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

4J tie

LONDON :
SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 3, 1842.

The Meeting of the Metropolitan Anti-Corn-
law League on Thursday evening was extremely
umerous. The Theatre of the Mechanics' In-
.::itution, which will hold more than 1,100 per-
uns-,'• was crammed, and great numbers went
away;nnable to get admission. We can affirm
- from personal observation, that the great majo-
rity of the persons present were enthusiastic
against the Corn-laws, and received the strongest
parts. of 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 not possibly have
.oug 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
different view. The columns of the Herald and
other monopolist journals prove that it has given
them. a handle to abuse those with Seek the re-
peal. of the Corn-laws. ‘," Anti:-Cor'n-laW Ruf-
fianism" is the heading of a long article inserted
yesterday in that journal, and though our Con-
temporary has grossly disfi,pred and exagger-
ated the scene, all who love the cause must re-
gret that the opportunity was; afforded him. Mr.
WARBURTON very properly putt Mr. BLACKMORE
down, when he attempted to speak before the
resolution was put, but after it was put he
authorised Mr. BLACKMORE to sp •
eak Far,
however, from supporting its own Chair-
man, the meeting would not hear Mr.
BLACKMORE, and when another person as-
cended the platform to speak to order, treated
them both with considerable r lersona 1 violence.
Mr. WARBCRTON, we thought:, was wanting to
his Own dignity, and wanting in proper respect
to the. cause, as were the gentlt .men around him,
thatklie and they did not prevent that violence
immediately under their noses ; and being unable
to prevent it, that he did not leave the chair and
they did not leave the meeting. It would have
been time enough to have sanctilened or allowed
violence after granting a hearin; ;- to Mr. BLACK-
MORE. But he was not heard ; h e was clamoured
at before, he could make him self heard, and
he was removed from the platform by force.
That is as bad conduct, we take leave to say, as
that for which the Chartists have been so se-
verely condemned, in interruptix ig public meet-
ings. In this case, it was unfortunate too; for it
will offend a very numerous c lass whom the
Corn-law repealers desire to prop itiate. No per-
son will suspect us of any luke -armness in this
neat cause, but earnestly desi.-ing to see it
triumph, by its moderation a 3 welt/ as justice, we
ter,' bound to express our disapprobation of the
(.+Alduct pursued by the meeting ion Thursday
towards Mr. BLA CKMORE, -who had re-
x :Jed the permission of the Chairma n to address
meeting.

iTaving expressed this opinion, it gi% vs us un-
.ep7ned pleasure to add that the spee, ',hes deli-
-wed, particularly those •of Mr. Vim.' Ells 'and
-1(.!Inel THOMPSON, and Mr. WILSON, v, 'ere ex-
ellent. In the great free-trade question, 'which
'Fos, agitating the country, and which w % take
,- iye to say spreads much further than Corn-
i vs—though they being the most promine ;n1 ,;the
most cruel, and the most mischievons, are: Very
properly first assailed—such men show' Att. "I"
selves worthy .to be the leaders of the p(!opie•
They are patient,i7Z -.firtn, and bold,. They
flinch mit% ftdolin _ *._. , _ Passion of op inion,
and flinpcot IF. **1011.01) themselves i n the
front, ‘0 e4ti t - - - is---V*1107... tiy be expo ed to
' .
&tam. Thc..r.l4l'f.u: . _ ~d.a. j!!?:(f/ b"Columon They
0941
ethboliiit t4ig 4u.vpio ~..,
,_ ,t and to.reibl e lan-
guagO*lppprri**743,lilions, anct so they
i are tl4 iiiig• Ots, 'leaders of 04a .4i-•mil-
lions. Art AjOien.:•lthe' ' millions hawr latade,