The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-25 00:00:00

[STAMPED id. ADDITIONAL] ONE PENNY.

TEE Coßi/EN CLUB.

The 9( cowl anniversary dinner of this it.sociation
took p:sioe yederday eviaing at the Ship Itotel, Green-
wich; the Right lion. C. I'. VILLIIiRS, M.P., 111 the chair.
There were present uhout 1•20 members of the Goive of
CoMmons belonging to the liberal party, who preceded to
Orvenaieh bkiaceaepecial" steamboat which started from
Westminster
Among the visitors were Mr. Goldwin Smith and some
other gentlemen who have of late taken a leading
litin the political questions of the day. The
er itself was of a very elaborate eliaractor ;
but the time occupied by it was too long, awl this was
attended with the inconvenience of preventing the speeches
from commencing until about 10 o'clock. The toasts were
very limited in number, being in fact restricted, in
addition to the usual loyal toasts, to " The Cobden Club "
and " The Visitors."

The CHLIENAN on entering the mom was received with
&considerable amount of cheering. He was 3i:renowned
by Viscount Amberley, M.P., 'Signor Ricciotti Garibaldi,
the lion. Mr. Howe, Deputy from Nova Scotia, 3:c.
The neual loyal toasts having been dispose! of.
The CliAllinan proceeded to give the toast of the
eveeing, "Success to the Cobden Club." (Loud cheers.)
He raid :—The sentiments which led to the formation of
this club aro known to all present, and those sentiments
were well expressed by Mr. (;hailstone when he presided
at the lust meeting of the club. more sentiment. entirely
harmonise with your opinions, and I may add that they
not only harmonise with your opinion., but that they
exactly correspond with and represent the opinions and
feelings of the country. (Hear.) Indeed I may say that
they are in harmony with the entire feeling of the coun-
try, for it is well understood that this club was not formed
for any personal or political purposes. It was formed
not only in recognition of the services of Mr. Cobden,
tut likewise in recognition of the great principles
of which he was the able and successful tulvorato—
principles which are now almost universally admitted to
be true and sound. ((iheent.) I think I may my that if
Mr. Cobden had been alive at the present day, lie would
not have 'sympathised with any meeting or anociation
which did not embody the great principle whit+, through-
out his life, he advocated. Still lees would he have
sympathised with any mere convivial gathering whi
tliti not setlect those principles. (Hear, hear.)
I cannot help feeling tied I have been ealloi upon some-
whet cuworthily to fill the chair on this I MSS
net among the projectors of thin club. led if I am cor-
rectly informal, one of its principal purpose., is the keels.
big alive end fresh in the public mind those tee teems to
the pn,motion of which Mr. Gehien devil awl
to the ',derision of those principles and that ',olive whieli
met result from the commercial armitgemeies which are
new and which do him so sue li honour.
(Beer. hear.) I mast admire the judgment that tri:
clown by the managers of this club. who have proisesst a
e- ay for developing the best means of promettite
frit sully reettiews between this (»entry an 1 the 1'114,1
Stete,,. Th.lt. is no object is hich is more cordially .10.
Pit cil than that, roil there is no object which the
late Mr. Colsh n hail more nt heart than to pro-
nude good feeling bet ween the two emintries, nit
only for the purpoee of eilvaming cemmenial interests.
but became heist icred that the intereqs of In.. lit:ilia would
behest promoted by the in eserration of harmenieus senti-
ments between these two greet branches of the sumo rare.
'hut was quite consistent with the whole of Mr. Coleletie
career. Ile did not devote himself exeliteively to the
promotion of one principle, however important. even the
principle of free trade. He hail far higher and more phi-
lenthropie:views, and we should do very little justice to
his memory if we merely looked upon him as the ori-
ginator of a new and reformed commercial
system, however great the advantages of tharmyetera may
have proved. Mr. Cobden's object was, while promoting
commercial intercourse between different countries, to
establish a good understanding between all the nations of
the earth. (Cheers.) That in the sentiment which he
consistently proclaimed throughout his life. It is to he
found in his earliest writings, and also in the addresses
which he delivered when he had carried the great prin-
ciples of free trade to a successful issue, especially in
those speeches which he made in the interest of
this country during the period of the discussion
of the commercial treaty with France. In point
of fact, those enlarged views were apparent in all matters
in which Mr. Cobden took part affecting the national
welfare. If I might take the liberty of making a sugges-
tion to the club, it would be, that it could not do better
than circulate the very admirable collection of
the political writings and speeches of Mr. Cob..
den which was put forth recently by Mrs. Cobden.
The memory of Mr. Cobden is dear to the English nation,
and it too often happens that we do not find out the truo
value of a man till he is gone. At the same time I am
bound to say that that remark does not altogether apply to
our late friend, for he received during his
life considerable marks of homage and honour
