The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-12 00:00:00

(I avut

LONDON, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 12, 1844,

The LEAGUE, whose death the monopolist journal*
had announced with great joy and exultation, re-
appeared, in more than its pristine vigour, at Covent-
garden Theatre last evening. COBDEN, and WILSON,
and VILLIeRS, and Brawn', are all alive, and, as the
farmers' friends will find to their cost, kicking too.
There is no appearance of mortality about them, or
the army that supports them. Tt e house was crowded
to excess—not with females who, at Exeter Hall and
soma other place 4, are mustered to make a show—
but wall men evdEntly intent on a purpose, intent to
destroy every incubus on trade, and deprive the land
owners of a tax raised on the rest of the community,
which, as regards its oppression, and especial l?
the mode of levying it, has nothing like it in the Sta-
•tute-book. It stands alo:ie. To no other tax but
the landlords' tax is the sliding-scale applied. When
our misguided Con temporaries pronounced the League
defunct, they mistook silence for death, and seemed
more ignorant than cur Gallic neighbours, who coul.l
always judge of the terrible onset which wits to follow
the death-like silense of the brave!

If the enemies of the corn-laws have been quiet,
they have not been idle. They have been arranging
plans for a new campaign, collecting statistical
details of registrations and elections which will
make an impression in higher quarters than Stowe
or Goodwood, and realise in right earnest the
memorable saying of Sir R. PEET, that the battle of
the Con,titution is to be fought in the registration
courts. On this subject the speech of Mr. Wir.soN
is replete with important facts —facts as cheering for
the present, as pregnant with promise for the future.
Already ninety-eight boroughs, out of one hundred
and eight, have been shaken to their foundations, and
the Monopolis* are quaking in the terrors of corrup-
tion; and should a general election take place to-
morrow, thirty-two seats which now support the
cord-laws would he changed into free traders,
a difference of sixty-four votes ! This is a fair be-
ginning, and time and perseverance will work the rest.
As with the boroughs, so will it he with the coun-
ties—the strongholds of the landlords. What the
CUANDOS clause has done to fortify the aristocracy ill
their domination over the counties, the forty-shihin4
freehold will speedily neutralise, and eventually
destroy. The Monopolists have presumed so long co
the patience of the people, that they fanciol the:
might go on for ever. But the exertions of the
League will soon convince them cf their error. As
Mr. Vii.LPtuts truly observed, they will -find that the
"enormous wrong" of the corn-laws has at length
roused the country not only to think, but to
act too. Endurance has had its limit, and
nowoppression must give place to justice.
The voice of reason ha i gone forth, and
finds a ready echo. in every unprejudiced mind
is the true secret of the suv+ce-s of the League •
and it is theiEconviction of that truth which
makes'
the Monopolists tremble.
We will not discuss the merits of the several
speeches here—to be fully appreciated, they must e
read. We never heard more soul- stirring eloquence,
and the vast assemblage seemed to feel its I
force by their mute attention for the moment—and