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Leader (1850-1860), 19th October 1850, Edition Country of 1, Page 10

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      The Italian National Committee. . To The...

      temperance of system , or intolerance , cannot , therefore , emanate from us . We all cherish m our hearts convictions , endeared to us by deep study , and by sufferings ; we all feel the duty of expressing those convictions as the work of an individual apostleship ; but for every collective manifestation , the national sovereignty is the inviolable rule . War and the Constituent Assembly ; victory on behalf of all and through all ; then laws for the welfare and by the consent of all ; this is the only programme which can unite on one common field the good and willing of all our Italian provinces . It is on such a field that we convoke them . It is for the carrying out of such a programme that we solicit the cooperation of all who sincerely , actively love

      their country . Should a Government arise and make this field its own , carrying on war with and for the People , without truce , against privileges , prejudices , and dissensions within , and against foreign usurpation from without , our collected forces will assist it in the enterprize . If not , we ourselves shall carry on the undertaking . A People , which , by heroic sacrifices in the struggle , by a sublime generosity in triumph , and by a . proud grandeur in misfortune , has proved itself an heir worthy of its forefathers , and an equal of the greatest Peoples of the earth—a People which reckons Brescia and Palermo , Bologna and Messina , Home , Venice , and Milan amongst its cities , is made to be free ; is conscious of its rights and duties , and fitted to fulfil its destiny .

      Whoever lays down as a necessary condition of union in our fraternal work any arbitrary system of political forms , thus usurping the future and the omnipotence ^ of the nation ; whoever dismembers or limits the existing national forces—whoever presumes to separate the question of independence from that of liberty—whoever invites the country to a war of emancipation , not in the name of a principle , but in that of a local interest hostile to the interests of the nation—whoever persists in the desire to confide our common fate to a war conducted by men not chosen from amongst the most ardent lovers of the country , but from an antagonistic party , not relying upon all , but upon one single element of the country , fettered either by diplomatic views or by the fear of men who aim rather at the reward of the victory than at the victory itself , —betrays the national cause , and condemns the most devoted of our brethren to fruitless destruction ,

      our mothers to inconsolable grief , our country to new , dishonourable struggles . Recent untoward events may be regarded as a fatality ; as an inevitable lesson for Italy ; but a repetition of them would be an unpardonable

      . A single -war can save Italy : but it must be a war of all the regular and irregular forces of the nation , headed by men of well-tried love of their country ; directed by a supreme power exempt from every obligation except that of conquering , seeking no reward save that of a pure and satisfied conscience—with no duty entrusted to it save that of combatting for the general cause—with no allies save the Peoples in simultaneous movement—with no programme save that of the National Sovereignty . Such a war it shall be our endeavour to promote ; we will propitiate circumstances , and prepare arms and the cooperation of other Peoples also oppressed , to whom our banner will proclaim , as did that of the Poles , * ' For our and your Liberty ! "

      And we alone , untrammelled by the ties or influence of diplomacy , having no other obligation except that which we owe to our country , and no other fear than that of its disapproval , can promote this war . Placed beyond all municipal or provincial spirit , we know onl y Italians ; we can best represent the interests , the rights , the hopes , the wars , and the destinies of the nation . Men who are free from all constraint turn their eyes , without mistrust or suspicion , upon us in exile . Our banner is one of concord and of hope to all oppressed nationalities . Between Home and Venice , between Pesth and Milan , between Venice and Bucharest , cities of one country , the country of martyrs and of the believers in . one common future , the Italian National Committee is a ready and acceptable link . It is part of a vast chain , extending

      itself wheresoever the sense of right and faith in eternal justice lives and moves . Italians ! Brethren ! Hasten to join us . Founded on an idea of accord and of national solidarity , the Committee invokes the end of all dissension , and awaits the cooperation of all those who wish to conquer and constitute the country . Your forces , Italians , are immense , if you unite them ; victory is only a problem of direction . Be the thought , the source of a persistent action ; every idea may become an act ; every individual represents an element of real strength . Organize and concentrate yotirselvos ; for concentration is the secret of victory . Our enemies number by thousands ; we by millions . The triumphs of your separate cities , during the last two years , have taught you that , rising in perfect accord from one end of the country to the other , you would be invincible . A { . 'rcat epoch is about to dawn upon us . The initiative power in . Europe is suspended ; and the People who shall know how to possess itself of it will bo blessed auum ^ st the Peoples for many centuries to come , and beatified by the only glory pleasant iu the sight of God and man . One faith , one direction , one banner ! You will conquer , oh , Italians ! Once masters of your actions , the nation will solve those questions which now keep your minds iu imtiMtilmle . The Rational Committee arrogates no oilier prerogative than that of pointing out . the forces and inilicatiiii ; the means by which you may attain your object . London , September 8 , ISoO . On behalf of the Italian National Committee , JoSlU'll MAZZINI , Aduiu . io Sai-fi , A . Samcktj , ( j , SlUTOlU , Maxima Montecchi . CiiSAitK AoosTiM , Secretary .

