The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-16

weaken the effect produced upon your minds by
the most truthful, able, and eloquent statement
made to you by its royal president. lCheers rs
we labor cordially, but most humbly, under the
presidency Of his royal highness. For my own part,
when il desired that my name should be placed
upon the commission, assented 10 the proposal
mainly because conceived it to be my duty 10 give
all the assistance in my power TO the promotion o
object which excited deep interest in the mind
of the sovereign, and deeper interest stillif that
be possible-in the consort OF the sovereign, the
father of the future sovereign, though God grant,
gentlemen, that that future may be so distant that
few indeed among those whom am now address
ing may live TO witness Il. Loud cheers: icannot
however deprive myself of the satisfaction Of bear
ing yhumble testimony lin conjunction with that OF
my colleagues who have already addressed you, TO
the possible and probable effects of this great exhi
btion agree with my noble friend, the noble mar
qus, that those effects, moral and social, immediate
and contingent, il is difficult to anticipate, and
difficult to exaggerate. But this, at all events, is
matter of certainty that it must tend to bring to-
gether into harmonious concord the nations Of the
world; il must tend to improve the good feeling be-
tween various nations; and at this time, and in this
age of progress, when throughout the world the
mass OF the people are acquiring larger and
larger share in the government OF their own coun-
tries, il is matter Of no ordinary importance that
the mind the attention, and the affections of the
people should be Withdrawn from feelings of inter
national jealousy, and hostile aggression, Leading
to sanguinary wars, which, even when most sue
cessful, must always be disastrous to the peaceful
development of their industrial resources and COM
| mercc, and of those arts which tend to humanize
and improve mankind. (Cheers.
| know that there are some who look with jeal
Gus eye upon the probable competition OF foreign
ers, and who apprehend that the British manuiac-
turer and tradesman will suffer from their nterven.
| ton. entertain such fears, (cheers;] for /
| must remind his exceency the French ambassa-
dor, who addressed you lately, that largely as we
throw open our doors, yet even upon the approach
ing occasion that wakeful dragon the Chancellor Of
oha.fh c he ar
claws, [laughter,l because, although productions
will be admitted to competition, they will not be
admitted to general consumption except upon salts
| flying the rigorous demands of that unseepng
| dragon. Renewed laughter.l ! know that APP
| prehensions have been entertained upon this SUBJ
ject, and ] certainly have been surprised, within
these few hours TO hear expressions used in place
| to which will not further allude, by noble and
learned but somewhat volatile friend Of mine, Ia
laugh who ironically congratulated the citizens
of London in reference to this matter. look upon
it in such light. No doubt there are branches Of
industry in which the foreign competitors will sur
pass u.s. for instance, in departments of taste in de-
sign, and grace and elegance of ornament but for
that which combines practical use with finished
elegance, and adaptation OF means TO the accom-
| plishment Of their end, believe we need shrink
| from competition with no nation on the earth.
Even where we find ourselves surpassed by 9th.
ers, still, having before our eyes the specimens OF
their excelences let me say that the English arti-
sans will not be slow to apprehend, to initiate and
in very short time to exceed them. Hear, hear ]
Before sit down / may be permitted to say one
word to those representatives of the industry of the
country who are, by the hospitality of the Lord
Mayor gathered round this board, forming an as
sembage such as England has never before beheld.
| [Cheers. 1t was worthy and a noble thought,
worthy of the chief magistrate OF the commercial
metropolis of the world, TO collect around him the
municipal representatives of the industry of the
cities and towns of this country. [Cheers.l II
was worthy thought thus to connect the heart OF
this great country with the uttermost extremity OF
| tLaE ,1Jx apnla / Eantla
the success of this great enterprise rests with the
country at large. IL is thrown on you to say whe-
Their or not it shall be crowned with success Loud
cheers.
Lord Palmerson proposed 'sThc health of the
Lady Mayoress." And
The Lord Mayor returned thanks.
The Lord Mayor proposed the health OF Sir X.
PEEL who replied amid the enthusiastic cheers OF
the company. The Lord Mayors of York and
Dublin, and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, fol-
lowed in brief and appropriate speeches, when
The Earl of CARLISLE, who was very warmly re-
ceived, rose and said: My Lord Mayor, my lords,
and gentlemen, after all the things and after the
men we have heard, should hold myself TO be with
out excuse if trespassed for more than very few
moments upon your time, even for the toast which,
by command conveyed to me by your lordship,
have the great honor to propose. That toast is,
| 'sThe Workingmen of the United Kingdom
[Great cheering 1t is indeed most fitting that,
amidst all the brilliant and gorgeous acoompani-
ments Of present gathering, amidst all its roy
al, its patrician, and ts civic spendors those who
form that great and active mass of beings who
from day TO day do the real work of the world
should not be forgotten. lCheers.l For feel, my
lord, that may appeal TO the large proportion o.
your municipal brethren whom your truly metro
poltan hospitality has gathered around you upon
this occasion, who come from the hives and marts
| Of industry in all corners of the realm, who may
be said to represent the staple branches of our
ufactures and the varied pursuits Of the nations
labor, [cheers. may ask them whether there is a
single person in this distinguished assembly, from
land to the magistrate of the smallest town within
| the Kingdom, whose comforts, whose luxuries,
whose life ITSELF are not promoted, embellished
and sustained by the sweat of the brow, the
strength of the sinew, the skill Of the hand, and
the resources Of the brain, which go 10 constitute
the wonder working industry Of Britain Loud
cheers Il is most right, il appears 70 me- that
assembly like this should give distinct assurance
that although the exhibition of 1851 is for all classes
as well ms for all nations, IL 10 yet pre- -emnently
intended to be the festival Of the workingman and
Of the workingwomsn, enthusiastic cbeerng,l for
there is no monopoly Of sex, any more than Of con
diton or of race and TO interest their attention.
refine their taste 10 stimulate their invention and
above all, To do honor 10 their industry, among
its fairest and most Legitimate objects. ICbcers.
Though have not the honor OF being member oil
the commission, I am sure l do not misrepresent
the views of that commission when l state thai
among the many, though, perhaps, still scattered
acts OF liberaty which have been exhibited towards
this project, any contributions from the working
people, limited and proportional TO their modest
earnings they must be, will not be the least
ceptabie. [Cheers.l quite agree with those who
have advised you not TO entertain any feelings OF dis
coursgcment from the circumstance that the vari
Gus tempersments and sptitudes Of the races and
nations which people the earth would scarcely al.
low any one nation whatever TO carry away the
palm In every species Of excellence from field
where the competition il universal.
IL said Of the most powerful people that the
world has yet known, and at the very moment
when the power Of that Roman people was at j.,
meridian point that others might more softly mould
the breathing brass, chisel the living features
from the marble, but that the compensation thai
was held out 10 them was proves in arms and the
subjugation Of the world. So II may be that OUT
countrymen appear comparatively deficient in some
Of the minuter grsces Of design and fabric, but they
will seek their countcrpose not in the din Of strife
in the OF battle, but they viii find II in the
sturdy, useful persevering industry that forns the
element of the Saxon character and the glory Of the
British name. fCheersl In the exhibition and
sorebouse Of all the most choice productions OF the
world they will see nothing but what industry like
their own has produccd-nothing but what industry
like their own may aspire to excel, t"Hear, hear,
- - Nla.N 49,