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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st October 1848, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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    • Rational gantt tfompanjn
    • TOJTHE LABOURERS OP ALL 1 CLASSES.
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      Untitled Article

      My Friends , I am about to assume the task of commenting upon Tract No . 1 , issued by the Financial Reform Association , and asfigurea convey facts whic ^ words cannot mystify , I leave to that Association the simple duty of analysine the facts which I am > bout to submit in the shape of figures .

      I wish you , when perusing the fascinating statistics of your retrenching friends , to use your past errors for your instruction , and not upon any account to presume that the Reforms contended for by that class , however just they may be as part of a whole system , are intended , or in any wise calculated , to relieve your order or a fraction of your present burthens . Unlike other writers , it is my practice tosufcnut to you unmutilated the matter upon which I comment ; and , therefore , here follows ' the introduction of this fascinating Association , which . as is the custom of its order , eschews all selfishness , and makes consideration for the toiler the paramount object of its labours : —

      The Financial Beforn Anodatfon now present to th . pablic the first of a aeriet of Bf port * , which they pnrpose lMuiogfromtiBw to time , on thefimandal eonMtlon of tbe country . Ihe embarrassed poUUoafe which the nation aai bfeaplMeajthrOTgaiakmanagement in the finanolal department of the government , is both the came and the justification of their labcntf . Portheproof ol tHimUni » n « gement Aey refer to the folfowing plain facta and £ garei . The annnalgovermaental expendilnre . In time at P « Ce , eXClHlfrB Of inttrat on ( he national debt m . Dariag the reignof George I . . bent « . . , wo ji „ George II . . 2 . 766 , 089 t tt 6 « or <« in , ( 1792 ) 7 670 , 169

      > , „ Gauge IT . ( 1823 ) 21 , 407 , 679 i „ WmiasnIT , a 835 ) - .. 15 8 Si , 649 „ „ Victoria ( 184 S ) ............... 34 , 280 , 804 Tot habit of lavish and wasteful expenditure , which was formed daring the war , hat netir been extln . guishi *; bat daring the rei gn of Wfllhm IV . in oonse-. qurace of the streng and general expression of the national dtaora for retrenchment , -rigorous and succeis . fel tfforU to economic were aide by the government . These efforts , however ceased when the national att « n . tion was directed to other matters , and each year tbe expendlurtsteaiily increastd . The present goTsrnaeat Is * arrived st * n nnparalleled height of txtrava . saau ^ Oeespenaiture of 1818 excudimg t&rf »/ 1835 6 j

      Thererenuaof the United Kingdom for the present year is estimated at the enormous snm of £ 51 250 000 and yet our spendthrift governors tc- ' ' knowledge that their expenditure wfll f 1000 * ^ « ' l - 51 . 598 . 45 S leaving a deficiency of 8346 452 tobeaddedto-thenational debt , ¦ t ' a ' ttnu of ' peace wlen according to comnon stnse and common honesty , we ought to bj redeeming that debt , instead of fccreastngit . BnMhesefijnrMneeSnot be dwelt upon , since the urgent necessity for financial reform is unfortunately too

      weU proved by the present lameHtahl « condition of the ifagdom . Our merchan t * , manufacturers , and trades . men . hopeless of the gain which ought > reward their Iciastry , have been for years past desperately straggling to preserve themselves from rm& ; and many , in spite of cxpsrience , skill , and most intense and anxious appli--cation , have been unsuccessful In this struggle . Our artisans aa 3 labourers , In retnrn for the severest toil , « a obtain only a deficient sapply of the bare necessaries of life ; and thousands har « been driven , by want of employment , to the woikionse , to save themselves from itirration .

      Uader these eircamst&nces / the impoverished nation caanot possibly sustain the prodigal expenditure which it has endored in better times ; and It therefore has now become absolutely necessary that the national revenue shoaiabaecenomiKdwita fte most aniions frugality , « Hd the expenaiture carefollj confined within tha strictest Umlts of indispensable necessity . Nations as powerful as Gnat Britain have been brought to revolution and ruin by excess of governraen tal expenditure over income , and in no country can financial derangements lead to more disastrous conse . qasfices than in one whereaboTe £ 700 , 000 , 000 is Invested upon the security of the national credit

      Iha true remady and preventive for this excessive expsnditure is the diminution of our enoim jU 3 armaments , the extinction of all sinecures , unmerited pensions , and other unearned , and thirffore dishonourable and unjust payments , f and the practice of a constant and watchful sapervUioa over every branch of expenditure , by tbe C-ancellorof the Exchequer , and the heads of tha dlf . ferent departments of the gov . rament . Bat a diminution of the expenditure to meet the existlsg deficiency is not all that is sought for ; an important decrease in the present overwhelming weight of taxation ; an entire re-^ vision of the existlsg system of levying the taxes ; and a provision for the future progressive diminution of the national debt , are alss imperatively called for by tha dearest requirement ! of justice and sound pollry . To these measureSjhoweverer , the redaction of tha n- ^'^ M

      expenditure Is an indispensable preliminary step , and to tistsbjeet accordingly the cfibrH of the Financial Is . form Association will ba first direoted . They are can . Tinced that , to be thoroughly effectual , ana the example to be very generally followed , curtailment of expenditure should originate in high quarters ; and , accordingly , they now submit the limit within which the cost of Sijilty should , in their opinion , be confined . The pain . falaen of the requirements that suggest the propriety of this measure is , they are happy to say , in some degree mitigated by the declaration of her Majesty ' s Prime . Minister , Lord John Bossell , that so large a sun as is row expended annually Is not necessary for tha comfort a ; happiness of tbeQaeen . And , beyond securing these two important objects tober Majesty , it is felt that so further oUigation can virtually rest on the people .

