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

THE

to produce candidates. Menenius, a favourable
specimen of that aristocracy which in all
societies seeks to arrogate to itself exlusively
the profession of politicians, called the malcon-
tents of Rome " The belly ;" the Anti-Corn•Law
League accept the metaphorical designation ; they are
contented to be called, they are the party of the belly.
Their cry is, " We must eat ; repeal those laws which
prevent our earning an honest subsistence ; we prefer
some rulers to others, but the difference between them all
is as nothing to our craving for food." The eating interest
is in the field, not as candidates for senatorial honours,
but determined to support no politician who will not
leave industry free to eat its dear-bought meal in the
sweat of his bow. We are constituents, not legislators.
Our policy is not to ask admission for ourselves into the
Legislature, but by our independent position to force
from those who are ambitious of getting there the advo-
cacy of our claims. We leave to the professional poli-
ticians the setting up of candidates ; but we are no longer
to be wheedled into supporting them by fine words ; we
want something to eat. There are many other good
things a good Government can do for us, but not if we
are starved while it is doing them. The eating ques-
tion is the first in order ; the only one which admits of
no delay. We, the head and hand labourers of the
country, are determined to do the work of professional
politicians no longer without food ; we have made an
" Eating Union," and have made a strike. We do not
set up a third party of professional politicians ; but if a
third party think of setting up for itself, it should have
our support if it zealously and sincerely aid us in our
efforts to get bread. On these grounds we say that
our accusers would have had no right to complain even
though the League had brought forward no candidate
for Walsall. The League is not a league of statesmen
but of constituents. True statesmen, instead of railing
at it, would avail themselves of this new element of pub-
lic opinion to work out good for the country.
O❑ these grounds we rest the defence of the move-
ment made by the Anti-Corn-law League at Walsall.
They have driven no Liberal from the field ; they have
not eri en a c. ndidate secure of his election from the
field ; in bringing forward a candidate who has better
prospects of success than the retired candidate, they have
done more than any person was entitled to ask of them.
We have dwelt at this length upon the particulars of
the Walsall election, although, for our own parts, we
do not think that failure there ought in the least
to detract from the public confidence rqosed in the
League. All that the League was bound to do in its
electoral agitation was, to urge upon electors on every
occasion the propriety of supporting no candidate of
any party who refused to pledge themselves to the
total and immediate repeal of the bread-tax. Seeing
that the electors of Walsall seemed in danger of neg-
lecting this duty, the League sent a deputation to
remonstrate with them. Finding the electors sincere
in their desire to lend their influence to oppose the
bread tax, the League co-operated with them in their
search for a proper candidate ; and one having been
foun I, the lecturers are aiding in the canvass. All this
the League had a right to do ; was in consistency bound
to do. The League has done its duty : it is not re-
sponsible for events which are beyond its control. Our
actions arc our own, and• for these we arc responsible ;
events are in the hand of Providence, and for those
we are not responsible. Be the result of the Walsall
election what it may, the League will persevere in the
course of policy they have adopted. Whenever they
interfere in an election, and their interference will be
limited only by their power, it will be with a view to
enforce a pledge for total and immediate abolition of
the Corn•law. From this declaration it will be seen
that we do not seek even in our present situation to
conciliate support by affecting a wavering in our reso-
lution which we do not feel : neither do we provoke
opposition by expressions of vindictiveness which are
alike alien to our feelings. Our course is prompted
and directed by stern apathetic convictions, that it is
our duty to act thus. Our motive rises above the low
region of personal hostility or partisanship. We have
a task to discharge which forbids our giving car to the
whispers of liking or disliking.
Our avowal is made. If any political party finds in
us opposition, it must be because it insists upon march-
ing over us. If any who have hitherto acted along with
us listen to the insinuations of enemies, and dissent,
we cannot help it. We have got hold of a principle
which we know to be true, and we know that princi-
ples are eternal, while the wishes and pursuits of men
are eternally changing. George Canning declared that
be would oppose Reform to the uttermost. Toe wave
of Ruform has swept over George Canning's grave.
Sa with our cause. It will triumph and endure when
Peel and Melbourne, and their pretty conflicts, are
forgotten.
No hostility, no breaching, will draw us from the
"path upon which we have entered. We arc supported
by conscious rectitude, and by the approbation of those
whose good opinion we value. We speak not merely
of those who are, like ourselves, constituents merely—
we speak of statesmen, in the strictest sense of the
word. As a specimen of the encouragement we meet
with, we subjoin a letter which we have received from
a gentleman, universally acknowledged to possess a
high intellect, as extensive accomplishments, and as un-
bending integrity as any in Parliament—be the other
who he may. We may add, (what will with some be
a better recommendation,) that he generally votes with
Ministers :
" I know not whether it is the Manchester Anti-Corn-
law League or not that has started our friend Mr. Smith
for Walsall, but I hope that the League has the credit of
doing so, for there never was a more politic step. The
penny postage was won by such tactics. It is the true
way to make both parties, as well Tory as Whig, wince
under the pressure of this question, whenever they are so
nearly balanced that Corn-law repealers can step in and
turn the scale between them. The effect will be to mako
the Whigs inquire of every candidate they start for any
future borough vacancy whether he will pledge himself to
support the repeal of the Corn-laws or not. Whenever a
vacancy occurs, and these tactics are available, they should
be brought to play. I; is the only way to give import-
ance to the repealer-B."

