The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-23 00:00:00

THE REFORM MEETING.

You will have observed, by looking at the speeches
made at the Chartist niceting, that a sort of compromise
has been entered into, and that there is to be a discussion
between the Retort-tiers and the Chartists. I doubt, how-
ever, that Mr. O'Conneli will be listened to by the latter.
I proceed with a description of the place in which I am
writing this. The building in which this immense com-
pany assembled is the new mill just erected by Messrs.
Marshall and Co., liar spinners, fronting Marshall-street,
Little Holbeek, undoubtedly the largest of any of a
similar caistruction in the United Kingdom, and pro-


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EVENING EDITION.

bably in the world. The building covers rather met:
than two acres of ground, and consists of one entiee
room 132 yards in length, and 72 yards in width, witbia
the walls. It is divided into 66 squaree of 144 yards
each, and lighted by 66 domes. Fifty massive iren
pillars support the arched roof. The: portion of the
mill set apart for the purpose of this festival, COES!StE
of twenty_four of the squares before described, or
an area of 3,456 square yards, nearer to Marsh&lle
street, which is rather more than one-third of the
whole. The form is that of an amphitheatre. The hust-
ings, for the speakers, are erected on the left of the en-
trance, at an elevation of about five feet from the floor,
the entrance to which is by a flight of steps erected with-
out the principal entrance. The tickets of admission to
this part weic 53., and seats put down for 500 persons.
Immediately in front is a desk running the entire length of
the platform for the accommodation of the reporters, of
whom there are several present from the metropolis end
various towns in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The centre
of the mill is appropriated to those whose tickets of nd-
mission are 2s. 6d. and Is. 6d. Seats for 2001 wet
provided for the former, and 1,500 for the latter; Tee
entire number for which seats have been provi-
ded amounts to 8.600, so that, had the whole room been
fitted up, nearly 24,000 persons could have assembled.
About 200 tons of timber were required for the un-
dertaking, the value of which is estimated at 1,400/.
Over the chair there were in brilliant letters of gas 'ho
words, "Justice to one rend to all." It was at half-tee:::
four o'clock that Joseph flume, Esq., M. P., John \Yid-
liares, Esq., M. P., S r George Strickland, Bart., M. P.,
Sharman Crawford, Esq., J. A. Roebuck, Esq.,
Gully, E. 4., • Thomas Hardy, Esq., of Birkagate,
Middleton, of Middleton Ilall, Henry Cowper Marehei
Esq„ George Goodman, Esq., Leeds, J. D. Ross, of
Rosstrevor, T. P. G. Thompson, Esq., Jellies Lees' Esq.,
of Delphi Lodge, Hamer Stansfeld, Esq., Dr. Epps, of
London, Lieutenant C. P. Ladd, IL N., of Falmouth, P.
B. Sanderson, jun., Newcastle, William Perkins, Esq., of
Manchester, Councillors Cliff, Hall, Shackleton, White-
head, Richardson, Mresre. Moir:( Glasgow, ) Collins, O'Neil,
Deegan, Barston, and Lowry, Chartist delegates ; and
other leading Reformers appeared upon the platform_
They were rcc7:.ivrel by their respective friends on both
sides with loud applause.
It was not until four o'clock that, the chair was taken by
JANIEs G. MARSHALL, Esq. He was received with ap-
plause and a few groans, and spoke as follows :---Brother
Reformers—l cannot look around this vast assemblage
and consider that it contains true and ardent friends of
liberty, collected from all quarters of Great Britain and
Ireland, from London, Birmingham, Manchester, New-
