The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-14 00:00:00

Ant

LONDON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1849.

The hearts of Reformers throughout the entire
country will rejoice at the tidings of the magnificent
spectacle last night exhibited within the walls of
" Old Drury." Thousands of earnest and enthusiastic
men were assembled together to proclaim their devo-
tion to the cause of Reform, to the removal of the
wrongs and grievances under which the great majority,
of their countrymen have so long suffered, to de-
clare that there shall no longer be taxation
without representation ; that voters shall no
longer be driven to the hustings coerced or
intimidated in the free exercise of their
most valuable birthright—the elective franchise
to declare that the constituencies shall still mantain
a proper control over the conduct of their chosen
representatives ; that a small, perhaps a corrupt
body, shall not exercise similar power, or be entitled
to equal weight in the legislative councils, with the
most numerous, the most honest, and the most in-
telligent elective bodies ; that the
,choice
of the people shall not be restricted in the
choice of their representatives, and, finally,
that every man throughout this mighty empire
shall be taxed secundum statum et facultates—
according to his means and the stake he possesses in
the country. Nor were the smiles of beauty wanting
to cheer the labourers to the performance of their
duty. The mothers, the wives, the sisters, and the
daughters of Englishmen were present to encourage
and excite their relatives during the arduous struggle
that has already commenced. The vast edifice selected
for the occasion was crowded to the roof; every corner
capable of affording accommodation was made avail-
able. It was the first aggregate meeting of the
Metropolitan Parliamentary and Financial Reform
Association. It was the assumption of the toga
virilis by the infant which, nursed in the different
provinces and the -various districts, where a few
zealous and energetic friends of the people had
fostered its youth, was at length about to put forth
its giant strength, to strike terror into corrupt and
imbecile politicians, to terminate the wrongs, and to
secure the rights of " the many."
A fierce and determined resistance must be anti-
cipated, but no doubt can remain as to the result of
the conflict. Those who have so long been permitted
to dip with impunity into the public purse, to enjoy
the possession of place and power, to send their no-
minees into the popular branch of the Legislature, to
impose unequal and oppressive taxation, and to vote
away the money wrung from the hands of the
industrious classes in wasteful and profligate
jobs, will not easily surrender the powers
which they have so long monopolised. Step
by step will be contested ; every position will be
defended to the uttermost, but truth and justice must
ultimately prevail. Every victory attained, however
trifling, will strengthen the ranks of the people,
render their remaining task easier of accomplishment,
and hasten the hour of their final triumph.
" Dimidiuni facti, qui bene cepit, habet."
That good beginning has already taken place,
and more than half the undertaking has
been
performed. The Metropolitan Parliamentary
and Financial Reform Association is a " great fact."
It is following in the footsteps of its glorious prede-
cessor, the Anti-Corn-law League, btuti with far
more rapid strides. It has, even at btmoment,
attained a degree of strength and organisation
surpassed by the " League" in its full maturity, never
which it required many years and incend
ssaant
labour to accomplish. The same causes will
produce the same effects, and if Parliament
on that occasion found that it was impracticable to
resist the voice of public opinion, calmly and tempe.
rately but firmly and constitutionally expressed—so
will it now yield to similar demonstrations, and con-
cede the popular demands to the
awlsfullest extobject. It
ent.
The League struggled for
demanded the abolition of the iniquitous bread tax—
the destruction of the abominable corn monopoly.
But there were many abuses and grievances
which did not come within the scope of its
labours. It was necessarily limited in
,the sphere of
its operations. True it was that its success carried
with it the recognition of the glorious doctrines of
free trade and of the great principle that taxation I