Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-09
The CObden-DeIane Controversy.


The last English nails bring ua the con-
clusion of the controversy between M.
Golden and Mr. DeIane of the London
Tf"es- The latter having persisted iu say
ing that Mr.. Bright and Mr.. Golden had
advocated "a division among the poor Of
the lands of the rich" Mr. Golden writes
second sharp letter, quoting what he did
say, as printed in the TTses, aad asking Ar.
DeIane to put his finger on the agrarian
passage Mr. Delane rejoius again weakly,
a1d fails to 6ud the doctrine he Ascribed
to the speech, but still insists that it i.
as follows, and is interesting as a fair
statement Of the condition of the English
peasautry aud Of what the reformers like
Bright aad Golden propose to do for thei.
elevation =
"It has been a fashion Of late to talk of
an extension of the franchise as something
not to be tolerated, because it is assumed
that the mass Of the people are not fitted to
take part iu government, and they point
to America aud France and other places.
and draw comparisons between this couu-
~ and other countries. Now, l hope thar
because al NY age don't want anr revo.
luIons. Trey won't serve me, lam surs
or anybody that belongs TO me. England
may compare very fsvoraoly With most
other countries, if you draw the line in
socIesy toleraoiy high, aud if you Compare
tie condition of the rich and the upper
classes OF this country, or a considerable
portion Of the middle classes, With the
same classes abroad I don't think a rich
man, barring the climate, which ia NOT
very good, could be very much happier
anywhere else than in Euglaud bur
when my opponents treat this question Of
the franchise as one that iz likely 10 bring
the masses OF the people down from their
present state 10 ;he level of other countries
sly that have travelled il most civilized
countries, and that the masses of the
people Of this couutry do not compare go
f4Eoraoly with the masses of other couu
tries as could wish. ind IN other csuu
tries greater number Of people With prop
erty than there are in England dsn't
know q Protestant country il the world
where the masses Of The people are SO il
llterate rs in England These are not bad
tests Of the condition Of people. Itis no
use of yoar talking OF your army and navy
your exports and your inports-it is no
nse telling ne you have snatf portion OF
your people eIcee ugly we'll OF. Iwant
TO bring tde test to . comparison OF the
nsjority of The people with The majority of
the people in other countries. Egw. saw
with regard to some things 10 foreign conn
tries We don't compare favorabIy. The
condition of the Eng!ish peasaotry has no
parallel on the face OF the earth. rHear1
You have no other peasAutry bat that Of
England which is entirely divorced from
the land There is ne other eouatry il the
world where you viii fud men holding the
Piongh and turning up the fur.ow upon
their own free hold. 1 don't want apv
sgraE:au outrages by which we should
change all this, bat this dnd. and it is
quite consistent with human nature. thai
wherever l go the condition of the people
IS generally pretty good in comparison wi,h
the power they have to take care of them
selves; and if you have class entirely d-
vorced from political power, while in aaotb-
er country they possess it, they viii be
treated with more Consideration, thew will
have greater advantages, they viii be bet.
ter educated and have better chance of.
haviDg property thsn IL n country where
they are deprived of political power.