The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-28 00:00:00

Mr. Charles Buxton, M.P,, at Maldon.

NALDON, Nov. 27.
The annual meeting of the Malden Liberal Inde-
pendent Club was held last evening, Mr. T. E,
Western, of Felix Hall, in the chair.

On the Rev. Sir J. P. WOOD proposing " The
Liberal Members of the Hoase of Commons,"
Mr. C. BUXTON, M.P., replie, and observed that
the history of Liberalism during the last 2,50 years
divided iteell into three great ep echs. In the first
of these the whole heart end soul ,ef those who were
Liberals in fact, although not in name, were eh-
sJrbed in the strife egainst despotism', and in build-
ing up the great fabric of constitution," liberty. In
the 18th century, owing maiiiy to th 9 incessant
wars in which England was eugaged,scan `sly a step
onwards was made,and the reaction from th s French
Revolution, and the tremendous wars which it pro-
duced, dashed eside every thought of politici. 1 pro-
gress and reform. It was not until the peace that
the second great epoch of Liberalism began; a'nd
vast was the work which lay before it, for during
the previous 100 years the British Constitution had
become narrowed into little more than an oligarchy.
The landed class had gathered all power into its
hands; Liberalism had to break down this narrow
and pernicious system, and the victory which it
gained transferred the dictation of the national po-
licy from a single class to the whole people. At the
same time, the repeal of the Test Acts and Catholic
Emancipation, the great principle was enforced,
that every man
State.
should be wholly free to worship
God in his own
tway, without any interference what-
ever from the
ta
Then there seemed to come a
Conservative reaction.
Lordezme Ailhetlhbopuorwneer's. GBovuetrnin-
ment fell, and the Tories
reality this was but a pause
at.s!,dressing himself to
in which the Her-
cules of Liberalism Nva
another of his labours, He had
lion of despotism; he had cut osslain the Nemean
the heads of the
hydra of oligarchy; he had
new to
t
cleanse the
Augean stables of abuses and grievances
accumu-
lated during 150 years. This was the
hiia'i ech
of Liberalism, but it was not of such thrilling
interest or such splendid triumphs, as Liberalism
"
had now to carry freedom into the details of dailyls
ua
life, to cut the mischievous shackles which checked
the developuient of trade and manufactures, and,
in the words of the poet,
" To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land."
(Cheers.) A new policy was inaugurated with re-
gard to the colonies, and we gave them the bless-
ings of political and commercial freedom, which we
had painfully won for ourselves. The work of
Liberalism was now to a great extent accomplished
—for although there were some evils to be remedied,
they were trifles compared with the grievances of
former ells. Liberalism was now pausing, and
once again we heard of a Conservative reaction, but
we were now passing into a fourth epoch, in which
It was of the highest moment that we should adopt
a Liberal instead of a Tory policy. Within the
last 30 years the establishment of railways, steam
shipping, and telegraphs, the expansion of trade
and the increase in the power of the Press,
bad brought about a mighty change not only in
the policy of England but also of Europe. Every
year Europe became less and less a mere aggrega-
tion of separate nations. Every year it became
more and more an organised whole, each member of
which throve or suffered with the rest—a common-
wealth of nations in which every thought and feel-
ing of the one thrilled to the hearts of all. We
were now accordingly driven to dwell more
and more on the dealings of England with
other nations ; in fact our relations with other
countries had by degrees become the one paramount
topic to which the statesman's mind had to be ap-
plied. Let us not delude ourselves with the idea
that it mattered not whether this part of England's
policy was Tory or Liberal. We had seen during
the last few years Italy rise from her ashes, and
organise herself into a first-class constitutional
monarchy. The whole Liberal party of England
looked on with heartfelt sympathy and delight, and
the remonstrances of England induced Napoleon to
withdraw from Gaeta, and allow Naples to become
one with the kingdom of Italy. Yet the Conserva-
tive party, in both houses of Parliament and in the
Press, could not help displaying its profound dislike
to this great movement. Again, with regard to the
tremendous strife in North America, nothing could
exhibit greater divergence than the views taken of
that struggle by the English Liberals and Conser-
vatives. It was true, that with some exceptions,
both English parties had disapproved the conduct
of the North. The Liberals had condemned the
attempt of the North to subjugate the South,
partly from a love of peace, and partly because they
considered it a crime to thrust upon a nation, at the
bayonet's point, a Government which she ab-
horred ; but the Conservatives had sided with the
South, partly from a delight at seeing a Republic '
torn asunder, partly from a notion that the South
was more aristocratic than the North, and partly
because slavery was not looked upon by Conserva-
tives with that detestation which it kindled in the
hearts of all true Liberals. Again, with regard to
Prussia, every Liberal in England had looked with
indignation on the endeavour made by the wretched
King of that country and his creature Count Bis-
mark, to crush the freedom of the Prussian people;
but the Tory Press gave Count Bismark all the
countenance it dared to bestow, and actually offered
the Prussians its solemn advice not to resist the
beneficent intentions of their patriotic King. One
would have thought that no Englishman could have
looked at the infamous atrocities of which Russia
had been guilty in Poland and not sympathise,
heart and soul, with the helpless Poles; and yet,
incredible as it might seem, even there the leaning
of the Tory party towards despotism made them
sympathise rather with the oppressors than with
the oppressed, and the Tory papers were filled with
every tale which could be scraped together to the
discredit of the Poles. He considered that England
should do to foreign nations as ens would have
them do to her, and that in dealing with weaker
and less civilised nations she should exert as much
self-control as if treating with great European
nations, for, as shakspo,ea.rt
e"
saxidcellent
To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant."
Whatever course might for the moment appear to
gratify our irritation, cupidity, or pride, in the
of England to be always found just, gene_
long run it must be the prudent as well as the noble
policy
Several other toasts followed, and the proceed-
roue, and humane. (Cheers.)
ings, which were altogether of an interesting
character, terminated.

