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Leader (1850-1860), 28th September 1850, Edition Town of 1, Page 640, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      in point of knowledge and philosophical eminence . If I -were to pray for any blessing which should stand as a monument of honour to a nation—which should keep the world in accordance with the immutable law of its creation—in eternal progress under everv variety of circumstances—which should infuse into the hearts of men happiness , cheerfulness , and a love of truth and freedom , and which I would have to stand as a shield against the numerous ills to which a vitiated and isolated state of society is sure to be subjectedthey should be those of a " Tree Press and Free Expression of Opinions . " In England this right is denied us . There are few far too few—periodicals or weekly papers which

      can be termed free or unprejudiced ; and which are open to the free and unfettered expression of each man ' s opinions . There would be more , I have no doubt , were it not for the enormous and unjust taxes already levied on the English newspaper press ; for the universal interest taken in the politics and present social position of England would not alone be the means of accounting for the astonishing variety of newspapers and periodicals which , would be permanently established , were the taxes completely abolished . True , we have many cheap , good , and substantial periodicals now ; but they are not sufficiently known , and , therefore , are not sufficiently appreciated to affect any material difference in the shape of reform : —

      «• But smallest helps , if rightly given , Make the impulse stronger . " And the establishment of these alone is a sufficient signification that men are beginning to think for themselves , and not allowing those to think for them who have treated man as an incubus , a curse , a thing , because he has happened to exist in the poorer ranks of society . But England owes the cheap literature which it now possesses to the labours of those glorious names , Carlile , Hetherington , and Cleave . These men , by their energetic labours , have made the newspaper press of England an engine of great utility and power ; and the crowning glory to the English , people would be to abrogate the taxes on knowledge , and emancipate the press from the shackles of an injurious influence .

      Powerful for good or evil is the newspaper press at the present time ; and , unfortunately , its influence is directed to the propagandism of evil , with but very few exceptions . To a class or section of the people is the newspaper press of this country at the present time addressed , and to those of the least importance to the nation—the middlemen and aristocracy . Party-spirit and party-influence is the foundation fabric of the in

      which alone upholds the press England . There are daily , weekly , and monthly periodicals , all intent upon perpetuating our present social structure , the proprietors of which are ever ready to speak , and write , and lecture as to the great magnitude of privileges we possess when compared with other nations , and the universal happiness visible throughout the universe . Every shade of opinion in the higher classes has its representative organ

      or organs . . Let us compare the magnitude and extent ot the newspaper press of the United States with a population amounting to half that of Great Britain—to that of England . There is not a village in America without its newspaper . They take an equal pride m having their weekly organ , as the metropolis of our own country does in having its daily and weekly papers . The press of America is the voice ot the people : it speaks to every one , and of every movement . Independent , it has become the great pabulum of democratic information . It is perfectly nee ; and every shade of opinion—religious , political , and and the controversial

      social—lias its representative ; tendency which pervades throughout its whole ramifications , making itself dependent in every public and private department . " It is seldom , say Messrs . Chumbors , ' that a population as low as two thousand is found without its newspaper or periodical ; " and yet the very place in which I now reside ( the rotterics ) , containing a population of 100 , 000 people , is entirely devoid of a public newspaper oi any cruoil whatever ; and there are only printed two penny periodicals , one devoted to the cause of emigration , und the other to the cause of justice and the progress of humanity . I infer that there are other towns , equally as large as this , void of any means of communication , or any periodical or

      newspaper whatever . It is itnpossihle to contemplate the important results that would eventually follow the establishment of a I ' m ; press . It is a great , a sublime power that will work its own irresistible way through till obstacles . ICunwUulge lias within itself the latent power * of deliverance ; and although it may be disappointed for , a short time , its triumph over ignorance fuiintf ) ttinri } iM { 4 irruligum is sure and certain . We luiptf 'tTbn ^ uv . iH vWt ijir distant when she shall be 8 urroui 0 pd t ) y&l 1 [~ t ) 'ie " soni of mt ) n , and glory in the vigou /> pd . luxuriance' of the crop she has sown !

      The tMafi ^ of seuius have * been scattered forth into The dbcd& ^ Qt * geuius have * beon , scattered forth into the aujteth ' j : iK ) of open day , and it only remains to utrujrllo' ^ nr ^ vely for its complete deliverance i ' thraldcujY iwid it will " spread over their sterile birthplace iilLth < Hbu . 8 . u , tia 8 of vegetation ! " The

      philosophy of liberty alone consists , in my opinion , in a " free press and a free expression of opinion . " God grant that this great desideratum—the freedom of the press—be accomplished . I am , Sir , yours very devotedly , A Thinker .

