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Leader (1850-1860), 15th May 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 467, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      * * W hands with tlie blow , lias execrated it ; &e ? hasretreated to findvent in the voice ofart , twh the English envy and cannot mutate . The German Wagner o ^ r p hilosophizes : he has ^ St the mantle of a MephistopBeles .

      Untitled Article

      FRENCH STBYGHlflNE ^ ND ENGLISH We are happy to be able to announce , on authoritv that the anxiety of the French government A re gard to the destination of the strychnine Manufactured in Paris , as fair asEngnshbitter beer Is concerned , is at an end . Had that government , fit ever heard of the circumstance at all , given itself the trouble to inquire about the alleged lawre quantities of strychnine made in Paris , of whose destination and objects it was stated to be i * norant , it would have discovered what we now know , that there was no foundation for the charge whatever . We have no doubt at all of the good likely to result from lectures on public health ; let us arm the public at all points against death , whether " in the pot" or anywhere else * but we must beseech the bland instructors in the principles of hygiene , to adhere to the truth in all they say . We have no public lecturers on health in England paid by the government , but ye have a good many private tutors who do this kind of work , and amongst others our contemporary the Lancet employs an analytical sanitary

      commissioner , who before he asserts a thing to be adulterated has proved it to be so , has sent for the article , analyzed it , knows its contents , and gives the name and number of the person who sells it . Not so with Professor Pagen , who lectures on public health in Paris j he states , ex caihedrd , that the government of France is aware that large quantities of strychnine are manufactured in Paris , and that it is sent to England wherewith to make bitter beer . Of course those persons in this . country who had been prophecying an invasion of the French * and a destruction of bur lives

      and property , saw in this fact the fulfilment of their prophecies . But Mr . Allspp and jMjv Bass saw in it something more , They knew the statement was false , but felt that the insinuation uncontradicted would at least be an invasion of their property , to which they ought not to submit . In order , therefore , to bring the matter at once to a point , Mr . Allsop commissioned two of our most distinguished chemists , Professor Graham , of University College , and Dr . Hoffman , of the Royal College of Chemistry , to examine

      specimens of all his stores , and see if they could detect the deleterious ingredient . We have now before us the report of these celebrated chemists , and the conclusion they have arrived at is , that after having examined above twenty specimens of Mr . Allsop ' s beer , they were able to state , with the most perfect confidence , that not one particle of strychnine was contained in any of these beers . The report is a beautiful instance of the perfection which the chemistry of the present day has reached ; so perfect are its processes , that had but one thousandth of a crrain existed in a gallon

      ot beer , it could have separated it from the beer , and afforded abundant evidence of its existence . Uio evidence of the presence of strychnine is so amiplo that any one can satisfy himself on the pomfc . All that is necessary is , to add a drop of undiluted oil of vitriol to the strychnine , and bring it in contact with a niorsel of bi-chromate oi potash , when immediately there ensues a beautiful evanescent violofc colour , which occurs wifcU no other substance . Nor has the evidence acquitting bitter beer of wio gu . lt of " poisoning" closed here . Wo find n . Xr nu * abor of the Chemical Record , that ¦ ' - / A ¦ _ l \ f " nMYin » - » Imp I » . « . ™ __ . A A . 1 _ ... _ .. __ __*___ JI .. 1 mam . n . w « . .- » -n ' - iN onnanbhas not onlexamined specimens

      y y 9 bittor alo from Mr . Allsop ' s stores ( selected lj > i 15 , 000 barrels ) , but also from Bass ' s , r uoo } ' ° « . and other brewers , both in and out of ^ onclou and that in no one instanco has ho ou » 4 tho slightest indication of tho alleged Hciultoratx on . row 1 ir thia ons ] ii > to bo a l ° a 8 on to 6 Hb 1 ? ° . tu " Ilmi " w cusv ia ifc to insinuate a suspicion ovon may -r- ? in an m 4 ividual , nay , a class , and ( im , i yV . UuUttto « - business on which thousands S ) end * tlioir livelihood , Nor docs Professor * you como well out of this . Ho has been X „ n ° ° i tho subject , aud says , in his dowhnU at ho hm boon misrepresented . That iinov « ? tllt 0 ( l wa 8 » ¦ tha * tIi 0 & * e M . PoUetier , Paris iT * manufttC < wor of organic products in from ' w i i ^ wolvo years ago , a largo order ron England for stryoKnine , and that ho had

