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    each phalanstery ; Louis Blanc possessed the working-people of Paris with the idea of applying the principle in the spontaneous association of workingmen ; it is to Proudhon perhaps , and his Bank of the People , that we must trace the first suggestion of a central connection , although , looking at the generally demolishing character- of Proudhon ' s mind , we are disposed to ascribe the constructive part of that idea to his associate , Jules Lechevalier . The idea of spontaneous association was an immense advance ; indeed , it established the connection of the great principle of concert , with the actual state of society , and taught the working classes that their redemption was within reach of their own will . Associations have existed for

    nearly twenty years ; but a general development of that form of cooperation must be dated from 1848 , and must be ascribed to the influence of Louis Blanc ' s writings . The history of the Associated Pianoforte Makers in Paris shows what the working classes may do if they have sufficient strength of will and self-denial . The more prosperous Associations in Paris have also illustrated the fact that the principle of concert operates powerfully and beneficially in developing the moral and intellectual state of the associators , as well as their material resources . But the difficulties to be encountered

    at the outset cannot be overlooked ; they may be measured by the hardships which the poorer workmen have had to undergo ; they have been amply repaid in the sequel , and we have no doubt that as the practice of Association advances , even the preliminary difficulties in the way of each new enterprise will be diminished . One difficulty—that of supporting the individual workman , is met in some of the Paris Associations by the plan of admitting enrolled candidates who are allowed to earn wages , while they are working out the capital which they must add to the common stock . In England ,

    Association labours under the factitious difficulty opposed by the laws which regulate partnerships , companies , &c . ; but a Cabinet Minister has recognized the right of the People to associate , and has promised an amendment of the law accordingly . That , difficulty , therefore , will be swept away in sonYe future session . In the mean while we have established the right of Association . Another difficulty almost insuperable in some branches of industry , and formidable in all , is the raising of sufficient capital . We know that there are working-men

    in the iron trade who would gladly associate , if it were possible to command the capital for the purpose . Even if they get the capital , the difficulties are not quite conquered ; capital does not necessarily imply custom , though custom does imply capital . A man who has orders in his pocket can always obtain credit for the means and appliances necessary to execute those orders ; but although endowed with a full allowance of capital , the man who opens a shop may do s <> with no result but that of being in debt .

    These difficulties may all be conquered by prudence , perseverance , and activity ; but the victory is immensely facilitated if the several Associations can he connected in business by means of a Central Agency . Association enables the working-men to be their own capitalists ; a Central Agency enables them to be their own merchants and customers . The mode of doing so is in the main obvious enough ; for it is evident that , if the different brunches of industry are organized , a machinery for enabling them to deal with each other easily and economically must proportionately increase the efficiency of each . Such an Agency supplies to each ready access to the rest of the round of trades . One of the abuses of

    the present system is to multiply unduly the number of intermediate hands busied about each article of production , on its path from the producer to the consumer ; an ubuse which would be checked in the nimpleat manner through a machinery enabling the , Associations to deal with each other by whole-Kale . That the disposition to cooperate in purchasing exists extensively among the workingclasses , is manifested unmistakeuhly by the fact , that there exist in this country already more than

    100 and probably nearer 200 cooperative stores . A very simple illustration , however , will show at a glunee how much the formation of stores would be advanced in facility and efficiency by the help of a Central Agency . In oider to the commonest mixture of tea , for each pound access must be had to three cheats , worth £ ; $ (> . In like manner , for wijjar , acceHH will be needed to two hogsheudti , worth £ 6 "(> or £ 70 . Probably a store could not be furnished under £ 300 ; and that amount must be prepaid . When a store wag established at

    Rochdale 1700 persons joined in the undertaking . Now a Central Agency , furnished with the means of dealing in articles of common consumption , would be able to supply these to the several Associations about the country on account current . Itjs evident that such an agency , with its branches and allied stores , would conduct the whole traffic which concerns imported articles , with an economy not otherwise available to working Associations . influen

    But it would have not the less powerful ce in developing the productive energies of the Associations . In this case , too , the process is simple , obvious , and easily understood . Each Association , dealing with a central body for consumable or imported articles , would probably remit the payment in money—say £ 50 a week or more . But the central body could inform the local Association that instead of notes the remittance might be made more beneficially in the staple produce of the place

    to which the Association belonged ; a Rochdale Association , for instance , would receive a hint to send its remittances in flannel . The Rochdale men would soon perceive that with this profitable exchange , with the certainty of demand , with the guarantee of credit , and with the opportunity afforded of saving out of their wages , it would be both expedient and practicable for them , not only to make the flannel , but to obtain possession of a mill to make it in . Here we have the Central Agency exhibiting its second function in developing the practice of working

    Association . But it has yet two other functions to perform . One of the advantages of Association is the security against adulteration ; that canker of corruption which is notoriously eating into the very substance of retail trade . This guarantee is beautifully , because simply , illustrated by the working of the People ' s mill at Leeds , in which the poorest shareholder is able to command the very finest flour , made under his own eyes from the finest corn in the English market . The greatest table in the land does not enjoy finer wheaten flour than that which is supplied habitually to each Associate of

    the People ' s mill . The principle of concert furnishes exactly the same guarantee in the case of every other article ; and the Central Agency , by its intermediation , can reciprocate that guarantee to all Associations . By the same process it would impart to the whole commerce of Associated industry , that high character for " sterling" quality , which the general trade of England has consented to lose under the pressure of competition . It is probable that this enhanced character would of itself obtain for Associated commerce an amount of custom , which would not on other grounds be transferred from Competitive commerce . Several of the Paris Associations receive orders from the

    country , and are thus extending their business very widely ; to obtain these orders the agents of the Associations make tours of the country—an office which would be in great part performed by a Central Agency . It is tolerably certain also that many who desire to aid the efforts of the workingclasses in self-improvement , would do so by giving their custom to the Associations ; the more readily since that kind of assistance is effective without involving large sacrifice . Canvassing of this kind can he best carried out by a Central Agencj-.