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      Education. London, October, 1850. " The ...

      EDUCATION . London , October , 1850 . " The human race has been made to become irrational from the beginning-, and , consequently miserable , through the false notion that man forms himself ; and it will become rational and happy as soon as it shall form the characters of all upon the knowledg-e that Nature and Society form the character of each one before and after birth , and shall construct society in accordance with that knowledge . "

      Sir , —The authorities in the advanced nations of the world are beginning to think that the people over whom they rule should be educated . This fact is a proof that circumstances are beginning to force these authorities towards the attainment of sorne degree of rational thought , although the progress is slow and the acquisition very limited which they are thus pushed to endeavour to reach . These authorities , so pushed , will now allow an education of some sort to be given to the poor ; and the Government of Great Britain goes so far as to admit that it should be a secular religious education , but not sectarian , because the sects could never agree in what sect the poor should be educated .

      Before anything efficient and substantial can be done to well educate any population , it is necessary that the false fundamental principle on which society has been based should be changed in order to understand what a rational education is , and upon what principle it should be based . Education is a term like religion . It is asked , what is a rational religion ? Who will answer this question to the satisfaction of any one unprejudiced in favour of some existing religions so called ? In like manner , if it be asked , what is a rational education ? who can answer satisfactorily to any one unprejudiced in favour of some of the existing systems of education ?

      Neither of these questions can be truly answered by those who retain the old notions of the world , because hitherto there never has been a rational religion taught , or a rational education given , to any one . No religion ever yet invented has been consistent with itself , or in accordance with all facts . No education ever yet devised has been consistent with itself , and in accordance with all facts . But all truths are consistent with themselves , and in accordance with all facts ; consequently , there has been no rational religion or education yet known to the human , race .

      A rational religion can be acquired only through a rational education ; for a rational education must produce a rational religion , and both will be always consistent with themselves , with each other , and with all facts . The circumstances or external arrangements have never yet existed to admit of such an education being given to any one , or in which a rational religion could be practised .

      A rational education and a rational religion would form man into a wise and very superior being ; or one who , through life , would be consistent in look , word , and action , and whose expression of countenance and whole manner would always indicate truthfulness , intelligence , and confidence in others , and , consequently , superior beyond comparison to any attempt to give these qualities under any of the irrational religions or systems of educations hitherto known and practised .

      The first steps towards effecting a change from , the present wild , random , inconsistent mode of forming the human character , and of constructing and governing society , will be to convince the public , by demonstrable proofs , of its present total ignorance how to form a rational character , or to construct and govern a rational system , of society . Then , to explain the simple and beautiful external arrangements , or the new creation of superior circumstances , by which the rational character can be formed for all , and society reconstructed so as to become rational and easily governed .

      Now , as all have been trained and educated on a false base , under the old religions and educational notions and arrangements of society , by which the character of all have been formed , it is useless to nnd fault with any of their proceedings , except to show how irrational men have been made to think and act ; but for these errors it would be irrational to blame them . Men and women so erroneouslv educated and

      placed , could only think ns erroneously as they had been taught , and act us irrationally as they had been instructed . Of themselves they could not change their thoughts or actions ; the onus to effect both is , therefore , upon those who desire to make the change . Those parties who have been enabled to discover the error on which the society has been based—that man forms himself—and the gross irrationality of the present formed character of the human race consequent thereon , have a great and most important task to accomplish . The discoverers of the causes of the errors of society have also to discover and apply the remedy to overcome this trained uiul educated

      irrationality ; and , whatever may be its amount or inveteracy , to overcome it , not by violence , but in th e pure spirit of charity and kindness , by patience and perseverance , not to cease until evil shall be overcome of good , until all shall be taught to reason and act aright , and attain the rank of rational beings . This is the conduct now required from those who deem themselves approaching to a rational state , and who desire their fellow men also to become rational ; for charity and love can alone effect this change .

