The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

I come of itself, or be brought about by the gradual
and natural adaptation of all human institutions,
to the changed position of those, for whose use
d. A healthy public opinion will

they were fra.

that we require, peacefully, surely,
nd without incurring the risk of the disorganiza-
tion and misery which we now witness around us,
as the results of rash and headstrong efforts to
rfectibility in what God never ordained to
perfect on earth.

effect for us al

attain

We urge, therefore, upon our suffering working
classes, and upon some of those above them, who
appear disposed at this moment to urge the people
to agitation for political change. to read carefully,
and ponder upon, the lesson which is set them in

. -
the present condition of Europe. It is not the sea-
son to urge measures of a speculative nature—
changes of political systems, and remodelling of
political institutions, whilst mens' minds are un-
settled and ready to grasp at shadows. A few
administrative reforms may be well contended for;
but to enter upon any agitation, such as has been

attempted, would only tend to aggravate
sufferings amongst our population which no theo-
retical legislation, nor legislation of any kind, can
reach, and thus to raise expectations which could
not be fulfilled. We want now mainly the restora-
tion of commercial confidence, to enable us to pre-
pare for, and to profit by, the harvest, which must
shortly flow upon us from the temporary dislocation
of the commerce and industry which has taken place
and to bring this about we

recently

in other countries

firmly believe that a little patience, mutual good
offices and forbearance, and, above all, the absence
of pontifical agitation, are all that are required.

We would ask of the loyal and industrious
British labourer and artizan to enter into a calcu-
lation of the expense and suffering created, directly
and indirectly, by the recent seditious efforts of the
Chartists in various parts of the kingdom. It would
he found, even directly, to make up a large item.
The arming and assembling of policemen and spe-
cial constables, the loss of time of employers,
tradesmen and working men, the test of moving
soldiers from town to town, are not light
matters. But we must bear in mind that there is
something beyond this : that the capitalist does not
unloose his hoards for employment in commerce,
whilst disaffection and outrage fill our streets; that
the merchant will not operate freely ; that the ship-
owner will not bring in foreign produce, or the
manufacturer make goods, amidst threats of incen-
diarism and plunder. If the restoration of confi-
dence has only been retarded a month, or even a
week, by the proceedings of these men, the loss in
wages alone to the working classes of Great Britain
would amount to a sum equal to the entire annual
revenue of some petty kingdoms !

WITHOUT pledging ourselves to the full length
of the views, as to local taxation, propounded by
Mr. James Parker, and the other gentlemen who
attended the meeting in St. Anne's Ward yesterday
evening, we must acknowledge that in the direction
of such views, the public mind is just now very
decidedly leaning. In Liverpool, especially, it is
so; and most justly and naturally. We have here
two powerful local bodies, the one—the corporate
body—deriving an immense income, from its own
property and the commerce of the port, which it