TIIE ANTI-CORN-LAW MOVEMENT.
THE resolution of the landed interest to cling to the present Corn laws, as a sheet-anchor, gains strength. Their extraordinary acti- vity during the recess was especially noticed in this journal of the 12th October ; when it was also remarked that the " Anti-Corn- law movement seemed to flag." The " wealthy merchants and ma- nufacturers," whims we wished to arouse, were "not coinbining with their natural allies, the shopkeepers and the operatives, to oppose the landed interest. No rally-cry was raised in the ranks of the middle classes. There was one meeting at Dundee about three weeks ago, and then it was said, ' Dundee leads the van '—the movement has commenced—the ' monopolists tremble,' and so forth ; but it was all newspaper talk; Dundee's example has not found imitators."
After the lapse of a fortnight and upwards, the present applica- bility of this statement is impugned in three separate articles of the A nti-Corn-bno Circular, published on Tuesday last ; but chiefly
one entitled "Progress of the Cause," commencing thus— •
" We observe that the Spectator has led the way to many qf the provincial newspapers in declaiming against the apathy qf the Leafple and of the people upon the subject of the Corn-laws. We think that a perusal of the Circular, without which the statement should hardly have been ventured upon, aught have satisfied them that there were no grounds for these complaints. The progress of our lecturers has been a complete triumph; and has been followed by the formation of many associations, in which clergymen, magistrates, and large landowners have taken a very prominent part. The solitary notice of Dun- dee, in the Spectator, was perfectly unwarranted. Aberdeen has been most active. Lancaster, Kendal, Edinburgh, Preston, and various other places, have been moving of late. Mr. Ayton has been chosen as candidate for Dunferm- line upon a unanimous resolution of the electors, declaratory of the necessity of a total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws. In the Metropolis, Messrs, younc., Taylor, and Elphinstone were approved of, only the other day, on the nine °grounds; and repeal formed the prominent feature in the resolutions of the late meeting of the Liverpool Reform Association. We have just heard of nieeting of the Birmingham Society ; Wolverhampton is up, Doncaster and Cheltenham are being be-lectured by zealous amateurs ; and the remittances from Leeds, Nottingham, Sze. &c. appear to us a pretty substantial proof of earnestness. Every day fresh orders for the Circular arrive, and many cle- matis are being mile for complete sets. E,dinburgh, the metropolis of small gentry, and dependent almost entirely upon persons deriving incomes from nil IS zealous and active in the extreme, and as the town fills the interest increases. Dr. Epps has just delivered three lectures to immense and crowded. audiences of the working classes in Manchester, and has been received with unbounded applause ; besides which, the Working Men's Anti-Corn-law As- sociation increases in numbers and in importance." Now it is not the Spectator's habit to indulge in " declaiming" on anv subject ; and our persevering opposition to the Corn-laws has always been based on filets, and arguments deducible from facts. Estravagant expectations of speedy victory over the landowners ;se have not encouraged ; but opportunities of pointing out the vulnerable parts of the foe's defences we have seldom disregarded. The judgments of the Corn-law partisans are influenced le their actual or supposed interests ; and we have been slow to impute dis- honesty to those who profess to regard restriction as essential to the common prosperity and their own. It is difficult to persuade a very numerous class that their gain can be a public loss ; in which loss, as a most important portion of the public, they largely share, and therefore realize only a part of the supposed personal ad- vantage. Knowing this, we have abstained from declaiming even arsonist the " fiumne-mongers," the "death-dealers," and the "-griping monopolists ;" and it would be strange indeed if we had departed from our established usage to declaim against our own friends.
Yet it is said that the Spectator has "led the way to many of the provincial newspapers in declaiming against the apathy of the League and of the people upon the subject of the Corn-laws." If this is true, we apprehend that a fuller confirmation of our charge of apathy could not be adduced. Had there been mis- representation, who so likely to expose it as the provincial news- papers ? It was said that the example set by Dundee—singled out, not by us, but by others \ rho bragged of" Dundee leading the van"— had not been followed. Why did not the "provincial newspapers" correct the error—if error it were ? Why were we not reminded of public meetings—for it was of prr7r?le meetings we spoke—in New- castle-upon-Tyne, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Manchester, Liverpool, Stockport, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Norwich, Gloucester, 'Worcester, Bristol, Glasgow, Cork, Belfast, Limerick, and other large mercantile and manufficturing towns and districts? Why did "many of the provincial newspapers " follow our lead, if they had evidence of our being in the wrong road ? That lectures on the Corn-laws have been well attended in some few places, we are aware ; and the are we from undervaluing the usefulness of this mode of instruction. That the Anti-Corn- law professions of some Parliamentary candidates have been well received, is also gratifying. That the Liberal press has done its duty, was expressly affirmed in the article to which the Anti- Corn-low Omni«r alludes—but does not quote. All this may be very true, and yet the mortifying fact may remain, that, as con- trasted with the display of agricultural vigour, the array against the Corn-laws is feeble.
it any, however, have been thought politic in the managers of the movement, to husband their resources, and reserve a display of strength till the landed interest had completed their demon- stration, and till the session of Parliament was nearer at band.
We observe that a general meeting of the Anti-Corn-law League is to be held at Manchester on an early day. So titr, good ; but
little benefit will arise from this reunion of the friends of free trade, in comparison with that which would accrue from fdlowing the ex- ample set by the landed interest. We find the landlords, of various ranks, in every part of the country, mustering their tenantry and de- pendents at meetinas whose dlief object is support of the Corn-laws. There is nothing like this junction of interests on the opposite side. T he wealthy merchants and maim fitetiirers, with not numerous excep- tions, are shy of the Anti-Corn-law movement. Their ambition is, on the contrary, to take their places among the landed aristo- cracy themselves.
Evidence of improvement in this particular we should gladly receive and record. We earnestly desire that the great London and Liverpool merchants—T1.1R I NG S, REIDS, IR TIN G Mo RH [SON S, GLADSTONES, B.ATMIONES—WotIld follow the example of agricul- tural unanimity and zeal, and not only establish Anti-Corn-law Associations throughout the country, but support them with their influence and wealth. Of this, however, we have little hope. Too many of our naure«ex riches shudder at the idea of any thing so vulgar.
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