    Entertaining these views as to the capacity of a Central Agency for giving prompt and active developement to the system of spontaneous association , we cannot withhold our approbation from the intelligent and practical scheme which has recently been placed before the public . It is a remarkable evidence of zeal when we find men like Vansittart Neale , a gentleman of fortune and high connections ; Thomas Hughes , a barrister , related on every side to the respectabilities ; Jules Lechevalier , an author , of practical experience ; and Joseph Woodin , a practical trader , united in an enterprise calculated to have so much power in developing the Associative principle .

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    822 It !) * ***>**? [ Saturday ,

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    PROGRESS OF ASSURANCE . A 1 'VI . l CATION Ol' TIIH ASSOCIATIVE . 1 'llINCI VIA .. Lii ' K Ahkijkanck is taking strong hold upon the people . It is exhibiting its popular phase . It is no longer conducted by a " Company , " but by a " Society , " " Association . " It in not a « in olden time a mere commercial speculation , ottering a reversionary advantage ; but a body full of benevolent vitality , securing benefits to the assured himself , as well us to hia survivors ; proving a friend on many an occasion of emergency , and HcatteririK innumerable blcHRkngs to all who will accept them . The complaint may still be well founded , that the people do not avail themselves

    freely , of Assurance ; but our own experience teach * us that it is because , until lately , the prinS ! have not been thoroughly popularized , nor has there been any resolute attempt to make the subieHb understood . J * It has been with the greatest gratification that we have learned the influence of the articles on Assurance which have appeared in the Leader in securing the interest of many who had previously given no attention to the subject . Several assurances have been effected by those who had been wholly unaware how Life Assurance could be

    of any benefit in their individual circumstances It was , indeed , with this hope that we commenced the series of articles ; but hopes are not always fulfilled . In this case , however , we have ascertained that the endeavour to elucidate is followed by the adoption of the benefit elucidated . We have referred particularly to those Associations which " based upon the principles of concert and combined operation , become institutions for the dispensation

    of benevolence , rather than to those which were simply reversionary and established as a speculative tontine . We rejoice to know that there are actuaries who have a far higher view of the principle of Assurance than is exhibited in the construction of merely lucrative tables ; men whose efforts are rather directed to the noble enterprise of developing the blessings of an Associative principle , which has for a long time been worked to mere

    selfish purposes . We will prove that we are not making an idle boast . Some months ago we referred to the " Trafalgar Life Assurance Association" as an important development of plans which had been latent , and which were as beneficent to assurers as they promised to be pecuniarily advantageous to shareholders . There are two facts which offices should bear in mind—that only 250 , 000 lives are assured out of all our millions of population , and that of

    these the major part are for temporary purposes . It is quite evident that Life Assurance required popularizing . It was essential that it should offer advantages to the person assured while living , as well as to his representatives after death—that it should secure him from destitution as well as his family . Upon this liberalized view was the " Professional Life Assurance Association" founded , and a still further extension of the principle established the " Trafalgar . " That we did not overrate the importance of the new and popular principles evolved have been

    by the " Trafalgar , " and that the public , as we anticipated , not slow in taking advantage of them as assurers , or lending them a helping hand as shareholders , is proved by a circular ^> 'e hav e just received . It is stated that in the short period of seven months , the 25 , 000 shares representing its capital , are entirely and unreservedly disposed oi amongst a proprietary of nearly 900 persons residing in almost all parts of the country ; that wo directors are unable to meet the further demand for the shares ; and that in this short period / io policies have been issued , creating an income

    £ 2200 a year ! f t i Thus , even among Capitalists , the beauty oi the Associative principle is becoming every day moi recognized . Men perceive that blind « eWg »^ neither their duty nor their interest , vv ny " Trafalgar " thus successful ? Simply becain , i principles are unselfish , associative , and Dt " lent . In every department it goes on the sw K principle of Concert . Its risks are diluted ainonf , so many , that they vanish altogether . \™ f e Mian

    : _ .. _ . i ... l .,. * .. „<• u ., j ; .. rrnrs with * * cramming the pockets of its directors w »» "" ' it spreads them over an extensive pi <> F > Instead of selfishly appropriating the prolitB io ^ proprietary , it calls up no more capital essential for its business . It secures its as from even the assumed risk of a " V , ' < l tutioii , but it secures the whole profit to tll ( ' , | lie rc . so soon as the assumed risk is remove ( I- ^^ suit is , that in seven months it has J "

    holders , and has issued 21 6 poLcies . ^ Our object in referring thus inucli u " Trafalgar" is to show , not only how « . ' « I , jcJ | rts of Concert must be gaining ground in , ^ of those who , perhaps , are little aware m ;] fi () leaven which is working in our Socie'ty , , i how Life Assurance is becoming M » i ,. . en l » y appreciated bv the public . Thi » ^^ Af ^ falgar '' contniHtittK the rapid success oi tlie ( y ( oicH . with the progress of its able pioneer , t" << the atonal . " The capital of both < : ompunits ^ same . The " Professional " nhareH were ,. 'l ' , ascrihed for in three years . Those ol ^ uVtA falgar" in seven months . At the " ¦ # a 8 meeting of the " I > rofc 8 sional , " held in 184 » ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 30, 1851, page 822, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1898/page/10/