The Sun. — 1860-12-26 (London, England)

CANE, M.P., addressed the meeting. In proposing " The Army and Navy" the hon. member said.—" I cannot help thinking that we have learnt during the last few days one especial subject for congratulation conneeted with this toast. We must all congratulate ourselves that through the firmness and courage displayed by Lord Elgin and Sir Hope Grant, and that gallant allied band under their command, our far distant friends the Chinese have been brought to their senses, and that which this time I trust will be a solid and durable "treaty has been formally ratified under the walls of Pekin. (Cheers.) We do not know the terms as yet, and the former violation of the treaty of Tien-tsin, combined with the recent sad episode of the death of our two gallant countrymen, Capt. Brabazon and De Norman, has taught us that too much reliance is not to be placed on the faith of a Chinaman. (Hear, hear.) But if I have no faith in the Chinese, I have faith in the salutary horror they have evinced of our Armstrong guns—(hear, hear)—and I will never believe that without some strong guarante .s for indemnification as regards the past and better behaviour as regards the future, the sword of the soldier has ceded the vantage ground to the pen of the diplomatist." (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman, in subsequently responding to the toast of " The County Members," observed—" I could almost have wished to have appeared before this gathering in some more military capacity than that of a plain member of Parliament ; for I know it may be said that the duties of a Parliamentary representative are not incompatible with those of an officer of a Volunteer corps, and that the present House of Commons affords signal instances to the contrary. But I thought, I can assure you, somewhat deeply on this subject, and I have long ago come to the conclusion that, whatever other amusements it may be lawful for M.P.'s to indulge in, playing at soldiers is a game that benefits neither the player nor those with whom he plays. If you wish to be an able and efficient officer or menaber of a Volunteer corps, you must make up your mind for hour after hour of hard drill and rifle practice; and above all it appears to me that you must make up your mind to be a permanent fixture for many months of the year in the neighbourhood in which your corps is established. (Hear.) I have watched somewhat attentively the progress of this great movement as it affected those members of the House of Commons who have taken a leading part in it ; and I may mention one name that I think never ought to be mentioned in connection with this cause without a burst of enthusiasm—l mean Lord Elcho. (Loud cheers.) Lord Elcho is a nobleman of very high talent and varied attainments, and he had earned for himself a position of no mean importance in the House of Commons—of no mean importance both as a debater and a man of business. If any man could do two things at once, I think he could, but he has been obliged almost entirely to relinquish that position, many will say, to assume a more glorious one in connection with this movement. I became thereby convinced that so long as I am honoured with the confidence of a majority of this constituency I had better act, save so far as an honorary membership is concerned, on the favourite English principle of non-intervention. I did not rise for the purpose of making a long speech, and if I had done so, I should be somewhat puzzled to find a subject. Politics, we all know, are most strictly and properly forbidden; of agriculture during the last few months you have had enough, and more than enough ; oven Garibaldi has retired into private life ; and the future intentions of the Emperor of the French are as much a mystery to the world at large as the Road murder. (Laughter.) We now hear on all sides inspiriting martial music, and patriotic exhortations to Form, form, Riflemen form.' I trust the day may never come when another well known military air may be more in vogue—l mean, The soldier tired.' (Hear.) I confess I thing that as time goes on some means besides what you have at present in this county may be desirable to keep the steam up to its present high pressure, and, if I may be allowed to make the suggestion, I would say why not follow the example other counties, and set on foot in Essex a county rifle association ?" (Hear.) Mr. T. S.