Year: 1868

on account of the distinguished guest whom
you have at our right hand. He has come 10
minister of peace. He has come to us as the
representative OF the naughty offspring of a
naughty parent, and feel certain that in his
hands there will be no degradation either
to one country or to the other; that there will
be no paltering with interests, no sham expires.
sions OF grandeur on the one side, or of humble
ness on the other; bat that we shall meet on
terms of perfect equality and friendship, but
desirous Of doing all that can be done Tor the
good of ourselves and of humanity In general


And hope and / believe that Mr.. Reverdy
Johnson, from his character and his autece-
dents, will so conduct negotiations between this
country aud his own that there will be no lack
of honor on one side or the other. (Cheers.)
Now, sir, l believe that II l were prudent
should nnlsh; but am not prudent maD aud
meeting here, as believe many friends, wish
to explain to them the feelings OF my mind on
the great changes that have occurred in the
Government of the country since we last met in
this hall. Now, first OF ALL we must under.
stand and acknowledge that the Government of
this country Is no longer in the hand, of the
aIistocracy as represented by Lord Wharnclitfe,
or of the middle classes as represented by the
Master Cutler. The Government of this country
is now in the lands OF the working classes: we
must not conceal this fact from ourselves; the
thing has been done, and we must endeavor to
meet IT. Then comes the question which wish
to talk to you about-whether we must expect
good CT not from it. Now, l am glad to have
Mr.. ReveIdy johnson on the right of the Master
Cutler on this OCCASION because this change has
already been made in America, but, as believe,
made under more untavorable conditions than
in England. The circumstances have been more
favorable in America than in England because
OF the almost boundless power which it Dos-
sesses of giving grants of land TO all comers,
which we have nOt but more unfavorable be-
cause there is poured into America tide of
corruption, peculent torrent of almost all the
vice and turbulence OF Europe. We see the Wild
Irishman, the fiery Frencnman, the assassi-
natiUg Italian, and the dumbfounded Spsniard,
all going out in one mass and wishing to fulfil
their expectations in the mind of America.
This we are free from. Our experiment in Eng
land is made with our own people alone; we
have EnR1ishmen, we have Scotchmen, and we
have Irishmen, but we have them alone to
deal with; and my belief Is so strong in the
good feeling of my countrymen that | feel
no harm will happen from having granted
political power to them. After this, no man
certainly will be able to say that we are cursed
or misled by the arisIocracy, for the government
OF the country will be in the hands of the
people; and, although believe that this Gov
eminent will be for the interest aud advantage
OF all classes, wish to call attention to this
educated classes have withdrawn themselves
from political liie-that they have been ousted
and driven into the background by the vast
population which have grown up around them.
The educated classes in America have stepped
aside from the political torrent, perfectly con.
tented with their lot, and, feeling that they will
be perfectly safe have let political affairs settle
In the hands OF what may be called the bucca-
neering portion of society. consider there is
a great danger in this, and, so thinking, ask
you to take part in every political movement.