LA MORGUE.—Every one who has come to Paris
from
The female
for the first time must, at some time or other,
the C have
passed by a tow long building, not far
of Notre DAME, and of such singular aspect as athedral
to call for
an inquiry as to its purposes and employment,
portion of the visitors turn pale and shudder,
of ~ La Morgue" answers their inquirieB) and as the thou-
sand as the name
their
memories, whilst
stories
moatwith
of h
this t Ominous
eir
inale companions have
visited, or will on some occasion or othery wordisi rush ,upon
t,
the
scenes
of
eo many dramatic incidents. yir
La Morgue is shortly to 1.,
ue d ell I the old building of
and far more commodious one away with, and a new
course of next month, when
one is to take its place in the
will be completed. The en a few minor interior details
Notre Dame, between present building is situated behind
Archeveche, and c the Bridge St. Louis and that of the
wings, destined to onsists of a main building and two
and provide for lodge the employes of the establishment,
in which the 'its
various necessities. The hall in
the ground-floor, bodies are to be exposed to the public is on
floor
and by twolnd is
lighted and ventilated by a sky-
light,a
free current of airargle'hwi ad ol ws,
.whichl sertvantcod
''' iliepthuiPs
e
hall are twelve marble slabs or
only
aabrlteisc
of
whicho
the destina
tion of this hall
may be easily divined. At the e'XtreMitY
is (mother, called Sallee des Morts, which is intended to re -
ceive the dead bodies when first brought i", and whichsuoimth-
municates with another room, containing large habtehsc,ariiied
water-cocks, where the necessary ablutions arra
h marble slabs.
on preparatory to disposing the bodies °uht le:,„ and means
Further on are closets, provided
as 63
ewel; of laying
of drying the garments of the deceased'
An iron-work
g
them wide for their bather identification,
is situatedto
out the public ball, which . the
gateway shuts the leit is a large room
left hand as you enter, while to
overseers. All the arrangements ,
destined for the with
eanliness and prompt services, are on the
a view to secure cl
very best footing, and the present Morgue offers altogether
• nt on the interior as well as tho outward
a vast improvexe
of its lung-establisheid predecersors, whose
appearances
been so long familiar to all who have
dismal aspect has
grown acquainted with the quaint but picturesque guar tier
cle 1a Cats.