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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th June 1844, Edition 1 of 1, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHE&N STAR. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1844.
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      Untitled Article

      MEMOBIAX TO THE 1 VOHDS AND COMMONS . BT ROBERT O"WEX , Your Memorialist has devoted woe yean—more fcb . n half a ceDtary—to Investigate and . ascertain what society is , how It bis become what it is , how the evils which it has snffei-ed may be removed , their recurrence j > revented , awl a Tery superior state of human exiitence be established . He has thus been enabled to discover that society , from the beginning commenced in ignorance ; was based on imaginary notions opposed to . facts and to the Jaws of humanity and of nature . That tl » entire snpeataicture of aociety has been wised , step by step , from its base , upon these fundamental errors , and thus has been brought into universal practice a system false , complicated , and contradictory » eystem irrational and destructive of Uie well-being and feappinesa of the human race .,

      Hhrs irrational * j-slfem itself la the first ¦ obstacle to be THtoved , before such changes in principle and practice < a » be accomplished as will ens « re a steady progress towards a very advanced , atate of physical , mental , and « s . oral existence . This obstacle may sow , foe the first time in the fciown history of man , be removed by xn easy , gradual , = and most beneficial reorganisation of aoeiety in principle and practice , —4 reotfamsation that , when adopted , -wDl enme far greater -advaatages ^ o < ctf , of every rack and class , than any individual has experienced , jor than any one cob 'Experience , *• long as this old irrational system shall be aEewed'feo -oontance . It is most gratifying to know that the mease may fce abundantly ¦ found , * r speedily created , in aH « eountries , to « &ct most * dvantageosely for all this « eorgasisatioa .

      On investiga&iD , it will be discovered that r . is now the overwhelanagTsterestof-each individual od the globe , that this reorganisation of society in principle and practice should be effected in the shortest period in -which , with peace , in orders and without injury to individuals , it-can be accomplisked . They are , it may now be demonstrated , removable < anses which perpetuate ignorance , poverty , superstition , division , jeal&usy , revenge , hatred , malice , and all HDchariteHdeneBa , as -well as all other vices and crimes which have been experieaced by society . The tnavsidable lesalt of the erroneous and base construction of society has been to create a long reign or tixese « 7 il&

      Bat tbe last century -of most magnificent isventions and discoveries , physical and mental , has given new and most extraordinary powers to the human race ; powers which , as soon as they shall be generally understood * nd properly applied , will relieve ths population of this and of other countries fron * lt the evils enumerated , and will ensure to W / a state of indlvidaal , xational , and universal prosperity , aocb as the world baa not witnessed , or hitherto conceived to be practicable . But the right application of these inventions and discoveries has sot been made manifest to tbe world ; on tbe contrary , as they progressed , they have been siad * to create tbe most severe suJkring among thote who have lived by the exchangeable valu ^ of their labonr ; a valoe which ha > diminished , is dally diminishing , and must continue to diminish , sntil it will cease to maintain a family of average numbers , in reasonable and beneficial comfort .

      The time has therefore arrived , in the due orfer of nature , -when , for the benefit of all , from necessity , human l&bocr should gradually «* aie to be made an article of commerce , and wh « n thia contest between scientific inanimate power ami manual slavery andaer-TitudB should for ever terminate . Animate power has no adequate means to contrad any longer , successfully , against inanimtte power . And it is bow , to an incalculable txtent , for the interest and happioess of all , of every rank and data . that this unequal contest t&ould , in tbe * bortett time practicable , cease , and rt » t aclsnUlc power be rearranged and made In all countries , to supersede all unhealthy , disagreeable , and severe infant and manual labo-nr , that inanimate forces may thus be made a power for good , and not for evil , asd to ix-come the natural slave and servant of humanity , ii- » ie * d of its master .

      These unreasoning and noconscioni forces on now 10 onwisely applied , as to be made to enrich the few , and train them , most injuriously far themselves , to become tyrants to overwhelm , and oppreas the many ,-contrary to tbe permanent interest and highest happiness of both the few and many . To give a wise direction to these unfeeling Inanimate forces , will be now tbe first means to emancipate tbe , world from ignorance , ain , and misery ; and to remove the neceaity for man longer to " tat his bread by the ; iweat of his brow . " By this mode of action , the whale system of present . society will gradually cease , and be ultimately abandoned over the world . : Pint principles in accordance with tbe ascertained j laws of nature will be adopted , and practice- consistent ; with them will become universal .

      This change , in directing the action of Inanimate forces , win require a reorganisation and ltkotis ! ruction of society in all its divisions , and a reforming of the fcnnmn chancier from birth to death . To unite mankind in one interest for the benefit of all , this change is now required ; for , through tbe progress of railways , steam navigation , the Bible Society , and the general extension ol the power of the more civilised nations ever the less , and tbe rapid spread of tbe former over the world , the period approaches to effect this great improvement for humanity , without individual , sectional , or national contest The uuion of the aix great nations could sow accomplish it ; and it u the interest of thtie powers now to form this union for a purpose so lastingly important to themselves and to the

      world . It is their interest , because 1 st . Society is sow based on error , destructive cf the rationality of the popalatien of the world . 2 nd . These powers may iu peace and order change this j base , and found society on truths that will ensure ' the well-being and happlaeu of the human race [ through all succeeding generations . ; 3 rd . The materials to effect , by union , universal pros- ! perity and happiness Buperabound . „ j 4 th- Society is now conducted on principles of division ' aad repulsion . 5 th- It may with much more etse , safety , and economy be conducted on principles of union and attraction , i 6 : h- Jt u nous , beyond all comparison , for the interest of all governments and people , thai the principle of 4 te . union should be abandoned , cu . d the principle of union adopted for the general govern went of tocieip . '

      7 th . The change from Use fundamental false to the fundamental true principles , from the most injurious in practice to the most beneficial , may be cow gradually effected with ease , harmony and pera&Lent advantage to all . Your Memorialist therefore prays that your [ R 5 ghi ] Son . Herase -will appoint persons tmcient in mmd ana experience to investigate thoroughly these , all-important subjects , in order thai , ibould such examination prove , as stated by your memorialist to be true , which be engages to demonstrate , national measures may be adopted to obtain their advantages for the benefit of the Government and people ; or that yonr fSighi ] Hon . Bouse wfll egect tfcisobject by Bome other betttr mode ; and your memorialist 'Will ever pr&y Robert Ow £ > -. Harmony Hall , Hants , May 31 , 1 S 44 .