      SECTION I . Present allowance to the Sovereign £ 385 . 000 Propose ! future allowance to the Queen £ 200 , 000 Proposed for fature Sovereignt ... £ 153 . 000 Prom the above you will learn that the phi . lanthropists have commenced their labours by a proposed reduction of expenditure in her Majesty ' s Household . I am not aware whether they would come under the provisions of the Act of Edward the 3 rd , or the llth of Victoria , which makes the attempt to deprive her Ma

      jesty of herroyal power , style , and dignity , Hjgh Treason ; perhaps in their case a confederate jury may be of the opinion , that reducing her household would not constitute a lessening of her style and dignity . However , as this one item in eur national expenditure constitutes the sum and substance of Tract No . 1 , and as those Tracts are to constitute the lever by which the national mind is once more to be rouse | . for middle-class agitation , I shall confine myself to its consideration .

      The compilers of this fascinating Tract rely more , I have no doubt , upon the political enthusiasm likely to be created by their boldness in first attacking Royalty , than they do upon the saving likely to accrue from theanticipated reduction . They show us , in the first instance , that the annual Governmental expenditure has increased , by upwards of nine millions and ahalf , from the year 1835 to the year 1848 . Here dates are valuable things , inasmuch as the reader must bear in mind that the retrenching Whigs were £ in uninterrupted possession of office for the first seven years of the period be * tween 1835 and 1848 , and two years from 1842 to 1848—and that , during that period , Free

      Traders and patronage hunters constituted the staff which enabled onr retrenching Whigs to make this addition to the annual expenditure of the country . They carried Reform by treason and treachery , and the people , having become disgusted with them in 1835 , they were compelled to resort to patronage , as a substitute for popular confidence , until at length the very parties who sat behind the Treasury bench , and -who either voted for , or abstained from opposing , this reckless extravagance of a weak , unpopular , and trafficking Administration , and who have failed in their Free Trade anticipations , are at a loss for a "GOOD CRY , " and where can they find a better , or a more fascinating one , than "REDUCTION OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD Y * Now ; no one looks with more disgust than I

      Untitled Article

      grooms , and pantry boys—measure their wages by their parents' ability or inability to support them , and by the amount they can earn in the productive market , and so with all other classes . Even the pay of soldiers and policemen—and especially of soldiers—is measured by the parents' ability , according to the value of productive Jabour in the market . And I ask you what you think of the cheeseparing of these philanthropists , when you see a set of lazy , idle , useless , non-producing fellows walking with their bludgeons amid starving shoeless paupers ? these fellows , dressed for winter and for summer , with warm clothing provided against wet , and strong boots to keep the feet grooms , and pantry bovs-measure their wages

      warm , oil skin capes to cover their precious shoulders , and paid 18 s . a week for the purposeof creating confusion , which it would not be in their power to create if the working classes were justly and fairly treated . lfthesephaanthropistswouldlookathonie-if they would cast their eye over the cellar and the garret , and contrast the squalid misery and wretchedness of those abodes of disease and want with their own happy homes , their banking account , and their gains—then 1 would hpve some faith in their philanthropy . But as long as they confine their assault to the gilded toy , and leave their own ironument of infamy untouched and unprobed , I will heed them not .

      What thinkjou , working men , of the system that depends upon ' prostitution , dissipation , and beastiality for its support ? What think you of sleek , fat horses , well caparisoned , prancing with whiskey , gin , brandy , ale , and porter behind them through shoals of heart-broken paupers willing to work ? And what think you of a monarch and her Government deriving their chief support from such a source ? I tell you what to think—think as I do , THAT THEY ARE RIGHT AND . YOU ARE WRONG . You are encouraged , but you are not compelled , to make beasts of yourselves , and as long as you are beasts , my prayer is that you may be governed by a brute Government .

      This 185 , 000 / . a year is only one of the new Liberal crutches . There is anotrer—EMIP ^ fTION # And now let me ana lyse the pro bable result of this seheme , should it be even partially successful . Let us presume that the hired Press , and the fascinating promises of speculators in land and misfortune , will be able to induce half a million to expatriate themselves . Some of those wll lnve . rather large

      amounts of money ; some will not have more than will pay the passage ; but as it is not always the poorest that speculate in foreign prospects , I will estimate the amount lowly . I will presume that for all purposes the emigrants average an amount of money reaching 20 / . a man . Here , then , are ten millions of money gone out of the country , to constitute foreign consumers for our liberal financial reformers .

      When 1 set the number down at half a million , of course it embraces all classes , sex and ages ; and when I set down the amount taken away by each at 20 / ., I am rather under the mark , as a large proportion go in the hope of purchasing a little land ; and many take out a sufficient amount of capital to establish themselves in business . Now , mark this ; if those ten millions were expended upon the improvement of the Land at home , I would undertake to employ every Emigrant at more profitable wages , and leaving permanent profit in the continuous improvement of the

      soil . But we want the law . Railway Companies , we are told—and all other companies —have been publishing fraudulent balance sheets . Fifteen months ago the Railway pound was worth 50 s . now the same pound is only worth 18 s ., while—although these frauds must have been known to the immaculate instructors of the public mind , the Newspaper Press —not a hint was given to shut the stable door till the steed was stolen ; and now the sufferers are coolly told by this pure and immaculate Press—that made thousands-and hundieds of thousands by advertising and puffing the . ' . _ ! ,

