The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-18 00:00:00

the world knew that it was agreed that they should largest populations of mechanics and workmen, for
resort to the same habit of expenditure ; and it was Philadelphia has changed its character from being,
considered, in fact, a legitimate exercise of their as it formerly was, a leading seaport, and has be-
wealth. and their power. In the same way, if a come almost entirely a manufacturing city, with
contest took place in a borough, it was some lead- 600,000 inhabitants. This gentleman would not
ing landed proprietor or some influential family have told me, lam sure, that elections in America
of the neighbourhood who contested with another are pure in every respect—that there is not very
individual having the same pretensions as himself, often a great deal of manceuvring and party man-
and they fought the election of some borough amid agement—that there are not to some degree perso-
-14 or. 20 days of saturnalia, extravagance, and cor- nation and double votes, and tne like—he would not
ruption. There again it was considered so much a have told me that without exception all their elec-
matter ofeourse, and it was so ennobled in men's minds tions are carried on peaceably and tranquilly ; but
by seeing it patronised by the titled and the great, he mentioned the fact that the ballot presented
that these things were passed over. We read of them such an obstacle to bribery that nobody cared to
in history, and very little notice was taken of them. buy a vote and pay for it when he did not know
(Hear.) But now, gentlemen, we have another class that he got value in exchange. (Cheers.) Gentle-
of aspirants for Parliament altogether. Daring men, I shall say no more of my experience in Ame-
the last general election, for instance, I have seen a rica at present, for, to confess the honest truth, I
new element in our system of electoral corruption; was too kindly treated there; and I feel that I was
we have had a number of gentlemen who have come received so kindly there from my connection with
over from Australia, where, I suppose, they have a great question of cosmopolitan interest ; and I
been-suecessful at the diggings, for they have
felt, in all humility, that I was greeted as the re-
brought over their nuggets and administered them presentative of others who had the same claim as
in the shape of £5O notes ; they have gone to some myself to receive the kind civilities of that people,
and. if they presented themselves there they would
little borough and fought their battles and bribed
be received with the same hospitality as myself.
just as their betters did 50 years ago. Now, I have
great hopes when this system is resorted to by par-
But I confess I was so kindly treated in America
ties who have none of the prestige of the nobility, that I feel lam not an impartial witness in their
that very likely it will be treated very differently cause, and I ought to say as little as possible on
that topic. (Laughter.) Now, it is important that
by the people and by Parliament, and that some
plan will be resorted to to put it down. I remem- we should see that the source of our electoral sys-
ber when duelling in this country was so regularly tem is pure, inasmuch as it is quite evident that
a mode of meeting a certain description of insults for weal or woe public opinion in this country, as
that if a man holding a certain position in society manifested at the polling-booths, must become
received an affront at the hands of his equal, he was more and more powerful in the government of this
obliged to meet him in deadly combat as a come- country, and not merely in our domestic govern-
quence, or he would have been banished from the ment ; and this is a question to which at the pre-
social life of his equals. Well, I remember that sent moment it is well to refer. It is quite evident
some linendrapers' assistants took it into their that public opinion is becoming more and more
heads to go down one Sunday morning to Worm- potent in matters of foreign as well as domestic
wood Scrubs, or some place where the nobility used policy. We have seen lately, and I have seen with
to carry on that pastime, and. they began to fight very great satisfaction—it was during my ab-
linendrapers assistants
duels ; but as soon as sence that it occurred—that the public voice of
took to duelling it became very infamous in the country was raised in opposition to any
the eyes of the upper classes. The consequence was interference by force of arms in the dreadful
that some of those gentry were sent to Newgate, war which raged on the Continent since I
and now nothing would be so ridiculous as to resent left England. (Cheers.) Well, I was glad to see
an insult by going out and fighting a duel about it. that outburst of public opinion in favour of non-
lam very much in hopes that, since this system of intervention, and I congratuate you all, and I con-
bribery and corruption has fallen into the hands of gratulate this country, that for the first time
such as I have described, those gentlemen coming almost in our modern history we have seen great
home from the Australian diggings, or from their armies march and great battles take place on the
broad acres and herds, and rushing into local mar- Continent without England having taken any part
kets, and offering by the expenditure of £4,000 or in the strife. (Cheers.) And now shall we take stock
£5,000 to buy the seat of some little dirty borough just at the present moment, to use a homely, but
in the west of England—l have very strong hopes expressive phrase, rnd ask ourselves- whether all
that such a system will not be so fashionable as it the musty predictions and traditions of our old
has been, and very likely we shall succeed in having diplomacy have proved to be true in this else ?