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      IRELAXD—REPEAL ASSOCIATIO ' - The usual weekly meeting of the members of tbe Bepeal Association toek place on Monday , in the Coiiciliation-kiD , which was crowded to excess in « very part . . Lord -F / reneh , Sir Valentine Blike , M . P .. Mr . H . Grattan , II P ., ard Mr . Smith O'Brien , M . P ., entered the meeting shortly before the proceedings commenced , and were received with loud cheers . Lord FTBXSCH having been called to tbe chair , saia that since he last attended a meeting in Conciliationhall a tempest of sorrow bad burst upon tbeir hearts , and the entire nation had been plunged is to mourninsr . The mighty Moderator of the public counsels was selected by Government as the victim of prosecution , and had been Menaced to the insatiable vengeance of an infuriate faction , whose distinguishing characteristic

      was invetetate hatred ef Ireland , lriah interests , and in tct , everything Irish . ( Cbeen . ) What Irishmau could behold unmoved rath a spectacle aa the incarceration of hiat , who Lit half a century had devoted tbe power * of his giganOe mind to the tmeiioraiicn of Fatheriand , which for centuries previonjlyibad groaned beneath the iren hoof of alien domination ? > Chteiz ) After » ome farther remarks , in a similar atraiB , npon Mr . ^) 'Gonnella imprisonment , his Loidnhip stated that be had come up to town for the sole purpose of presenting " the Liberator" aod his fellow-martyrs with two addresses Irom paruhes in his county , the inhabitanta-ef which wbm bjilicg with indignation at O Consell ' s up j art and unmerited conviction , and had received , " come weal , come wo , " that on their paru there should be so shrinking . ( Loud cheert . >

      Mz . W . S . O'BBJEX announced tbe receipt of snms of money from variouj parts of the country , including £ 6 Q from Kilkenny , £ 50 from Livetpool , asd £ 40 from Tipperary . ilt D , O'COSXBLL , jun ., stated than he had received from Sew Jersey , £ 76 , and from Glasgow £ 35 . Be aUo Jead a letter from Lord Stourton , encloiing * miacription of £ 1 . Mr . DoHEXi Landed in . £ 131 from Tipperary , and the Bev . Mr . Roche £ 51 from Galway . Mr . H . GBATTjklf , MJ > ., hiving given In a subscription of £ s , proceeded to address Uie meeting . He egged to « » ate to them , that on his way to meet ttem

      , he had paa&ed through London , and by design Jiad abstained from aatering the Honae of Commons . EngUabmeo woaJd p «* ably say . that after the respect vhldi they bad paid to the memory of his father , it TO bad TttuBi that the son should neglect bis duty on a debate important to their interest . He bad met many Englishmen daring bis travels whom be rejpected and loved , sad be would always love . Englishden in the same degree that they loved his country . men ; but be would also bale them when they displayed a hatred of Irishmen , and tbongh they bad tbe boon of bis lather , they should sere ? have those of tbe jos—{ cbeen } . He held is hi * band an English journal in which tbe moat abodouj abnie of bis fellow cous .

      trymen was resetted to , axd be wished publicly to proclaim tkatrolong aa sneb language was used , ABdso long as EngUsbmen persiited in coontenancing it , so Jopf wouJdJfce eonfciBM to bftte them , Tbe Hon .

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      Gentleman them proceeded \ q argue &t considerable length that the Irish peoplp , neither vrere nor deserved to be called "savages , " and stated thai the abusive language to which be J- ^ ad referred was one or tfee reasons which indnct-j his determination to absent himself from what were called his dntiai In Parliament . Another ' r eason -was that tbe House of Commons bad pasv ^ tbs Irish Arms Act , and he pledged himself that ^ hi le he lived no Englishmen ahouH brand either bimaelf or his arms . They woald rue tbe day when they called bis countrymen •¦ « avages , " and they wo- jia make them rae the day they branded their anns-. ioad cheers ) . He had locked » p in a ehest , in an P . ogtish county , tbe arms which bis father carried in 177 j 2 , « od had transmitted to him , accempaning them 7 . ith a note in tbe following terms : — "These are the arroa til Henry Grattan , placed here because an English Goversmeiit directed a brand to be placed on them—never .

      HeHRY ^ E 4 TTAN . " ? ot these reasons alone , bis intention—firm aa if be had tsfcen an oath—was tfart he voald never enter tbe House of Commons unless driven there by the injunctions of his constitaeota . Tbe Hon . < GeBtleman then proceeded to comment on the proceeding * of the late State trials , and concluded by assuring tbe meeting , that although be might lie in his cold grave , although his property might be destroyed , and bis ¦ children forced to dig for tbeir bread , be woald never abate his hostility to that British injustice , or relax bis efforts to obtain a domestic legislature . Mr . Smith O'Beiex banded is several sums of money , and said that tbe address to the Liberator , agreed npon at the last meeting , was presented to him on Saturday last , asd aa it was his friend Mr . M'Nevin that prepared that address , it became bis duty to read it Mr . WNeoin would now detail tbe manner in which Mr . O'Connell had received it

      Mr . 1 . M'Nevin ( barrister ) then nae , aod delivered a most emphatio speech , and concluded by handing in several contributions . Mr . Dim EL O'Cokkell , Jan ., rose and said that Mr . O'Connell and bis fellow prisoners felt exceedingly happy , because they felt that they had performed tbeir duty , and were confident that tbe best results would assuredly follow frem their incarceration . They were happy , because tbe people maintained the peace , and deported themselves is a manner that was most creditable . He would give notice that on tbe next day

      of meeting be would move that a sub-committee be appointed to report tbe exertions made by each parish during the present year , and contrast them with those of the lut . All his father required was that every man would do his duty . Henceforth there should be no neutrality . Every one that did not join tbe association should be ranked amongst their enemies—( loud cheers ) . He then congratulated the meeting on the magnificent display which had taken place on that day , and on the vast increase of tbe fond , and concluded by expressing bis conviction that there was no hope aave in their own exertions—( cheers ) .