      Untitled Article

      TEETOTALISM AND TRUE REFORM . Sept . 26 , 1850 . Sir , —Most sincerely I wish the prosperity of your paper . I have induced at least twenty of my friends to become subscribers , and believe that energy on the part of your readers in making the Leader known would at once secure its success . In the Open Council of last week is a letter on " True Reform , " signed Rawenin , upon which , with your permission , I would make a few observations . Witlx vour corre " spondent , in reference to the evils of intemperance , I fully agree . I have abstained from those drinks the

      greatest portion of my life , and have urged , to the best of my ability , a similar practice upon others . I have mixed amongst the working classes in England and Wales , in manufacturing and agricultural districts ; I have made myself acquainted with their condition , and do not believe it is possible to improve them unless they can be freed from the gin-temple and the pot-house . Still teetotalism , with all its advantages , and they are many , cannot do for us all that we need . There are evils it cannot touch , sorrows it cannot remove . Our temperance friends often err in

      supposing drunkenness to be entirely a cause and not an etfect . We are continually told what intemperance leads to , but are not referred to what leads to intemperance . I would urge upon temperance people the importance of making themselves acquainted with the causes that lead to intemperance , and strive to remove these . The New Testament mentions one evil that lies at the root of most of our social and political wrongs . It says , " The love of money is the root of all evil ; " and until this is overcome no society , no matter how benevolent its object , or how zealous its advocates , can secure for us lasting good .

      This same evil contributes much to our intemperance . Were it not for an ungovernable love of money , no man would be base enough to earn a subsistence by selling the filthy drugs of the gintemple and pot-house , or to grow fat by feeding upon the moral filth and degradation of his species . It is the love of money that causes us to neglect providing suitable amusements for an over-worked people , leaving them no choice but the skittle-alley and the dog-fight . And the same passion occasions all the horrors of the ** sweating system " and a thousand other evils similar in character that so emaciate the

      bodies and sink the spirits of toiling men and women , that they rush to the ginshop to purchase even with their liv « s a momentary forgetful ness of their sorrows . I earnestly join in the entreaty of your correspondent that you should sometimes help us in the Leader in our temperance reformation ; but at the same time would warn my temperance friends against the fallacy of supposing that teetotalism will do for us all that is

      required . Goodness , and not possession of wealth , must be the mark of distinction amongst us . It . must not be the interest of one man to get as much as he can out of , but to do as much as he can for , his brother . Mutual help and not selfishness must unite us together . I wish you most sincerely every success in your noble efforts to bring about a better state of things than now exists , and . remain yours truly , Alick .

      Untitled Article

      A REFOBMATION . " The truth is , Christian nations want a genuine reformation , one worthy of the name , They need to have their zeal directed , not so much to the spreading of the Gospel abroad as to the application of its plain precepts to their daily business , to the education of their children , to the treatment of their domestics and dependents , and to tlieir social and religious intercourse . They need to understand , that a man ' s piety is to be estimated , not so much by his professions or direct religious exercises aa by a conscientious surrender of his will , passions ,

      worldly interests , and prejudices , to the acknowledged duties of Christianity , and especially by a philanthropy resembling in its great features of mildness , activity , and endurance , that of Jesus Christ . They need to give up their severe inquisition into their neighbour ' s opinions , and to begin in earnest to seek for themselves , and to communicate to others , a nobler standard of temper and practice than they have yet derived from the Scriptures . In a word , they need to learn the real value and design of Christianity , by the only thorough and effectual process ; that is , drinking dpeply into its spirit of love to God and man . "—W . E . Cuanning .

      Untitled Article

      Sept . 9 , 1800 . My dear Sin , —I have given my best attention to two letters in the last Saturday ' s Leader upon a pure Reformation , and I cordially unite in the opinions they propound , which I have joyfully incorporated in the proposed code , and I beg again to submit it to the scrutiny of your renders . I earnestly invite suggestions of correction or addition , and I fervently assert that I shall bo happy to associate myself with anyone in an endeavour to have those elevating equitable principles universally published , maintained , and defended us truth . I huve much pleasure to subscribe

      myself an Unitarian believer of the Priestleyan school , and your constant reader , Antichrist .