      jugglers—that they are all robbed . Not a word of caution while they were making money . So much for the Press . And now for the Law . The Ballot has been declared the monster illegality of the Land Plan , while in reply to several secretaries of Emigration Societies , the Attorney General has stated that , although the Ballot is illegal , he will not enforce the law in Emigration cases . Now , what think you of that ? You cannot ballot for a home " AT HOME , " but you may ballot for the chance of shipwreck , the probability of being juggled , and the certainty of , i I f I ' | _ I

      making profit for gamblers in human misery . I do not rely upon the evidence of any written words of the Attorney General ; I rely upon my own ears . On the day that Parliament was prorogued , in passing from the House of Lords to the House of Commons , I heard the Attorney General tell a Member of Parliament , interested in these convicts , that he would not enforce the law in case of Ballot—when I immediately interposed and said— " But , if you do not , I will , as I am determined that you shall not stretch the law against me , and relax it in favour of others . " . _ jj Q t ( £ e j ^ u x

      Now , I hope that every working man will get this letter by heart , and then he will understand tbe real state of the Labour Question , and the value to the Labourer of a reduction of £ 185 , 000 a-year in the Queen ' s Household . Your faithful Friend , Feargfs O'Co nnor . U U , _ '

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      1 'T ^ l V 4 win S Jo * e ignoranc e in which the populations have been hitherto allowed to grow up ; yet , under present circumstances and feelings , the least objection , able mode of election . This Congress , at it * commencement , openly to denounce the fundamental falsehood on which , hitherto the character of man and the construction of society have been alone formed , and at the same time to announce the glorious truth , that the faculties , propensities , and powers of humanity , are created solely by the creating power or the universe , and created without the knowledge of the individual . .

      That society , after the birth of each , well or ill , rightly or wrongly , cultivates the natural qualities of each individual to produce good or evil , happinessor misery , according to the intenor , mixed , or superior circumstances in which they shall be placed that society possesses the means and power to surround all from birth with good and superior circumstances only , and that by bo doing it would produce the greatest amount of permanent happiness for all , that man has the power to create or enjoy . The next measure ttfoccupy Congress , would be to form a constitution and code of laws in accordance with those fundamental principles . Such constitution and laws would be plain , short , and easily to be comprehended ^ every one .

      It is the present false system of society which requires extended laws and mystification , to prevent its falsehood from being too glaring ! for the public , and by a multiplicity of words to hide its innumerable errors and evils . A constitution , in accordance with true fundamental principles , would direct the public how to create the circumstances which should produce the greatest amount of wealth , knowledge , goodness , and happiness permanently for all . ,

      This result could be effected only by Europe being-divided into societies of tbe most manageable numbers to be the most easily well employed , well educated from birth , and well governed , locally and generally . These societies to be , as thejseparate States are now in North America , independent within themselves ; but to be more intimately and socially united federatively than are those States ; in order that each society may more effectually aid and promote the prosperity and happiness of tbe others . u ei ^ ? i o , f a

      The circumstances requisite to compose these societies would constitute a new combination of arrangements , that would form beautiful scientific societies for creating and distributing' wealth , forming character , and governing in such manner that each one should be well cared for from birth , and secured through life in ' . the greatest amount of advantages that could be given to the natural organisation of every individual . ., " . , I ? \

      And by this simple process , as it will appear to every one , as soon as it shall be seen in practice , Europe may be soon changed from its present frightful insanity into a terrestrial paradise , in which all will be trained from birth to become independent , yet affectionately united , superior rational beings , all actively engaged ^ promoting each other's happiness ; and the whole of the population of the Continent combined into one system of harmony of action , in which there will be no wars , contests , competition , or opposing interests or feelings ; in which there will be , after one generation , only one language and one people , affording an example of order , wisdom , peace , and continually growing prosperity , that the world will most willingly adopt . This will Jbe the future of Europe and of the world . Robert Owen . \

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      | tiXf , » nd the'Street Orderlies'tha meeting hia ^ jnit bad an opportunity of seeing , were employed br that society . ' He bad rauoh pleasure in moving tha resolution : —' . It having been demonstrated to thii meeting that crime , and the coat ot its suppression . as well as taxation generally , are decreased in pro * portion as the poor are employed , this meeting is of opinion that it is the bounden duty , as it ia the in * ' terest , of all-partiei to do all in their power to find work for the labouring classes , more especially ins * ing the severe winter months , when destitution is so fearfully increased throusbont the country ;' M * Richisd OisiLBE seconded the first resolution ,

      and in the course of an animated address was enthn * siaatically and repeatedly cheered . He said he had great pleasure in standing before them , because bj - Lehevedtbatthegreatproblerawhichrequifedsotoiag . in this country , an well as in France and Germany ^ . - was—How were they to employ the poor ? Ht ; mS *' : : '<"{ tended that the people were not treated in a Christlai '' ¦ '¦' ¦ spirit by tbe legmJatore . In that hoj » book the BiWti " f ^ V ^^^ l ^ m ^ m '^ M ' m-. ' taker of the frnito , 'wWoh ¦ w , noCifttaBded to . ft wasthe duty of the rich aad titled to look tothecom- ' fort of thsir poorer nelghbonre . Ii * ail the iniU « n&Uc

