THE FUTURE UNVIELED.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 207, 18 January 1872, Page 7

THE FUTURE UNVIELED.

Abridged from the Pall Mall Gazette.)

A correspondent of the " New York World, writing under the norn deplume of " Piccadilly," gives us an astounding description of a conversation which took place recently between himself and Mr. Bradlaugh, who appears by his own account to be the leader of the Eepublican Party in Great Britain :—: — " There is not a man in England today," Mr. Bradlaugh said, " who has the power I possess. I cannot only raise the storm, but I can rule it." He now commands, in England and Scotland, sixty-eight republican clubs; and in these no fewer than 30,000. men are enrolled. But that does not present all tLe force at his back. There are probably. 75,000 ardent republicans " outside of the freethought republiccans" (a different cult with Mr. Bradlaugh) in the kingdom. Their chiefs instructions to the societies are, fco confine their efforts for the present to the work of understanding what republicanism is, to communicate this knowledge to others, and to increase their numbers. This is the work of preparation for action ; and the only fear is that the hour of action may come to soon."

"Piccadilly" put a question which has probably come into the mind of all our readers by this time. " Now, Mr. Bradlaugh," said he " frankly, does there exist among the men of these societies any real depth.of conviction ? Are they prepared to sacrifice anything for the triumpli of their principles ? " (For Piccadilly doubted this.) The chief replied, " In the first place I must observe London is not England, and one falls into great error when he measures the kingdom by the metropolis. Thera is a very wide difference between tke men of the great towns of the North and those of the metropolis ; the former are thoughtful, earnest, and ready to die for their principles ; the latter are too often, as you say, frivolous, weak, and untrustworthy. But not all. Ido not know with whom you have made the tour of the working men's haunts in London, but I can assure you that if you will make such a tour with me, you shall see what you have not been able to find." "But," says "Piccadilly," " shall I see men who would rcount barricades wij:h you, or at your order ? " Then Mr. Bradlaugh became greatly animated. " Yes, sir !" he cried. The attention of Mr. Bruce is particularly solicited to what follows : —

" I will tell you something. You re member the Trafalgar square business of tho 31st of July ? I had not determined that that meeting should be held until noon on that day. At noon, after receiving from the police authorties, by order of the Secretary of State, fcho notification that the meeting must not be held, I determined that it should be held. This was at twe've o'clock, and the meeting was to commence at nine. At eight o'clock sir, I had in Trafalgar square 2000 men ready, if I lifted my hand, to sweep away like chaff any police foi*ce that the authorities could have assembled, and ready, too, to break the head of any other person who should attempt to make a disturbance. sTou know how the Government funked and withdrew its forces ? but had they attempted to disperse the meeting the victory would not have rested with them."

We doubt whether anybody imagined that the peace of London was in so much danger. But it is clear from what Mr. Bradlaugh further said that he is not to be trifled with by persons like the Home Secretary. " You must understand," said he, " that there exists unbounded confidence in me as leader. My followers know that I will not lead them into any conflict in which they will be worsted. If I wanted Westminster Palace pulled down to-morrow, I have men who would do it. They would believe that I would briua; them safely off. Nothing succeeds like success, and in all ray conflicts with the Government I have been the conqueror ;" — evenwheu" clearly wrong." Mr. Bradlaugh has his prestige, in fact ; and the Government is not without an inkliug of the power he wields. " Let me give you an illustration of this," said he. " You may remember there were two

Hyde Park affairs during the reform agitation — one when we threw down the railiu£s and did not go in, the other when we threw them do >v n and dia~go~Tn7 ~ Oil the'nrsffofTiKese occasions Mr. Gladstone had a conversation with me. He was somewhat agitated, and represented to me the awful consequences that would follow a conflict between the people and the soldiers in the park- " Don't be alarmed," I said ; "no such conflict shall take place." Mr. Gladstone looked very much relieved and began to smile. " But do not mistake me," I added ; ' I shall not allow the people to be ridden down and sabred by the dragoons in the Park ; but if it comes to a conflict I shall take Westminster Palace and hold it as a fortress ! " He turned pale and made no answer." — What revelations are these! Is it possible that Mr. Bradla'igh really did say all this to Piccadilly ? Is Piccadilly a trustworthy person ? "We sincerely hope not ; for the formidable man described in his letter is ready to become more formidable still.