mr. Hsenxi. Comeau, of Bristol, in amending the mo-
tion, observed that it would bo as just, as wise, and as
politic for the English government to arrest John B*lrt
es it was for the Italian goverameat Ile serest GarlWdl,
who was the Jahn Bright: of Italy. We owed a great deal
more to unarmed than themierned kings. Thank God,
we had • great many uncrowned kings minim( down the
page of history. Oliver Cromwell was one— (lond cheer)
—and John Hampden was another. Cobden, who had
gone to an honoured gram, and John Bright were un-
crowned kings, and Garibaldi was one of the greatest of
the uncrowned kings. He asked them to sympathise with
Garibaldi because lie stood in opposition to the pertly
power.
Colonel Dicxrunt briefly supported the resolution, which
was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. Scree moved—" That the men of London again
protest against the men of Reins hero, compelled to sub-
mit to • government supported by hire foreign troops,
and against the people of Italy or any other country being
interfered with in the establishment of their rights and
liberties, the choke of their own rulers, and the adminis-
tration of their notional affairs by the open force or secret
intrigues of foreign courts or cabinets."
Mr. Id Leaman seconded. He had watched the Italian
correspondence of the Daily News, the best authority on
contemporary history of the daily mem, and be believed
it was • mistake to suppose that Louis Napoleon had done
anything for Italy.
Mr. BRADLAUGH also addressed the meeting in support
of the resolution, insisting energetically on the duty of
intervention in support of freedom.
The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. ACLAID moved the adoption of an address to
Garibaldi.
Mr. GUADILLL seconded.
Signor RIOCIDITT GARIBALDI then came forward, and
wee received with enthusiastic: sheering. He said—l will
not trespass on your kind attention in speaking on the
subject which the speakers who have gone before me have
treated so eloquently. I will simply thank you in • few
words. To-day is the anniversary of • battle which de-
cided the freedom of the southern province of Italy ; it is
the annivenary of the battle of Volturno fought between
20,000 volunteers and 40,000 Bourbonists, and it was
mainly through the aid of the English that the battle was
won. I have my father's authority for this, for he said in
his speech at Southampton, "I have known the sympathy
of England on many occasions, but I have *maril4 known
it on an occasion when without it we should not have been
able to have accomplished the end for which we had lost
so much blood in the southern provinces." Yon
know well he has declared many times in Eng-
land when he was here that had it not been
for the English people he would not have me-
corded in the expeditioa of 1860. I might have had
now to lament my father, and I should not have been here,
perhaps, to thank you, not only in his name, but in the
name of all my countrymen. (Cheers.) Yea have raised
a great land, I my it though I am en Italian--s lead that
has • greet ancient history, • great history in the middle-
ages, and will have • great history in the future, when it
has cast aside the incubus that weighs upon it—the
Papacy. We were unfortunate in the choice of our king.
My father in 1860 called him it to pathatuoino. Ido not
know my father's thoughts on that subject, but I know
that every Italia& thinks my father made a mistake at
, that moment. I thank you again tor what you hare done
for as. You have raised my native land from the depth
of degradation to which she bad fallen. Yon have done
what is perhaps still better than that: you have begun
the work which is called the brotherhood of nations.
This is the proudest moment of my life, that you
have entrusted me to carry your real sympathies
to my father. I know bow he must feel it
this moment ; be who calculated on the possession of
Rome as the crowning finish of the whole work, has been
sent to prison—they say he is liberated—by men whom he
has trusted. I know it will be like pouring balm into the
wounds of his soul therefore Ido it with pleasure. I
thank youmon:illy for the kindness with which I have
been remit' :in England, fulfilling • difficult mission. To-
morrow I start for my oountry, and in three days I will
deliver into his hands what you hare entrusted me with.
(Great cheering.)
The CRLIRIOAN then called for three chasm for Mrs.
Chambers—who, he said, bed nursed Garibaldi after he was
wounded at Aapromonte—which were gives with hearty
good will, and that lady bowed her acknowledgments.
A vote of thanks to 11r. Beales for his conduct in the
chair concluded the proceedings.