from his fellow-countrymen, particularly with regard to
that great achievement with which his name will be in-
diasolubly associated—the striking off from the statute-
book of England that most objectionable statute which
restricted the supply of food to the people. (Hear, hear.)
Indeed, at one time people were inclined to ascribe to him
powers which were not given to man, for it was said that
be was able suddenly to convert a first minister
of the crown, as well as peers and landed
proprietors, to reason. (I4ughter and cheers.)
But Mr. Cobden knew too well the difficulties which he
would have to encounter in effecting great commercial
reforms to disregard any means at his disposal to attain
the end he had in view ; and therefore, when, in con-
junction with his friend Mr. Bright, he determined to
attack the corn laws, he said that those laws offered no
exception to the general rule, and that no concession
would be made by those who maintained them until
they found that the danger of retaining them was greater
then the danger of their surrender. (Hear, hear.) In
that case the ground was well prepared and the train
was well laid, but the actual spark which tired the train
was the famine that occurred in Ireland. (Hear, hear.)
At the same time there can be no doubt that if the
question had been postponed for two years, the spark
would have fallen upon the powder in conse-
quence of the revolution in France. These who
consider Mr. Cohden's career have no reason what-
ever to complain of his having had too much power,
but rather that he had too little; and I cannot
help thinking that, independently of the questions
connected with free trade, there were many
other questions on which his views did not
meet with that support which they deserved,
and I consider it rather a reflection on the intelligence of
the country that he was not more successful in disseminat-
ing his opinions. Mr. Cobden was undoubtedly, in some
respects, an underrated man. I believe him to
have been a deep thinking, sagacious politician.
I do not think it is generally known that Mr. Cobden,
before he entered the arena of agitation, was an author,
and that he published tracts on several of the great
political principles which interest the country. It is
therefore not quite correct to thmk of, or to
speak of, Mr. Cobden as a gentleman who devoted
his whole time or attention to the consideration of our
commercial relations alone. On the contrary, his views
had been early directed to those great and important
questions which were essential to the grandeur of the
country, and to its glory M the future. Mr. Cobden
published as long back as 30 years ago • collection
of tracts entitled " England, Ireland, and America."
And I will say that for acuteness of reasoning
and abundance of information, I never read any
work more worthy of consideration. In these tracts
you will find the principles which a further ex-
perience of human life and actual knowledge of
the world enabled the author moo fully to develop.
And if you examine them by the light of the present day
they will raise in your mind feelings of regret that such a
man did not fill a more important place in the councils of
the nation. (Hear, hear.) The First Minister of the
Crown has told us that the history of England is the his-
tory of reaction ; but if he had told us that it was the his-
tory of individuals and the history of parties I am not
quite sure that there would not have been more truth in
the statement. Great as were the services that Mr.
Cobden rendered in the repeal of the corn laws, he ren-
dered equal service to his country in his advo-
cacy of the abolition of slavery, and above all in
showing to the world the impolicy of plunging
into timeless and extravagant wan. (Hear, hear.)
In the treaty to which I have alluded Mr. Cobden
inquires into the melee of the present state of Ireland,
and why capital is repelled there in its search for invest-
ment. The cause, he says, must be sought for in the
errors of a mistaken legislation. The dominant church
opposed to the national religion is, we conscientiously be-
lieve, the primary came. There cannot be prosperity for
Ireland until the temporal condition of the two churches
is placed on an equal footing. If it be objected that the
English establishment is involved in the fate of the church
of Ireland, I answer that the circumstances of the two are
of as opposite a complexion as light is to darkness. In
England the national church comprises within its pale a
great majority of the people, whilst in Ireland we behold
a state religion upheld for the
i exclusive benefit of one-
seventh of the population. There s not on the
face of the mil to be found an example of an
established church opposed to the consciences of six-
sevenths of its sueporters, for though, helnys, the revenues
may not go directly Lom their pockets., could the income
of the protestant chuich be rutted without the catholic
popelut 'mu ? Iu cv.uy a .untzy we find the established
champ in barmen,' wits, the consciences of the people ex-
cepting in Deland. v:hich in this, as in other respects,
resents to us an alliZttaly which has no reneabhusce
among the nutiutis of the tiVtli. What should we say if
the govt nenent of A::rtrin, Russia, or Turkey—for each
of them have a statereligien—were foundtobe applying the
wh‘a u ilms liateicuts orseisma coualay- .. at: 2W

