The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-28

pies, TOR there are no greater slaves IN public
life than some of these personages-radcal
toadies who can be bought with small place,
and, though rich, seduced by an invitation to
dinner.
Mr. Hume is almost unique in parliament.
The machinery of a powerful and organised
agitation brought into parliament Mr.. O'Connell
and Mr.. Golden. The middle classes are glad
to see Mr.. Hume and Mr.. Golden embodyng
their feelings IN reference to the unjust pressure
of taxation. But the middle classes have at pre-
sent no organisation TO secure an increased sup
ply OF such men, and the ol,garchies have clubs
and corrUptious in abundance to prevent their
increase and weaken their efficiency. The num-
Der OF men who will vote for the separation of
man supporting himself by his independent labor,
and an equitable adjustment of taxatiOn-the
number OF members sincerely hostile to the es-
sentials OF aristocracy shows the strength of
the olgsrchies, and the weakness OF the people
in the House of Commons.
But the press is free" Isit? Persons tch0
say tis 40 not kn0to any thing Of the British press
The ohgarchtes are the masters of the press. The
exceptions of the Morning Aducrtiser and the
Telegraph, are the veriest tools Of either the pro-
t"ctiOnist, the conservative, or the VIII g sections
of the oligarchies. Small places for EDITORS and
contributors, and baronetcies Tor proprietors,
suffice to make the daily press of London subser-
Went to the dlrtiest purposes OF the chques. Oc-
casionally there is a grumble heard among them,
bat the purpoN of 1t is that the party journalists
are very angry at their share of the common
spoil and no wonder, when the price of faith
full editor is only an inspectorship of education
or poor laws, or clerkship in the Duchy of
Lancaster.
The journalists OF the oligarchies contrived to
make simple people believe that the corn bill
was obtained because we had previously had a
reform bill. But Mr. Pitt was tree-trade mi
mister, and the first legislative adoption of the
Ideas OF Adam Smith was in the year l7S6. The
fact is, that the reform act secured the monopoly
nj VI IN 81 hat ba lanta nf ~ IRA
compelled to use the corruptions and trickeries
OF the electlOneering agents to destroy the corn
laws Prior to the, general election, the anti.
bribery society declared that the reform act had
Increased the crimes of the electoral system. No
man practically acquainted with the subject
could deny the assertion, and certainly no one
will now listen patiently to doubt of it who has
read the revolving exposures before the election
committees.
From the British Banner
Nothing has tended more to excite the grief Of
patriotic men, and to awaken their worst fears,
than The treatment received during the present
session, by Mr.. Hume, Mr.. Golden, and other
patriotic members of the House of Commons,
whose warnings are treated with derision, and
whose protests are received with scOrn When
MIR Golden told them that he despalred, with
thousand pounds, of being able to bring them
back to u sense of duty" he was met by tor
rent OF " ironical cheers 5" when he told them
there was great discomfort rising up In the coun-
v,
cheers - when he limited to them hat the peru
sal of his letters received that day from the
country might change their tone, again the
house resounded with 'lr0nical Cheers" when
feeling among the middle classes, again he was
met by "cheers and laughter" When he told
shem they had few partlzdns among the work
ing classes, again they replied by daughter -
when he asked them, if il was not reprOach
tor them to vote money before they had devised
the means of raising 1t, the reply was, "a laugb;''
when he ask ed them whether they were prepared
TO meet the discomfort that was rising up, not
among the working, but the middle class OF socle-
~ in this country, the roof tree resounded with
loud cries of "Dlvide! divide;" when he en-
lered his protest against the recklessness with
which they. voted the money before they consl-
dered how IT was to be raised, and limited they
might possibly repent OF the deed, again he Was
visited by daughter and ironIcal cheers" Now,
we must say, that such scene, In such a place,
and under such circumstances, Is, In the highest
degree, discreditable to the senate house, and
reprehenslble to those who occupy 1t, with par
tioipatlon in, or approval of, such proceedings
Let 1t not be forgotten who was the speaker, and
what was the subject; that speaker was the first
of practical statesmen, and the chosen represen-
tatlve OF the greatest constituency In England,
and that the subject was one involving not sim
ply the rights, the comforts, but almost the exls
fence of millions. Never was laughter" so mis-
placed!
But the matter did not end here. Mr.. Bright,
Mr.. Cobden's great compeer, and felow.worker
for the good of mankind, followed In speech
worthy of himself and the occasion, In the
course of which he met with even more insult
and obstruction than the member tor Yorkshire
Had Mr.. Bright, instead of being speaker OF the
highest order, and representative for Manches-
ter, been some poor, ignorant, degraded noml-
nee, sitting for rotten borough he could scarce
ly have been treated more cOntemptuously. At
every sentence he was met with cries OF "Oh,
oh 20 "Question, question ~ ''Dlvide, DivIde"
When Mr.. Bright solemnly told them that sixty
millions of taxation could not be continued to be
levied without exciting dangerous discomfort,
the response was, "Dlvide !" When he re-as-
sured them that, from his knowledge of
what was passing IN the country, efforts to raise
that taxation must be unsuccessful, he was over
powered with shouts OF "Oh, oh!'' and "Dlvide,
dlvide!' Thus, 1t seems, we have reached a
pass in the peoples house, when reason, justice,
and facts, as indicative of the wants and wishes
ot the people themselves, are no longer to be
heard, and no longer necessary to enable the
Senate to come to decision. 1t requires but
small sagacty to foretell the consequences. OF
such a spirit, and such proceeding. Comparing
what is passing before us with the records OF
the historic page, we are hlied with sadness
Assuredly, force IN Senates is the precursor of
force in nations! This Is game ,chich too can
PLAY at; a truth ,chich ,cas neUer so paipaby
brought home to the minds Of men at the present
moment. A large portion OF the members give
themselves no concefn with anything beyond
The division. During the argument of Mr.. Hume,
on the opposition benches, which were "well
filled" when the vote came on; and when Mr..
Hume indignantly reproached them with this
neglect, the response, as usual, was :" laughter;"
but when the minister of war had finished the
statement which involved the expenditure OF
this sum of millions, condemned by Hume, Cob
den and Bright, on resumlng his seat he was
cloudy ch,ered from both sides Of the house"
This Is but a glimpse OF the unseemly scene
presented by the house on what ought to have
been a very solemn occasion These are not
days when 1t Ia meet, or comely, or safe, for
The senates of nations to become halls OF mirth
fu uproar aud vulgar buffoonery. IL is high time
that the chi performers should gice place to serious
men, ,cho ,oiH feel that they are engaged in serious
Dork.
OPINIONS IN RUSSIA OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION,
ETC, ETC.
From the London Post, April
A newspaper of St Petersburgh has published
a singing and abusive article on the new French
revolution and the provisional government. 1t
in the form OF letter from Paris. The French