      A great number of large sums of money was announced to have been received from the wards of the city of Dublin , and various localities throughout the country . Mr . Smith O'Bkiek read an address from tbe Complete Suffrage Union at the ptople of England , signed " Joseph Sturge , " and expressing Indignation at the Imprisonment ol O'Coanell , and moved that h be referred to tbe committee of the Association to prepare a suitable reply . The Hon . Gentleman said that be could assure them that his feelings regarding bis pretent situation were those of unbounded exultation . It was now whispered through town that tbe Government , sot content with imprisoning OConnell , intended to prevent tbe Association from meeting in that Hal ] by laming a proclamation against it—( cream ) Although it was rather unusual to do so , be would open a part of the tactics of tbe Associa tion , »> . <} he told tbeir enemies that it was tbe determination of the committee of the Association

      to try toe legality of such a proceeding by an appeal to a jury of their fellow-countrymen , by way of civil action , and also by way of defence to any criminal proceedings against them—iloud cheers ) . In tbe event of a proclamation being issued against the Association , then intention was to call a meeting of It , and be begged that he might bo permitted to take tb * chair on that occasion—threat cheering ) . Tbe Hon . Gentleman then proceeded U impress upon bis auditory tbe necessity of preserving tbe peace , whatever measures tbe Government might choose to take against their frieada . The total amount of contributions on tbe " second week ef tbe captivity" was announced to be £ 3 , 20 .

      The Northe&N Star. Saturday, June 13, 1844.

      THE NORTHE&N STAR . SATURDAY , JUNE 13 , 1844 .

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      DANIEL O'CONNELL . It appears then that the Blidiog-scale torturing system practised towards the native Irish by the foreign invaders , since they £ r * t set foot upon that green soil , and relied upon by her present oppressors as the preparatory mode of reconciling them to death itself , has failed in its last attempt . English tyranny , like all other tyranny , requires to be progressive rather than prompt . The minds of the sufferers are gradually prepared by a systematic course of insult , disregard , and oppression for any fatal blow which the English Executive , —for law is

      a farce , —contemplates striking at public liberty . The sufferers in all previous contests have discovered the truth of the assertion , that there is but a step between the dungeon and the grave . And perhaps there is no indirect means by which Mr . O'Connell ' s pofver and the improvement of the Irish mind can be better tested than by the fact , that though willing to strike the blow at once , or according to old ' 9 t practice , to murder first and try after , yet has the u strong government" been compelled , in Us last onslaught against the Irish people , te abandon a portion of its ' 98 hasty practice , — not from an increased respect for law , but

      from an improved dread of pabho opinion-And jet , notwithstanding this improvem « nt upon the old system , and notwithstanding all the preliminary preparations resorted to to prepare Ireland for *• thb heavj blow and deep discouragement" meditated against her liberty , there is evinced in the present state of feeling a something which proves , that Ireland thongh long oppressed is not yet ungrateful ; though Eilent is not unthoughtful ; though submissive . i 3 yet uncoBqucred . Let the " strong government ' boast as it may , let its organs revile as they will , we tell them that the present tranquillity of Ireland bespeaks a coming change , though , unlike &Z 1 other ch&OgeS in that country , not preceded by a storm .

      The valour of the Irish in 1798 , 1 tough praise * worthy and commendable , —distinguishing them for endurance , self-denial , and heroism , waB deficient of that discretion which , in 1844 , has rendered them ucconquerable ; and a perseverance in which will , ere long , make her present oppressors suppliants for mercy at her door . We rejoice to think that the injustice practised against Mr .

      O'Con . nell is more than a nine days' wonder ; and however the people were supposed to be prepared for the blow—continued through all its progressive stages with bo much subtle ingenuity of legal quirks and quibbles—that nevertheless its infliction has not bees the less sensitively felt by the whole nation . " The blood of the martyr is the seed of the Church : " the tears of Ireland will be the seed of her nationality .

      No one will suspect us of any desire to laud Mr . O'CoxNELi beyond what his immediate position warrants . We have remonstrated with him—we have denounced him , as we differed from him or found cause to censure his policy . We nevertheless tendered him our support in his every struggle for Irish liberty ; and we required no further test of his devotion to tbe cause of Repeal , than that which his oppressors have now established , namely , bis determination to fight Ireland ' s battle , though on bis back , against her bludgeon oppressors .

      We can now proudly advert to the pages of the Xorihem Star ^ from tbe commencement of the strug&le for Irish liberty in 1840 , to the termination of the campaign of 1844 ; and by reference to our columns the reader must confess that our expressed desire bas been so to strengthen Mr . O'Cossell as to preclude the possibility of retreat . We then , in conjunction with the English people , having taunted him for what we considered unnecessary delaj and timid policy , and having conduced to that strength and power which

      made him an object of terror , dread , and ultimate persecution , are we , and are tbe English people to fall so low in tbe scale of public estimation as to render ourselves justly chargeable with the crime of having aided the Government in his destruction ! Shall it be said that our support was delusive t That it lured him into a position which otherwise he would not hare felt himself warranted in assuming ! And hiring placed him there , shall we now begin to fight the old squabbles over again , and strengthen the bands of his and our oppressors bj a continuance of those divisions and dissensions which we have bo often deplored , and by which aJone our masters are enabled to be our tyrants ? When we

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      appealed to Scotland against the damnable Poor Law Amendment Act , —a measure unknown to that country , —t ' ue best and wisest of her politicians supported our objections upon the wise , the just , and the proper grounds that the English people were unanimously opposed to its provisions . Let us then assume the philosophy of the ** Scot , " and say , that Ireland has to a man , that is , to an Irishman , registered his protest against the persecution of O'Comhell : and like the * ' Scot" let us join the Irish in their opposition te its continuance .

