The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-14 00:00:00

PEACE CONFERENCE IN EDINB URGH.

The Annual Conference of the Peace Society was held in
the Music Hall, Edinburgh, on Wednesday Afternoon, when
there was a large attendance of membersandvisitors. Amongst
those on the platform were the following members of Par-
liament :—Charles Cowan Esq Richard Cobden, Esq.,
John Bright, Esc., George Hadfield, Esq., Charles Hindley,
Esq., J. B. Smith, Esq., Jas. Bell, Esq., Edward Miall,
Esq., Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., Joseph Crook, Esq., Thos
Brigs, Esq. ; besides these, there was a numerous attendance
of distinguished strangers from England ; Clergymen of
various denominations, &c.
On the motion of Mr. COBDEN, the Lord Provost of Edin-
burgh was called to preside at the meeting, and on taking
the chair, that gentleman delivered a brief, but animated
address.
The Conference was afterwards addressed by Mr. Miall,
M.P., Mr. Richards, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Hadfield and
others.
MR. COBDEN' who was the principal speaker, was fre-
quently cheered during the delivery of his speech. He took
credit to the Peace Society and himself, for their predictions
respecting Louis Napoleon and this country having been
realized, and then proceeded to refer to matters in the East.
lie said, that the present position in which this country was
placed with reference to the Russian empire, was distinctly
to be traced to the foolish conduct of those people, who, nine
or twelve, months ago,stated, that Louis Napoleon intended
to invade England. That which bad been done in the East
by the Emperor, was done on the deliberate calculation,
that it was impossible that England and France could
unite again. (Cheers.) Referring to the probability
of this country engaging in war against Russia on the
Turkish question, the honourable gentleman remarked
Now, if you go to war at all, it is of all things necessary
to know what you are going to war for, otherwise you may
incur the expenses of a war, and find that you ,may fail to
accomplish the object which you expected. I can tell you
that, not only not all the horses of the king's men, but all
the horses of all the kings in the world, cannot maintain
the Mahommedan population of Turkey in Europe. There
are seeds of &Pay founded in that population, which, in the
very nature of things, you cannot combat by fleets and
armies." (Cheers.) * * •
•
I want to show you, if you are going to fight at all, what
you are going to fight about. You are going to fight
about Mahommedanism in Europe. I say the laws of the
Koran are in opposition to the laws of nature and of
God, and the Mahommedan people subjected to that
Koran cannot be- perpetuated in Europe alongside the
Christian population. (Hear, and cheers.) I don't wish
a religious war. I want you to leave them alone, and if
' you do, you will soon see the operations of these laws. In
Turkey there are from ten to twelve millions of Christians,
and three or four millions of Turks. Well, the Turks
have been for many thousand years a dominant race.
They have had all the power of the country. They have
administered the laws. They are the sole part of the
population who have been armed, and the Christians have
.been treated like dogs, and are called so. They have no
ocial status whatever. The Koran acknowledge* no
.elationship between Mahommedans and Christians when
;übjected to its authority. Well, in spite of all this, what
a the remit ? At this moment the Turks are a decaying
Lamartine' who is disposed to be friendly to them,
;ays that Turkey is declining for want of Turks. Notwith-
;tanding all their advantages, ,the Turks are declining and
liminishing in numbers, while the Christians are constantly
increasing by their side." The hon. gentleman, after stat-
ing that there was no treaty binding England to defend
Turkey, and asserting that Turkey was no more our ally
than Russia, concluded by expressing his conviction that we
should have no war before April, as November was not,
from the nature of the climate, the time to commence hos-

tilities.
The council met again in the evening, when spiritei
addresses were delivered by Mr. Bright, M. P., and. othe]
gentlemen.

HER MAJESTY'S RETURN FROM SCOTLAND.—Her
majesty and suit were to leave Balmoral yesterday, by Ball-
der to Banchory, whence the royal party would proceed by
railway. Great preparations were making by the Deesidc
railway company. The train was to leave Bonchroy at 11-
,40, Aberdeen about 12-35, and was expected to reach Edin.,
burgh about seven o'clock last evening. The youthful pima
Arthur and Leopold, and the princess Louisa, were also tc
leave Osborn, Isle of Wight, yesterday, for Windsor Castle
so as to be in time to meet their illustrious parents on thei
arrival from Scotland. This morning the royal party wi]
leave Edinburgh for the South, and will arrive at Presto]
station at two o'clock, where her majesty will remain fo
fifteen minutes to take huacheon.