those parties prosecuted criminally—l say crime They told us that if we did not mingle in Euro-
nally. Let them be indicted criminally, and let pean wars we should lose our prestige in the world,
the consequence of their conviction be a few become isolated, and lose our power. I ask you
months at Newgate, or in the House of Cor- while the thing is fresh in our recollection, have we
rection, and if an ex-M.P. be sent there, and made really lost prestige or power by having abstained
to wear the prison dress, and have his hair shaved, from the late War in Italy ? On the contrary, do
I have no doubt in the world it would do very we not know that now the great Powers of the
mach to put an end to this bribery and corruption. Continent, feeling that England is powerful, more
(Laughter and cheers.) But now, gentlemen, this powerful than ever in her neutrality, are anxious,
is a much wider question. Ido not mean to say are almost solicitous that we should go and take a
that this is the only way in. which our electoral part in the conferences that are to be held with a
system is to be reformed. I shall have something view of securing peace? (Cheers.) Well, gentle-
more to say about that to-morrow evening, when I men, we have prevented intervention by force of
believe lam to meet the whole body of my consti- arms, and I say let public opinion manifest itself,
tuents, to whom will properly belong the ,greater as I believe it has manifested itself, against any in-
development of that question ; but this I will say, tervention by diplomacy, unless it can be in accord-
that I look upon all the present attempts and pre- ance with principles and for objects of which Eng-
tended measures for putting an end to this system land may
.be proud and may approve ; but do not
of corruption as insincere on the part of the House let us have any more Congresses of Vienna—
of Commons. (Cheers.) There is a role resorted (cheers)—where we are parties to treaties that par-
to where bribery has been proved in certain cases titian off Europe, and apportion the people to dif-
of ordering commissioners to proceed to a town and ferent rulers just with the same indifference to
inquire into these proceedings. Now I will tell their wishes and instincts as though they were so
you what that amounts to. Your select committees many flocks of sheep. (Cheers.) Now, I think
that sit in the House of Commons proceed to make Lord John Russell in the House of Commons laid
up a pile of blue-books after every general election, down certain conditions upon which alone the Go-
which I once, about five years ago,took the trouble vernment would be disposed to go into a Continen-
to measure and to weigh : this pile of blue-books tal Congress in order, if possible, to arrange and
was just four feet high, and weighed rather over a perpetuate the peace. 'He made conditions which
cwt., and I will undertake to say that these records I thought were good, and I think they are not
of the delinquencies of these boroughs were never very likely to be acted upon or accepted by the
read by half-a-dozen people. Another device of great Powers of the Continent. But what I wish
the House of Commons is to send out commissioners now to express—and I am sure I can utter no
to inquire into the proceedings at particular places words that will be more likely to express your
where they have reason to suppose the corruption sentiments—is, that if England takes any part in
is more than usually vile. What does that amount. the Congress that is to be held by the great Powers
to ? Two or three young barristers are sent down on the Continent, her object should be, and the sole
to a city like Gloucester, and there pass a few condition on which we should go into that Con-
months in the summer very pleasantly, and hear gress should be, that the Italians should be left
stories from Tom, Jack, and Harry, and prepare a free to manage their own affairs (cheers) ; that they
huge blue-book, and in six or 12 months that is should be as secure from intervention—that they
presented to Parliament. The report is more volu- should enjoy the privilege of non-intervention in
minous than the report we had before, and ifsix men the management of their own internal affairs just
read the report of the committee of the House of as sacredly as any of the great Powers themselves.