      right of the people to live ; eroployment should be found them , for which they should receive Buoh good wages as would enable them to live veil ; bat along course of falte and un Christian legislation , which , had entailed its present miseries upon the country * reco ^ maedno suoh humane principle . The game pernicious legislation had driven large masses of tb . 0 ' ¦ rural population to flock into the large towns ; and this was the true source of the increasing evils that continued to afflict our towns and cities . " In 1811 th » total population of Great Britain was 12 , 596 , 803 , and the proportion then employed in s > g < iouhural pursuit ! was 4 , 408 8 n 8 . In 1841 , although the aggregate do * pulation of the country had increased to 18 . 814 , 424 , yet the proportion employed in agrioalture sank al low as 4 , 145 , 705 . being a decrease in the agricultural population of 263 , 105 , notwithstanding that the entit * population of the country had increased more than 6 , 000 , 000 How , he asked , was it Dossible far « n *

      oountry to prosper where such things occurred as thii ? Mr Edmund Stahwood desired to say a word or two before the . resolution was put . He liked tha words ' emplojment for the poor , ' because it was more oonponaat . with . th » feelings of the people than 'chamyfortbe poor . ' ( Loud oheera . ) He liked olean streets and sanitary improvements as well as anybody—but both their chairman and Mr Coch « rane had shown thit in London alone , there was at least 50 , 000 persons in want of employment , and that the project of the Philanthropic Association , u fully carried out , would only employ 10 , 000 , leaving m tbe metropolis Blone 40 , 000 totally unprovided fer . Now it was at this point he wished to corn * mence . He suggested that a Minister of Labour should be appointed , and that such Minister should direct his attention to the forests—suoh as E ^ in * .

      Wjohwood , and Daan—' . he common and waste lands , as a means of employing the poor , and that inoh judicious economy , as recommended by Mr RoberVon Gladstone , of the Financial Reform Association , together with the funds now devoted by the govern * ' mentin deporting' tae most useful people from tha land of their birth to tbe oolomes , would supply money to thus moat profitably employ surplus labour . ( Loud oheers ) And as it was said , ' that conspiracy sedition , and treason was now ' put down , ' and in thii time of political calm and quiet , let the arh « tooracy of wealth and title now coma forward and show their sympathy for the peofla . Let them convinoe us tint they have a sinoere desire to improve and elevate the social condition of the peopleleaf , surrounded br the shrieks and agonies of wives and children , in their lingering deaths , they might adopt tha fearful Lyoaneae motto , to Liva working or die fighting . ' ( Immense applause . )

      The resolution was then put , and eanied ouani * mously . . * Mr Georgb ( a Guardian of the Strand Union ) oame forward to move the aeoond resolution , as follows : — ' That thia meeting is of opinion that a great number of the poor might be profitably employed by the different parishes in cltanBing , white washing , and purifying the unwholesome dwellings which abound in the metropolis , and thus prevent tha spreading of the Cholera , Typhus , atd other diseases ; that it is impottaot that Parochial Registries shoa'd be kept in every workhouse , setting forth the came , age , qualifications and character of the unemployed in each district , in order that persons n quiring the services of suoh parties may be enabled to - secure tham ; and further , that the system of

      streetoleansing now and for eerae time past demonstrated by the National Phi lanthropio Association , in the parishes of St James , St Martin in-the-Fields , Sfc o . nne ' 8 , Soho , offers an excellent opportunity for employing a Urge number of the ablebodiad Pjor ; and that w it has been proved to this meeting that 19 , 000 men could be thus employed throughout the metropolis , with profit to the rate-rayer » , the committee of householders and rate-payers convening this meeting , most earcestly appeal to all classes for their oo-operation and support , in order to secure the advantages referred to in this and tbe preceding resolutions , ' and said , although he could cot agree ¦ with the . 'Lyonneie motto , ' he thought the suggestions thrown out by the gentleman who had just » at down were excellent . He then proceeded to condemn the conduot d ( the guardians of the Strand Union .

      Not-Withstanding all that bad appeared in the Mobning Chrojuclh to the contrary , he maintained now , as he had done before , that the inmates did not receive their rights , nor were the poor-rates expended in tha ¦ way they onght to be . Ho denounced the guardians , beoanse the poor had been condemned to two months' imprisonment for no Bin ; he denounced them , because some portion of the food given to tha inmates was not fii to be used ; he denounced them , because some women had not reoeived that nouriihment which a mother required when suckling her child . He did not think it fit , or proper , or deoent , for a guardian to make a law to say that a woman , even although Bhe vas unmarried , was to have nothing more than the ordinary diet when she bad a child at her breast , because it was heartless cruelty te visit the sins of the mother upon the head of the unoffending babe . ( Lood cheers . )

      The Chairman here interposed to request Mr George to confine himself to the question before tha meeting . They had not met there to go into what had been done at any workhouse" . Mr Gkorgk apologised , and , after a few further rtmam , resumed his seat . The Rev . Mr Pownall seoonded the resolution . Mr Thompson , a mechanic , rose to move as an amendment that the following words be left out : — 'That it is important that Parochial Registries should be kept in every workhouse , setting forth the name , age , qualifications , and cha-acteia of the unemployed in each district , in order that persons requiring the services ol such parties may be enabled to secure them ; ' and that the words he cow

      proposed be substituted : — 'That the attention of the government and parochial offictra bo directed to the waste lands as a means of profitably employing the people . '_ He thought the Parochial Registries axd application to workhouses or uaiom fo ! employment must tend to bring down tbe better paid workmen to the level of the distressed , and reduce wagea generally , and that in addition to the proposition of the Philanthropic Association , waste lands would be found a profitable source of employ meut . Mr Warley seconded the amendment . The Chairman said , he hardly thought the amend * tnent a legitimate one , teeing thit the three i& * rishes who had got up that meeting , had no waste lands .