      Untitled Article

      The First Epistle General of John ii . 18 : — " Little children , it is the termination of the era : and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come , even now there are many Antichrists , whereby we know that it is the termination of the era . " *

      A . PURE REFORMATION . Religion is a practice of the following personal , or individual duties : — Prayer , being the worship of One True God . Innocence , being an abstinence from vice . Self-examination , being a condemnation or approval by conscience . Repentance , being the remission of sins . Atonement , being an expiation of offences . Morality is a performance of the following social or relative duties : —

      To generate , rear , and establish a family . To promote virtue and to prevent vice . To amend , improve , and reform the laws . To eradicate slavery and to foster equality . To prevent , arrest , or suppress all warfare , and to uphold cooperation . Faith is a belief in one omniscient , omnipotent , and omnipresent Being—the Creator , Saviour , and Everlasting Benefactor of mankind—and , consequently , the only proper object of human worship . Hope is a longing for the second advent of the Son of Man , with , great power , honour , and glory , to reign over all mankind , and to decree such rewards or punishments as their actions merit .

      N . B . I shall be delighted to reply to any definite questions upon the above , and I will endeavour to answer them by short lucid explanations .

      Untitled Article

      Sept . 18 , 1850 . P . S . In reply to the letter of a Constant Reader , inserted in last week ' s newspaper , I beg to submit the following answers , preceded by the ] proffered questions : — Question : What are the reasons for subscribing myself Antichrist ? Answer : Because I deny that the Creator is a Father , and I likewise deny that the Son of Man is the Son of God . And we read , " He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son . " ( The First Epistle General of John ii . 22 . ) Q . What is an Era ?

      A . An Era is a succession of years commenced by a particular event which indicates the name . Thus we have the Mundane Era , commencing with the creation of the world . The Christian Era , commencing with the birth , of Christ . And the Mahomedau Era , commencing with the flight of Mahomet . Q , What is Prayer ? A . Prayer is the vooal utterance , legible writing , or inward conception of distinct ideas of gratitude , confession , and peti ' ion addressed to the Creator , either during congregational ceremony , or in family worship , or as habitual devotion , and yields the most efficacious discipline for perfecting mankind . My opinion of distinct ideas may be inferred from the following example : —

      ' Almighty Lord God ! I adore Thee aa ray great Creator , I worship Thee as One Omniscient , Omnipotent , and Omnipresent Deity , I offer Thee my grateful thanks for every daily blessing , I endeavour at all times to merit the approval of my conscience , I condemn myself for all my past offences , I devote my life to Thy service , I resign myself to Thy watchful providence , I supplicate power to bear with fortitude my afflictions , I desire to act more wisely in the future , and I hope for whatever Thou deemest right . Amen . " Q . What is Virtue ?

      A . Virtue is the result of perfect conscience , and might be realized by a proper cultivation of the natural feelings of mankind . The capacity of conscience will be seen by the following diagram : — (" Mercifulness , \ % h f Forgiveness . Sjrmpathy , and w — < 2 < g Charity . S / Faithfulness , . 5 ° Reliame , Confidence , & Relief . & . vs . \ Hopefulness , SJ -g g Longing , Desire , and Expec-. « / *§ ^ 2 a tation . * \ ° 1 Joyfulness , \ § L * v Cheerfulness , Contentment , & £ / ~ ) S i *! Z Happiness . a > I - i Praverfulnees , I ' Z- v Reverence , Adoration , & Wor-5 \ § o S ^ ship . ;« a / Truthfulness , 3 g g Veracity , Sincerity , & Dignity . " * ¦ \ Righteousness , o ^ S Fairness , Honesty . & Justice . S l ' riweasivu- I -5 Si Amendment , Improvement , ^ ness , /« 83 t and lteform . Q . What is Vice ? A . Vice is of three kinds , viz : Innate , Devilish , and Beastly . Every kind of vice may be found under one of the following heads ;—f DoireneraticmT ^ f Amendment . , „• Injustice , Fairness . 8 / Tho Unculti- Lying- . Veracity . > vation of the Kfasphemy , \ in 8 t d of I Jf « ™« - v i Conscioucc Cruelty , / < Chanty . g ( occasions Infidelity , jieliel . § Despair , hxpertation . - * ^ Misery , J ^ Happiness . * Tiic alterations from " last time , " to " termination of Jhn era , " linvc been made to give in the text the apparent ineatiiujf of the writer more clearly to the reader .

      Untitled Article

      640 ©!> e gLeaHet . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 28, 1850, page 640, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1854/page/16/