The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-24 00:00:00

THERMOMETER.

Thin morning
This day at Two o'clock 66

Barometer-29.04.
Wind—S.-Westerly; moderate, and cloudy.

4. 3 g, snm

LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 1863.

As the lengthened report, given in our impres-
sion of yesterday, will already have apprised our
readers, the stump has very recently indeed been
mounted here, in England, quite as effectively, and
even blatantly, be it said, as ever it has been here-
tofore in the U-nited States of America ! The
time, Monday last. The place, Leeds, in Yorkshire.
The occasion, an anti-slavery demonstration. A
" clear stage," certainly, but we can't possibly say,
" no favour." For the whole affair, from first to last,
was worked out with a very decided animus—
positive and negative, as ever is magnetic force—in-
tense in prejudice and in predilection. The speakers
one and all at Leeds onWednesclay evening were some
more, some less, for the North and against the South,
were the apologists of Federalistn,were the traducers
and vilifiers of Secession. Mr. LINCOLN, according
to their view of things, was all in the right. Air.
DAVIS also, according to their view of things,
Was all in the wrong. Upon the peg
of Slavery all kinds of flowers of rhe-
toric were hung up in garlands upon gar-
lands. Flowers of rhetoric, some of them so pesti-
ferous in their breath that (or we are much mistaken)
even the faint odour of them,when wafted abroad by
the winnowing of the press,will stink in the nostrils
of many who chanced not to be present in the
Leeds Music Hall on Monday evening. Slashing
though the Chairman's speech at this
meeting undoubtedly was, in many parts of it,
that gentleman must yield the palm up frankly to
a tar greater master of " that sort of thing" present
there upon the tsame platform, the hero of the
the night, the Rev. W. H. CHANNING. As readily
as GAlthicK could play his "many parts" between
his two favourite Muses, THALIA and 'MELPOMENE,
turning
- with equal facility, here to the Comic here
to the rragie_
the Rev. W. H. CHANNING, that
Master Orator of the S ump, plies his
art, as a Stump
Orator, between his
two chosen muses! Having them ever at his call,
to the right hand
and to the left, here Bunkum,
here Soft Sawder.
---`)W much of the charms of the
former he delights in
-ow little of the latter's in-
spiring
influence ho directs towards the Confede-
rates, those who may turn to this Mr. W. H. CHAN-
NING's speech, may, almost at a glance, judge
for themselves. Enough for us, as a specimen of this
-Yankee Demosthenes, if we quote
the grandiose
flourish at the close :of his remarks when he pre-
dicted solemnly, in so many Words, that " Peace is
spreading over the continent of America, and on
that bow of promise sits a glorified angel of GOD
Universal Liberty !" Whereat the Leeds audience,
in immense delight apparently, greeted the Itev.
W. H. CHANNING, as he resumed his seat
with
• ery salvo of acclamations. "Peace!!"
Surely if
- ever a misquoter of one of the
most blessed words in holy writ, cried
Peace! Peace! when there was no Peace, it was
this Rev. gentleman from the other side of the
Atlantic, who talked thus confidently at Leeds
on Monday evening about Peace now spreading
ON er that unhappy land from which he comes to us
—so ostentatiously affecting the air not only of
an Orator,but even, as we have seen, of a Prophet.
Peace ! spreading now in America, Mr. W. H.
CHANNING ? 'With a hideous rain as of hell fire
pouring down upon the outworks of beleaguered
Charleston ! And, at whose bidding ? At the known
bidding, in obedience to the direct personal order,
of that ungainly alter ego of the Glorified Angel
aforesaid, that ugliest and larkiest specimen of the
human race in America, as MANHATTAN has
called him, Mr. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. The

lalail who is so conscientious and strenuous

an opponent of slavery as an institution that he waits
far a who'e year or two after his succession to the
Presidency, before he can venture to deal with it
as an institution even partially—then doing so only
partially—inflicting emancipation as a penalty upon
the more obdurate antagonists of the Union ! De-
monstrations of this kind, we may rest quite assured
of this, will never farther the interests of Eman-
cipation by a single hair's breadth—no matter
whether they be indulged in, as political pastimes,
in Yorkshire or in Virginia.

