The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-12-26 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

RATEPAYER.  MR. TOUCHSTONE'S LECTURE. TO THE EDITOR. _  may as well inform you at the commencement that I belong to that class of persons supposed to be incapable of having any knowledge of national affairs. In the statute book we are classed with criminals and idiots ; and it is for a more enlightened age to find out that we have brains to think and hearts to feel for a nation's welfare. Bat notwithstanding our incapabikities as a race, personally I felt an interest in An. Touchstone's lecture, and presented m) self for admittance at the club room on Weduesday night to hear what the lecturer had to say on this foreign policy that has been dinned into our ears so long to the utter destruction of home policy. With all Mr. Touchstone's eloquent defence of the Government, I.could not find that he mentioned one real substantial benefit they had conferred on the English nation since they entered office. lam quite sure if there had been one Mr. , Touchstone would not have forgotten to bring it forward. I listened intently to his vindication of the diplomatic far-seeing policy of Lord Beacons. field and his party in the far East; but not one 'word of the wise and useful measures they have conferred on our native country • plenty of wild talk about upholding "British interests" abroad while the home country is languishing in trade and commerce. The real interests of the people have been neglected; because, torso rth, our dignity as a nation has to be vindicated amongst savage tribes. It is my humble opinion our dignity would be best promoted by showing to the world how best they can govern our own country by wise and peaceful rule. But there was just one particular point of Mr. Touchstone's lecture I should like to touch upon. He referred to the wicked ( I ! ) language the leading members of the Liberal party are using at the present crisis against the members of the Government. I presume Mr. Touchstone supposed a thrill of horror went through his audience when he said they were called liars, robbers, and murderers : strong language no doubt, but I hold, I presumed to mutter, glancing at the bland personage standing forth on the canvas just behind the lecturer in all his gorgeous robes of state, Yes, my Lord, its true what they say, and I can prove it. Behind that ermine robe I could see the poor specimens of humanity being daily marched to execution—butchered ; savage Afghans framed that picture, and the murders by scores which take place, legalised, its true, but none the less wholesale murders, does not go to prove that the actual head is a murderer, is only got over by the fact that while one man is culpable for his own act, a body of men are exempt, having "no soul," as Mr. Touchstone expressed it. But with respect to the charge of lying, has not this country been in the midst of wars and rumours of wars ever since herd Beaconsfield returned from the Berlin Peace (so called) Congress, waving aloft before all the worla the banner "Peace with honour." If he, with.his farseeing policy, and his knowledge of affairs, was aware of our position, was he not a liar in proclaiming peace when we had no peace. If Mr. Touchstone cannot show proof that the sun is shining because the proof is in the shining, we can point to the wars that have been raging ever since Lord Beaconsfield cried peace to prove he is a liar. As a robber, he has taken from a savage tribe a piece of territory to which he had as little right as (here I quote a comparison of the Rev. J. S. Balmer's) the Corporation has' to that portion of Raikes Hall for which they are paying a large sum. For Lord Beaconsfield has wrenched this range of mountains from the rightful owners without dreaming of compensation. It is the old story of the strong overpowering the weak. and "thou art the man," the legalised robber, my Lord Beaconsfield. The awful charge of murder we must leave to a higher tribunal, but if British interests have always to be maintained by the edge of the sword, woe to its glory in the future. If these thoughts are worthy of a place in your paper from one who may be incapable of understanding the intricate Eastern question, but who can understand facts rind see results, you will oblige, yours truly, Blackpool, December 18th, 2879.  K. L. M.