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Leader (1850-1860), 8th April 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 329, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      foundly ignorant . But , while we are defending civilisation against barbarism , it is just as well we should be suggesting in quiet committee-rooms what this civilisation that is so precious is made up of . It is a pity the Bribery Bills don't / pass : for we are sure to have a general election before the war is over . But it would be a great advantage to have another series of election committees during the period , when the war will be unpopular , and the manufacturing districts will be starving ; for then Mr . Gladstone vouid be more lofty and Mr .

      Drumtnond less candid , —for then there would be something like a fear of a revolution . And , in that view , Mr . \^ ernon Smith may be a better Reformer than he suspects himself to be in doing that very friendly thing to the enthusiastically Liberal Coalition—attempting to postpone their measures for curing corruption—a postponement to which Lord John , cheered by the Radicals , offers a coy and curt resistance . On . the same ground the Radicals may be console 1 for the loss of their Reform BUI—that bill which contains the beloved minority clause ;—Sibyl Hume will come back with Reform at a higher price—viz ., a war price .

      Even Lord Eghnton , snubbed on Scottish rights , may fare better next session , when there will taxless exclusive attention to defending civilisation in the Black and Baltic oceans , and when the then Coalition will be less stalwart and less insouciant . Of course ' the debate on that business was very silly . Scottish rights are a joke : and even the solemn adviee of MacCallum More to his country didn't

      obtain proper attention or excite the approbate aw $ . There , is , apparently , a confirmed tendejncj ^ in the Peers not to enjoy his Grace of Argyll , ana it is odd that his Grace of ArgyJJ doesn ' t finii thiit but , and "be less wise in his tone . ' Be Vasveiry valiant , on Thursday , in kickin ^ that iiiangieBt of finiirials flie Scottish lion : and M Hsfefttng to Tuiri one naturally thought that the civaiSstarth we are defending , Sec , must have its disadvantages when that royal beast is so completely dawn , and a-gabbling duke , with a second-rate , ! clerk's capacity , and \ 4 , country schoolmaster ' s tyiewi of life , is so complexly , up . v v Saturday Morning * - ' ' ¦ - " >¦ iy , ! : ^ SrHANQpK .

      Untitled Article

      . ( . .- .. . 1 . 13 THIS DEPABTKKNT , AS' AIX OPINION'S , HOWEVER KXTHEMM , JLBB At-LOVTKD AV EXPIUESSipjJ , THE EDrXOlt KKCE 8 AABILT KOJJOS HIM . 6 KI . V RESPONSIBLE fOK XOHB . l - ' ' *

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      THE TWO CARLYLES . Mr . Boswobth , a bookseller in Regent-street , ' recently published , ' as a list of his own informs us , " A Discourse on the Nigger Question , by Thomas Carlyle , sewed , 6 d . j" and Bos-worth being also the successor ( Nickisson intervening ) of Fraser , -who started the magazine still bearing that name , in which Mr . Carlyle's * ' Sartor" was first printed , there was a pulilic thread of connexion between the great author and the publisher in question . Well , a few days ago the said Bosworth advertises a pamphlet called " Shall Turkey Live or Die ? by Thomas Carlyle , Esq ., " which , we incidentally learn at Messrs . Chapman and Hall ' s ( the publishers of the mass of

      Carlyle ' s writings ) , is sought after by numbers at their shop as " Carlyle ' s new work . " Deeming the affair at least a questionable one on the part of Mr . Bosworth , yet willing still to suppose him free from blame as regards his two pamphlets , we take his shop on our way , and find no less than a dozen copies of " Shall Turkey Live or Die ? " By Thomas Carlyle , Esq . ( under which , in small inconspicuous German type , is added the word ^ trbocatc ) , arranged in the centre of the window , as its most important furniture . We step within , and our worst suspicions are confirmed , more fully than we could have imagined possible ; for on the counter stand , side by side , two piles of thin books , one set entitled

      " BURNS . " By Thomas Caiu . yle . The other , " SHALL TURKEY LIVE OH DIE ?" By Thomas Cah . lvi . is , Esq ., ^ Ujfoocatr . Slowly groping for the threepence thus asked for under undoubtedly false pretences , we first touch the one- hook mid then its neighbour , witli the remark , " Not by the same man , eh ? " To which , after a mom nt ' a hesitation , the young gentleman who serves us replies— "No , it isn't tho same , but it's u cousin of ! iis -a cousin I think he is . " On being further asked how it sold , he said at the rate of about a hundred copies a day . An Author .

      Untitled Article

      April 8 , 1854 . ] T HE LEADE R . ' % m

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      There is no learned man tmti will confess he hath miich profited by reading controversies , his se&ses awakened , aadnia judgment sharpened . If . jthen ^ it be proflkable for him " to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write!—Mii / toh .