      The oorse of the Movement Party in every country has been , its inaptaess for union , or its disinclination te seize upon the oppressor ' s weakness for its own advancement . Instead of making common cause with all who are oppressed , Democrats resort to sectional disputes and quarrels as to the policy of the accused ; whereas the very fact of being accused , aad especially of what the law calls sedition and conspiracy , should ensure for them the sympathy and support of all who abhor those constructive modes of silencing just complaint . Mr . O'Conneix is beloved by the Irish nation ; aad the English

      people have now an opportunity of convincing their Irish brethren that in their oppression they perceive their own degradation . The Whigs have deserted O'CoJWEiL . Shall we follow the example of such a faction ! They oheered him while they yet hoped to use him : they now desert him when his countenance can no longer prop their hopeless cause . Duncohbb alone had the manliness to stand by him , not only as a sympathiser , but as a supporter ; while Russell sympathised , but would not countenance his policy . Neither has

      Duncovts deserted him in his prison . He was the first to move in his behalf in the House of Commons , and the first to appeal , not to public sympathy , but to public opinion , on his behalf . A requisition is now in course of signature , to be presented to the High Bailiff of Westminster , to call a publio meeting ; announcement of which , should the appeal be successful , will be made in due time , and to which no further invitation will be required than the assurance and the conviotion upon each man ' s mind that the necessity of the case demands a bold and unreserved expression of public opinion .

      Attempts hare been made to direct our attention to some of our former differences with Mr . O'Goicnkll ; but we beed them not . We repudiate that old and fatal policy of strengthening our oppressors ' hands by recollection of our own dissensions . Again we say it is enough for us that O'Coknell has been partially tried , uvjustly convicted , and brutally sentenced ; that he has fought the battle of Ireland without flinching ; that he is in the oppressors' bands ; that we and the English people invitdd him—nay , taunted him into his present position ; and that to desert him would be a crime in which we should blush to participate . Nay , more , although we clearly saw tho effect likely to be produced

      by the enthusiastio writings of over zealous parties in the [ Nation newspaper , and although we early pointed out ths effect that those writings would be likely to hare upon Mr . O'Connell himself , baring rather applauded than denounced them at tbe time—knowing that those soul-stirring appeals were requisite , as they were intended to rouse the slumbering energies of Irishmen to a sense of their too-long-acquiesced-in degradation , we cannot , under such circumstances , too much despise and pity that policy of a portion of the Irish press which would now , when too late , stamp upon Mr . Duffy , a sufferer himself , the odium of having injured the cause , by " pushing Mr . O'Connell on to das-GKfi . "

      The glory of the Irish nation should be , that Mb . O'Coknbll at Mallow , at Tara , and at Mullaghmast , assumed that position upon which the Nation wrote : and that the inspiriting appeals in that paper were rather a consequence ot Mb . O'Connell ' s heroism , than the cause of his danger , or of his imprisonment . We deny the aspenions sought to be cast by the Pilot upon the conductors of the Nation ; and , having justified tbeir productions when written , we should hold ourselves to be culpable and poor of spirit , were we now , that an unsought-for result has followed , to turn round and denounce them .

      We tinst that the Irish people will not allow O'Comeix to be shorn of the spirit and the honour of those soul-stirring articles produced by his own declarations of defianoe , and that the Pilot will not forsake the boat , or cause a mutiny in the crew ; while we also trust that the English people will rally to that appeal shortly to be made to them by the Honourable Member for Finsbury , the defender of the oppressed , and the champion of the persecuted of all nations .

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      VISIT OF THE RUSSIAN DESPOT . PROTEST OF THE DEMOCRACY . " He who oppresses one nation alone is the declared enemy of alL Those who make war on a people , to arrest the progress ef liberty , and to annihilate tbe rights of man , ought to be pursued everywhere , not m ordinary persoos , but as assassins and brigand rebels . " Fbekch Declaration ot Bights .

      That "misfortunes never come singly" is what every one is aware ofi and considering those " royal pests" called kings , in the light of calamities inflicted upon mankind in punishment for the almost universal sin of self-abasement , we may fairly conclude that at the present time the old adage is as true as ever , when we find no less than three of these * ' royal pe § ts" in this country at one and the same time , namely , the Emperor of Russia , the King of Saxony , and the Crown Prince of Denmark ; with the delightful prospect of a speedy visit from a fourth , in the person of the "King of the Barricades . " Verily it " never rains but it pours !"

      Press of matter prevented us last week even noticing these " royal arrivals . " The omission , we dare say , did not greatly disappoint our readers * The doings in Parliament , particularly the able advocacy of Labours' rights in that arena by that untiring champion of the Demooracy , the Hon . Member for Finsbury ; the reports of th « "Duncombs Testimonial Meeting , " and that of the Trades of London , to hear the manifesto of the suffering

      Minersof the North , would , we doubt not , be considered by our readers , as by us , of much more importance than an account of tbe movements of the Northern Despot . Whenerer we shall be able to find room for a Court Circular in our columns , we will take care to duly notify to our readers how often , daily , th « Queen sneezes , and her " Illustrious Consort , " blows his nose ! At present we . cannot afford room for such important intelligence .

      But it is well that we should place on record in our columns the visit of the Imperial desolator , characterised as that visit bas been by the base sycophancy of the Aristocracy and the Press on the one hand , and the manly indignation of the virtuous portion of the people on the other . We do not propose in this article to chronicle all the doings of his Imperialship . Enough that he passed with all the speed of a courier , and all the

      Btealthiuesa of a robber , unknown and unseen , through tbe states of Europe ; landing at Woolwich at an hour when honest folks were in their beds ; his oDly welcomen a body of that precious fraternity , tbe Metropolitan Police . ' He arrived in the Cyclops [ ohain-forger JJ attended by the Cerberut [ Hell ' s watch-dog . <] . Punch says these steamers were doubtless selected on account of their names , to please the dainty taste of the Autocrat !

