Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 3rd July 1852, Edition 2 of 4, Page 4, <&* All communications for the Editor mu...

Page 4
Page 4
4 of 8

On this page

  • Departments (3)
    • THE FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE.. ,.. _. . - . r, .mo VrAmi t\f 1RI3-ie sets oi tne jjbienu ok —
    • ®9 ©omsjiottifwta
    • THE STAR OF FEEEDDI SATWR»A5r, JUJilT 3, 1852.
  • Adverts (6)
  • Text (11)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      The Iioxofhable Anrillery Company.—On ¦ ...

      LETTERS FOR WOKKISG MEN . 2 to . XII . —The Road to TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR 05 PRE 2 D 0 M . Sut , —When the . Roman General ( I omit his name , that I may not be thought personal . It is well to be particular after the acquittal of Dr . Achilli . He was a rascally swindler t' o ) , was made Emperor by his guards , he was good enpugli to require an approving vote from the Roman citizens . They voted under cover of the ballot ( overlooked ) by the legions , and I know not how many millions confirmed his theft of the Empire . The number does not matter ; there was , any way , so great a majority , that history speaks of his election as the choice of the nation . Speaks rightly too : for this Roman was not destiny . 2 Jor did he work without tools . Those tools were first those who actively helped him , whether by their counsels , their swords , or their votes , and next those who passively helped him , —whose apathy or cowardice ' preferred a sleeping partnership in villanyto .

      say , martyrdom . ' Af . er a while he sat comfortably , tolerably secure . The people , the lower orders , the artizans , & c , found themselves none the worse , and at last became contented with his rule . This is all matter of incontrovertible history . Well , what have we to do with the conduct of these Romans ? I will tell you . These Romans became slaves because they were without heroism , without faith , without common honesty ; because they cared for any personal gain or comfort , rather than for honour ; because they thought mere princi ples were just grand ' sounding words / not by any means bo much worth toiling , and perhaps suffering ^ for , as the material advantages of good wages and increase of victuals . They were indifferent to virtue , and so became the beastliest slaves of all recorded time . I

      speak of this because I see tbe same mdifferentism eating out hearts here in England . I speak of this because that same iudifferentism which led them to ignominy is leading us——where else but to ignominy ? If we have no Louis Napoleon here ( there must be a lowest deep somewhere ) we have a Prince President ' s private friend— ' intimate personal friend * —to conduct our foreign affairs , with a Prince President approver ( Liberal Lord Palmerston ) hy way of amithesis , if Malmesbary should go out ; and the friends of Malmeshury aud Palmerston to conduct our home affairs , with the murderer of the Bandieras as future leader of Her Majesty's Opposition . The last phrase IB quite Constitutional . . I have the utmost respect for what General Tom Thumb calls ' Gracious

      Majesty ; ' specially when her palace guest is a Prince of Naples , and her honour so condescendingly brought down to the level of that butcher Rosas . It is true our Government does not confiscate the domains of Princes ; hut is that a reason why one hundred thousands persons daily in London should have no means of living , except beggary or crime ?—is that a reason for being content with the daily confiscation of the hon 'St earnings of labour fay our law-protected Free Tradei s . landlord ? , lawyers , and the like ? It is true we are not dragooned to the polling-booth t « vote for a detestable government , or else to risk our lives , our fortunes , and our families in opposition to its decrees ; hut are we not—six out of seven of us—dragooned away from the polling-booth , forbidden even the

      pretence of opinion as to what our government shall he ? However despicable its nature , however tyrannical its acts—that is only a question of degree . Six out of seven of us are as completely under the thumb as ever France can be . We too are kept down by a garrison ; and when cmr Liberals talk of enlarging the garrison , extending tbe franchise ; that is to say—the freedoms they will be able to take with the unenfranchised , ifyi only the English Constitutional form of doing the same thing which the French President does , —viz ., disposing of the people against their mils , and without caring a rush whether they have any wills at all . Louis Napoleon would he as glad as Mr . Cobden to increase ; his ' garrison , ' for the safety of present institutions . *