      Now , there can be no rational education based on an irrational principle . No rational education can arise from external circumstances emanating from a fundamental irrational principle . Hitherto the entire education of the human race has been based on an irrational principle . Hitherto the human race has been educated on the notion opposed to all facts , that each one forms himself to be what he is ; and , amidst external circumstances emanating from that most fatal of all errors . Consequently , there never has been , there is not no w over the earth one establishment in which a human being can be trained and educated to become rational ; and yet these establishments may now be easily

      formed for the population of the world . And it is now the immediate and direct interest of all who live that these establishments should be everywhere commenced without delay ; for a rational educational establishment will of necessity include arrangements for successfully conducting the whole business of life , and for conducting it in such a manner that all shall be secured through life , advantages superior to any that can be given under the existing system of falsehood , force , and fear , even to the most favoured individuals . The new arrangement of circumstances to give this rational and superior education and training through life to all shall be given in a future number . Robert Owen .

      The "Working Tailors' Association.—In Th...

      The "Working Tailors' Association . —In the Association at Castle-street , Oxford-street , two cases of Arbitration have occurred under the rules as provided in case of difference . Mr . G . J . Holyoake was appointed Arbitrator on the part of the men ; Mr . Lloyd Jones on the part of the manager . These Associations will one day contribute a curious chapter to the history of selfgovernment . New London Cooperative Store . —The provision department of the London Cooperative Store , in connection with the Society for Promoting Working Men ' s Associations , will commence business on Monday , the 21 st of October , for the sale of the usual articles of " hoxischold consumption . It will deal in none but the best articles , and at the lowest prices charged for goods of a similar

      description at the largest and most respectable houses . It will deliver the goods at the houses of its customers , orders being transmitted through the post or otherwise . It will deal only for ready money except to its subscribers , with whom it will deal according to the conditions laid down in its prospectus . It will receive the subscriptions of all who desire to become subscribers , and sell them their goods at prime cost , after deducting expense of management and reserve fund . It will execute all orders with promptitude and care , even for goods not kept in stock , charging merely a reasonable commission upon such transactions ; the object being to secure to the purchases full quantity and right quality at the most reasonable price . Prospectuses may be had by application , or by a post-office stamp sent to the Offices of the Store , 76 , Charlotte-street , Fitzroy-square .

      National Charter and Social Union . —On Sunday the Democratic Conference , out of which this Union originates , resumed its sittings . Mr . G . J . Holyoake was again called to the chair . A letter was read from Mr . Thornton Hunt , who was absent in Leeds , explanatory of the advantages of a comprehensive policy which should include the influence of contemporary parties without compromise of principle , and submitting suggestions with respect to " organization . " The debate on the programme brought up by the committee proceeded . Mr . O'Brien , who had not attended previous sittings , submitted two propositions . Mr . Walter Cooper spoke against the decision of the last meeting respecting the

      omission of the words " peaceful and legal , " apparently under the impression , which the Morning Herald has adopted also , that the new Union offered no protection against violence or illegality . The Chairman explained that it would deprive the Conference of dignity and reduce it to impotence if it condescended to make a special profession in answer to every objection . He repeated that the character of the Conference was the best guarantee of its policy , and the only one it was becoming to give . It was almost unpardonable to overlook that to avoid a parade of peace was not to make a profession of violence , as whoever proposed that course would very likely find . A report in reference to the Conference was read from the Morning Herald , but as it was repudiated by the Trades Delegates , from one of whom it appeared to emanate , it was passed over .

      The Model Parish Mission . —The Ilartlepool Advertiser has given a long report of a meeting at which a lecture was delivered by the Iteverend W . Wight , M . A ., of Corpus Christi College , Cambridge , explanatory of the model parish mission which that gentleman is actively promoting . The view the reverend lecturer took of the " Condition of England Question" was precisely that formerly taken by Socialist lecturers , and supported by the same class of arguments , the application only was different in having religious as well as social objects in view . A collection was made at the end of each lecture in aid of the model parish fund . £ 6000 is the sura required , half of which is said to be collected .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 19, 1850, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19101850/page/10/