The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-07-07 00:00:00

CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.

TO THE EIiTOR OP THE LIPERPOOL STAND-Ina
SIR,—In the present eventful times, times, allow me to say,
in which almost any project which savours of a revolutionary, or,
which is equally dangerous, of a republican character, is ap-
plauded and spread abroad by a portion of the press who daily
‘tontradict their own assertions, who daily send-forth for the per-
usal of the world sentiments of a most dangirens.and turbulent.
character, and who are daily perverting plain truth, and in its
stead propagating doctrines the tendency of which I almost
shudder to think of;—in these times, I think the heart, hand,
and powers, however humble',,nt,.:e.very one who wishes well for
his country, ought to be called into-vig.,rws and unremitted ex-
ertion. Anti allow me, sir, to suggest how these exertions may,
in my humble opinion, be exerted to the ultimate good of our
common country and to the welfare of our institutions, which
all allow to be so truly dear to every true-hearted Englishman.
I hold, sir, first, that to preserve inviolate the union as it at
present exists between the church and state is an important
and a very responsible duty of those in whose hands rests the
high duty of sending up to the legislative assembly their repre-
sentatives, and, through their representatives, their voices and
opinions upon all matters of public policy. And I here become
involved in the question, " How are the people, the wealthy,
respectable, middling, and operative classes of society, to have
their opinions fairly represented in the House of Commons?".
I would answer, by having their right to vote for their represen-
tatives fairly protected, and by being regularly placed in the po-
sition of an elector entitled to vote. Then, sir, you inquire; " and
how will you accomplish this ?" Why, by having societies
formed for the express purpose of casting a watchful eye to the
registration of voters at the proper season. By this one object
having been too long neglected, I feel convinced that the con-
servative party in the Rouse of Commons is very much weaker
than it otherwise would have been.

And now, for a few reasons why electors in the middling
and operative classes do not register, and vote, and uphold con-
servative principles as much as they will, I hope, ere long do:—
First, then, sir, I should say that one principal reason why con-
servatism is, as yet, so little professed, and far less understood
by the middliug classes of society is, that in all their resorts
they find themselves, as it were, almost compelled to read no-
thing else but radical and whig papers—they find few, it may
be very few, opportunities of reading papers which advocate op-
posite principles, and so they only know half of any subject
they only read one side of the question, and are therefore led
away by the specious arguments and cunningly devised tales of
the whig-radical press; but, sir, when this description of
electors have met with newspapers of both whig and tory opi-
nions, we have hitherto found that they have been induced to
act upon the conservative side, and we find already an opera-
tive conservative association in existence, which will, I iu-
cerely hope, spread its principles far and wide, to the dispell-
ing of the errors which at present so lamentably bind our
operative fellow electors in political error, to the great danger
of our country. And for the other reason which I would give
on this question, allow me to refer you, with sincere pleasure,
to the fellowing, extract from Illairboood's Majazitte. It says,
respecting the advantage to be derived from placing conserva-
tive newspapers in public-houses, taverns, and places where the
I.lipertitere and mechanic classes resort, that -•' some part seethe
funds of every conservative association should be devoted to
the purchase of the ablest journals and periodicals of the day,
with a view to their diffusion, at an under price, among the per-
sons of an inferior grade, whom it is practicable to win over to
safe and constitutional principles. By so doing, a double oh-
eject is gained. Talent is encouraged to devote itself to sech
undertakings, and numbers who never otherwise would get a
glimpse of the truth have the means of illuminating their minds
afforded them. Gratuitous distribution should be avoided ; it
is in general considered as an insult, and seldom produces ally
lasting consequences. It is the diffusion of able conservative
journals, or works' of sterling ability in circulating libraries,
mechanics' institutions, &c., at a rate considerably below the
selling price, that is most likely to he efficacious; and, in
making the seleCtion, let them avoid the common error of sup-
posing that the working classes can understand nothing but
works, lace meridiana clariores, expressly intended for their illu-
mination. There never was a greater mistake; they should be
addressed by the same arguments as are deemed fit for their su-
periors, and, if they can only be got to read them, truth, in the
end, will work its way in the humblest class as well as in the
most elevated." Let all the conservatives bear their part, and
I am certain that the suggestions which 'I. have just quoted will
be productive of great and very extensive good.
We are now living in times when the conservation of our in•
stitut:ons, of our king, of the lords, and of our long-established
monarchy claims the attention, great and vigorous, of every in-
dividual who has time and a heart to devote to his country's
cause. We already find that conservative principles are
making great, yea, very great, 'progress amongst the middlin g
andoperative classes. May they ever spread, and may the time be
close at hand when our opponents shall eat their own words
again, and contradict their own assertion, when they said that
the tories had had their wished-for trial, and had been found
wanting, and were expelled from the councils ofthe state, never
to return ! That short period—those tour short months
more for the conservative cause than had been accomplished fur
years before.
Allow me to ask the favour of your inserting these remarks in
your next, and believe me ever yours, &e., ARGUS.
Everton, 4th July, 1835.