      In plain English , whatever difference there may he in the degree of slavery here and in France , it is only difference of degree ; and the cause in both countries is precisely the same—the atheistical , unprincipled , cowardly indifference of the mass of the people to any question from which they cannot reckon on an immediate gain . Do not fell me of some occasional exceptions , such as the enthusiasm in 1839 for the People ' s Charter . I know of more admirable exceptions , too , in France . But they do not in either country alter the fact , that at this present moment the masses are kept down , not so much by the power of aristocracy or despotism , as hy their own

      miserable inertness and indifference to principle . There is not a hard word ( and not the hardest unjust ) that I have here thrown at Frenchmen hut what I wish through them to reach at English hearts . Step by etep we are descending to an ignominy deep as that of France . We need not pride ourselves against her . Actually within the last few months the only lessons of morality which have been uttered by our public teachers have been soma odd expressions of the tyrannous old Tories , and an occasional good Vvoru from the ruffianly 'Times . ' ' - Our liberals teach us anarchy and cowardice , setting us examples of dishonesty ; duty is altogether a word * that passeth 5

      all understandingof either priest or politician . Manchester has Us high school of unadulterated Atheism—the only unadulteration it can boast of . Even an eminent constitutionalist , a man of rare personal integrity like Professor Newman , will tell us only that * we ought not to he too timid' ; that ' at least we should speaJc truth ; and if compelled to war for truth 'becareful not to attack neutrals , ' ' nor volunteer to extend the war beyond its most inevitable geographical limits . ' Everywhere is the samo cowardly doubt of Right , which always walks—no , crawls—between , what Milton calls , « a precipice of mischief on either side ; and starting at every false

      alarm , we do not know which way to set a foot forward with manly confidence and christian resolution , through the confused ringing in cur oars of panic scruples aud amazements . ' And among the people —the classes who toil and suffer—the slave classes—( there are none worse under Louis Bonaparte )—tho teaching is the same . Even anguish and resentment fail to rouse them . Eat , drink , grumble , dispute about words , ( political or theological ) as a sort of poor and cheap amusement , doubt each oilier , despair of justice or progress , disbelieve in God , dip deeper , if it be possible , in the * Slough of Despond , * and then die in your misery : this is the philosophy ofthe

      hour—its rascally , disastrous doctrines , against which it behoves every true man to set his face , his hand , his firmest life . Now , what else but cowardliest , beastliest apathy can prevent the working classes of this country from protesting ( as I have proposed , or in some such manner—I do not stickle for my own plan , if any one else will produce a better ) against the misrule to which they are subject ? What great difficulty , what great trouble , what great self-denial , what great cost , to poll in every locality , not for this or that little known , or too well-known candidate , out against such aud such candidates , one and all , as refuse to recognise and help the vindication of our

      principle of the right of every man to political freedom ? What should hinder so easy a protest ? Where are the two millions who signed their names before ? Let them hold np their hands again , where they can he seen and tested , in their own towns , at their own doors . Is that little extra work too ranch for our English patriots ? For shame ' s sake , then , let ns cease to reproach the slaves on the other side of the water . At worst , we are not quite tongne-tied ; we can meet openly , and say as openly to this and the other ruler : yon rule by force , not in virtue of our choice . Here shall our public protest be as the first stone

      . cast against you : the solemn condemnation of your pretence at representing ns , the sentence which our bands shall make good . One such condemnation of a General Election would reinforce that oI *« , lon ? -Wunted weapon—the people ' s right of petition ; r " - k » * a t 5 ! Under- !> nrst , unjust privilege from its seat ; frighten the expediency-mongers and the tricksters into the straight p . « h of ri ght ( whether they would like it or not ); ' taenlri ? , tf jstlier » as with a trumpet summons , the real p l ^ fn-rJi Ea S ^ adto lay the broad foundations of a peo-- Son ^ « nS fr tf of the wholc Peopie-tbe na-- honour ™ 4 iSwJ ^ w ? of health of Jastandn ° WeMe , of . Ortas thepj ^ gthlorages ; Are we capable of this ? tert nothing | " a ro £ et ?? 80 eaten * " *» our hearts folly shall not escape ^ f-S , * *& mry ? Koihing ? Our fully thall be « 0 SSd ? oS * T ? r 1 nofc ™* « heerneg . ' ected wita impunity /^ "etfsts of Hfe are not to be from eloih , if we refuse " patriottm l ot ran 80 m delves easy , the inexorable destinies wUi » w hea Pat « ° ti 8 m is so * e * h dl 2 * unl a 6 Uop £ ZP £ ?&«* ft £ kx

      The Iioxofhable Anrillery Company.—On ¦ ...

      French or English , indifferentism hears the same fruit ; the selfish denial of duty is a curse , and all curses , as the proverb hath it , « ever return home to roost . ' Let us scare this one away from England ! SPABTACCS .

      4 , The Star Of Freedom. J[Jly 3

      4 , THE STAR OF FREEDOM . J [ JLY 3

      The Friend Of The People.. ,.. _. . - . R, .Mo Vrami T\F 1ri3-Ie Sets Oi Tne Jjbienu Ok —

      THE FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE . . ,.. _ . . - . r , . mo VrAmi t \ f 1 RI 3-ie sets oi tne jjbienu ok —

      Ad00413

      — - a . w compie' . e » f ? * " » - " -: - ' stifchea in a wrapper , are on sale . Price One Shilling and Supence each set . Odd numbers to complete sets to be had of the puohsuer . TUJ 1 RED REPUBLICAN FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE . ( First Series . ) _ A very few sets ofthe Red Ketcbiican and Fsiesd of the l « 1 851 . neatly hound in cloth , one vol ., price 6 s . Ga ., may be h . vd ot thspublisher . _ . „„ ., „ Undon : James Tfatson , 3 , Queen ' s Head-passage , Paternosterrow .