castle, front Scotland, from Ireland, north and south, and,
from our Yorkshire neighbours of Bradford, Halifax, and.
Sheffield, without expressing, in the first place, my high
delight in witnessing such a noble company of Reformer;
as that now met together.—(llear, hear, hear.) The.
Members of the Leeds Parliamentary Reform Associatiee
feel that in convening this great meeting, they have in-
curred no small responsibility ; and it is, I am sure, to
them a high gratification to see the hearty support and
the sanction given to their important undertaking; by
the attendance to-day of so many distinguished- leaders
amongst Reformers, both in Parliament and out of it, bear
of the middle class and the operatives, as you now lice be-
fore you on these hustings.—( Hear, hear.) It is my part
to say shortly a few words on the motives that actuated
the Leeds Association in taking so bold and decided a
step as the convening of a general meeting of the friends
of liberty and good government from all parts of the coun-
try. The Reformers of Leeds have, in commute I doubt
put, with all who hear me, witnessed with deep regret, the
progressive decline, for some years back, of the true spirit
of progressive Reform and popular liberty,—( Hear, hear,
and hisses. ) However great may be onr disappointment
in the results that have been realised by the prwaing of
the last Reform Bill, all Reformers must, I think, admit,
that there then existed amongst the friends of liberty
of all classes of the community an admirable spirit of
energy, of union, of ardent devotion to the great com-
mon cause, that extinguished all minor differences cad
selfish interests; and carried triumphantly through a cor-
rupt and boroughmongering House of Commons, and a
Tory House of Peers, what was, for the circumstances
of the time a very large measure of Reform.—(Cheers,
and cries of "No Whiggery.") Then we saw, in-
deed, a magnificent display of the irresistible work-
ing of the moral force, supported by, but controlling and
governing, the physical force of a great people. Thatße-
term Charter, it cannot be denied, is a failure. Fatally
mutilated when first passed, it has since beer, abandoned
by ton many of its former and foremost supporters, with
unworthy apathy and selfishness, an unresisting prey to the
corrupt arts and violence of the bitter enemies of popular
liberty.—( Cheers.) No honest and sincere attempt has
been made to improve and reader efficient the last Reform
Bill, by those who had the power to do it. Here, doubt-
less, was a grievous blow and heavy discouragement to the
cause of Reform. To that, in my opinion, is to be attri-
buted the fatal and disgraceful dissensions that have sinea
divided Reformers, and rendered them powerless for any
great and good purpose. But what is to be done ? Is it
safe to fold our hands, sit still, and trust to the chapter of
accidents to help us? Shall wo gain our object if each
section of Reformers wraps itself up in its own plans
and objects, and treats all others as enemies.—(" Give
us the Suffrage and no humbug? ") No, my brother
Reformers ; it is clear that nothing :short of the
restoration of a cordial union between all sections of
the Liberia party, and above all betweee the middle
and working classes, can again render the cause of
liberty triumphant. To endeavour to effect that union is
the special object of the Leeds Parliamentary Reform As-
sociation. They had a choice of difficulties before them.
It appeared extremely difficult in the present divided state
of public opinion, to propose any practical measure that
should Lornmanel geiieral support. Yet it appeared stilt
esorre hopeless to re xcite the...spirit and energy of tlie