      understood that it was employed to complete the bitter of some kinds of beer . But , adds M ; Pagen , I stated my conviction that this fraud had ceased . His reporters were certainly not obliging enough to add the last comment , and on look > ing back to the original notices of his lecture , we cannot but think that M . Pagen brought the subjectin an injudicious manner before his audience ; What then has become of the strychnine sent by M . Pelletier to England ? There are two ways in which it has been employed , which will account for its consumption . In the first place it is used to poison animals , and in the second it is

      employed as a medicine . In this latter way much more was used at one time than the present , although in a large number of cases it is still regarded as a valuable remedy . We should like very much to know how" large a quantity of strychnine M . Pelletier sent into this country , as it strikes us very foreibly that this would settle the whole question . In conclusion , let us hope good will come of this inquiry . The Lancet has promised an examination of beer . We trust that Mr . Wakley will send his commissioner to the places where the poor man buys his porter as well as where

      flip . rich tna . n e-ets his " nale ale . " The chethe rich man gets his " pale ale . " The chemist must not stop at strychnine , let him look Out for green vitriol , sulphuric acid , tobacco juice , cocGulus indicus , and other of those precious commodities known to the gentry called , brewer ' s druggists , Let these be fully brought before the public eye , and we may yet have to thank M . Pagen for his incautious charge against our bitter beer .

      Untitled Article

      THE MANCHESTER WORKING MAN . A STOET OT COMPETITION . The fact will come out one "day that the well understood interest of the masters is to take care of their men . The suggestion of late years made , that employers should accord to their workmen a share of their profits- —a-suggestion which has received little encouragement hitherto—we shall live to see accepted with cheerfulness , and adopted in self-defence . The class of great masters are by no means well pleased to see the class of little masters spring up and succeed : diminishing the profits of large investments , and intensifying competition . The great masters have themselves to thank for the increase of their small , unwelcome , but indefatigable opponents . The harsh and ill-considered monopoly of all profits by the employer , outrages the workman ' s sense of justice , and stimulates him to try mastership for himself . The Co-operative Workshops , everywhere multiplying , are symptoms of the reaction of self-employment against the hlind cupidity of mastership , Tho great establishments already existing might at once become efficient and profitable co-operative firms by the intelligent initiative of tho masters , who might by common consent retain tho lion ' s share . They will , however , listen to no division of surplus , and thus they force antagonistic confederations into existence . These small co-operativo

      efforts will succeed . Despite of some internal strife , serious misunderstandings , and limited capital , they will succeed . The doom of monopoly , whether founded on tho favouritism of Parliament , or upon the private combinations of plethoric capital , is sealed . The public morality and tho public interest are both against it . Many wealthy establishments now flourishing , and which might continue to flourish wore tho workmen made sharers in the profits , will be broken-up within tho next few years . in dis

      In Manchester there exists , at present a - ordered ebbing condition , a recently flourishing Coffeeroasting company . At their commencement thoy made no profits ; but engaging a servant , of whose fidolity and knowledge thoy still speak ( for special reasons ) approvingly , pecuniary matters soon mended . Under his . superintendence and practical skill tho company bogan to command profits . For several years this continued , and thoy woro onabled " to pull down their barns and build greater . " Yet during this period this servant received no proportionate share of those profits which his fertile industry created . IIIh