      Ad00414

      GOLU ' . GftLD ! GOIiB ! NATIONAL GIFT SOCIETY 1 » fou EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA , Office , 13 , Tottenham-court ( thirteen doors from Tottenham-court . roaai . ^ ew . roaa , St . Pancras , london . The late rcW discoveries in Australia , and the great want o * labour experiencea in both the agricultural ana commercial districts consequent on that fact , calling loudly for an . externum ot the means of emigration to that country , it is proposed tliat a numbsr of working men should associate together , and by the gilts ot 0 » SSHIUIS « EACH , A cei tain number should be enabled without expense to themselves to receive a FREE PASSAGE

      Ad00415

      The Cheapest and Beat Excursion of the gcasott " T ITERARY INSTITUTION , JOHN STREET , -U F 1 TZROY SQUARE . In consequence of the great satisfaction given on the l'st occasion , and also that large numbers of friends were unable to obtain T icke t s , the Committee have decided upon a Second BPiTNG

      Ad00416

      TO THE ELECTORS OF WESTMINSTER . Gesixemen , HAVING- been assured that you are not prepared to allow your political richts to I e disposed of , as by private contrac , I pledge myself tint you shall have an opportunity of recorain ; your votes in favour of aa inaependent candidate . As time is precious . I proceed at once to lay before you a brief statement of my political opinions . A Radical Reformer on the broad principles of religious , civil , and commercial freedom , I contend that the people is the only legitimate source of power , and that , as all wealth is tbe produce of labour , the workman should partake of the fruit of his o . in ind u ' t'y . In Parliament I shall vote for Manhood Suffrage , the Ballot , Annual Elections . Equal Electoral l'istiicts , and the Abolition of Absurd Property Qualifications . A Free Trader in the fullest acceptation of the term , I h pef > see a truly liberal policy adopted in our rehv ions wi'h foreign countries : for in the close and iutioiate alliance of thepe pies will he fonnd the surest bond of universal psace . I am , gentlemen , your obedient servant , Reform Club , June 23 . William Coxingiuji .

      Ad00417

      TO THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF NOTTINGHAM . GENTLEMEN , —In soliciting the honour of your Votes at the next Election , I am bound to give an explicit declaration of my political opinions ; and , in so doing I shall endea vour to avoid that disgraceful quibbling and vague generalities so frequently resorted to in Election Addresses . Sush , for example , 'As I ain for a liberal extension , & c ., ' without saying how liberal or how far ; * Iam for the gradual reform of abuses in Church and State / without saying how gradual ; or where the abuses are ; 'A friend to a sound and religious Education / meaning nothing and applying ; whatever yon please to imagine . But with regard to myself , I frankly , and undfcguisedly declare that I am for Manhood Suffrage , considering the man even as a mere animal more worthy to be represented than even the Ten-pound House or the Forty-shilling Freehold . I am for the Ballot , as an expedient to preserve Electors from the intimidation ? F OTtoe influence of Landlords , Cotton-lords , and Money-mongers . ' I am for the Abolition of all Property Qualifications , both in the Elector and the Elected—the former for the grounds already stated , the latter to permit Electors to return whom tbey please as their Representative .

      Ad00418

      TO TflE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARD . GENTLEMEN , —As a Reformer and one ¦ of v * yourselves , sympathising with ( he interest and progress of tlie Industrial Ola ses , actively engaged in Manufactures and Cwnunree , and for many years resident in the Borough ofSr . utfiwriilc , I beg respectfully to acquaint you that , in compliance wilh a nunerously s ' gnel Requisition , I am induced to solicit the honour of vour suffrage at the ensninir General Election . * FRS . E TKADE-CiinAlTBREAD . Extension of the Suffrage . Equitub ' . o Arrangement of Electoral Districts . Tbe transfer of the right of returning Members of Parliament from decayed or corrupt boroughs to populous constituencies . The Ballot and Short Parliaments . Xo 1 ' roperty Qualification . . Freedom ofthe Press , Cheap Law , and Speedy Justice . Frobate and Legacy Duty to be charged upoii Landed as well as other Properiy . Iacome Tax to be discontinu « d , or revi ? ed , charging an equivalent in AnnaitySralue , according to the number of years purchase , of Profession , Trade , or fixed income . Customs Reform ' .