(From the Liverpool _Mercury.)
We were much gratified to learn yesterday, on most
respectable authority, that the prospects of the free-
trade candidate are daily brightening, and there is now
every prospect of his success. The numerous meet-
ings held, lectures delivered, and addresses pouring in
from all quarters, have had the effect of creating a spirit
of enthusiasm, before which the advocates of monopoly
begin to quail. If we needed any further proof of this,
it is to be found in the angry diatribes of the landlord's
oracle, the recreant Times, which has dar-A to
threaten the electors, if they presume to act upon
their opinions, and exercise the elective franchise in
the manner best calculated, according to their
judgment, to promote their own welfare and that
of their families, and the interests of the country t
large, by voting for one who will oppose the Corn-
laws. The threat of the shameless renegade ought
to put the electors still more upon their mettle. Mr.
J. B. Smith is a candidate pre-eminently qualified in
every respect to represent a manufacturing town.
What recommendations his opponent has to entitle
him Eto the support of such a place we are utterly
at a loss to discover. Putting all other considerations
out of the question, and looking only to the one fact,
which ought to weigh most with the electors of 'Wal-
sall, irrespective of all party topics, Mr. Smith is the
able and consistent advocate of cheap bread, extended
commerce, and free trade. Mr. Gladstone is compara-
tively unknown, or known only as the champion of
the bread-tax, and the defender of the monopoly
of the landlords, the consequences of which are
daily becoming more apparent in our declining
manufactures and the miseries of the people willing
to :work, but unable to find employment. The elec-
tors of Walsall have a glorious struggle before
them. No other constituency, excepting perhaps that
of Clare before the passing of the Catholic Emancipa-
tion Act, had ever such an opportunity of acquiring
immortal honour. Lot them only triumph in this
struggle, and the blow will be fatal to the bread-tax—
the harbinger of its appeal ; thenceforth the words
Walsall and Free Trade will be regarded as all but
synonymous ; and future generations, whilst rejoicing
in their own comfort and the welfare of their country,
will bless the memory of the gallaet men who struck
the first effective blow at that monstrous system of in-
justice and oppression which shackled its energies, and
reduced it to the very verge of ruin. Men of WeLall!
the eyes of the whole nation are upon you. Do your
duty—scorn alike the bribe, the threat, and the drench,
and your t: iumph will be hailed by one shout of joy and
congratulation throughout the land.

THE WEATHER.

ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE.

STREET.

NooN, JAN. 22.
Barometer 30.45 In.
Thermometer

- . 53

Highest
Lowest
Wind N. N. W.—Freezing Puilit 32 Deg.

EFFECTS OF TILE THAW.—The country
papers received in town yesterday bring lamentable accounts
of the fatal and devastating (fleets produced by the sud-
den thaw. Scarcely any part of the country has enjoyed
immunity from inundation, while whole districts, east,
north, south, and west, have been laid under water. The
destruction to life and property has b.:en great. Similar
distressing accounts arc received from France, the Nether_
lands, and many other places on the Continent.

, -
SUICIDE or Mit. A. GItA NT.—Mr. Alexander
Grant, of Carnousie, the Ministerial candidate for the
Elgin burghs, committed suicide on Monday last, the 18tli
inst. Deep speculations in tea are said to have turned
out unfavourable, and to have prompted the unfortunate
gentleman to this rash act. Sir Andrew Leith Hay was
also in the field for these burghs, but Mr. Duff, of Haddo,
on the Conservative interest has been the favourite since
the starting.—Mornbg Post.
We are happy to hear that our army is to be
increased to the extent of 10,000 m. n. Ti rru,
wanted. There is also a ruilluur—iluiv au; kihow
—that an addition is to be made to the Marines.—Briyh-
ton Gazelle.