      Tbe next morning Prince Albert arrived to pay his reapeots , when but we must rescue from oblivion the following choice morsel : — " His Imperial Majesty was in the act of descending to receive bis Royal Highness , when both tbe illustrious peisonagea met on tbe grand staircase . Their meeting was of the most affectionate and cordial character Tbe Emperor threw bis arms round the neck cf the Prince Consort , and embraced him fervently , Prince Albert returning tbe salute with great apparent feeling . " With M great apparent feeling" ] Who would not feel in the hug of a bear ? After this most royally " affectionate meeting , " Nicholas proceeded to the chapel of the Russian embassy , where " divine service" was performed by the Rev , Mr . Popoep ( most

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      appropriate name !) . Your true monarch is always religioasl The greater the number of his victories and . conquests , t . e . butcheries and robberies ^ the greater , usually , his piety . Witness the " good old km «"; tho "Bible-loving * ' Georgk lit ., than

      whomr" A worse king never left a realm undone !" To make a long story short , the Autocrat tspent one day examining the shops in Regent-street and Waterloo-place , another at Virginia Water , two days on Ascot Heath , one evening at the Opera , and a forenoon at the Lilliputian review of the Guards . To which should be added a call at Apsley House , a private visit to the United Servioe Club , and attendance at the Duke of Devonshire ' s fete at Chis wick . He finally took his departure on Sunday ereningi never , we hope , to return to this country .

      The vile daily papers are in ecstaoies with what they are pleased to denominate the " Imperial munificence" of the royal robber . First , he bought £ 500 worth of applause at Ascot , by founding an annual prize for the races . The Examiner wittily remarks : " In other ages and countries great men built monasteries or erected monuments . The Czab thinks the race-course the most vital and durable foundation for a monument in England . At least it will last as long as the Aristocracy , he may think ; and he does not desire it to last longer . " Since , however , these remarks of the Examiner were

      penned , it comes out that Nicholas has subscribed large sums for tho completion both of the Nelson Monument , and the statue in course of preparation in honour of the Duke of Wellington . Now supposing these " heroes " to be worthy of monumental honours , in that case it is most disgraceful to the country that these monuments should be indebted for their completion to the "munificence" of a foreigner . " They manage these things better in France" ! But , the country we at once acquit of the charge of ingratitude . The country has reaped nothing but slavery , misery , and sorrow , as the

      fruits of the " glorious victories" of Nelson and Wellington . The Sun ia most indignant that Englishmen "should permit a Russian Emperor , the representative of the despotic principle in Eurepe , to furnish that subscription which it should hare been their pride to hare furnished themselves unhesitatingly months since . " We can see little objection to Nicholas ' s subscription on the ground of him being " tbe representative of the despotic principle ; " for Nelson aod Wellington were representatires of the self-same principle ; and their monuments are mouuments in honour and

      commemoration of the bloodiest struggle Europe has ever yet witnessed to prop up despotism and prevent the march of liberty . We grant that the wretched meanness of the Church , the Aristocracy , the Gentry , and in short the " life-and-fortune " -men gentrally , has been moat glaring , and to them most disgraceful . The bloody Anti-Gallioan wars and " glorious victories , " were undertaken and won not for the benefit of the masses—( for their share Bee £ 50 , 000 , 000 taxation and almost universal pauperism)—but for the Aristooraoy ; to preserte

      to them " rank , property , and tbe blessed comforts op reliuion" ! And this is their gratitude ! ** They would , " eaye the Sun , " far rather squander ten or twenty pounds on an Opera box , to get a peep at a real Russian Autocrat , than giro tho smallest fraction to complete the Nelson otlumn . " And " these be thy Gods O Israel ! " The patrons of Ascot and Newmarket , of Almack ' s and Crockford ' s ; the " oldest and wealthiest Aristocracy in Europe ! " Faugh ! H * vr one ' s gorge rises to think that such— such heartless , soulless , selfish Sybarites are the tramplers of millions of bearded men I

      The despot lavished his snuff-boxes , diamondrings , and money upon the officers of the " royal household , " servants , and police-chiefs ; and doubtless these parties will be in ectaciea with the Autocrat . It must be a pleasing reflection to Nicholas , that if he is popular with no other class in thia country , he , at any rate , enjoys popularity with the flunkies of the palace , the black-legs of Asoot , and the bludgeon-men of the London police force . He bought their good-t * Ul . and has a right to enjoy it .

      Among other donations , the autocrat gare one thousand guineas to the " Society for the Relief of Foreigners in Distress . " Curious ! But the English public will not forget that this man has by his barbarous'wars and fiendish expatriations , created a greater number of " Foreigners in Distress , " than any other man , monster , or devil existing . There are some thousands of expatriated Poles in this country whoso distress has been solely caused by the Czar . ; For their relief , £ 10 , 000 is voted annually by Parliament ; besides whioh , balls and subscriptions hare to be annually got up for the support of these victims of the Imperial " sympathiser . "

      One item of the Imperial donations would seem at first Bight to be a redeeming feature in the Ccar ' s character : that of 200 guineas to the poor of St . George ' s parish . But we would ask , to what cause do we owe the existence of the poor of St . George ' s Parish , and the poor of the country at large , of whioh the poor of that parish are but a fraction ! To tho exexistence of such men as the Czar and his sycophantic admirers . But for Royalty and Aristooraoy , and the other curses forming part and parcel of the existing system , poverty would be unknown ; and the sympathy of those who rob the masses , and then 10 turn them a fraction of the plunder in tbe guise of charily would be unrequired .

