The Anti-Corn-law Associations are beginning new efforts, in- spired by
renovated hopes *mu the effect which the Import-duties Report has had throughout the country. Last week we recorded a meeting at Huddersfield, which was satisfactory on account of the mixed nature of the assemblage ; comprising men and women, rich and poor, middle-class-men and working-men. This week the London Anti-Corn-law Association have made public preparation for fresh measures, at a meeting held in the Crown and Anchor Tavern. During the Easter recess, the Anti-Corn-law party in Glasgow are to get up a demonstration in favour of free tradt ; and the Anti-Corn-law League contemplate a grand meeting in Manchester shortly. There is an appearance of new life in these reawakening activities.
Two occurrences at the Crown and Anchor meeting are worth noting. Although it was called by ticket, in order to exclude the intolerant interposition of the Chartists, one of that party obtained admission, and an opportunity of stating the views of his friends upon the question at issue between Chartists and Anti-Corn-law agitators. Mr. VILLIERS, in an admirable speech, embracing a review of the actual position of the main question in its several phases, also stated the case against the Chartists, with moderation and perspicuity ; proving that the Chartists but imi- tate the policy of tyrannical governments—a policy which they profess to oppose—by suppressing all discussion which does not shape itself according to their dictation. The Chartist orator, on the other hand, asked how, constituted as the Le- gislature is, and utterly as it disregards the wants of a people with whom its members have no sympathy, men could meet gravely to discuss a measure which could only be carried out in the impossible event of obtaining the concurrence of that Legis- lature? The two positions were never more distinctly stated than they have been on this occasion. But it will be observed that Mr. VILLIERS'S position rests upon a rule of right ; the Chartist's upon a question of wisdom or folly. Taking for granted the impractica- bility of the repeal, it may be foolish to give protracted deliberation to an impossible scheme, but certainly men have a right so to de- liberate if they choose ; and when so much ability and sincerity are brought to bear upon the deliberation, as is the case at every meeting where the leading men of the Anti-Corn-law party appear, it is not modest or becoming in any other party to quash the dis- cussion by violence, on the assumption of its futility. But one thing was clear in the conflict between the Coryphmus of the Chartists and his opponents at the meeting, that the conciliatory and rational bearing with which he was met must at last make its way. It can only do so, however, at public meetings. The other point was, an intimation from Mr. ROBERT STEUART, that Government are only waiting for a little " pressure from with- out " to undertake a revision of the Tariff. But does that mean any thing ? It would not perhaps be very difficult for his late col- leagues to disavow any thing that Mr. ROBERT STEUART might say. The attempt, however, to secure a hold on the growing strength of the free trade agitation, and to convert it to Ministerial uses, shows how it is appreciated in high quarters.