      ®9 ©Omsjiottifwta

      ® 9 © omsjiottifwta

      <&* All Communications For The Editor Mu...

      <&* All communications for the Editor must he addressed to *> o . 4 , Rrunswick-row , Queen ' B-square , Bloomsbury , London . gS * Orders , applications for placards , & c , & c , must be addressed to John Bezer , ' Star of Freedom" Office , 183 , Fleet-street , Lon . don . All money orders to be made payable to John Eezer , at the Money Order Office , Strand . * News-agents and triends desirous of exhibitins Bills of Contents mil have them sent post-free on forwarding their address to the publisher . GS * IVe are compelled to postpone a number of notices to correspondents until next week- . , . , Monies Received for the Refugees , and which have been banaea to the Committee : —W . Blacltwell , Is . j A Friend , , near Blandford , Dorset , 2 g . ; Edinburgh , per Mr . M'Kechme , £ 1 : Newcastte-on Tyne , per Angus M'Leoi , £ 1 Us . 2 d . ( Names next week . ) J . Cvltax , Halifax , —Press of matter comp els the postponement of your letter .

      The Star Of Feeeddi Satwr»A5r, Jujilt 3, 1852.

      THE STAR OF FEEEDDI SATWR » A 5 r , JUJilT 3 , 1852 .

      Decline Of Constitutionalism. Candidates...

      DECLINE OF CONSTITUTIONALISM . CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW PARLIAMENT . Our respected contemporary " , the ' Leader , ' of last Saturday , contains some rather doleful lamentations , in its leading 'Editorial , ' on the Decline of Constitutionalism . It urges that , ' Those who are anxious for the maintenance of Constitutionalism in Europe —who are anxious for its bare existence- ^ -should exert themselves to maintain it while there is yet time . ' Now , considering that to Constitutionalism , at least to its regal representative , William III ., of * pious , glorious , and immortal memory , who saved us from Popery , brass farthings , and woodeu shoes , ' considering , we say , that we owe to this champion

      of Constitutionalism the National Debt and the Funding System , not to speak of kindred blessings conferred by his and successive Constitutional Governments , we by no means share the anxiety of the ' Leader , for the preservation of this precious ism ' s hare existence . We believe Constitutionalism to be an arrant humbug , and shall exult over its extinction . With the ' Leader , ' we do not believe that despotism can permanently sustain itself . We look for the not distant triumph of the opposite extreme . Be that as it may , we think with our contemporary there is already assured to some Blackstone , Pe Lome , or Gibbon , the materials for a History of the Decline and Fall of Mixed Governments and Constitutional Monarchy .

      One of the * signs ofthe times' that seem to indicate the rottenness of Constitutionalism , even in this , the land of its native growth , is the character of the administrations that have recently , held the reins of power . Notwithstanding the intellectual superiority of « Sir' E . Peel ' s Government , it was essentially a Government of expediency , and not of principle . ' Lord' John Russell's was the mere shadow and pale imitation of its predecessor . As to the present Administration , it is without parallel as a government of compromise , tricky evasion , and embodied falsehood .

      But , as remarked in another article , Ministers are but the reflex of Parliament . The feebleness of the late , combined with the falsehood of the present Administration , very faithfull y represented the leading characteristics of that House of Commons which has just been extinguished . Will the next Parliament be any improvement ? We doubt it . We are rather inclined ^ to think that , should some half dozen candidates be rejected , the new Parliament will exhibit the very dotage of Constitutionalism . What then ? What must follow ? Death . Perhaps , as * Lord ' Maidstone predicts , ' the Dehge !' A few words as to a very few of the Candidates worth notice . First , the long tried friend of the People ,

      T . S . DUNCOMBE , FOR FINSBURY . A man who has never faltered in his devotion to the popular cause , and whoso only needs have been health and adequate popular , support . Comparatively silent during two or three sessions * , the cause thereof was bodily incapacity , not . want of will . Happily his health is now much amended , and if the people desire to move , they will find in Dukcombe no unwilling leader . During the last fifteen years his name has been linked , and usually his voice associated , with every measure tending to' - promote popular welfare . His bold avowal of Chartist principles in the House ,

      in answer to the taunts of the people ' s enemies , his untiring advocacy of national Parliamentry Reform , his philanthropic pleadings for the miners , the factory workers , the frame-work knitters , the victims of the truck system , and other sections of suffering humanity ; and , last not least , his unmasking of the traitor Graham , and vindication of the honour of England from tho damning stigma of Post-Office espionage , and the murder of the Bandiera , clam for him not merely the votes of Finsbury , but the suffrages of the country at large . Men of Finsbury , It is your duty to elect Ddncqhbe by Universal Suffrage at the hustings , and in the subsequent contest it will be your duty to place him at the head of the poll .

