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that som , f- ^ ftgB ^' . FS'HM S % o"K hi now £ n ftcluded fn the town iu » UL cTltyaregarded therich or thepoor , because the parish S ^ ^^^^^^ ^^ B £ k , % ^ % ^ *^^^ nofbelong to the localityb « t ^ hich refers a the
, sixe of the parish ; because , while the new parishes , if I may so call them , consist of very large districts—most of them immensely populous—there are in the old parts of the town very small parishes , which , of course , would be neither" able to go to thejjame expenditure , or take the same large and comprehensive view as these larger parishes ; therefore , there are difficulties belonging to the subject ; but I trust that the measure under consideration , when it is produced , may be satisfactory , and at all events we shall be ready to listen to any amendment that may be proposed . So far from its hpn < r the obiect of the Government to have any control
in these matters , they have quite enough to do already , and it is , I assure you ,. f » r from their wish to be incumbered with them . " . , , Mr . Cooper begged to ask whether his lordship had any objection to having the proceedings of the deputation pubiisheoVwith his lordship ' s remarks ? Lord J . Russell : I have no objection whatever ; but I reserve to myself the right of denying it if anything is attributed to me that I may not have said . The deputation then withdrew .
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AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN EUROPE . As additional evidence of the fact that the foreign policy of the United States is about to undergo a change , we cite the following passage from the address of his Excellency G . S . Boutwell , Governor of Massachusetts , to the two branches of the Legislature in convention on the 15 th of January . " You have , gentlemen , authorized the Executive to invite Louis Kossuth to this Commonwealth . This trust will be cheerfully and faithfully executed . Your action will be regarded as an expression of the sympathy-of Massachusetts for the distinguished exile , and for the cause of European liberty , which he so truely represents . the side of
The common sentiment of America is on constitutional governments . Nor will this sentiment be satisfied with an individual , unofficial expression . It will also demand , through the diplomatic agents of the country , a distinct declaration on the part of Austria and Russia as to their future purposes . If these governments shall assert the right of interference in the domestic affairs of European nations , or shall decline to make a distinct declaration upon this point , it would seem proper for our government to give them notice that we assert on our part an equal right to interfere in favour of republican or constitutional governments , reserving to ourselves of course the power to judge the circumstances and the necessity of interference as events
transpire . If , however , contrary our expectations , Austria , and Russia should assent to the doctinc of nonintervention , our object will have been gained . We cannot , in any view of the subject , quietly submit to the absorption of the smaller states of Europe by the larger , and the final subjection of all to two or three allied despotisms . "
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PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION . MB . CONINGHAM ' LECTUJtE , AT PORTSMOUTH , ON THE FUENCH COOPEKAT 1 VK MOVEMENT . On Saturda } ' evening , Mr . Coningham delivered a lecture in the Athenaeum , Portsea , on the Cooperative movement in France in 1848-49 . The hall was well filled by an assembly composed of the elite of the working classes . The Iteverend W . Chioneli ,, an Independent minister , occupied the chair . Mr . Coningham commenced his lecture by showing the difference between production and distribution . He said , the requisites of production were two : labour , and the materials and forces supplied by nature . Unlike the laws of production , those of distribution were chiefly of human institution . Besides labour and natural agents , the primary requisites of production , there was another requisite without which no productive operations were possible , namely , a stock of the produce of labour , termed capital , which was often supposed to be synonymous with money ; but money , in itself , could afford no assistance to production . To do that , it must be exchanged for other things . What capital doos for production is , to nflbrd the materials , &c , which the
Avork requires , and to miuntuin the labourers during the process . These are the servicea which present labour requires from padt , and from the produce of pa-t , labour . And , when one or more workmen possess stock or capital sufficient both to purchase the materials for their work and to maintain themselves until it be completed , they then tukotho whole produce of their own labour . In the cooperative farm or factory , associated labour , talent , and capital , aro employed in production ; in the cooperative store , they urc employed in distribution , or trade .