It was justly observed by a public speaker the
other day that the English were always great in
associations. We have societies for the patronage
and cultivation of every branch of art, science, and
literature, and we have charitable assemblies and
associations for the furtherance of objects of practi-
cal benevolence. If any great political question
becomes the leading feature of the day, we are sure
to hear of public meetings, of companies formed for
the assistance of one side or the other, of chairmen
elected and committees appointed to carry out the
popular views. If an eminent man passes away
from among us, same among his friends and ad-
mirers are sure to bind themselves together in order
to do honour to his name and his memory. In more
private life, too, the principle of association is
usually carried out to a considerable extent among
the English. Clubs and assemblies, institutions
and meetings of various kinds enable men to gather
together to discuss the different aides of a question,
to collect and contribute information in that free
and open manner so congenial to the atmosphere
of our national mental life. So useful and so plea-
sant were these institutions felt to be, that it was
suggested by some practical philanlotiviv:orpsiesettsetehfaltifief
they could be brought down to a
they would prove valuacholneaunattliydoteaseseitto
thet
the
temptations which so continually
working man. Mechanics' institutes have been
in existence some years, and have doubtless
been productive of much good, although they may
not have fully carried out the sanguine antici-
pations of their founders and originators. They
are chiefly designed to give the working man an
opportunity of cultivating his mind, and as such
they have probably given the first help up the
ladder of learning to many a young ambitious
spirit, who would otherwise have been kept in
durance vile by
"Those two gaolers of the daring mind,
Low birth and iron fortune."
The movement that is now being made in aome
places is, however, totally distinct in its character.
We allude to the formation of Working Men's
Clubs, which are gradually extending through the
metropolis. Lectures, recitations, and classes of
different kinds will be part of the programme, but
still instruction is not the chief aim. There is a
reading-room, a library, smoking-room, and lava-
tory, and members will be supplied with refresh-
ments. Free discussion on all public topics is also
courted, and this is a feature especially worthy of
notice, as several clergymen have been prominent
leaders of the movement. A public meeting was
held in the National School-room of St. Martin's-
in-the-Fields, on Tuesday evening, to celebrate the
opening of one of these clubs in the parish. The
Rev. H. SWABEY stated that it was now fairly
launched, and remarked that there had been con-
siderable difficulty in finding suitable accommoda-
tion, but it had at last been obtained in Great
May's-buildings, St. Martin's-lane. Mr. MAR-
SHALL, one of the speakers, said that these clubs
provided for a want long felt by the lower
classes, and it was satisfactory for the working
men of the district to know that, by sacrificing
one pot of beer, they could become members
of this useful and agreeable institution. They
would have, in addition to other advantages, the
privilege of assembling together for the purpose
of exchanging ideas, as the upper classes did.
The remarks of some working men who addressed
the meeting are especially worthy of notice, as
showing the sentiments of the class for whom
these institutions are designed. Mr. NOEL, a
journeyman carpenter, who seconded the resolu-
tion, pledging support to the club, said that there
were many working men who required a club like
the present, but who did not want to cultivate their
minds, and therefore did not care about joining
mechanics' institutes. The Working Man's Club
would, he thought, meet every objection. They
did not intend to exclude any kind of discussion,
neither were they members of a teetotal society,
although they hoped to reclaim drinkers by giving
them better amusements. He considered that these
clubs would tend to counteract the evil influence of
the publichouse. Mr. TURLEY, a tailor, told the
meeting that, in consequence of some reports, he
had asked Sir F. GREY, the chairman of the meet-
ing in St. Martin's Hall, what restrictions were to
be placed on members ? Sir F. GREY had replied
that there was none whatever, but that the work-
ing men might manage their club in whatever
manner they pleased. This is how it should be;
and we agree with Mr. TURLEY in believing that
the working men will prove themselves worthy of
the trust reposed in them, and that their club will
be conducted in a spirit of order, fairness, and mo-
deration that will deserve success.

The entertainment at Liverpool to the officers
of the Channel Fleet was a very successful affair.
The greatest cordiality prevailed throughout, and
on several occasions much enthusiasm was excited.
Lord STANLEY, who was present. responded for the
Houses ot Parliament, and made an effective speech
on the auspicious circumstances which drew them
together. He said that he valued the opportunity
thus afforded him of testifying his gratitude to
Admiral DAcREs and the officers under his com-
mend for the honour of the visit thus paid them by
the Channel Fleet, and also for a sight that was at
once " interesting and unique. The chairman had
truly said that it was the first time since Liverpool
had been a borough that the Mersey had been
visited by a considerable portion of the Royal
Navy. He added that he trusted this first visit of
Admiral DACRES would not be his last, for Liver-
pool always appreciated naval men. The sea had
made it what it was, and Liverpool men took pride
in the sea. In one way they had a navy which
could compete in some measure with the magnifi-
cent ircn vessels lying in their waters ; a navy
existing indeed for purposes exclusively peaceful,
but not the less a triumph of human indus.
try and skill—
have those vast ocean steamers, which
joined the New World to the Old,
and crossed the Atlantic with the regularity of
boats crossing a ferry, at a speed which is only sur-
passed by the railroad." In this fleet before us,
Lord STANLEY went on to observe, there is a series
of novelties, for almost every vessel is an experiment.
We have most likely seen the last of these old
wooden two-decked ships which will carry the flag
of an .English Admiral. We also saw the first of
those noble engines of destruction, which are rave-
lutio nising naval warfare, and which our friends
on tEe other side of the Atlantic are kind enough to
be tr ring for our instruction, and at their expense.
He • wished the House of Commons could see and feel
what they now experienced, and then he was sure
that they would believe that for the money that
they bad expended they had ample value received,
and Also
they would then acknoWied e that they