embodied in any great practical measures. They decided
upon boa), facing the difficulties of the former alternative.
They adopted what appeared, on the best eonsideratiou
they could give the subject, the largest measuftea of Re-
form en which a majority of Reformers of all elasees
could be expected to unite, And they determined, by
convening the present meeting, to place this subject fairly
before the general body of the friends of liberty through-
out the country, in order to ascertain how far their own
views were correct, and what measures of reform would
really unite all classes in its support.—( Cries of " Stuff ")
These, brother Reformers, were our motives for bringing
together this assemblage, for the calm and earnest dis-
cussion of this highest of all social questions,
the means of obtaining a just and honest Governtnent.
That such a movement as the present has originated
at; Leeds has been owing, I am willing to believe, to
the fortunate circumstances of the existence in our locality
of more moderation, more good feeling, and right ueder-
standing between the operative and middle classes, than
perhaps most large towns can boast of.—(Cheers meet
hisses.) The increasing numbers and activity of our As-
sociation proves, in a most satisfactory manner that in our
district we have struck a note that is heartily responded
to. If the middle classes in this town have not yet cease
forward so largely as might have been wished and es...
pected to join us, we may, I believe, attribute that to a
cause nut, I firmly hope, likely to influence them perma-
nently. They have been misled and deterred by the hos-
tility to the principles of our Association of some leading
Reformers amongst us—l mean the editors of the Lteds
Mercury —( Hisses.) However much my personal friendship
and regard for those influential gentlemen may make me
regret, for their own sakes, their altered position, I anticipate
idothine.b but advantage to our cause from the discussion
they have excited. The very able and high-principkd
letters of my excellent friend, Mr. Stansfeld, have already
done much to remove the strange mystifications throwa
about the subject by the editors of the Leeds Mercury.
—( Cheers. ) The thorough sifting of the various points
of that controversy will, I doubt not, be treated with mach
more ability by the distinguished speakers who will follow
me, than I could bring to the subject had I space to enter
into it. I shall content myself here with a word or two on
what appears to Inc by far the worst part of that sophistic
argument, and one I fear really calculated to work deep in-
jury to the cause of enlightened liberty and social improve-
ment. For I perceive throughout that document, with
equal astonishment and regret, the deliberate adoption, by
professing Reformers, of the narrow and exclusive prinui-
plea of the determined enemies of liberty.—(Clicera.)
The prejudices, the unfounded fears, and selfish interests
of the middle classes of our town population, are openly
and prominently appealed to.—( Loud cheers.) I see
in that production no trace of firm reliance in the safety
of acting honestly at all times ors the bread eternal princi-
ples of justice, and of Christian good-will and charity to all
men, w Isich applies to the weighty affairs of government no
less than the common business of life between man and man.
Yet this faith is the corner-stone en which must be built all hu.
man advance in liberty. Wheu the different classes of society
have learnt blindly and foolishly to regard each other as
natural enemies, the smallest causes serve to keep theta
aloof from each other, or to provoke thsrn to open hosti-
lity. In such a country, farewell the lieppy life of peace-
ful and well-rewarded industry, and of the calm and ra-
tional enjoyment of liberty. Everywhere there is a dismal
civil war of clashing and selfish interests ; man set against
man ; one class preying with remorseless cruelty upun an.
other; everywhere the mass of the people arc exposed to
innumerable evils not naturally irrFident to their age or
country. I fear that this is tod much for the present
state of our country, and the great master cause of it is
the existence of the irresponsible government of a ruling
class for their own selfish and exclusive beeefi t.—( Cheers. )
Therefore, the reform of this evil, the parent of all others,
is the first duty of every man. But how effect it ? Hove
remove the ignorance, the apathy, the selfish fears of te
numerous and powerful supporters of the present system'
Shall we follow their example, and retort evil fur evil;
cursing with cursing, and wrong with wrong ? No,
surely—for this would increase and perpetuate titre
evil. No, my brother Reformers, we have a far wiser,
nobler, and surer mode of conquering our liberties,
and that is by overcoming evil with good.---( Cheers.)
Here is, indeed, a difficult course opened to us, but one
how splendid, how delightful I Let the people once
fairly demonstrate that they deserve, that they know how
to use, liberty. and no earthly power can withhold ite—
( Great cheering.) Let us, then, to vigilance and energy,
in contending on all occasions for our just rights, ncid the
power of self-constraint, of calm, manly, rational discus.
sion, with the sole desire of attaining truth. Then shall
we find ourselves bound together in the Limon of meat and
glorious brotherhood, the brotherhood ulliherty.—( Cheers
and hisses.) I have now the great pleasure. of intro-
ducing to you it gentleman to whom Reformers -have bear,,
lung and deeply indebted for his indefatigable and valuables
services in Parliament, in supporting every -measure rend_
rig to enlarge the liberties, or diminish the burdens of the,
people—whose opinions and advice in the present critical
situation of affairs cannot tail to be extremely weleornta to
this meeting, Joseph Hume, lEsq.—(Cheere and hisaca.)
See: us remember that the eyes of the whole of our fellow-
countrymen are upon us ; this important meeting is, per-
haps, the first in which the two great sections. of the
people, the middle and working classes, have met vo-
gether with perfect mutual confidence and condialitat—
frankly and freely to express to each other their own epi-
Mom without any hosthity ; but, on the contrary,, with
the siecerc wish to meet and conciliate the opirl,on zu,d
good feeling of other classes of Reformers.—(Cly sere. )