The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1844.

The progress which the Anti-Corn-law League
has hitherto made in the spread of free-trade opinions,
and in the advancement of anti-monopolist principles
and feelings, among the people of Great Britain and
Ireland, is at once a most signal testimony to the zeal
and industry of that body, and to the truth of the
doctrines, which its Council have laboured to instil
into the public mind. Never, in the memory of man,
did any cause make such rapid marches, or move
onward with .such resistless energy, as the cause
which the Anti-Corn-law League espoused, and
which has shaken to its very centre the empire of
monopoly, and reduced all its strongholds.
" Truth is great, and must prevail," has been the
motto inscribed upon the banners, which the Anti-
Corn-law League have carried in triumph, through
almost every county and province of England and
Scotland. Plain and convincing truth, made plainer
and more convincing, from the purity of principle,
and the sincerity of heart, by which it was enforced,
has been brought to the doors of every thinking man
is the empire ; until, at length, even the unthinking
herd, who are found among all ranks, caught the
sound, which roused them to some exercise of
their faculties, and led even them, to the
conclusion that monopoly could not be intended
for the benefit of the masses, but must be, and was,
supported for some exclusive, some privileged class,
which derived advantage, and sought to draw its
support, from the continuance of one general impo-
sition.

The monopolists alarmed, fr_ighted from their pro-
priety, forgetful of the many bitter taunts they have
used against Sir ROBERT PEEL for allowing such a
body as the League to run its course without re-
straint or interference by the Law-officers of the
Crown, and totally regardless of the evils which
spring from organized agitation, so long and so ear-
nestly denounced by them, have, it appears, formed—
what do our readers believe ?—A NATIONAL ANTI.'
LEAGUE ASSOCIATION. Not a society for the promo-
tion of agriculture—not an association to improve 'the
condition of the farmer or the farm labourer—not a
united body to make two blades of grass grow where
only one grew before. No, purely and entirely, an
ANTI-LEAGUE ASSOCIATION. And to such an As•
sociation they have dared to affix the name of National.
Why, if they had called it anti-national, there
would have been sense in their designation, and the
intent would have borne out the name ; but to call
a body, with monopolist intentions, or with views
exclusively far the benefit of one class—a national
body—is to use terms strangely at varience with the
truth, and to misapply language most grossly.
The Anti-Corn-law League fills Covent-gar-
den Theatre weekly, with audiences delighted
and eager to hear the principles of free trade
expounded. The Anti-League Association, not
daring. to tread the boards of the great
theatres, has announced its debut at a minor
place of entertainment, and this evening holds its
Great National Anti-League demonstration, for so the
cards of admission signed and sealed by the secre-
tary, declare it to be, at Freemasons' Tavern. 11 ho
is to be in the chair, or who is to *speak to the meet-
ing, is not announced, but the chair is to 'ae taken at
half-past six precisely.
Well, time will show. " When Greek meets Greek,
then coines the tug of war." Mr. COBDEN and Mr.
BRIOIIT have been allowed to disport themselves
among the fertile fields of Britain too long; they
have mistaken their impunity from contradiction in
argument, and from overwhelming declarations against
their fre•-trade opinions, for an approval which it is
now evident did not exist. The lion is roused : he
has shaken his mane ; Mr. N. DORAN MAlLLARn—
euphonious name—of ornithological celebrity, has
issued his cards for a great national demonstration
against the League, and no doubt the orators who
have so long concealed their powers of argument and