Commons when the interest in the matter was fresh (Cheers.) I know what is the excuse that is made
not three will open the second report when there are by those great Powers for interfering in the affairs
other things occupying their attention. The conse- of Italy and the smaller States ; they do it under
quence is tat you are put to enormous expense for the pretence of preserving order. A hypocritical
these commissioners, and no result comes from them, pretence I have no hes tation in calling it. Do the
and no result is intended to come from them. I voted great Powers preserve order themselves ? Have
myself the other day in Parliament against the issu- we had perfect order prevailing in the Austrian
ing of a commission in the case of Glocester. Nobody empire or in the French empire during the last few
will suppose Iso voted because I wished to screen years ? Do they preserve the earth from blood-
that or any other borough from inquiry; but I knew shed ? Have not these two great Powers during
the futility, the utter valuelessness of that inquiry, the last six months especially shed more blood in
and therefore would not lend myself to what I knew their mad quarrels than has been shed 13Y all the
was the perpetuation of a delusion. (Cheers.) I smaller States of Europe during the last 50 years ;
say, any man who is content to resort to only the and shall those great Powers, for the purpose of
existing means of puffing down corruption must interfering, send their armed bands in order to re-
have largercredulity than I possess. I have no faith Press the free instincts of the people of Italy ?
in the existing means, and I won't lend myself to a Shall they be allowed to set up the pretence that
delusion, or practise those means any longer. What they want to preserve order and to prevent blood-
you want, besides such a plan as I have spoken of, is, shed ? (Cheers.) But I will face the chance of
for your Parliament to allow at least the experiment disorder. I will say if the Italians cannot settle
of the ballot. (Loud cheers.) I don't speak of the their own affairs without falling into disorder, why
ballot as a cure for all evils, or as a political mea- should not they be allowed even to carry on a civil
sure mixed up with other questions of organic or domestic tumult, or even a war itself, without
change. I speak now of it only as a means of pre- any other Power venturing to take advantage
venting to a large extent the exercise of this gross of that to enter their territory? Why,
corruption, and as a moral instrument to check the how did we act in the ease ,of France
growth of that rottenness which is sapping the when she fell almost into a Red Repub-
foundation of one electoral system. (Cheers.) You lie 10 years ago ? Was not our Government
have all observed, I dare say, in the accounts that most eager to proclaim that whatever happened in
have been published of the recent election commit- France we would never interfere with her internal
tees, that when there has been a question of bribery, affairs, but leave her free to choose any Govern-
particularly in the smeiller borough, the price of the ment she pleased ? What you allow to the great
votes has risen just in proportion as the day ad- Powers allow to the smaller Powers. (Cheers )
vanced. That while the poll has been going on a And I say this not merely in the interest of the
vote has been worth probably £5 at 10 o'clock, £lO smaller Powers themselves, but in the interest of
at 12 o'clock, £5O at 3 o'clock, £lOO at half-past 3, humanity, for there can be no chance of peace, and
and in some instances £250 a few minutes before the no prospect of any abatement in those vast military
clock struck four. Again you have seen wherever you establishments that prevent the people from enjoy-
have had ruffianism and rowdyism, if I may use an ins); the fruits of their industry, until you have the
American phrase, that party which we call the Principle of non-intervention recognised as appli-
" roughs" at an election are called into request. It cable to every small State as sacredly as to the
has been a hustle and a jostle of electors just at the larger ones. I say, therefore—and I do not err
critical time of the polling, when, probably, tee when I expressed my conviction that I rightly
scale might be turned by the forced absence of one interpreted your views on the subject—l say the
of the electors. We saw , a trial the other day of one condition, and almost the sole condition on
a gallant admiral who tried to record his which our Government should be prepared to take
vote in a borough in the West of England ; any part in any Continental Congress with refe-
but he was seized by the roughs, who rence to the affairs of Italy, should be by laying
not knowing that he was a valuable servant of the down and insisting upon the fundamental maxim,
Crown, wearing her Majesty's livery, carried him that Italy should manage her own affairs without
off, and prevented his going to the poll. (Laughter.) the interference by force of arms of Austria, Russia,
Let us, while these facts are fresh in our observe- or France, or limy other Power whatever. (Hear,
tion, see their bearing on the question of vote by hear.) ' I confess that Ido speak with some strong
ballot. If you voted by ballot the state of the poll sympathies on this question. I have had the op-
wbuld never be known until the voting \vas over. I
)ortunity of mingling much with Italians. I have