yam et the Lahti' 01 a.rojects: .1: then
poG a parallel case in suppo..tig that thu arms of the
United States were to achieve a eonquest of Great :iritain,
and supposing for • moment that country hat .ea oda-
blithed church, differing in fa.th and doctrine f• oar our
awn, and let it be imagined that this should he ~he Uni-
tarian creed, should we not cow ider it a persecittian if the
tithes of England were diverted trom their pre.‘ent use
to be applied to the support of ri frith which they Oh
and would it not be felt as per-oeution if the peopllet
England, still clinging to their national church, were hn-
rtlied by conscience to erect oilier temples of worship, and
out of their own pockets to irtaintiun their ejireLed and
despised ministers, and, we appeal to the breasts of our
leaders, would they be likely to become convert+ to the re-
ligion of their oppressors, or would they not nourish a spirit
of i es. ntznent, that would moiler impossible an impartial
examination of its dogmas, and would not their children
be taught to abhor before tlwy could understand, the
very name of Unitarians, however excellent might he the
laws and institutions, however liberal and enlightened the
policy in other respects of the government set over us by
the Americans? R Nether animal trial advantages might be
derived hem a complete inemp,iration with the united
Slates, would the people of the..., ucalma be found to be
quietly nod successfully pursti,aig their worldly callings,
forgetting the grievance of thew conscience We hope
not. So long then as the crown of England im
leases the whole of the religious revenue •.t
Ire-
land, there cannot be. am: judging of tier ease
as our own there ought not to he, peace or pros-
perity for its people- aye, and what is of still iu,.re vital
tmpoitanre, thew can be, judeint by the sumo rule, no
chance of the dissemination of oeligious truth Or that
country. e advocate no spoliution ; let the vt.iste,l rights
of terry individual be respected ; let the most aulato con-
ressien be made to counter t lie oh-tacles of sell: interest ;
hut let the ittitith pat liana tit assert the right to the
disposal of the lei h attach ...venom.. excepting in canes of
private proirerty. Let usnot I/I'llllllly t hose out hini,;og per-
sons, who view revenue as with the cry rilrout the
destt uction of the protestant ee o reit We are of t hat kiliureh,
Will we reckon it anione"st the happiest circutust-mues of
our destiny that Providence has pieced us inn prot atant
land. Cobden was the last man to express I .. If with
intolerance with regard to the religion of other., but
he was an earnest protestant : awl from moth observation
he was tti,poseti to think that is ilthOlie states there was
that abhor's. nee of change thin it notonly affected relizious
oh,' cam., but per varied ugh the habits of social and
had the efh t of raarthlig the sceatar prosperity of the
coutitry. ,Ch,
Al.. 4:01.154iN Siaritt rtsis•i•/:. d.
'Air. Carob. M.P., thee pt "i... ...I, in culogit re terms,
licalth of the Chant:ma,- and ettatieliiii-o‘cd mho
extol, man on his care •r, sic-
.of hiss 11.114 ti, Liu, repeal of the e•PrIl laws.
I Ll' I Olt 11011. gentleman w:os among thcculiea qdl I..rters
ot the l.eague, and hail a; wa: • sit:oportssi its ohjv and
the pint ivies of Which it W.ls i!u• pi •s•ltrsor.
hel 11A11:31.‘N, is ietu: vivo nod w.ct very
proud to hat,. 14,11 in-t,,.11., 111 iwortoting li. . uchws
e 1 a mow. 1111 lit tt h... 1. L... 1 I v••....iv vi w so oiler bv.ti tit to
11..• v.' truant. uLdiug mind 1.. r as any persottal . avant
,is t 11541, he 11:51 v!,•,1 iv yr uo other
ft c llovill of h own
1'..11 t MS'. ~f the us ••,...y which lw anted.
lie was richer influent...l Lt 11., Lope of Olt. • power,
Mat his w lio:e conduct luau Ivo, ii Vogul:444V by a vv-it ho
tofu v•is it to be roust ouu.lu. etc to the interest of the
(saintly.

16. of "The Vi,;ti.l • then given, coupled
with the name of the lieu. Mr. 11.,we.

Hr. H0w1..., in respotiding. expre.sisll his opinion that
throe was no more loyal body of her Majesty a aulikete„
and no body oi pen.ons better affected towards the mother
country, than the Nova Scotian& He must :say, however,
be regretted that when they had grievances to bring before
the mother country they were not treated in the
manner in which they conceived they were entitled to be
treated. He thought it very much to the discredit of the
Home of CorMllo4l% that when Mr. Bright brought on the
question of the Confederation of the Colonies, and simply
asked for an inquiry on behalf of the Nova Seotiarui who
objected to the measure, that very moderate dennual was
refused.
The proceedings then terminated.