      One word more . Dicit Turpin was exceedingly chivalrous in his way . " He took from the rich and gave to the poor . " Turpin only robbed individuals ; and generally those who were comparatively well to do . Nicholas haa plundered on a large scale ; robbed and despoiled whole nations : but " Charity covereth a multitude of sins" ; and Nicholas , having the plunder of nations at his command ; does the generous , by giving two hundred

      guineas to the poor of St . George ' s Parish ! Instead of planting his pi 9 tol at the breast of one individual , as did Turpin , Nicholas slaughters myriads , and covers entire cities and countries with carnage and lame . The robber on a small scale , though he was quite as generous , and a great deal more chivalrous , was execrated as a highwayman , and finished bis career by swinging on a gallows . The wholesale Bpoliator is followed by crowds of syoophants , and hailed as the " Imperial" and the " Munifioent" !

      : " One murder makes the villain ; Millions the hero . Princes are privileged to kill ; And numbers sanctify the orime !" It has long been our opinion , that of all the resources at the command of despotism , the Press i the most infamous , and is the greatest retarder of the freedom and happiness of the human race . In this sweeping denunciation we , of course , do not include all . There are honourable exceptions ;

      but these , like " angels' risitB , " are " few and . far between . " In the present instance , the corruption and sycophancy of the daily journals has been most unblushing and disgusting . Among the weekly papers there have been several who hare refused to " bow to Baal ; " foremost among which conspicuously appear the ft eekly Dispatch , the Examiner , the Dublin Monitor , World , Nation , # e . It is with much pleasure we piy this just tribute to the consistency of our contemporaries .

      As specimens of the baseness of the press we select tho Times , Morning Chroniclet and Sun , Only a very few weeks since , the Times , in commenting on the edict of the King of Prussia , for tho expulsion of the Polish refugees from the Grand Duchy of Posen , thus spoke of its present pet , the Czab , at whose instigation it was supposed the Prussian King had published his monstrouB edict : — " He ( the Autocrat ) ia inaccessible alike to public

      fame and to conscience , for if he felt what the world says and what history will record ' of'him , Despotismitself would quail under the burden of such m censure . Tho King of Prussia was received in tbla country as the respected Sovereign of a great people ; but when it was erroneously inferred , from the unmeaning courtesy of an after-dinner speech , that the Emperor of Russia might extend bia travela to this kingdom , men shrank from a presence which combines the worst characteristics of violence and Of cunning . " And yet , on the Czar ' s arrival inHtbis country , column after column of the Times was filled with

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      tho doings of this B&me incarnation " of violence and of cunning , " dished up with flattery the most base and servile , at the same time opening its columns to the vilest calumnies against the Poles . The Morning Chronicle , —its patrons being out of office , —is of course almost daily occupied in picking holes in Lord Aberdeen's foreign policy , and everlastingly denouncing the aggressive designs of the Russian Government , and the tyranny and cruelties of the

      Autocrat ; though , when in office , the Whigs were ever " cheek by jowl" with this same Northern Bear ! Well , after ; the daily outpourings of Russophobia by Lord Palhebston ' s tool ( some say Lord Palmerston himself . ')—Nicholas arrives in this country , and forthwith this blessed "bottle conjuror" veers round ? from south to north after the most approred "Jim Crow" fashion . Hear the old hack commending the " illustrious" visitor to English hospitality : —

      " Such a spontaneous visit is a compliment to ths Queen , and on this ground the illustrious visitor deserves a hospitable reception . '' 1 And then he goes * on to to tell his readers that a large party in Franca don't like us—( the last Whig " Holy Alliance" treaty , is to be thanked for that)—and , therefore , we must not sacrifice the friendship of Russia ! But by far the most disgusting abasement hss

      been exhibited by the ultra-liberal Sun . This paper has prided itself on being the patron of the Poles and all who hare been objects of the Czar ' s persecutions . But on the arrival of the" monster , " as the Sun has often styled the " handsome'' Nicholas , the Sun immediately withdrew his patronising rays from the poor Poles to shed them upon the " Imperial Potentate" who had been so long the object of its denunciation . In an article of the 3 rd met ., the writer says : — ;

      ' * Future historians , when alluding to tbe reign of Qaeen Yictoria—which God grant may be a long and happy one!—will not fail to notice , with becoming exultation , the fact that it was a reign distinguished far beyond any of the preceding ones by the frank , unhesitating confidence , and a generous spirit of cordiality evinced by tbe Sovereign towards all her European allies . " i And then after the usual cant about " a young and beautiful woman , "' the writer proceeds : —

      " To this praise—and when rightly considered , it is praise of a very high order—Queen Tictorla is most justly entitled ; and it may be accorded to her by the most ultra-Radical journal , even by tbe Northern Star itself , without incurring that suspicion of hollew flattery which so often taints any reference that may be made to the sayings and doings of crowned beads . " f The allusion to the Northern Star is signally unfortunate . If Queen Victoria waits for our " flattery , " it will be a long time before praise from this quarter will be likely to turn the royal head of the " young and beautiful . " True , we hare never indulged in vituperation of Her Majesty , although our feelings upon more occasions than one hare been tortured by the exercise of the "royal prerogative " :

      when for instance felons ivrere eet free , and mercy refused to John Frost ; when ft Mart Fubxet was first driven to madness , tortured with the eight of the dangling halter , and finally ** mercifully "—( Heaven and Earth !)—doomed to seren years transportation . Even at such times we hare distinguished between the Sovereign and her advisers : and while toward ! the latter we hare naturally entertained feelings which neither tongue nor pen can do full justice ! to , toward the former we hare hare been most respectfully silent , regarding her in no worse light than that of being ignorant of , or indifferent to , the sufferings her Ministers inflicted , or refused ] to alleviate . We tell the Sun that the Demooracy of this country hare quite made up their minds as to the value of the Monarcial Institution .

