Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-08-24

farthest extremity of the gallery. The
matter was excellent; Astounding with
neatly-pointed epigram, cutting sarcasm,
whitening denunciation and argument
condensed and urged with laconic force.
. . The speech read we'll; but the
reader could have no conception of its eff
feet as delivered, with a beauty of elocu-
ton, which Macreadv, on those same
boards might have envied. The effect,
when he called on his hearers to bind
themselves in a solemn league never to
cease their labors till the corn laws were
abolished was electrical, thousands start
ing on their feet, with arms extended as IL
ready to swear extinction to monopoly"
And still farther, p. 101:
"The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. fund
had to be raised. Public meetings were
held in a great number of places for the
purpose of inviting and receiving SUBJ
scriptions. AT that held in Manchester
on the 18th of November, f12, 900 was sub
scribed in an hour and a half. Several
persons gave $500 each. That the ladies
were hearty and effective helpmates to
the cause was manifested in MANY vari-
Gus ways. The following is one exam
pie. Archibald Prentice, the historian
of the league, and who infinitely chroni-
cled the proceedings quorum pars magma
fit, writes: Mr.. Brooks called upon
Mr.. Robert Ashton a few days ago to ask
him to attend the meeting. He found
him sitting with his lady, and solicited
his subscription to the fund. Il gave
you f100 last year and shall give you
f2OO now,' was the answer Give him
$500, Robert, was the quiet suggestisn of
the lady and Mr.. Ashton, who is worthy
of such a wife, at once assented."
SIN most other districts similar munif-
cence and self-sacrifice was displayed.
and it soon became apparent that the
large sum at which the country's contri-
buttons had been assessed by the league
would be obtained. AS this emerged
from a possibility into a fact, public
opinion was deeply impressed by such
an exhibition of unfinching vigor and
a lively exponent in a leading article
which appeared in the Times of the 18th
of November. We give IA few extracts.
The league is a great fact. 1t would be
foolish, nay, rash, to deny its importance.
. 1t demonstrates the hardy strength
of purpose, the indomitable will by
which Englishmen working together for
a great object are armed and animated.
1t is a great fact that at one meeting at
Manchester, more than forty manufac-
turers should subscribe on the spot, each
at least f100, some f300, some f400, some
$500. for the advancement of a measure
which, right OF wrong, just or unjust,
e%Xpedient or injurious, they at least be-
lieve it to be their duty, or their interest,
or both, to advance in every possible
way. These are facts important and
worthy of consideration. No moralist
can disregard them; no politician can
sheer at them no statesman can under
NoluC I'll - II SOllCClS ODlllODs
must chronicle them. He who frames
laws must, to some extent, consult them,
. The league may be a hypocrlte,
"A great deceiver, a huge Trojan horse OF
sedition. Be it so; but we answer, the
league exists. . . A new power has
arisen in the state, and maids and mat
rcns flock to theatres, as though it were
but "A new translation from the French.
Let no man say that we are blind to the
possible mischiefs of such a state OF
things. We acknowledge that we dislike
gregarious collections of cant and cotton
men. We cannot but know that, what.
ever be the end of this agitation, it will,
expire only to bequeath its violence and
its turbulence to some successor"
In 1874 1000 pounds was again raised
by the league, and on p. Ia is given the
peroration of a speech of John BrighI
at Convent Garden Theatre, Dec. II, as
follows:
"This freedom for which you struggle
is the freedom to live it is the right to
eat your bread by the sweat of YOU
brow 1t is the freedom which wa:
given to you even in the primeval curse
and shall man make that curse more bit
ter to his fellow man? No; instead Of
despairing, | have more confidence an6
faith than ever. | believe that those ole
delusions and superstitions which, like
verminous and polluted rags, have disfig
ured the fair form of this country:
greatness, are now fast dropping away
| think / behold the dawn of a brighter
day all around are the elements of
mighty movement. We stand as on the
very threshold of a new career; and We
may say that this league-this great ant
growing confederacy of those who low,
justice and hate oppression-has scattered
broadcast throughout the land seed from
which shall spring forth ere long al
abundant, a glorious harvest of true