      We much regret the retirement of Mr . Wakley ; but we will speak of that gentleman ' s services when we know his successor .

      WILLIAM NEWTON FOB , THE TOWER HAMLETS is unmistakeably the people ' s choice . With a large number , we trust a majority , of the electors pledged to vote for him , he has that which no other candidate in the borough can boast of , the unanimous support of the Non-Electors . The return of William Newton will be in this election the noblest triumph for the working classes , and therefore should every working man in the Hamlets , not heart and s'juI a slave , labour . in this cause until the close of the struggle — labour uuweariedly day aud night—to obtain by every legitimate means the

      votes of the electors lor labour ' s candidate . To the electors we would s ; iy tho people ' s choice , if lie receives your votes , will be the pledge of reconciliation between you and the unrepresented . The disunion of the middle and working class lias often been deplored by middle class reformers . You have it in your power \ a show that you do-iiro union , by ' giving one vote to 2 N £ wroN' , voting for whoever else you may please . As regards the other candidates , the rejection of Clay the Whig , and Butler the choice of ' publicans and sinners , ' is earnestly to bo desired . Of tho remaining two , George Thompson would bo the best selection ; but whoever may be No . 2 , let every nerve bo strained to carry Newion triumphantly into the House of Commons .

      CONING HAM FOR W ESTMINSTER , should be the cry of every elector , who desires to restore the ancient city of the Minster ' s reputation for patriotism ; and of every non-elector who desires his emancipation from political aud social thraldom . Conikgham is no half-and-half man , babbling about extension / and ' wide extension , ' of the Franchise , He will vote for Manhood Suffrage , and nothing less . What is

      at least as important he will vote for , and advocate social justice for the wealth producers . Conikgham is at once a true Reformer and a Con servntive of the best kind , for he would give the people reaZ Reform , and thereby conserve society from convulsion and dissolution . Let every true friend to progress exert himself to rally the electors of Westminster to the support of the people ' s candidate and and substitute for sham and shoy-hoy , Coningham as the Radical member for Westminster ,

      We have not space to notice the other metropolitan candidates , except to observe 'that the City will prove its unchangeable rottenness andjworahip of the golden calf . The late representatives for Marylebone will be again elected without opposition . In Lambeth the ' reside nt candidate ( dear , delightful Josal ) having withdrawn from the contest Mr . W . Williams—a useful man , and D'Eyn court—au irreclaimable Whig will be re-elected , in Southwark Apsiet Pbixatt promises to take the place and im > prove upon Alderman Humphrey . - .:.. ;>¦

      Ofthe country candidates we can only say that we hope Siukgeon will be returned . fo ' r Nottingham . It is true . we know not much of him , nothing beyond his declaration of princi ples , but they appear to he ultra-Radical . Of the other candidates , Walter , Gisbobnb , and Strutt we kno w tao much , and whichever may be elected Nottingham will be misre-

      Decline Of Constitutionalism. Candidates...

      presented at least to the extent of one vote in the new Parliament .

      GODERICH JOB , HULL ! Is tho enthusiastic cry of tbe Radical reformers of that great Seaport . His fellow-candidate , Mr . Clay , will be , as he has been , an able representative of the existing constituency . But ' Viscount' Godehich will represent the non-electors as well as the electors . Our ultra-Democratic convictions lead ns naturally to donbt mere professors of pat ) iolUm and ' aristocratic ' adventurers ^ who occasionally masquarade in the character of loud-talking demagogues ; and , therefore , we have been slow to welcome this future member of

      the ' Upper House , ' But his generous support of the engineers , and his chivalrous readiness to engage in every struggle calculated to advance the welfare of the people at large , have satisfied us that no better patriot is , at this moment , in presence of the British people . Young , enthusiastic , and ardent in the pursuit of truth , he is precisely tho man to face aud fight the supporters of injustice and the enemies of right . But for bribery , the Tory candidates would not have the shadow of a shade of chance . Watch the corruptionists , men of Hull , and vanquish them with the weapons of honesty and truth . Englandwill hail with joy your victory , if you carry Goderich to the seat of Andrew Marvel .

      Battles Of The Churches. In Boyhood We H...

      BATTLES OF THE CHURCHES . In boyhood we have often pondered over the recital of the bloody feuds of past ages , and have grieved that the most cruel and relentless of these sanguinary struggles should have had their origin in the disputes of rival Churches aud jealous sects . It is , indeed , painful to contemplate these * holy' wars , to see men ' s passions so inflamed that they were ready to butcher their brethren for some difterence in theological opinion ; too often but in consequence of a puerile and absurdjquarrel about a mere name , or the

      significance of a word . We deplored the ignorance and brutal ferocity of those times of the past , and joyed that we lived in a time when higher and holier sentiments had taken possession of the minds of men—when the spread of knowledge , and tho growth of intellect had effectually , and for ever , ended those irrational combats , and taught men to recognise the right of all their fellow creatures to worship their creator in conformity with the dictates of their conscience ; not to accord them this in tolerance , but from a respect for the opinions of others , how different soever they might be from their own .