      Mr Cochsuse suggested that the amednment was perfectly legitimate and germane —( loud cheers)—but he trusted the mover would withdraw it , as to could assure him the gettera-up of that meeting had net the most distant idea of interferriag wita the better paid labourer ( Hear , bear . ) Mr Isaac Wilson , of the Trades , ably supported the amendment , quoting in its favour , statistics got up by the working classes themBelvea ; he was much applauded . Mr Rogers , surgeon , implored the mover of the amendment to withdraw it . which he declined , when it was put and lest by a slight majority , the resolution was then adopted . A vote of thanks was given to the chairman , and the meeting quietly separated .

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      tf Death of T . Gray , the Railway ' Pionefr . ' — During the last week Thomas Gray , whose friends claim for him the titles of ' author of the railway system' and the railway' pioneer , ' died at Exeter , in the 61 st year of his age . Though not an engi . neer he was cotemporary with the late George Stephenson . Hi 9 name was brought into note by the publication , in 1820 , of a work entitled , 1 Observations on a General Iron Railway ; or land steam conveyance to supersede the necessity of horses in all public vehicles , showing its superiority in every respect over all the present pitiful methods of conveyance by turnpike-roads , canals , and coasting traders . ' At the time Gray ' s book wa 3 written , all that was known of railways was as they then exis . ted in the rurle tramways at Newcastle and its collieies , and considerably before the construction of those earliest of our railways , the Stockton ai d Darlington , and Liverpool and Manchester . The gist ot Gray ' s suggestion was to carry out a comprehensive railway at one stride over the whole Unittd Kingdom ; in fact , to make a simultaneous system to all the principal towns , instead of making tfie work a labour of section and degree . The progress of the railway system , however , proved that this was impracticable in many , but more especially in monetary , points of view , and the sugge&tMjj '^ pcia . its very comprehensiveness , perished / ttVL ^ feJ ^ f ' * petitioned Parliament and Sir 11 . ^ 1 ^^^ % no encouragement . Latterly lie tosps ^ Jft ^ vt !^^ poverty , and sold glass on commissio | i ^| $ ^ eaa were made to the railway world oa ^ yatbehafe ^ httt p \ they met with no response , anditji »| M j tWi 4 e ^ died broken-hearted . £ l |/ S * £ « ¦ ¦• • . ¦ ¦ .- v .. - . . ¦ . vW # t ^« a $ ' KR

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      Newcastle . —At the branch mseUng held on Sunday afternoon , Mr Martin Jude and Mr James Nisbett were put in nomination to serve as delegates ier this district , to the Birmingham Conference . LitiLBiowH . —The Landmembera ofthisbranoh suggest to the distriot seoretaty , the propriety of calling a district delegate meeting of members in some central place as soon as possible , for the purprae of discussing the various propositions submitted for consideration . Wooiroif-usDER-EuGB . — A general meeting of Lied members was held at the Grown Inn , October 16 th , when Mr O'Brien , of Lowbands , was nominated as a candidate to the Conference , and a vote of confidence in Mr O ' Connor , and the Direotors , was carried unanimously .

      Gu'gow . —At a meeting of the Glasgow branch of the Land Company , held on Tuesday , the 17 th , the following resolutions were agreed to : — 'That all branches in connexion with this district , send from their local fund a sura amounting to one penny per member on their books , to defray the expense of the delegate to the Conference . A balance sheet will be given after the delegate returns , and if any money be left , to be returned in proportion to the sum sent , ard to be made payable to the returning offiotra . ' That all members residing beyond one mile from the croBs or place of meeting , are to send their votes for the delegate in writing . '' Thatthegecretaty be instructed to send the following list of candidates , being all that are received up to this time : —Duncan Sherrington , Glasgow ; John Russell , Ban-head ; Stewart M Witters , Faikirk ; David Meilson , Greenock ; Rubert Brangb , Parkhead .

      Somkbs Town . —John Arnottand James Cooker have been nominated delegates to the ensuing Land Conference , Limbhousb . —Brdhbwick Hall . —At a meeting of the Land members of this branch on Monday , evening last , Mr Eydd \ tu nominated as a delegate to represent the London district in the forthcoming Conference . Covbntby . —At a general meeting of Land mem * bare held at Mr Pruchard ' s coffee-house , Gotfordstreet , on Tuesday evening , October 17 th , Mr Hosier was nominated for tbU district , w < J other buiineii WMtruMQted ,

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      PRESENT AND FUTURE STATE OF EUROPE . Past VI . T £ E GLORIOUS FUTURE OF EUROPE AND THE WORLD . in J l ? " , P ? ress of humanity discover-» Lk i , hrou / slow experience , has at Ktw £ l 0 ped t 0 "I ™ ms ° fsood and eyl , with the means of overcoming the one and Sr g the « ther through all future genera-PRESENT AND FHTTTRI ? . STat ^

      JEL W c " known of ^ hood , and deception , of ignorance of man of manof jMMioa-of poverty and its debasements-of uncharitablenfss , and unkindness -of wars contests , and competition - of sexaal evils—in fact , the cause of all human miseries , and the means to remove all , except those of disease , accident , and death ; while accidents and disease , in one or two generations ; may be reduced to their mini , 'jmjrn , and death itself be without terrors , and lotiearedby anyone at aay--period of life . The causes are also known by which to ensure health , knowledge , good * disposition , habits , and manners ; charity and real affection for humanity , independent of family country , or colour ; kindness to all that has life , so far as is compatible with the safety and happiness ot mankind ; wealth in superfluity at all times , in all places , with the causes which can produce unity , peace , and love , and an active perpetual progress towards higher knowledge , excellence , and happiness as long as the world shall exist , inhabited bv the human race .

