§ MR. G. BENTINCKasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the report in "The Times" of a meeting held on Wednesday at the Wellington Music Hall, at which the following Resolution is reported to have been put and carried by acclamation:—
That we, constituting the present meeting, having watched attentively the many fruitless attempts made in the House of Commons to economise the reckless expenditure of the people's money, which has always resulted in a more lavish outlay, and feeling convinced that any Government formed under the present system, is so much under the influence of the few privileged families now monopolizing place and honour in the nation, and is therefore incapable of the broad and comprehensive legislation urgently demanded in the interests of the industrial community, declare that a republican form of Government is the only one capable of developing the great resources of the Country, and worthy of the confidence and support of all true democrats;whether, if the report be correct, the First Lord of the Treasury will consult the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether, in their opinion, such language is of a treasonable or seditious character; and, whether, in the event of such being the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, the Government is prepared to take any steps for dealing by law with those who have held this language?
MR. GLADSTONEMy attention, Sir, has not been called to the report in The Times of a meeting held on Wednesday at the Wellington Music Hall. I was not aware of the existence of the Wellington Music Hall, and my knowledge of it is confined to the subject-matter of the resolution which is quoted by the hon. Member. He asks me whether, if the report be correct, certain steps will be taken by the Government. I cannot say whether the report is correct or not, nor do I apprehend that is a point it would be at all easy to ascertain. Looking, however, at the question as it stands, I have no hesitation in saying that it is not the intention of the Government to consult the Law Officers of the Crown, or "take any steps for dealing by law with those who have held this language." In this country there is a great and just unwillingness to interfere 575 with the expression of any opinion that is not attended with danger to the public peace. Now, I do not see on the face of this case anything which need excite apprehension. We shall think it right, therefore, to proceed on the double principle, which it seems to me is founded on wisdom, that it is the best course to pursue, except where the public peace is endangered, to trust to the notorious good sense and loyalty of the great mass of the people for the repression of wrong and foolish opinions; and, secondly, that public notice taken of those opinions, except in cases of absolute necessity, has a tendency to give them an importance to which otherwise they would not attain, and to prevent them from sinking into that oblivion which is their destined and proper course.