      But , alas , for the ' march of intellect ! ' the events of the past week have shown but too clearly how far we had erred—how far from the recognition of the justice of freedom of opinion is tho mass of the people . The disgraceful conflicts at Stockport are indicative of the deep darkness that rests on the minds of multitudes , and of the brutal and degrading passions that ignorance creates and developes in the minds of men . There is much subject matter for thought in these occurrences . Can the Ministers of the Christian

      religion—the priests of every one of the numerous sects into which Christendom is split , or any one of them—have done their duty , and really endeavoured to infuse the Christian spirit into their flocks ? If they have endeavoured to do so , they certainly have not succeeded . Those among them who are most zealous in defence of the dogmas . of their various Churches , are also the most intolerant of all others , and most unsympathising with their non-conforming brethren .

      There must be something wrong in the manner of procedure of all the teachers . Undoubtedly many of them are conscientious earnest men ; but it may be they have not gone the right way to work . They have sought faith rather than intelligence—they have sought to inspire respect for words and symbols and unintelligible formulas , rather than to awaken the reasoning powers of their followers , and to build up knowledge , whereby their doctrines might be applied . They have thus tried to engraft the dogmas of their Churches upon the sterile minds of the ignorant ; with what result the Stockport riots show .

      Principles alone can save the world , dogmas never can . " What a great and glorious opportunity tho Ministers of religion have had for the moral and intellectual elevation of the human race—have had and lost I Had they had any desire to do so , they have had in their hands the power to really educate the people , to disclose to them all the treasures of the book of knowledge , and by thus developing their mental powers , make them capable of feeling real religious sentiments—sentiments worth y of the religion of Christ . But the so-called Christian priesthood have never done so . Instead of endeavouring to educate the people , and to raise them from their degradation and ignorance , they have been the most determined opponents of all progress , the unvarying foes of intelligence and freedom , and the aiders of every

      tyranny . They have long since forgotten or concealed the religion of Jesxjs of Nazareth , the pure and holy religion of Liberty and Equality , and have raised in its place an unrighteous system of corruption and falsehood , a priestly conspiracy against the mental and physical freedom of humanity . They are not the servants of Christ , for their every word and deed belies the very principles of Christianity . Are they Christians who oppress unhappy Rome , and keep down tho suffering peoples with the bayonets of the brutalized slaves of their unprincipled allies r Are they Christians who pour their benedictions upon the blood-stained and perjured bandit who has robbed the French people of their liberties and of their property — numbers of them of their lives ? Are they Christians who are now making so many exertions to awaken a civil war in the

      Swiss Confederation , and to destroy the republican liberties of the Swiss people ? Are they Christians who , in our own country , incessantly pray for the welfare and prosperity of those whose welfare and prosperity is the misery and wretchedness of the toiling millions—who live luxuriously while thousands of their fellow creatures are without a crust of bread ? No ! none of these time-serving priests are priests of Christianity , which is the religion of humanity . It is because they are not so that their teachings have had the effect of raising in the minds . of those they addressed only brutal ferocity and intolerance , and not a single aspiration for freedom and happiness for the human family .

      _ True religion should inspire the people with a desire to become nobler and better , and determine them to labour for the liberty and enlightenment of their fellow-nien . We believe that no such desire existed in the mind of even one of the actors in the affray at Stockport on Tuesday night . Oniy the basest and foulest passions had a place in their bosoms , aud , naturally , their actions were base and foul as the sentiments by which they were actuated . Had these wretched Protestant fanatics had education , know-Pj that they migllfc have seen their own da-very and desired freedom , the energies which have been directed in so evil a cause might have been enough to have acquired liberty for themselves aud for others

      . As it is these , ignorant and degraded men , who have so much zealous hatred towards another class of fanatics like themselves , would nofc stir a finger to overthrow the tyrannical enemies of the human race , and to ensure the triumph of human freedom . A . change must be wrought before Democracy can finally conquer . I gnorant faction-fighters and the priests of bigotry and intolerance roust give place to priests of the reli gion of Humanity , and soldiers of the cause of the people .