Alter a passing allusion to the various nocial theories of uucieut and modern times , the Lecturer proceeded to describe some of the scones of the eventful
vear 1848 , and to refute the calumnious accusation Snst M . Louis Blanc . He stated that the Revolution had given a powerful impulse to thejiocial and cooperate movement . The Provisional Government , oh the 25 th of February , issued the memorable proclamation by which the right of bvbry citizen to labour , was affirmed . . . -.,. On the 28 th , the decree for the Commission of the Luxembourg was issued , of which M . Louis Blanc was appointed President , and M . Albert Vice-president . The Commission met for the first time on the 1 st of March . By the 20 th , the number of delegates to the bona fide Operative Parliament had increased to five hundred . .. ,. . ' , „ immediate solu
The two questions which required - tion were—1 . A reduction of the hours of labour . 2 . The abolition of " marchandage "— the system of middlemen , sweaters , or piecework contractors . Both these demands were readily acceded to by me € n Mr ? Co ningham then gave some interesting ^ details of the military organization of the Ateliers Nationaux of the Champ de Mars , which soon became a cause of serious uneasiness to the Commfcsion of the Luxembourg . These ateliers , as they were called , were established by a decree of the Provisional Government , which was never signed by M . Louis Blanc : indeed , it was issued by the other members of the Government during his temporary absence from the Hotel de Ville .
After the 15 th of May , the conferences of the Luxembourg were interdicted ; but one leading idea had been brought prominently forward during the brief and incomplete discussions of the Commissionthe idea of Cooperative Association . The Lecturer then gave a detailed account of the formation of the Tailors' Association of the Rue de Clichy , for the purpose of executing a Government contract for 100 , 000 uniforms ; which was , in fact , a
mere temporary expedient for employing the unemployed and famishing workmen . After three months trial , when , the formation of a real Cooperative Association was becoming possible , the disastrous insurrection of June broke forth . On the 23 rd , the men of Clichy never quitted their work ; on the two following days , they were unable to reach the workshops ; but when , on the 26 th , the shops were again opened , twelve men only , out of 1600 , were found absent . - ~
The ateliers of the Champ de Mars had . been suddenly and violently disbanded by the intrigues of the Royalist party , who disappeared during those terrible days , and were fatal to the Republic . The People was conquered by Republicans—a dearlybought victory , by which reaction alone triumphed . Mr . Coningham summed up and concluded his lecture by showing : — 1 . That M . Louis Blanc was not the founder of the
Ateliers Nationaux ; but , on the contrary , that the ateliers were organized as a military force to oppose the Luxembourg , or to descend into the streets if necessary ( to use the words of M . Marie , a " white " Republican ) ; 2 . That the plan of making Government advances for the purpose of employing the workmen originated with the cloth manufacturers of France ; 3 . That while the work of the Ateliers Nationaux was totally unproductive , the work of the tailors of Clichy was not only productive , but profitable ;
And , finally , that the military organization of the Ateliers Nationaux ( founded by the Republican Doctrinaires ) broke out into open and bloody rebellion , while the industrial organization of Clichy ( founded by Socialists ) remained firm and loyal in its obedience to the laws , and faithful in its adhesion to the cause of order . The Lecturer , who was listened to with the utmost attention , and was loudly cheered , then resumed his scat . Mr . G . R . Vine moved a vote of thanks to the Lecturer , and requested that he would consent to publish his address .
Mr , Stroud seconded the motion , which was carried by acclamation , as well as a vote of thanks to the reverend Chairman .
