ABSTRACT
A political organization known as "The Cobden Club," has become very formidable in this country by the character and intelligence of its members. It has the center of its operations in New York City, where it is mainly - as is believed - supported by the large body of importing merchants who represent foreign capital and manufactures. Mr. Cobden was a philanthropist as well as a statesman. He was also a manufacturer; and it is no impeachment of his integrity to say that he sympathized with the class to which he belonged in England. His broad humanitarian views must have, in some degree, influenced his opinions upon public questions, and caused him to desire that the condition of manufacturing operatives should be improved. All this he attributed to the principle of protection and the absence of free trade; and, therefore, with the express object of causing the latter to be adopted, he inaugurated an active war upon Parliament.