      Uj&Jxjiittal Election. Mu Tj T P00r La-F...

      uj & JXJiittAL ELECTION . mu tj t P 00 R LA-ff REFORM . . /• " * ™ or Law Amendment Act , when introduced into Parliament b y . the Government of the day , was resisted by . the House of Peers . Lord Broughamthen Chancellor—upon his knees implore d the House 5 ' n- ? measure ' > and in this lie was supported by the Bishop of London , according to whose dictum it was to have been a second Reformation . ¦ Eighteen years have passed away , and it is not easy to discover the practical good that has emanated from the establishment of the Poor Law Commission ; although , during that period , the department has cost the Country about two millions of money .. The real grievance at that date was to be found in the Law of Parish Settlement—it remains there still , * And let vm remind you , " says Mr . Disraeli , ' that while the owners and occupiers of land have

      Uj&Jxjiittal Election. Mu Tj T P00r La-F...

      been advised to employ more labour . in , i ^^ tal , their eff orts are restricted £ ! two S . ttore c -:-the very object of which is to rejrie ? tft * K of Labour and Capita ) . Before you eL ati ° a adv 1 Ce , why do you not deal with the Law T * ,, lat ment . lor five yean we have been taunW J . t tUe - employing more labour , when you have " , « hn code in your Statute Book , which present s . k ^ forces us to employ tha least efficient » J ^ lhis is no figure of speech , for it fc a fa ( , to every observer of the operation of the PnnJf 6111 and yet the Commission , with its well-paid ,, *> lawyers ^ have done nothing to suppresJthU ? 0 f The Chancellor of tbe Exchequer ' s reply k \ ' the evil in its mildest form ; for , throng ] h nSf of this law , in the rural districts a control ? 4 ltt , 1 » cised over the labourer ' s wages ; and the hmi . f , eN prietors , to keep down rates , and sustain rent . ?' stroy every cottage upon their estates and * i de " workpeople are forced to reside in -crowded rn J •' crowded villages , and in still more crowded t ^''" and in pestilential places producing mmnJ ) , > [ era , and typhus , at an exbense MHm ^ i . ( 5-

      bouthwooi Smith of e 67 . 744 . 158 annually > L reference to the assistance of the hospitals of tl ut tropolk Combined with this there is tl , I !?" tional fact that this crowding into pestiferous „? f ¦ bourhoods is producing a rapid degradation off " The clearance system , adopted by the fondo ** answers the purpose of tho traders and- maimf ?' rers , who take advantage of this unhealthy sumS ! c labour to reduce the price of wages through tliv petiUan for employment thus brought about -2 when disabled , or no longer useful for tho purnii , profit , an effort is then made to shuffle them offtf the landlords to maintain . Out of this ari « e * Bi ; tion almost endless , and both adopt tho mo « t ro honsiblo means -to frustrate present , and to u £ future , settlements . m

      The plea of incapacity may , but the plea of w ranee will not , serve tho department , for thev 1 . within these few years had the advantage of -t ^ cial commission , with Mr . Gilbert A'Beckelt principal , to inquire into this particular branch 5 the law , and yet no effort has been made to submit to parliament a remedy for so momentous aa evil The plea of incapacity will hardl y rescue th « i from the difficulty , for they have had submitted , ™ propositions to remedy tho disease from pers' 2 whose only object has been to mitigate an evilth-itU frightful beyond exaggeration .

      _ Among the candidates for parliamentary distinc . tion , two appear to have paid some attention to tbia subject , aud it forms part of their address . Quo seeks the representation of the eastern part of the metropolis , and the other is a candidate for Wycombe ; of the two , the latter appeal's to best comprebend the mode of treating the matter , for he says ' I hold it as a sacred principle , that the poverty of the nation- should be relieved by the property of the nation without reference to districts , except hi tbe management . ' Time and circumstances are most favourable for tbe purpose of demanding a remedy to correct tho mischief that this law propagates . The dissolution of parliament sends present members to the busting and the constituencies have the opportunity of hi ' , structing their candidates that their seats will be ' thoae of thorns , until this law is obliterated from tho Statute Book . —Correspondent .

      Toe Association For Promoting The Repeal...

      TOE ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING THE REPEAL OF TBE TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE TO TUB ELECTORS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM . Fellow Covjntk-jmtjn , —In a few days your suffrages will be asked to renew tho term of your Parliamentary Representatives . ¦ Wnilo you demand of your candidates p ' edges for Free Trade and Parliamentary Reform , do not forget that the Palladium of Liberty is the Freedom of the Vms , and that the stamp is to the newspaper what the brasd is to tho slave . Remember that despotism throughout Europe is systematic in loading this safety-valve of nations with penalties , fines , and restrictions .

      In the debate on tho Taxes on Knowledge , the Tory government dared not defend tho stamp by argument ; tho Whig Attorney-General voted for its repeal ; Lord John Russell and Sir James Graham stayed away ; and no nu » tropolitan member voted for its retention , while eleven voted for its abolition . The division on the newspaper stamp gives ( including pairs ) : —

      FOR TUB REPEAL AGAINST . Votes 106 202 . We most earnestly urge all friends of freedom , order , and progress , to vote for no candidate who will not pledge himself to the immediate abolition of the newspaper stamp , and of the advertisement duty . Signed , by order of the Committee , and on their behalf .