(Cheers.) You would have none of this tumult and travelled in all parts of their country. I have
excitement ; the great merit and the great recom- watched with the greatest interest the proceedings
mendation of the ballot is this, that it would pro- of their late elections. I have seen with admire-
mote order, decorum, and morality in taking the tion the orderly moderation with which they have
poll. lamby no means certain, and I say it in all carried on their elections, though plunged suddenly,
frankness, that the ballot would have a very deci- as it were, into the furnace of revolution, with all
sive effect in forwarding any one particular party's their old landmarks and old authorities disappear-
interest at the poll. lam not prepared to say my ing, and I have been very much struck with
views in regard to public questions would be more this fact, and I mention it not merely for this
represented in the ballot-box than they are now by meeting, but because our proceedings will be
open voting. I think very likely that the party— heard and read elsewhere. I have observed
the political party—that most dreads the ballot that Loth in Tuscany and among the Bolognese,
would sometimes most profit by it ; but this I say, the Legations of the Pope, as well as in other parts
anytionso'n e who has inquired as to the conduct of ekes of Italy with which I am acquainted, the people
in America, in Switzerland, in France, in Spain, have not only elected the very ablest men, but the
and anywhere the is ado
ballot is adoted, and will c m- men who by their wealth and position represent
pare them with the violence,' ' o the property of their country. There are men—l
shed, the disgusting tumult, the the blood-
and hideous
corruption we
have seen their names in the papers—elected as
witness at our eleai
as a moral engine, as
the
—I say nobody can doubt, their representatives, . who are as fairly entitled to
e means of repressing these be taken as representing the great wealth and in-
excesses, the ballot is the best resource, the best fluence of the country as Lord Derby, Lord John
expedient, we can have. (Ch Russell, or Lord Lansdowne
. wculd be, or any of
one illustrative fact whieb.
leers.) I will mention
on this subject. Now, understand, lam not going country. (Hear, hear.) Well, the Italians having
to quote America as a country where
you should gothis,
done have shown themselves capable of main-
for imitation in everything regaren
Ing her politi
cal
. tainine, order among themselves, are entitled at
institutions, which are as unfit for as •„ least to east to the forbearance of the countries that sur-
spects be unfitted for them,l
as ours would (Cheers ; ) round them but we all know that if the more
But this I may say in passing,
that the whit .'powerful •
e men, nations choose to send secret emissaries
of the United States have a theory of government and spend money in corrupting or debasing the
heir
which they in t
„have laid down . institutions least instructed part of the communities, it will be
which if the human instrument be equal to the very easy to produce disorders in those countries ;
political machine, means to deal justly and fairly it will be very easy to make it difficult for those
by every man in their e
community: But now I con- eminent men who have been elected as the repro-
fine myself to one feet that was given to me in my sentatives of the
people to carry on a Government
travels in America. I was speaking to a gentleman
intowith moderation or succese, and if the should fall
—whose letter I may read, for it is in but few
htN disorder by sluch mean's, or becausey
words—whose name (Mr. Rsndall) ,is known to to Within themselves for
of self-government—and the moment the elements
some of our statesmen here, for I remember he gave
difficult to pnaent—and God knows it must be
evidence before a commitee of the House of Com-
rience as thend such elements with so little expe-
mons upon which I sat to inquire into the mode of ,
~,
f 11 • t 7 •
have had in such matters-but if
aey a
.in. o disorder, that
proceeding of our Houses of Parliament in order to I is no reason, it is only
furnish information as to the C • rule of the ongtes . •
1 pocritl 1
Congress aAy ca.. pretence, why the
should e strong Powers of
the continent interfere with thorn.
of the United States. He is a man standinr, high,(Cheers.)
both socially and politically. He mentioned this Why, what wouldhave become of this ()Teat natio
fact in conversation with me, and, wishing that I if, when we were in the eisildron of revolution—it
should have the full benefit of the information during the hundred years that elapsed from 1645
or 1650 to 1746, when the last battle was foueht
under his own signature, lie wrote me a letter after
I left Philadelphia, where the gentleman lives (and
in favour of the Stuart dynasty—what would "
have
I shall take care to have it published), addressed to been the fate of this great nation, if, instead of
me at Washington; it contains the l• allowing us here freely to fight out our own re_
se Ines, " I have
been for deinption, to turn first one king away and then an-
movements 50 years connected with political and t par y
other, and overturn one Ministry after another, what
in Philadelphia, and I never knew
a vote a nation if some great
bought or sold." (Cheers.) That •
is. one of the would have become of us as
largest cities in America, and contains one of the
Power the continent immediately we fell into
on