The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-03 00:00:00

LONDON :
SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 3, 1842.

The Meeting of the Metropolitan Anti-Corn-
law League on Thursday evening was extremely
numerous. The Theatre of the Mechanics'. In-
stitution, which will hold more than 1,100 per-
sons, • was crammed, and great numbers went
away, unable to get admission. We can affirm
from personal observation, that the great majo-
rity of Ake
,persons present were enthusiastic
against the Corn-laws, and received the strongest
parts. (t the several excellent speeches which
were delivered, with the greatest applause. In-
deed the minority, which attempted to thwart
the object, of the meeting, was so small, that to
have heard its organs, could ;lot possibly have
long interrupted the business, and would have
made a better appearance in the published
reports.

We have too great a reverence for the hal-
lowed principles involved in Corn-law repeal not
to express, whatever pain it may cost US,
the deep regret we felt at being convinced
that they were sullied on that occasion by unne-
cessary violence used towards those who took a
lifferent. view. The columns of the Herald and
ether monopolist journals prove that it has given
',hem a handle to abuse,those who seek the re-
'real of the Corn-laws. " Anti-Corn-law Ruf-
ianism" is the heading of a long article inserted
,esterday in that journal, and though our Con-
emporary haS grossly disfigured and exagger-
ted the scene, all who love the cause must re-
let that the opportunity was afforded him. Mr.
vVARBURTON very properly put Mr. BLACKMORE
own, when he attempted to speak before the
esolution was- put, but after it was put he
uthorised Mr. BLACKMORE to speak. Far,
Owever, from supporting its own Chair-
lan, the meeting would not hear Mr.
;I.AC.Ii.«IORE, and when another person as-
mded the platform to speak to order, treated
hem both with considerable personal violence.
fr. WARBURTON, we thought, was wanting to'
is own dignity, and wanting ill proper respect
) the cause, as were the gentlemen around him,
iat he and they did not prevent that violence
nmediately under their noses ; and being unable
• prevent it, that he did not leave the chair and
ley did not leave the meeting. It would have
'ten time enough to have sanctioned or allowed
olence after granting a hearing to Mr. BLACK-
'ORE. But he was not heard; he was clamoured
before he could make himself heard, and
e was removed from the platform by force.
hat is as bad conduct, we take leave to say, as
tat fur which the Chartists have been so se-
!rely condemned, in interrupting public meet-
in this case, it was unfortunate too; for it
ill offend a very numerous class whom the
ora-law repealers desire to propitiate. No per-
al will suspect us of any luke warmness in this
-eat cause, but earnestly desiring to see it
iumph, by its moderation as well as justice, we
el bound to express our disapprobation of the
)nduet p'trsued by the meeting on Thursday
;ening towards Mr. BLACKMORE, who had rc-
,ived the permission of the Chairman to address
to meeting.
Having expressed this opinion, it gives us un-
igned pleasure to add that the speeches deli-
particularly those of Mr. VILLIERS and
llonel THOMPSON, and Mr. Witsom, *ere ex
Heat. In the great free-trade questioni-vvhieh
now agitating the country,: anti-ydzoi,w-614.