Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-01-24
The American Question, With varia-
tons
'Sharp and Eccentric Speech of George
F. Train before an English audience.


F. Train before an English audience
On Tuesday evening, Dec. II, 1861
says the Staffordshire Sentinel, Mr.. G.
Train, of Boston, Mass, lectured in th
town hall, Tunstall, on behalf of the Tun
stall Athenaum and Reading Room Th
subject of the lecture, as announced in th
bills, was, 1.-The American Question wit
Variations. The ball was we'll filed b.
1000 persons. The Chief Bailif of Tun
stall (Thomas Peake, Esq..) presided
and, IN opening the proceedings, there wa
disposition on the part of some of th,
audience to create disturbance and pre-
vent him from speaking, with what sue
cess the sequel will show. Mr.. Train wa,
cordially received by the major portion o
the audience, but, before he could begir
to speak, he was greeted with the express
sion, proceeding from the body of the hall
"We hope that you will speak the truth
The Chairman said that he would moi
allow any interruption.
The person who had previously spoken,
however, inquired, would Mr. Train en-.
dorse the statements contained in bis letter
to the New York Herald? [Confusion ]
The Chairman-I must have silence, or
| will leave the chair. Applause AMI
confusion.
The disputant persisted, and this time
said, Mr.. Train had called the English
volunteers set of fools, and as a yolun-
teer he could net submit to that. Re-
newed confusion.
Mr. Train said as the volunteers had
been mentioned, be would recite a poem
in praise of them by Eliza Cook, one of
their own poetesses.-
MIR, Train then said that he had been
invited to meet an intelligent audience of
ladies and gentlemen, but he should think
they had brought him into poultry yard,
laughter, but before be proceeded with
his discourse. he thought>it we'll for him
self and the audience to understand little
better their respective positions. Hear, !
One would suppose be was paid to come
there On the contrary, he came in order
to add something to the Athenaum fund.
At Hanley he was invited to lecture for
the benefit of the Ragged School. He
went. At Langton for the funds of the
Church. He obeyed the call. At Bir-
mingham in aid of the St. Georges Soc-
ETY. of Instructions. He went there also
At Alderst.ott for the Institution of Mental
Improvement and Social Recreation--again
he said yes; and when your honora Die
committee waited upon him with tie polite
to speak in aid of your Society, he
did not refuse, [cheers;] but be assured
he will speak to no audience unless be can
con mand respect, Hear. The hall is
filed, the Athenaum has added to its
treasury--the object for which his name
was advertised has been accomplished
therefore. it was for you to say whether he
speaks or not. Yes. and applause. He
had no objection to those little interrupt
tions, because they gave a variety to the
proceedings. He presumed it was in ac-
cordance with the bill-he was to speak
on the American war, and the audience
was doing the variations Loud laugh
ter He was not brave man, and he
believed if he were shot in battle, it wo'd
be in tie back. Laughter. He then
recited the poem, to which he had pre-
viously referred, in praise of the volun-
teers, and said he cheerfully endorsed ev-
cry sentiment it contained. [Cheers. j
He did not want those countries to 90 to
war. [Applause.l These commercial in
terests in each other was too great to al
low them to 60 to war. Two countries
that were bound together by e10O, ,000,-
900 sterling year should be made to
keep the peace. [Applause.l Allusion
had been made to letter he had written
He had written letter, but there was
nothing in it that was hostile to England
GDisapprobation. He had been long in
this country, and had been accustomed to
speak his mind. No man or body of men
had ever been able to muzzle him, Laugh
ter and if they succeeded they are more
clever than those who failed Hear. i
They called him spy. He pleaded gull
ty, and would write, talk, act, as he pleas
ed, when he pleased, and where he pleas
ed [Hear.l When there are so many
milk and water Americans in Europe :
half and half men who don't know exactly
which side they are on, but 60 bowling
about depreeating the war-hoping for
peaee-deprecating the e2ertions of the
cabinet, and favoring the action of the
traitors, when these neutral patriots CD
are abroad-a little energetic action was
worth a volume of talk. He would rather
drop war, and speak of China, or Austria
liza, or on any ether subject they like to
suggest. He would lecture on anything