      On the announcement of the intended meeting in the National Hall , to protest against the reception of Nicholas , the Sun had an article imploring the Poles to " avoid everything like insult to the Autocrat'' while the guest of this great nation : " adding : — i " We , therefore , trust that no hostile demonstration will be made on the occasion , and that at all events the friends of Polanjd will respect the feelings of our gracious and beloved Sovereign , who , under the present peculiar circumstance * , would be greatly distressed bf any insult offered to her Royal Guest . "

      Let us ask the £ «» whether " our gracious and beloved Sovereign" has shown respect for tbe u feelings" of the people of this country in welcoming the Autocrat 1 Whether the " feelings" of tho many are not to be consulted before those of an individual f But we will convioi the Sun of gross debasement , if not downright ; corruption , out of its own mouth . ' Only a few weeks ago , in commenting on the persecution of the j Jews , the Sun thus described the " Royal Guest , * ' for whose . kindly treatment the Editor in the above articles appears so exceedingly

      : — " We always knew that Nicholas was a tyrant—a- systematic , remorseless tyrant , utterly regardless of the claims of humanity , when those claims interfered with any favourite project f * * * . * We could understand bis policy , mncb as we abhorred It , when he sacrificed Poles by thousands to his lust of arbitrary , irresponsible power ; tore the mother from the son , the wife from the husband , and heaped up , like another Tamerlane , but without his intellect , a pyramid of corpses on the highway as an awful monument of his Imperial vengeance * * But this persecution of the Jews seems to ts the most suicidal act of atrocity ever perpetrated even by a Russian despot . " :

      Now mark what follows ; the conclusion of the same article : — " Meantime , we trust that our brave and generous countrymen , always the advocates of the oppressed , will not fail tj mark their sense of the atrocious conduct pursued by Nicholas towards the Jews . We trust that they will forthwith hold public meetings on the subject , and at these meetings 1 evprtis their senliTnents of disgust and abhorrence in the strongest terms ( hat the English I mguage alloics . A tyrant , even though he be a Russian tyrant , and call himself Nicholas , must not be permitted to trample on the laws of justice and humanity with impunity . "

      Pretty well that ! for the denunciator and burker of the Holborn Hall meeting ! But this is not all . A short time ago , the Sun was commenting on the war of extermination waged by Russia against , the heroio Circassians ; and in allusion to a report that the EMPEROR was about to take the field in person against the gallant Mountaineers , the Editor said : — " Most devoutly do we hope that this new campaign may have as inglorious a termination as its predecessors ; and should a random or well-directed shot chance lo pick off Nicholas jhi msel /—that celebrated warrior , whose military prowess at reviews and on parade is 89 remarkable—we j are by no means persuaded . that our grief for the loss of so renowned a hero would be either deep or lasting . We should instantly think of Poland , and that thought would enable us to receive'the tidings of his death with true philosophical resignation . "

      Had the loyal royal Sun no thought of his young and beautiful" Queen , whose "feelings" would doubtless hare been sorely "distressed , " had the royal eye happened to hare seen the above allbut-pious wish ofi the patriotio Editor , that the " warrior" of " reriewB" and " parades" might be " picked off" by a well-directed shot from feome gallant Circassian ?! And this is tlTe writer who snirels over the " personal abuse" directed against the amiable Nicholas by exiled Poles and English Democrats ! Sa , idj we not right , when we characterised those quill-driving prostitutes as the veriest lick-spittles of tyrants—the worst . enemies of tbe rights of man 1 <

      "O Heaven ! that such companions thou'dst unfold , And put in every honeat hand a whip To lash tbe rascals naked through the world !" Notwithstanding the efforts of the subservient press , the reception the Autocrat met with , must hare been to him . anything but gratifying . True , he had his mobs who shouted and cheered as usual : but whs were these anti-English sycophants ! " There is in all countries , " s ays Paine , a rabble . A rabble of the aristooraoy as well as of the

      working classes . " It was chiefly the former rabble , with whom no doubt was mixed some of the latter who . cheered the } " Imperial visitor . " At Ascot , according to the correspondent of the Northampton Herald , a red-hot ; Tory paper , and with whom , therefore the Autocrat is a sort of demi-god , the cheering was not very enthusiastic . But hear the correspondent ' s reason for this : — " Gentlemen seldom cheer like a mob ; and the Tuesday ' s assemblage was rather that of gentlemen than of any other sort "!

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      Right heartily are we thankful that the 1 " mob" of betting blackguards at Ascot were chiefly " gentle men . '" May none but sich " gentlemen" ever follow in the train of " Imperial" despots ! It appears , howerer , that when the Autocrat ' s donation of £ 500 became known , the aristocratic rabble became much more noisy in their demonstrations of affection . " Birds of a feather will flock together "; and it waa quite meet and proper that the blood-drinking saglb of Russia should mate with those finished pigeonpluckers , the Sir Mulberry Hawks of Ascot race course I

      We have neither space nor patience to wade through , and reiterate in detail , the unmatchablo crimes which this tyrant , worse than N&bo or Caligula , has committed , or caused to be perpetrated . Enough that we briefly remind our readers , that by butcheries and cruelties unparalleled , ho effected the subjugation of unhappy Poland ; and when he had massacred , tortured , and expatriated her bravest sons and defenders , and extinguished every vestige of freedom , amid the silence of destruction , he proclaimed , that " order reigns at

      Warsaw" ! That not satisfied with his brutal conquest over a brave people , he has since sought to extinguish tbeir name and blot onfc their memory . By his despotic edicts he has closed the Univeritics of Poland , abolished her schools—forbidden her language—destroyed her religion—commanded that her children should bo brought up in thai faith which makes the Emperor equal with God ! and enforces his horrible mandates with the knout , with death , or banishment to the mines of Siberia !

      He has pursued with vengeful cruelty every brave spirit , who , seeking the elevation of his brethren , has dared to strive against his despotism . Torture , lingering captivity in grated cells , banishment and death ; women publicly flogged and tortured to death for favouring the escape of their relatives ; thousands of virtuous females forced from their parents and banded over to gratify 'the lust of his soldiers : —black atrocities like these form bat a small portion of the catalogue of his iniquities .