      Francis Placb , Treasurer , Temple Lodge , Hammersmith . J . Alfred Novbuo , Sub-Treasurer , G 9 , Deanstreet , Soho . Riciiabd Moobe , Chairman , 25 , Hart-sireef , Bloomsbury , C . Dobsox Collet , Secretary , 20 , Great June 10 . Coram-street , Brunswick-square ,

      The O'Connor Fond. Imilma A Welchman (Ne...

      THE O'CONNOR FOND . IMilMA A Welchman ( Newbridge , Glamorganshire ) 2 s . 61 .

      _ A Ship On Fire.—Southampton, June 30.-...

      _ A Ship on Fire . —Southampton , June 30 .-A singular circumstance has recently taken place at this port . The bark Pollux , Captain Everson , having arrived last week from Baenos Ayres , consigned to Messrs . Twynham and Co ., went up to Redbridge to discharge her freight , which consisted of equal portions of calcined bones and animal guano , the former composing the lower tier of the cargo . On T hursday last the hatches wer e opened , and it was at once ascertained that the ship and cargo were on lire , spontaneous combustion having taken p lace just about the centre of the vessel . " How long tbe fire

      " J had been in progress it was impossible to ascertain . Application was at once made to Mr . StebbtoK , J agent for Phillip ' s fire annihilate ! -, who proceeded w experiment upon the burning maris . After reiieil'e applications of this invention , the lire «' e " " tireiy extinguished bv Monday , but not buforo c » " - sidorablo damage was done to the vesse l , ^ j " * athwart elnp being destroyed , & c Not m <> ro t » il " ten to fifteeen tons of tho cargo have been dama ^ fl , and the ft . vnfln . so nFthe . iimilifhtf . - i r * used hi su » ih » {>

      the conflagration , or rather the smoulderiug ot <•' cargo , is estimated at not more than £ 12 > ° " ' ' j The neighbourhood of Kedbridge was much anw ^ by the highly offensive and noxious effluvia- llV 1 * % from tho burning of the animal substances c' 0 Iltttl " , ^ in the vessel . It may not be generally ^ ll 0 , 5 ' . ^' largo importations of calcined bones and aiiim 1 "' 6 "' from Buenos Ayres are talcing place in SOTt luI"P . for sale as manure . The guano is made iu ^ P 1 ^ of Buenos Ayres from the carcases of catt-e ^ kinds , which , ufter skinning , are burnt , tho hon the . animals being used as . fuel , both the caicm bones and burnt carcases being afterwards sh l P ?

      considerable quantities to Europe as manure . A Ship Sukk at Sua by a Whale . — A « ° " ' 0 ' pondent furnishes us with the following nsl'r ^ L a very extraordinary occurrence : — " 0 n , gt , the English brig Crusader arrived at Coves trom \ Jago de Cuba , aud landed the cap tain an * ow fl the French brig Pauline , Le Chevalier mas ten appears from the statement of thecaptaia that 17 th of last month , whilst on their pass age « om ^ Rico , in longitude 40 . 10 W . of Paris , an ^ ! l at 30 N . j with a cargo of sugar , bound to # * ytfe ] J eleven o'clock a . m ., whilst under easy aau , the a new ship of 400 tons , well built aud fouu « > ^ struck by a monstrous whale on tho bow , *» . damage was bo great that tbe ship filled als 0 rt diately . Finding that nothing could be done »» d Imr «!*» « 0 « f „?„„„ J m « nn « 5 Bf . fnff Of ten && »"

      , a passenger , hoisted out a boat , in which , ai »» ^ . ing away a bag of biscuit and a little waw « i ^ embarked , and in about fifteen minutes art » vessel was struck she sunk . For tare and ni ghts they were tossing about , nw ^ able to reach any ship , but on toe ^ day they were providentially seen oy « . ^ sader , and rescued from their perilous bh d The captain speaks in the highest terms ot » b ; ness and liberality with which they were ) treat ^ all on board the Crusader . No fl e of those 0 have preserved anything , and so they arei ao Egq _ necessaries . The French consul , W . f tuarC , „ li ( ade * has shown his usual kindness and promp '

      providing for : thoir necessities . f .- ««« iof ^ b Exoubuo * to Erpiso Fonm .-The great MJJ 27 tb , first excursion to Epping Forest , on Sunday , - titw tion , j induced tho committee of tho John-street ; iU be «<* give another on Sunday next , July l " » *" io our advertising columns .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 3, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_03071852/page/4/