      uromary ana inexperienced minds will , without powers of reflection , at once pro nounce such a state of human existence to be impossible , while men of matured judgment and extensive experience know that it is not only practicable but that the causes to create it must be speedily introduced , to save society from its present involved confusion and irra . tional contests , crimes , and misery . Men of observation , experience , and fore- sight , know that to continue the old mode of governing the world is become impracticable by reason of its now ; developed ignorance , false principles , injustice , and cruelty' . to the mass of mankind . \ But no party , which has hitherto appeared , know how to begin to effect this change from ignorance and misery to knowledge and hap- piness , or , in other words , from evil to good . It is , however , of the deepest interest to all , of every class and country , to inquire How this' glorious future may be commenced and brought the nearest to our own time ; also to ascertain , if it be practicable , that those now living may partake , at least in part , of these blessings .

      The formation of our characters on false fundamental principles , and the consequent I erroneous construction of tociety through all ' its ramifications , will necessarily limit the enjoyment of these advantages by the present generation . IJ The generation which exists must be satis- e fied to derive its pleasures and gratification a from being actively engaged in creating the r requisite preparation to introduce the glorious I future , which can be fully enjoyed only by their J children and succeeding generations . But this first stage of progress will itself be a very de- I lightful period of existence , when compared to ' the falsehood , ignorance , injustice , poverty , ' and cruelty of the present system of suffering , 1 as experienced by the large majority of the human race .

      ^ me glorious luture will consist in the creatioa of new and very superior circumstances for all the departments of" life ; created to supersede the very vicious and inferior circumstances which now exist in every department , and which have necessarily emanated from the false fundamental principle on which the characters of all , so far , have been formed , and on whi ch society has been alone constructed . True , it will be said , and most desirable to have this glorious future brought near to our day , and yet better if we could , although imperfectly , partake of some of its immense advantages . But how is this to be done ? If the most wise , experienced , and best of the present generation , in Europe and America , could be induced to unite , and also write on the fundamental principles of truth respecting the formation of character , then , without interfering prematurely with existing interests and arrangements , a great change in Ies 9 than five years may be effected in the populations of both quarters of the world , greatly to the advantage of all now living within these extended divisions . The deficiency in . the formation of the character given to all under the present system of society , is the want of moral courage ; a want which makes all tremble when any attempt is made to express truths in opposition to the most deplorable of all falsehoods—truths the most important for man to know , being the most necessary to secure the happiness of the human race through all succeeding generations . The first step towards the attainment of the glorious future , will be to destroy this moral cowardice in those who most influence society .

      A hose who have discovered the errors and evils ofsociety , andwho are in search of truths , are cowed by the terrible fear of the prejudices m favour of falsehood , and are deterred from investigating truth to its foundation and through all its ramifications . This mysterious fear strongly pervades all classes in all countries , and makes arrant moral cowards of all . Yes , they say—what { you state is truth itself , we well know it , and can bring no arguments to oppose ; but we dare not express our real thoughts in ? public . Men who would march direct to the cannon ' s mouth , start and tremble like a horse coming in sight of a lion , when called upon openlyito express what they are compelled to know are eternal truths of the highest importance to the human race . It is this mental cowardice which alone retards the onward progress of societyUo the attainment of real knowledge , charity , kindness , and happiness among all people in all countries ,

      \ nd this cowardice is created by the ignorance of the priesthood of every religion on the globe ; yet each priest is a grievous sufferer by the false and artificial state in which he lives ; a state opposed not only to his natural feeluigs , but to any pretension to common sense , The life of any priest must be either a life of mental weakness or h ypocrisy , the last quality ever inwardly preying upon the best feelings charaTer lty ^ de 8 te ° y S ' - dl ^ honesty of When this moral defect , so deeply implanted from childhood , through a false education , can be overcome , then will the eyes of the world be opened to the immense power and means everywhere at the command of society to commence immediatel y , and at no distant period secure , the permanent well-doing and happiness of every population over the globe . . This glorious future may be now easily made to commence throughout Europe , by calling a Congress in some central position of it , to be composed of delegates from its present national divisions . chosen frem each by Universal Suffrage , defective a ? this suffrage would be

      Rational Gantt Tfompanjn

      Rational gantt tfompanjn

      Untitled Article

      • By the third and last statement of ths Chancellor of tbe Exchequer ( made on tbe 25 th August ) , tbe defi . deney now appears to be reduced to £ 2 , 031 , 000 . This reduction Is referred to with considerable pleasure , as a proof that the general demand for economy has alieady effected some retrenchment , and as an earnest that continued etertion on the part cf the public will cause a much more material savin ? . 1 * Whilst money can be saved either by cutting off unnecessary office * and gratuities , or by checking useless expanses , so Minister ought to apply for an augmentation Of imposts . 'It is only by a strict and inviolable attention to such & sjsteni , that the mlera of a hardened people can flatter themselves that a nation will long remain in quiet | ub « section ; for nothing csnte mere galling totnoiewho are oppressed and overloaded , than to see others wallow log in riches extorted from them by the chicanery and artificer of finance , whilst they can but barely famish themselves with the meant of subsistence . ' — Sir J . Sin * Mr ' imtonictihsBn tmi Ycit 2 # p . K 7 ,