      For the " Protest of the Democracy , " we refer our readers to the report of the glorious meeting holden in the National Hall , Holborn , whioh will be found in our sixth ' page . Honour to tbe men of London ! They deserve the thanks { of the entire country for their gallant stand for the honour of England against that disgrace which the doings of a worn-out Aristocracy , and a corrupt hireling Press would hare inflicted on ' our fatherland . If the Democracy of England are as yet denied the rights and franchises of freemen , they are not willing slaves . If as yet they cannot prevent the pollution of our shores by the visits of such purple-clad monsters as Nicholas of Russia , they may protest that they hare neither

      part nor parcel in the matter of bidding him welcome . This they hare done ; nobly done . And we can assure the men of London that had Nicholas set foot in Birmingham , Leeds , Manchester , Glasgow , or in any of ear I&rge towns , their noble ' example would hare been ererywhere followed . We who are contending for liberty , Bhall we welcome liberty ' s greatest and bloodiest foe ! We who would break our chains , shall we tolerate the enslarer of millions of our fellow-men ! We who hare given refuge to , and hailed as brethren , the heroic but unfortunate victims of the tyrant ' s persecutions , shall we allow of their persecutor treading our Island home , without protesting , against his abominable presence ! No !

      " Never let it Be aald that we still truckle unto thrones . ' " Victoria may feast ; the base Press may flatter ; tho Lordly Rabble may shout ; but the strength of Albion , her Young Democracy repudiates these " courtesies" to one who has no claims upon the human race , save their hatred , scorn , and vengeance *

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      CONSTERNATION AT THE "CARLTON " . Undeb this bead , the Morning Post records some most revolutionary doinga by the members of the celebrated Carlton Club , who hare , it seems raised the standard of open rebellion against the constituted authority of their managers , and asserted the very democratic principle of individual and collective independence of uDjust and unreasonabla controul , as well as the sacred right to think and act for themselves .

      As journalists of The Movement , would it ba right , or even possible , for us to pass o \ er such an important testimony-in-faot to the truth and worth of the principles We hare so earnestly and so persereringly advooated , as the only wise and good for national ' adoption ! Besides , it is well known that we take great interest in the affairs of the body in question . Every Leaguer , from Coward Cobdkk down to Squeaking Murrat , the hired too ! , " knows

      full well" that we "hare been constantly paii * from the exhaustless funds of the renowned Carlton . " Has not Cobden proof of the fact , — which he most stingily withholds from the publio at large ? And can there be any wonder then , that ws should hasten to put on record matter bo pregnant with interest to the well-being of one of " oar most sacred institutions , " as is contained in the subjoined report ?

      Conversatism—by which , in its modem sense , we understand the political system of tbe Tadpoles and Tapers—has received a severe eoncusssion ; any sudden trepidation of the aforesaid Tadpoles and Tapers is held to be a " heavy blow and a great discouragement" to that mysterious impersonality , " the Conservative cause . " In the present instance thus it fell oat . The members of the Conservative Club , anxious for the plenitude of prandial pleasures , their house in St . James ' e-street not being yet completed . lately applied

      to tbe managers of the Csrlton to he , in the mean time , admitted ad eundem into tbe nondescript build * ing in Pall-mall . To consider this proposal a meeting was called , and the regulations of the Carlton forbidding a decision upon any important , question unless a certain number ef members should be present , the Tadpole and Taper , par excellence , of the establishment exerted themselves to inveigle gentlemen away from the room , in order " to not make a bouse . " Why the " Conservative" gentry of Pall-mall should wish to exclude their synonymous brethren of St . James ' s-Btreet does not appear . It was no

      deubt" Strange , that each difference should be Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee—" but so it was ; and the question was on the point ef being shelved , when a Noble Lord , whose habit of studying the ultima ratio has led him to make hi * arguments as " sharp , short , and deoisive" as possible , objected to what Dr . Titus Oates might have styled " s mere stoifllng of the Piaat . " His Lordship declared that the time had arrived when tbe Tadpoles and tbe Tapers should not be permitted any longer to ride rough-shod over the Club , and that , albeit " unaccustomed to public speaking , " he ¦ would nevertheless adopt a proceeding as Parliamentary ts not mating a Home ; he would , in abort , talk against time until a sufficient

      number of Members should be present to constitute tbe requisite quorum . He set to work , accordingly , ana took for his theme the brusque manners and blundering management ef Mr . C R—— , whom be denounced by name as the chronic author of very serious damage to the " great Conservative cause . " Whilst his lotaship was engaged on this fertile subject , a most active " whip" took place . The dolce farnienle of White a was disturbed ; the booted veterans of Boodle ' s were broken in upon ; tbe moat retired recesses of Crockford'i and Eing ' a-place -were invaded ; and when the Noble Bord concluded his speech , there waa ' * a Souse , and plenty to spare . A division was loudly called for , aad the tellers at length announced the numbers to

      be—For admitting the members of the Conservative Club to temporary fellowship with the Carlton ... 75 Against it 1 * Majority for the motion ... ... 6 " Loud cheers accompanied the declaration of tM « result Lord- twisted the . tips of bis moustacMs , and looked aa complacently at its supporters aa ever did Sir Robert Peel , after one of those preliminary v » - toriesthat terminated in bis entering office through a breach etrewed with the wreck ef forgotten pwrc" ** and neglected pledges . Tadpole and Taper , mutterea curses , not loud , but deep ; " they averred that u » cause of good government was compromised for ever , since men professing to be Conservatives had dared ia think for themselves

      . . .. .. _ ¦ T is pity there la no Lord— to worka simiar miracle in another large house not a hunred » u » from the now-revolutionary Carlton l—Hornivg rosi . Here 13 food for reflection ! Conserratires daring to think for themselres I and not only to think , bat to embody their thoughts in practice , to the diseoiafifcure and defeat of the " Powaas that were ' I D *

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      4 ^ FT HE NORTHERN S'T A R . ^^ Jukb 15 , 1844 .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 15, 1844, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1267/page/4/