      Untitled Article

      THE STBIKES . fjThe subjoined letter has been in type several weeks . We have been unable to find room for its insertion till now . ] { To the Editor of th « Lead * . ) Cheltenham . Sir , —You have been so constantly and consistently the supporter of equal justice and the rights of the working classes , that any apparent injustice to their cause must be an unintentional oversight . With this conviction , I am anxious to call jour attention to a notice in a late number of your journal , on

      gling men , urge them to return to their Work , and let their future combinations be for a systematic and regular emigration—let them determine to send out as many- as possible every year of the daw worst paid till demand and suncJ v ^ e ^« Ei « £ , ^ u ^ as well as merchandise have a ( air aud just value ir the market . By this- means , without danger or risk of suffering to themselves , they can dictate theij own terms , and obtain a fair and just share o € a \/ , blessings of life , and confer upon all . future gener * tions a lasting benefit . Let them never mind who triumphs now , theirs will be the triumph ixt the re *

      suit * if they pursue this course with half the onion ,, energy , and self-sacrifice they have saown in , unavailing and hopeless strikes . In America alone there is room for all our ill-paid workers , ind in Heir Zealand and Australia there witt every diyWmot and more demand for the indastrious and hard working . There never -was a time ' when there was lees reason for the poor man to despair , or wAste his eneN gieW and time in ill-paid labour and inisembie ppitnip that crashes : the soul as well ap thej )^^ . , iBojioJi then , let any who are the true friends of the people delude : thenrwithjany hope of benefit in discussions on profits and small or large wages , b \ it urge them

      on to this real cure , which is always ia their 6 * n power , and may immediately be begun ; and if si * - tematiodly carried qu 1 * is sure 'jm&i&titoti ^ &efa not be : ai few of , the ¦ discontented a 4 d ^ dissatisfied who emigrate , but let it te a we ^^^ fed , wiltl arranged , weU-cotnbined plan , Insu ^ ng ^ hd resntt . < Let the middle aged ^ with fanaiUes > be-iseafecfOwt , firt ^ the y 6 « og . anaunoiari ^ re ^ aintiUitbecomes their turn also ., Ten or twelve slullingB a week u comfort to a single man-starvatfon to ainaik * withfifaniifk The repaid mbheyv as each is able in hi « uew ho * M

      ^^^^^^^^ M w ^ m % ^ ^^^ added to the wages , ana muemble poverty ho longe * ^ wn ^ in ^ fc tne &e&y ¦^ ffitoj& $ ffi * f ^ 2 * ty not let the real believers in theirighta ^ sAlsmeot and the real seekers for thejeleyatio ^^ f Ae ^ people be frightened from this course ; by any ^ frlhiR ^ assertions ofthe ruin of cWMer 4 aMlniifc ^ iaa wiirieavetne country . 'lt J will ^ o ^ do « fo | 0 HdeiK upon it . It wm learn to be contented with plentj ! not affluence , and to insure present blessings to their childrejfc not leave : ^ % utNjdq |! li ^ i # HM ' of

      large fortunes . But if it should lessen oar commerce , i ^ m ^ ey ^ and interestMm set against human heir ^» and human ljLves- —a ^ the many-always to ^ ljpsa fsrjhe ^ jmo ^^ ^^^^^ M ^^^ tnfe ^ g ^ teltf ^ arei ' -fd ^^ p ^ r man with a flumily , ( an wish to persuade them to submit to , sjicbf ft tufa $ t Y * $ m * f ^^^ Mm ^ m- ^ ms ^ kMk lutely necessary . ITo one can haVe vf-at ^ e ^ uta known d popr man ' s life , even the fairest and teit , from : his marriage to his / death , ^ Md ^ ot > : f % al | ili » education—enlightenment—is ; hardly a bles ^ ng unless raise

      comerrea you can men ana women uao the abject p 6 verty , th ^ c ^ eless Ubour ^ the wmfSf less misery of their lives . No wbnderthat they teto . with blind faith on those who offe ? , tu ^ ni hppei , h > jrever delusive , at any sacrifice . Lot ^ t b ^ . thentlua office of those who see with more calm ^ udgfrrtats than it is possible for them to see , to , direct , them in a wiser course—to show them their real interest and the true means of escape ^ and safety > but if thfiy wilh to * be trusted by the people do not let them aen ^ i them back on that long tried and well proved fallacy , the justice of the" masters . The world must har © progressed ' some 100 years before that wordajtiftioe will be understood where interest a ^ id-jn ^ pney a |^ iu the balance . The men wel £ know what justice means wliora' fkav uta ( "AiippMied ' nnn vriti tI ^ imI : itft ' mut virhi

      is still blind enough to be misled by snch a fallacy Make the masters see it is their interemt and they will be just , —generous , perhaps—but not till then . Not till then will they or any business inen know : what fair profit means—not till men are as valuable eta horses will masters know that if they want to keep them they must lodge theiu , ~ clothe them , treat . thieEn as well as they do their dumb animals , or , if they do not , lose them—not till then will masters lisWa to any suggestions of' the rights of those so Ibng wretched and oppressed that it has ceased to attract their attention . It is to themselves—to combinations among themselves—that the working men mugt trust for a cure—a combination not to keep up wages —not to oppose masters—not to support strikes , bat to send all who cannot get fair wag « s here to tl > e land of plenty of work and plenty of food—the land fitted for poormen , where their children shall be the rich and prosperous in the future greatness of those new countries . Let but the poor mam have faith ant trust in himself , and poverty and vretchedneaBlong his birthright—shall no longer stare him ia tfu face as an inexorable doom , but only the neccseai ; fate of those who by their own demoralisation de sorve it . Trusting to your favour for the insortioi of the above , I urn , sir , A TituE Fuikni > of the People , And an admirer of your talented and dialntereste * advocacy of their caus « .