ASSOCIATION IN MANCHESTER . A lecture was delivered on Thursday week by the Reverend T . G . Lee , in the Mechanics' institution , at Manchester , for tho purposo of pointing out the immoral tendency of the present competitive system , and of showing what the working men should adopt and the public promote . The appended report is extracted from the columns of tho Manchetter Examiner . ,
Mr . Lee said that some might blame him , being a minister , for treating upon such a matter , but his answer was , that the goHpel ho preached , was a whole gospel , and referred to the bodies as well as to tho souls of men . Tho divine code was a higher system ihan that of human legislation , and took cognisance of human thoughts ; it regarded that man ns a murderer who hated his brother ; required them to act towards oth . ors as thoy would like others to act towards them . With this law , tho system of competition was altogether at variance , and either the law of heaven must alter , or the system opposed to it must como down . But the kingdoms of this world
are to become the kingdoms of God , and all hm * things were destined to revolve in harmony withtJ divine system which God has revealed . The coS ° petitive system set at defiance the law of loving th ?" neighbours as themselves ; it led one man to reioi at the downfall of another , who was thus benefited h seeing his competitor driven-out of the field * Whp one man became a bankrupt , another would purcha his Utock at a low rate ; and then the purchase would issue large placards inviting the public S come and reap a rich harvest out of the misfortune of his fellow-tradesman . It generated the feeline * which actuated the slaveholder , by leading the master to calculate what he could make out of the
men the women , and the children . It led to the disreputable practice of servants being employed in order to bribe customers to various establishments . It created a money respectability instead of a real respectability If money were only obtained , whether it was by aellinff plaster ofparis for flour , or chicory for coffee , the man when become rich , would be looked upon as respectable . He believed the associative principle to be in harmony with the doctrines of Christ . With regard to * the practicability of associated labour , it was urged against it , as an obstacle , that the working men were too ignorant to manage business . He admitted the truth of this remark to some extent , but he charged the blame upon the competitive system . It was a
piece of hypocrisy . Gentlemen superciliously charged the working men with ignorance , and yet would not allow them opportunity for improvement . He believed that many of them were more qualified for business than some of the masters supposed ; and , at any rate , he should like to see them try if they ' could not manage to their own satisfaction . But another difficulty , which was said to be the cardinal one , was want of mutual confidence . The Manchester papers had dwelt much upon that topic ; but he hoped the men would try to establish confidence amongst themselves . They must learn to submit to a ruling spirit . They roust elect a man whom they could trust , and then obey him as their master . About 6000 mechanics were said to be out of work in Manchester : and he
would recommend them all to commence one grand establishment , and pay the gentlemen back with their own coin . They nvght carry out the ^ principle of concentration for their own advantage , instead of for their masters ' . The profits of the forty-six or fifty establishments in Manchester would clear a profit Of not less than £ 3507000 annually . Now , in Salford all the burgesses were shareholders in a gas company , which cleared £ 6400 a-year . In Manchester the gasworks belong to all the burgesses , and produced nearly £ 40 , 000 yearly . The shareholders elect a council , the council elect a committee , and these
manage for the others . This was cooperation ; and the railway companies and banks were on a similar principle , and the working men might imitate them . It was said they were short of capital to carry on such workshops . Why , the working people did not know how rich they were . Mr . Lee then referred to the last report of the Manchester Savings Bank , and stated that mechanics had deposits to the amount of £ 52 , 000 ; the bricklayers , £ 21 , 000 ; the calico printers , £ 27 , 000 ; domestic servants , the chief of whom were women , £ 116 , 604 . Many of these were doubtless in want of husbands , and would be lad to let their aid the coflperation . The
g money total of the various classes was £ 266 , 923 . 18 s . 9 d . The cotton-spinners had £ 50 , 000 . Let them cooperate and order machinery ; that would give employment to the mechanics , and produce for themselves the means of prosperity . The Manchester newspapers did not side with them ; they ought » therefore , to have a newspaper of their own . Mr . Lee then proceeded to point out several successiux cooperative establishments , situate at Leeds , JJacup ,
Whit Lane , and Hey wood . In the latter case ne w «« they had turned over £ 11 , 000 in twenty-ono monttw , and cleared £ 560 . It was his earnest desire tnai there might be no more strikes ; that no master should be coerced into giving a certain price > d » 1 that matters of dispute should be left to arbitration . They must try to put a stop to those struggles . « the money which had been spent in strikes had Dee » employed in cooperative labour , there would navo
been none of the present dtaturbnnce . Ho was QJjV . aware that there were amongst the masters who n » closed their establishments some 8 entlem ^ lin ( i benevolent dispositions , but they were D 0 UV to carry out tho system . He thought that " churches had something to do with the question , they ought to recommend tho wealthy •»«»» them to bo Willing to ubide by an arbitratioi » i since , if they wore in the right , and had a good cnujj thfiv hnd no miinh tJir > lnsa . rmilnfl tO fear a dOClSM *
being against them . Tho lecturor then gave sou details oi" a plan for getting grudually into tn ® J ^ session of workshops . Ho suggested that they fli endeavour to ' render all possible assistance 'to small and roanonably disposed masters ; tnft * K jQ should outer into an agreement with them to pay percent , for the capital invested ; a certain 8 uul thfl management ; and then , at tho end of the year , profits to be divided , one-half to the owner , ana other to the operatives . At the decoase of « ie ow an equitable arrangment to be made with the wia
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 7, 1852, page 126, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1921/page/10/
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