      Untitled Article

      do upon the amount of money lavishly expended upon a set of useless aristocratic officialsmerely for the purpose of creating political support for the existing Government . I have shown you , upon numerous occasions , that the fact of both English and Irish landlords dealing with their estates by the political instead of the agricultural standard , * has led to the ruin of their class—and nowjthat the traders have discovered that your order—the order of Labour—is no longer able to replenish the Exdoupontheamountofmoneylavishly expended

      chequer , they , urged by the same motive , the political use of aristocratic servitude , and . hence we are startled with the proposition to diminish the expenditure of the Royal Household by 185 , 000 * . per annum . This is a lumping sum when submitted to the toiler , who , unaccu 8 tomed to calculation , naturally concludes that he individually contributes a large proportion of the amount . These fascinating

      ~ - " - ~« w - UIC 186 , 000 ? . a-year—and , no doubt , when the new corps of retrenching Reformers is sufficiently recruited , organised , and disciplined , General Cobden will be elected as General-inchief of the retrenching army , and will cap the pyramid of retrenchment with the two hundred millions a-year lavished ^ upon European armaments . Not satisfied with the participation of political power extended to their order by the : ReformJBill , andrdisappointed by the result of their Free Trade project , they seek to rally j under a new standard , in the hope of acquiring : increased political power—and , under those new circumstances , it becomes my duty to sub-: mit , truly , plainly , and simply to your understanding , the working man's share of taxation , as well a 3 the only practical mode of making j your retrenching friends sincere in their pro' fessions . and honest in their lahnnvs

      I have always contended that the law makers should be exclusively the tax payers , and then therevenue of the Church , and the revenue ofthe State , would be regulate > P % the standard of Christian necessity and Constitutional requirement . But I have always set my face ^ against that motley system of taxation which ia , in the main / indirect , mixed with the paltry amount of direct , upon which capitalists make a large and undefined profit . I have shown you that the man employing a thousandjiands , and paying 3 O 0 Z . a year income tax , upon an annual profit of 10 , 000 Z ., will be considered a philanthropic employer if he only reduces the wages

      of his menjby a shilling a week to meet the increased burden , and which reduction would leave him a profit upon the tax of 2 , 300 J . a year after paying his liability . If he reduces the . wages of his men by only a halfpenny a day , it will leave him a profit of 350 / . a year upon the tax . If he even reduces wages by a farthing a day , it will leave him a profit of over 25 / . a year upon the tax ; and where is the operative , with the Labour market closed against him , who would not cheerfully accept the alternative of a shilling a week reduction rather than break up his little homebe separated

      , from his family , and become an inmate in the bastile . And here I wish the toilers , for whose especial benefit this new " CRY * is raised , to keep one startling fact in view ; it is that the employing class are ' the administrators ofthe Poor Law , and that the refusal of the toiler to accept a shilling a week reduction in his wages would constitute his disqualification as an inmate . In fact , the bastile is the flesh market , where the traffickers and profitmongerabid for labour , and it constitutes the competitive reserve against those who are not yet consigned to its tender mercies .

      I do trust , however , that the workingclasses will look upon their order as one and indivisible , and that they will not , as heretofore , act sectionally as regards thi 3 new move , for even the Athenaeum gentlemen , and aristocra tic trades , may rest assured that a successful invasion upon their rights , their comforts , and their wages can ' only be made through the destitution of the poorer of their order . Jealousy , drunkenness , want of union and organisation , have been your bitterest enemies .

      If you were sober for a year , thoughtful for a year , and united for a year , the proposed reduction of 185 , 0002 . a year in the Royal Household would , as I shall prove to you , be a mere drop of water in the ocean—nay , I will go farther , and prove to you that , if Labour wat fairly rewarded , the National Debt and Government expenditure , would be but a flea-bite as compared with the capitalist ' s traffic , and his power of reducing wages . Here follows a list of the working classes of Great Britain and Ireland under their several heads : —

      Total number employed in 'Agriculture 2 , 564 , 326 Ditto , in Manufactures . . 1 , 865 , 927 Ditto , in Mines .... 196 , 921 Ditto , in the Shipping . . . 818 , 861 Ditto , as Domestic Servants . . 1 , 494 , 122 Ditto , Labourers , not included in in the above classes . . 31 , 252 Ditto , employed in Retail trade , or in Handicraft , as masters or workmen .. .. 2 , 413 , 451

      Total .. .. 9 , 384 , 860 Suppose we'deduct Seven Hundred Thousand from the last craft , " presuming that number in the total do not labour , but are merely retailers , then we have as the } total of Labourers . . . 8 , 684 , 860 , and a reduction in their wages of one penny per day would amount to ELEVEN MILLIONS THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTYFIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY-TWO POUNDS PER ANNUM . A reduction of twopence per day would amount to TWENTY-TWO

      MILLIONS SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTYONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR POUNDS A YEAR . And tojestimate the reduction in the wages of labourers by the Poor Law standard , the competition of machinery , and the power vested in the local authorities { commanding those sources , by the Reform Bill , at sixpence a day —which is much below the mark—we find a total of SIXTY-SEVEN MILLIONS

      NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTYTHREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO POUNDS , annually Btolen from the working classes , by those philanthropic financial reformers ; while their proposed reduction in the Royal Household , if the whole saving was conferred upon your order , would amount to the enormous sum of about FIFTEEN FARTHINGS a head per annum . That is , if this reduction was effected each could drink an additional half pot of beer in the twelve months .