      Htrongth was being exhausted , and his best years were being spent , without any adequuto provision being offered him against tho days when both youth and vigour should fail . Tho discusfdon of tho associative plmso of Political Economy , which is doing ho much fov tho working classes of this country , awakened in him a justifiable curiosity on thw point . Ho was neither a solflsh , a discontented , nor a baety man , and ho spent two or throo years in revolving tho ohnncos ho had of finding aomo industrial security conceded to him by the company whom ho served . He watched the disposition and conduct of his employers , in cases

      from which he had something to hope or to fear . At last , the painful conclusion was forced upon him , that he must protect himself while strength and energy remained . To have even hinted a desire for higher wages would have cost him his situation instantly . He would not only have been starved like the Amalgamated Engineers , but have been humiliated when he was beaten—struck when he was disarmed—kicked when he was down . To have asked . a share of

      the company ' s profits would have been treated as the presumption of industrial lunacy . He who risks a few hundred pounds of capital may claim profits ; but he who risks the capital of his manhood , his skill , and life , is frowned upon as an impertinent and dangerous upstart , if he asks for 'a share of that surplus which ' his own hands , brains , and strength have created . Such are the ethics of capital in our Christian land ! This workman , therefore , wisely resolved to set up for himself , and wrest by Competition what was denied by

      Social injustice . In this , however , he exemplified that better feeling and honourable conduct which workmen have much oftener displayed of late than their employers . He made no attempt to get the custom of his late masters . To their customers he preferred no solicitation whatever , but by independent advertisements appealed to the general public for a share of their orders . More than this , he resolved not even to add fuel to that encroaching competition which is the disgrace of this counter-jumping age and the demoralization of traders . Not only would he not undersell his employers , he raised the price of his coffee-roasting many per cent ., offering , in return , his ripe experience , and thorough knowledge of the business , and Ms industrious punctuality .

      And his claim to better payment has been respected . How did this company of employers meet this manful and honourable opposition ? They reduced their prices still lower ( they had reduced them in another competitive contest two years before ) , and by still meaner arts sought to destroy the trade of their late workman , whose only crime was , that he had ceased to serve them unrequited . This man , however , trained in the school of self-employing association , has been too brave to fear , and too honourable to stoop to the usual arts of competitive retaliation . " He maintains both hia

      ground and his commendable spirit . Nor lias this wealthy company succeeded against him , nor are they likely to succeed . They engaged another servant in his place ; but though they could buy a man , they could not buy the knowledge , the integrity , the untiring industry with which their former servant voluntarily advanced their interests , while he had hope of living by the discharge of his conscientious duty . Nor can they , at competitive wages ( that is , by giving tho least payment for the most labour ) , find any men able to compete , with the honest industry of one who is also animated by tho receipt of his proportionate share of

      profits . The Cooperative Associations of the Manchester district are lending help to the subject of this anecdote . Tho profits of tho company of coffee roasters have again sunk to zero ; and tho successor they have forced into the field will soon have a permanent occupation there . One of the early numbers of tho Leader contained a letter from the working man referred to in this narrative , upon the adulterative phase of tho coffeo-roasting trade . Tho good sense in which it was conceived , and the practical facts communicated caused its insertion , which was tho occasion of tho present writer , on a recent visit to Manchester , inquiring into his experience , and learning the particulars communicated in this short story .

      Thin narrative is ono of many illustrations that might bo given of tho value and justice of tho self-employing associative advocacy to tho working class : and it also ^ showfl that tho recommendation of Industrial Partnerships between Workmen and Employers , so far from being Utopian or detrimental to thoprofits of Capital , is tho only modo whoroby dangerous competition may bo averted , and vested interests secure a profitable and harmonious operation . Bo it said to masters who have ears to hoar , that tho participation of profits with Workmen is but a well understood system of self-defence for ' Employers . loJf .

      Untitled Article

      ON THE CULTIVATION 'OF FLAX , now to aitow wiimat bbnt-fkujg . II . In our papor of tho 1 st hist ., wo domonntratod , aatiufactorily , aswo think , tho probability that an English farmer , by the sihnplo introduction of flax into his regular rotation oi ' crops , could grow nino-tonthH of all Iuh other produce ront-ft'ec ; and m support of our proposition , wo quoted tho example of Mr . Warnos , of Triminghain . In our present article wo propose to supply eomo further

      Untitled Article

      Max 15 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 467

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 15, 1852, page 467, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1935/page/15/