      the subject of strikes , arid your advice to the Preston operatives on their turn-oat , in which you call on the men to obtain , and give , to the public , evidence that the wages they demand can be given , leaving a fair profit to the masters , and you quote the conduct of one of the mill-owners , who has been offering Bonnie statistics on the subject , and recommend the men io follow the example , as the only way to come to a fair and just settlement of the question . Now this looAti

      all very fair and reasonable ; but is it not so only ia , appearance—not in reality J What chance have the . men of ascertaining , with any probable correctness the realpront 8 of the masters ,-known , in all proba- ' bility , only to themselves or some few well-paid ; confidential clerks ? How , therefore , can the men ^ disY prove the statements of the masters , * cooked ' though they may well believe them to be , to suit the circumstances ? Is it likely that the masters will supply the sinews of war to the opposing party ? . \ No statistics , no figures , no explana ^ iqins o ^ Tma ^ terji , no assertions of noprofitscan doa ^ ay with . th 6 broad . There stand

      fact , patejnl , jto ajl the , worlds that our mahufactuitfiis arje ^ akjng | aj ^ j ^ r ^ nes . theimastenj ^ 'W ^ ^^^^^ 6 Mi ^' ^ ifae ^ C 9 Xl command of coinfort , elegance , | u ^ t || ry , -indulgence— -their cjnildren educated and provided foririth ample fortunes , and every year rlSinVirf Society ; 'and there are the poor workers , by whom ^ ttitj ^ hii ; ' wealth is produced , ground down to theinte % ei |» £ essaries ! of life—their homes wanting every cohifdrtr- ^ lheiriwiTes slaves—their children uneducated 4 l * ihiitf' 8 tarved , and the workhouse or an early grave > the , jonly future in store for them . What is the use of evidence brought against sjuch overwhelmiag ^ facta ? If there are not largejprQ&ts wlience ^ cpnAes ^ this wealth ? What reasoning can

      persuade aay one that this is what it should W ? What can [ convince those writhingunder its injus ¥ ti <; e—men like ourselves—that thU is'thejrtfair , share , ia l ^ fe ' ir blessings ? W ^ cry Educate " ^ c worMitg claim ? but' have we considered ttiiii ediicatioti is light let into their darkened souls to eee the hideous contrast -with . sharper gaze , and , to soften and refine , the feelfugs till such a fate shall be intolerable to tKern . Yes , educate them , for it i » their only h 6 pe of rescue , but do not mock their dawning reason b > y attempting to persuade them that such things are just , fair , or right ; or that they , . ought to ' submit

      quietly to a . state of things so contrary to all possibility of their improvement morally ox mentally . Tell them the plain truth , that to struggle against their state is i | seless , and only injures themselves , and makes their hard fate harder . Tell them what you told them the other day , that their only remedy is in emigration : lessen the supply , and labour will hecome valuable and wages high . * No proof of unjust distribution of profits will avail in correcting the evil while men are more plentiful than work . They have moral justice on their side , but in a country of

      commerce they must have interest too , or they ' are powerless . All struggles , founded on the justice of the case , must end as this last has , in the utter misery , demoralisation , degradation , and ruin of the mistaken operatives . Reason and justice they hare ; but , like the oppressed Italians , they have no power . Might , not right , is against them—the might of capital , which , like the Austrian army , can stand bjr well clothed and well fed , and wait till they . have exhausted their enthusiasm , their patience , their courage and means of resistance , and then lead them back again to their old state , doubly aggravated by

      their vain struggles . Xet us hope that , taught wisdom by affliction , their defeat may be their ,. best blessing , and that we iiave seen the last of these fearful and unequal struggles , hardening and jdcgrading alike to masters and men . Let them only for a moment consider what would have been the mighty difference in results to themselves and their children had they , instead of feeding idle men and women with the vast sums that have been collected , determined to devote it to the real and only cure , emigration . Half the money now utterly lost would have sent over to America a sufficient nuinbor of

      their hands as to have insured by ( the only means ) scarcity of labourers , full pay lor those that remain , while those they sent out , prosperous and successful in other lands , would have paid back the sums lent to enable others to follow them , or for the future support of those that remain . How much wiser and more effectual would such a scheme have been than the and and miserable struggle of the lust few months . Let , then , all who really sympathise with the atrug-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 8, 1854, page 329, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2033/page/17/