      Here you have a surplus of fifteen millions a year over and above the interest of your National Debt , and the whole of your governmental expenses covered by a reduction of wages . And hence : we find the enormous amount of capital that has been recently invested in railways , buildings , steam navigation , shipping , mining , improved machinery , and the thousands of speculations carried on upon the ' profits of reduced wages . Now , observe thi 9 prominent fact , and never lose sight of it , it is this—the wages of the liveried servant , of the cook , the housemaid , the scullion , and the dog boy , and of every individual employed in domestic service , is regulated by the wages paid jn the producing market , Figure servants ,

      Untitled Article

      , ' EMPLOYMENT OF THE POOR . On Wednesday night a public meeting was held in the lecture theatre of tbe Literary and Scientific Institution , Leioester-sqaare , convened in connexion with the National Philanthropic Aaaooiation , for the purpose of osnsiderinjj the best means of providing work for the increasing numbers of unempltyed operatives in thermetropolis . B . B . Cabbell , Esq ., presided , and a very numerous assemblage of roBidents in the surrounding parishes attended , and took a lively interest in the proceedings . In introducing the Dimness of the evening , The Chairman said , that the meeting had been convened by a committee of the inhabitants of the parishes of St James , St Martinin * the-n ' elds , and St Anne , Soho , who mete anxiously desirous of ameliorating the sufferings of their destitute brethren during the approaching winter months . In the metropalis there were no fewer than 80 , 000 mechanica and 15 , 000 labourers c ut of work at the present moment . The labours of the National Philanthropic Association were especially direoted to alleviate Buoh a fearful state of things , and that sooiety was at present employing forty labouring men in cleansing the streets upon the reformed sanitary system . The object of the

      association in doing this was lo set an example to the various parochial boards of what might easily be done to provide employment for as many as 10 , 000 men , in carrying out the sanitary street-cleansing system throughout the entire metropolis . By this means , 10 , 000 out ofthe 15 . 000 labourers now unemp loyed , could be provided with remuneratire work , instead of being allowed , with their wives and fami < lief , to become heavy burdens upon the different parishes . At present only 500 men were employed in scavenging the whole of that vast metropolis ; and everybody was convinced that an improved system oJ cleansing was loudly demanded , in order te improve its unwholesome condition . The forty street Bwtepert employed by theasaooiation to which he had alluded coat them £ 24 fcr wages weekly ; and if each of the 897 houses within the small district flhioh now re oeived the benefit of the experiment paid only Cd . i week , thia would raise a f and sufficient to coyer the whole of the outlay . There were upwards of 250 00 C houBea in London , and a charge of 6 d . a week upon eaoh would ba ensngh to pay th 9 wages of the 10 . 00 C - Jk ^__ L . AB . | _ 3 I— jb ^ 1 — - ¦ _ _ 1 _ > 1 __ ?__ . M . 1 ¦ iu uouiu ub in

      ^ ^ ^ ^^^^ * « u , wuu empiuyea cleansing me Btroeta , By this . means the health and comfort of all classes of the community wonld be most effectually promoted , the poor r » te 3 vtoald ba greatly reduced , and lar / e numbers of the unemployed would ba supported in honest independence , earning their bread by the sweat of their brow , instead of b .-ing immured , along with their families , as paupers within the walls of the union workhouses . The growing evjh of pauperism and distress , und the insupportable weight of taxation , which was every day threatening to overwhelm the middling classes in one common ruin with those whom they would s ~ on be unable any longer to maintain idle in the workhouses , rendered it the bounden duty , aa well aa the individual in ' . ereat , of all classes to resort to every available means of alleviating the miseries of the poor , and finding them useful employment . For this reason , he trusted the publio would be aroused to direct its anxious attention without delay to the project of tbe Nations ! Philanthropic Association ; and he earnestly com ' mended it to the favourable consideration ot all the various parochial boards in and around the metro polis , ( Cheers . ) , „ 4 tf ^ i fl . ^ l » am uahj * Xrit ¦*» am a ihA 4 X * n m mama tuuu luce bviuuvt ? iuo icair

      BnV v . vvCHKANa mow ution , asd met a very warm reception from the bulk of the meeting . He Bpoke at great length quoting multifarious statistics in order to prove that a vast Amount of wretchedness and disease prevailed among the poor in various districts of London . lie remarked that a petition from St Marylebone vesiiy , presented to the House of Commons during the lasi session , alleged that tboutands of operatives and their families in that parish were upon an average at all time 3 totally destitute from want of employment . ' The statistics published by the refuges ier the destitute in 1845 , stated that in that year 50 , 000 persons rose in the metropolis without knowing how they were to procure their first meal ; and it could not be doubted if auoh were their numbers in 1845 , tha ! they had considerably increased since that pericd , One person out of every ten of the gopi 1 . tion oi England and Wales was a pauper , and the annual coBtof pauperiain at present was £ 436 ' 7 . 055 . These hots revealed an appalling state of things which il was surely high time for those who possessed th < power to bestir themselves at onto from their le thargy to remedy . The National Philanthropic As sooiatioH had shown that 10 , 000 persons might bi 1 employed profitably in cleaning the Btreetf » wfrch I ) ) ihewjim ^ of dwg < t from Cnolew was most &wt

      Tojthe Labourers Op All 1 Classes.

      TOJTHE LABOURERS OP ALL 1 CLASSES .

      Untitled Article

      .... .. .. .,,. ; ,, „ .,..., ... / & £ / L 7 /^^ AND NATIONAL TftADESV JOURNAL .

      Untitled Article

      T " case VOL . XI . No 574- LONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 21 , 1848 . ^^^ FiTe ShlHlngH and Sixpcace per Quarts I : ~~ ~~ —

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 21, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1493/page/1/