New-York tribune., 1868-12-26
MIR REYERDY JOHNSON AND TIE WORK
l\GMEN

banquet Mr. RcveIdy Johnson IN London ana how II
came To grief story Of some interest Many persons
who knew well the feeling OF the working class Of the
metropolis respc ting the cause of liberty ~ America
and who knew how their sympathIes had always been
with the North lcancds swtlssuprise and with ircrcd
uty that public banquet proposed 20 be given by
them or given IN their names, TO Mr Rcvery Johnson
The announcement first appeared IN thc hcWspaItIs
engaged in the elections. aud many Of them we've
absent N The provinces taking part III elections thsie
they tuned their attention To- proceeding Nhlch
they deemed compromising to theit oIdei. (h't
thcy found thar the matter Was originated by single
'o se,t irrS y i Gocietv 81 Nits NJ ~ imonirir e
workman hHt who wae hrst known tlC pulr here
the writer 81 etters g. Iis times dn tlc character ot
eIprcr against Reform aud the Ntchsion of power
me working class These he aftcrward rccautc
and thc REGULATION was made iu ne D0Hg IdfgIdp"
gstlc es an iaeush Co3rcihsad orenn q was icre
fore supposed mat Mr. oOnneshy hah derived his h,-
ssrioIV s,9 ito 70 Ire, ne H1uc comtcc. Mr Arpceah
whose sympatnies WITH tho Nc1p g:rc wcil tno"r nnd
Who WIS actively engaged ~ Sheffield, !agg,mk MN
pnhhely aveSe9 dcLefminalion to 3n,t Nt NJ
been spokcn ~ by Mr. Couings6y aud gS h has since
ii%'ifG ia1i4 ErTs0 ,Ts " iI"f'5 n,f 51 g5 q M N.
sgrced t6 40 as Secrr'ary Tho first instinct - IA In
ties, and every Was dSposed ~ regard Mr. Rcyedy
JOIN l-on ~ rely ohCai clil' ~ ana - . h"'oliaI
pcctcd character a. NJ Johnson they concluded II 70 be
working new Who btcanc committed 20 the movement,
t,cd and able freud Of the North and who Lad sent his
Gglt in Tie Army of tht inicn had drafted the
cutcries of gentlemen In England. who knew not ana
could not ard v0uld moi represent tle feelings OF lie
duty ~ the working class 10 speak for ihcmSelyes,
aud show their brethren IN the United states tiat
their opinions were uuclnnrcd AZ Ugnfded tho
noble services 10 freedom inrnughout the world
.riV maj akp was n m chosen
they intended 10 express these sentiments. No sooner
had some active friends and wuIheie with the altLhhs
made Inquiries upon subject than hey became aware
of the uticr unuess Of the occasion and the tne' ana
advised OH who mad asen,cd the thing 10 consult pub
liz uroprcty by waiting more auspicOus Time for the
dccaration of their sentiments toward America. The
next picenng convened after this Was done practically
rSrlodcd rhe whole AFFAIR MI Edmond Bcales the Pres
dent Of Tie Reform League blew up the project by
sugl1sled 10 the members Of Banquet committee
that it was not advisable 10 do oven
right thing trough g. iant,d a medium 60
Tis fatal remark APPEARED ID ne Ispoit Oh Inc Inc
I0rai'g sur, and the uncomioriatle oDseryaiion
proved 10 be The death of The dinpgr Another meeting
Wa. held on Tdis9ey the lotl III ;ns .ose Of caring
away aud publicly utciIing the whole project " lis
occasion Mr. Connesby again appeared and patheueay
aaented that all hs nst Supporters had fallen away
had become indignant protectors ngalnst w mat Nt,
cd GER who had lent some credit ~ H. had eAprtssed Dis
dissatisfaction on i0rner Syeng ana was absent on
luton, OF wbIcn many copies bad been printed WIN INC
names ef .goycs and seeonder u Was as follows
hse b W cesgsy .e,oDed By 's l,,g';
,t his ssd It, frsrd tny chang. Of poanut s,h
, he il therefore raoreo public shall
s isf t.. J. & fs'ss q sch S.' aSi Sf.l aI:
Sse Isy ~. a t ci ODER sd be Immediately ,ioppci b Tie
ctsirGan@ +.
Mr. Mottershed at onco proposed that thc project OF
giving bau0uet 10 Mr. johnson be postponed Sthe dc
Mr Co. J. Hoyoake seconded tho amendment, ana SAID
he attended tho committee because he thonyll ant e
idea Of the working class OF London svng p,qua! 10
Mr. Reverdy johnson, or IN any way appTGugnil'- mm
Vas S 6s Rcr R aisg he mS 81 the
desirable that any meeting npon suc subject Should be
held ~ the Reform League Rooms The character OF te
vnrkug class OF England well aud fair IN the eyes
o the people of America, aud u must tnd very innch 10
the confusion Of public oplnien IN That connary TOT e
working class OF England To- JON ia ne eqy1&,a & % %e4Sl
tanments given 10 MI. johnson He feared MI BIlght
would be misunderstood BY speaking q, tne & n
dnuer though be possibly had dponste reasons TOT uo
ing 20. They had no such reason Mr Johnson ny Ir'1
going 10 sheffield and then 10 Liverpool the only Two
with enemies OF America therein. had forced us 10
mission here II was duty to speak
Without personal disresptct Of any gentleman
SO extensively Mr. Coningsby had done ~ The suspc-
resolution he had proposed How could they 40 ana
and merits they had been obliged To prohibit IL ha Deeh
said not possible to give Dir johnson IN invitation
which he would not accept but II he nad the sghttst
serrespect would decline to dine with persons VINO
aproach him with Mr. COningsby's resolution In their
bands II was now very we'll known that Mr.. johnson
had been making delicious negotiations OF anlty Win
Lord sfanlcy-that ho had conceded points which Mr.
Adams had refused 20 conoede that tho American people
were universally ind dgnant at hr Jonsons concessions
aud would refuse TO Tatify them. Anity between Eng
land and America must be founded upon frsIkness and
Justice and for England withhold international salts
faction nnd give Mr Johnson dinners instead aud 10
suppose that they coud dine America into amiabil:
iiy tile siiliest thing IN the world. u would
never allow IL he thought for moment that Tue
Workingmen OF Eugland-who had an honest scOrn Tor
Ibis sort OF thing would appear 10 lend themselves 10 "
Let them ask Mr. Beals who prosded 10 draw
up some respectful intmation to Mf. Johnson thm
lie uropOsed duner 10 him be definitely abandoned
Iiereupon several speeches Of great point ana VVaeV
by Dir Jones and especially by MT Htais were nadr
same members of the COMMITTEES declared that when the
dinner was first mentioned II popular, as the idea OF
n dinner always il in England The hfst Impulse uf al
Euelishnan naturally II 10 dine with somebody Many
y0rliugIrn. ~ appeared under the impression
lat the tickets 10 he gwen 10 THEM Othcr SPEAK
ers stated that they had made inquiries during the pat
week n the workshops when the INST ~ men ihey spoke
10 lay declined Ia dine with Mr. johnson on any terms
Mr. Fold JOb,s card Le eoald not Dto the pfesthse