The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-27 00:00:00

TO, THE TRADESMEN OF GREAT EIittAIN'AND
IRELAND'.

FELLOW CouNTnymEN,—At the present eventful period, when
society it in a state of transition, _and he mita:twist principles
of good and evil are straggling for ascendancy—when experi-
ments not merely of a questiOnable bit a d tugerous nature a.e
made upon our national institutions by rulers who b:tsely sub-
init to coercion from men devoid of political, and in many cases
'if moral, principle—when, under the specious name of reform,
changes are sought to be introduced which have, in all nations
where such experiments have succeeded, been the prec irsors of
Anarchy and despotism—when, under the covert pretext -or or-
genic change, the independence of the upper house, and with it
the happy equilibrium of the British constitution. is sought to be
lest royed the 'chuieb of our forefathers is assailed by a
• motley array of Papists, Socinians, In Adele, and others, wit
ire th?uselves disagreed upon all poet s except that of her de-
struction—when the throne itself is safe only till the period when
its strongest bulwarks are removed, and until it can he attacked
with greater a ifety and certainty—we, the Conservative crivie—
men of Liverpool, deem it to be our duty, as we feel it to 1)P trio'
pit ilege, to call upon yon, our Fellow T.-adesmen throughout
the empire, to form yourselves into Local Conservative Asso-
ciations, that we may. be united in one sacred band, determined
to resist the further progress revolutionary measures, and to
stand firmly by that constitution which has been the slow but
sure growth of ages, and which we believe to be the greatest
preservative of civil and religious liberty that any nation has
been privileged to enjoy.
Rejoicing as we do over the growth of national intelligence—
of commercial enterprise—of, extended knowledge in the arts
and sciences—and of the characteristic iudiistry of our country,
and freely admitting that, by the lapse of ages, errors and
abuses may have crept into our institutions, we are not oppoSed
to safe and constitutional remedies which have.. been rendered
actually necessary by the changes that have been wrought in
the structure of society, but we cannot close our eyes to the
fact, that many of those who advocate reform secretly mean.
destruction; that their desire is the extension of republican
principleS, and the introduction of systems repugnant. to the
wishes of the Majority of the property and intelligence of the
land, opposed to all subordination, and totally incompaphle,
with the security of inimarehival institutions. • • •

Niany iiinongst us have risen from the class of labouring me.
chattics, have been protected in courses4.industry, anti have
enjoyed the blessings which the equal laws of Great Britain
offi.r to all; and our associations and stations in life "give us
abundant opportunity of noting the proi..7less of public opinion.
A stilton') act of the legislature having invested us with elec-
tive ptivileg,es, has virtually placed in our hands, hmu
speaking, the present welfare and the future happiness t..misery
of our country. With the plivilege of franchise is connected
the responsibility of employing it. aright ; anti, forming, as we
do, the connecting link between the rich and the poor, we are
accountable to God, to our country, and to posterity, for the use
we make of the power with which w,e have been invested.

Disguiseit as we mas, it is an assured fact that popery is pre-
dominant in the councils of the nation—that a popish faction
Ireland now usuim -the authority of the executive. without ereu
the acknowledgment of restionsinility; and that as hug as par=
ties are so evenly balanced that a few votes will cause either to
prepoaderate, the ministry of the day must ever be at the mercy
of popish influence, and must concede their demands,' howevi r
outr.igeous, or resign the helm into other hands, to be similarly
dealt with. When, however, it is the misfortune of toe country
that men utterly devoid of principle are in possession of the
reins of government, whose latitmlinarianisin and flexibility are
as expansive as the demands of scepticism and sedition are in-
sulting and treasonable, and when we look in vain amongst the
majo,ity of our rulers for that uncompromising, rectitude. of
principle which anim ded our firefathers in times of public:
danger, we feel that the period has arrived when nentrality,is
unpardonahle,_ and when it is our duty to associate ourselves to-
gether, determined, With the help of Providence, to resist the
destructive principles now afloat, and to j.,in heat t and hand for

the preservation of all we hold dear..., We believe that unless a
res. ute stand be made by the middle classes of society, in de.
fence of the British constitution, that it must full, and ait h=it he

extingoisheit a greater measure of national freedom tb.au any
people have yet eujoyed.
Religion is now deemed a point of little consequence in civil
government, instead of being regarded as the great spring of
men's actions and determinations; and our rules both general
and local, now advocate the doctrine that any religion or no
religion shell not disqualify a man flour places of public mist.
'l3tit the spurious notion' of general beni-voience, hoe-ever
specious iu theory, is a meagre substitute for the valuable realities
resulting from that religious principle which is founded on
set iptural ttuth, and which we trust is yet deeply rooted in the
affections. of the British people. We assert that the genuine
spirit of protestantism which repudiates all conueetion with
poi et %, and which stands aloof .fromlatitudinartanism both in
civil anal religious matters, must be revive] amongst tip, and
those men, no matter what the denomination, who can make
comoion cause with the enemies of our church and country
roust be removed from places of public trust and be Made to
feel the w-ight of general and viatuous indignation.
It is time that the membets of the established churches
should learn to dist itwnish their friends fauna their foes, and be.
tweet) those o ho openly :avow their desile for their destruction,
and those who are servilely found in the tanks of their enemies,
ve; hypocritically wearing their livery, and answering to ale
muster roll of their soldiers.

NVe think that the Conservative press has been too long

neg et.ted. and has nut
,ret•rived that support a hit h its itopor-
tanee demands. It is a lameotable fact that numberless Con-
servatives support the radical and revolutionary journals to the
neglect of their own, and thus assist in the dissemit.ation of
moral poison throughout the land. The advertisements and
circulation of these papers is thus increased by Conservative
support, whilst our opponents, with more consistency, but !ess
liberality, are rarely found supporting journals in opposition to
their political opinions. .. •
The press is a great moral engine, which has done and will
yet do more for the propagation of conservative principles than
any other means. We call upon you, therefore, to supputt-it in
every possible way.
_ _ _

It is our fei vent wish that you should form conservative
associations in ever• town, that each loyal tradesman may know
his fellow—may have a rallying point —may be enaned to
attend in h,,dies at public meeting., and Cu) be 'early to support
each other, and to coalesce %%jilt other towns and counties in the

maintenance of conservative principles.
Retnembering that unopposed minorities have in a•l Colintries
precipitated revolutions, and that tie agitations of restless
demagogues, when tamely submitted to, have aluaYs ended in
bloodshed, anarchy, and at last military despotism. iPt (Is derive
It sinus of wisdom from the records of history; let us declare
Inialy for God and our country; let us use ail the means and
inflthnce which Providence has placed at our disposal, with
faithfu!ness. energy, and since►ity,.and then leave the issue in
lii haul who rules the destinies of nations.
EDWARD BYFORD, Secretary.