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Northern Star (1837-1852), 14th August 1852, Edition 1 of 2, Page 8

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  • Departments (2)
    • Cb^tanrfifmkm.
    • NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.
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      Untitled Article

      " JUSTICE—IMMUTABLE , DNIVEBSAL , ETERNAL !'

      OUR DUTY ! TO THE BRITISH DEMOCRACY . I take it for granted that I am addressing no mere phantasm of a diseased imagination , in inscribing this letter "to the British Democracy . " I assume there is such a body ; not organized , certainly ; not disciplined and marshalled for action , but nevertheless existing though but as a " rope of sand . " It cannot be that the

      heroic example of our fathers , the teachings of the wise , the sufferings of the brave , have been in vain ; that the seed sown in the past has been absolutel y barren of fruitful results ; that the inspired thoughts and selfsacrificing labours of Democracy ' s apostles have been unproductive of a democratic party . There are democrats—a very multitude ; but broken , scattered , each

      isolated from his brother . From the time of Paine and Cartwright it has been customary , among democrats , to deplore the ignorance of the multitude as being the great obstacle to national regeneration ; a fact too true in the days when loyal mobs gutted Priestly ' s house and exulted in consigning the effigy of ll the rebellious needleman" to the flames . Still too true of masses of

      our countrymen , as witnessed by their unthinking conduct in the late general election , in the course of which some thousands , to say the least , seemed only bent and intent upon justifying Beresford , by proving and proclaiming themselves " a rabble . " But despite their ignorance it must be confessed that , in these days , it is not so much the blindness of the ignorant , as the culpable apathy of the enlightened , that is the drag upon the wheel of popular progress .

      " There is no obstacle to those who will ! " A truth accepted by thousands , a truth which falling from the lips of Kossuth thousands will answer with " enthusiastic cheers . " Yet those thousands appears to be utterly bereft of the power—even the wish—to will To live for the Present and for self , heedless of the Future , regardless of the claims of others , appears to be the prevailing sentiment of the existing generation .

      The gospel of selfishness is the accepted religion of the time . If anything avails to stir the stagnant waters of Public Opinion , it is the beastliness of an Achilli trial , the " almighty bosh" of a Derby-Disraeli " appeal to the country , " or the reported arrival of fabulous " nuggets" from " the diggings . " To all high and holy considerations of duty , the nation appears to be absolutely indifferent . Some millions of men born on that " free

      soil , are voteless and landless—pariahs both politically and socially , yet that injustice is bom with and no worthy effort made to obtain redress , scarcely a murmur even to protest against the wrong . Looking from this Island over ihe face of Europe we see nations manacled , gagged , scourged , condemned to the relentless rule of the soldier and the executioner ; yet no pulse of vengeance—vengeance sanctified by Duty throbs in

      this nation s heart . AVithin the circle of our sea-girt shores some hundreds of the victims of Despotism—proscribed for their devotion to Humanity—have sought refuge , and found permission to exist in misery and perish of hunger . In their behalf appeals are made , and the response is some shillings from certain units of Britain ' s population , which few shillings testify to the shame of those who shrink from—and the weakness of

      those who do—their duty . You , the democracy , may , and must put an end to this national shame . As regards the all-important question of Labour ' s enfranchisement , hasty , ill-considered attempts at " organization" and " movement " are far from being desirable . Action—local

      actionthe character and conduct of which I will hereafter indicate , cannot , indeed , be too soon commenced ; but there must be no more sham organizations , denominated " National ; " no more inflated bubbles , deluding for a season , and then collapsing into nothingness . Our next National movement must be worthy of the name , and be so well constituted , so wisely conducted , as to ensure

      the triumph of national right over class-usurpation . Until that triumph is accomplished , it will be difficult —if not absolutel y impossible—to give thoroughly effective aid to the oppressed and struggling people of continentalEurope . With the nation ' s treasury and naval and military forces , under the control of an diarchy , whose sympathies—secret and avowed—are with

      Despotism ; it would require the strongest manifestation of public opinion—a manifestation almost amounting to revolutionary coercion—to force this country ' s present masters to take the side of the nations against their oppressors—the side of Freedom and Progression against Tyranny and Re-action . It is true , much might be done under

      , even present circumstances , in the way of protesting against triumphant brigandage , and living a helping hand to every combination desi gned to push forward the great work of redeeming Europe from the sway of cowl and crown , the rule of the money-bag , the sceptre , and the sword . The " Subscription for European Freedom , " and all other helps towards Europe ' s

      Untitled Article

      redemption shall have the earnest support of this journal . But , for the moment , there is a labour of more pressing necessity—a labour of love , though also a labour of grief ; above all , a labour of duty , admitting of no trifling , postponement , or delay . The position , the unhappy situation , of the continental refugees demands instant attention . During the past three months , a few men have sought the means to afford relief , however inadequate , to our distressed brethren . They have failed , for the collection of some

      twentv TJOUnds nnp . half nf xvlnVTi was Knhsnn'lwl lw twenty pounds—one half of which was subscribed by one person—must be pronounced a failure ; a failure disheartening to the refugees , mortifying to the committee , and discreditable to the country . Let it be understood that the exiles ask for labour , not for charity ; but in the absence of employment they have a claim to

      that hospitality which should be something more and better than a mere phrase . No general terms can do justice to the suffering represented by the two words : " Foreign Refugees . " If I dared to withdraw the veil , and lay bare the particulars of each individual case , apathy would certainly be dispelled ; but not thus must the feelings of the unfortunate be wounded . More I must

      not say than that men of learning , valour , and fame ; men who have sat in the senate-house , commanded on the field of battle , and arrested the attention of Europe by their talents , share with their humbler fellow-exiles a community of suffering which probably may be imagined , but which I may not attempt to describe .

      Brother-democrats , to relieve this suffering I ask your aid . I ask you to seek employment for the refugees ; I ask you to strengthen the hands of the Central Committee . Shame to that man , the more so if he profess to be a democrat , who , on being asked to aid in this work of duty and humanity , folds himself in the mantle of selfishness , and demands with Cain : " Am I my brother ' s keeper ? "

      Countrymen , I beseech you to consider this matter . Rightly you loathe the traitor Bonaparte ; you execrate the ferocious Autocrat , the blood-stained Kaiser , the ^ Prussian Perjurer , the Neapolitan Vampire , and the entire horde of tyrants and assassins , conspirators and executioners , by whom Europe is deluged with blood and tears . But better—ten thousand times better—than

      the most eloquent execration of oppressors will be the support you may-and must give to the defenders of Freedom and champions of Justice . " Our Duty "—not the whole of our duty—but that which demands immediate performance is to give the hand of fraternal aid to the Exiles , thereby assuaging their sufferings , proving our own worthiness , and advancing the holy work of international fraternity , and the solidarity of the Human Race . ., , L'AMI DU PEUPLE .

      Untitled Article

      C ^ " Circumstances compel the postponement several notices and answers to correspondents . We heartily thank the many friends who have pledged to us their support and co-operation . Moneys received fob . Refugees : —J . Watt , Glasgow , Is . ; Paisley , per A . Morrison , 3 s . gg * All letters to the Editor , and communications intended for publication in the Star of Freedom must be addressed to G . Julian Harney ., 4 , Bvunswick-row , Queen-square , Bloomsbury , London . fig ?* All orders for the Star of Freedom must be addressed as above . All Money-orders should be made payable to George Julian Harmey , at the Money-order Office , Bloomsbury . , i

      Untitled Article

      The Militia . Question . —A meeting was held on Thursday , at the County Courts of Durham , for the purpose of making arrangements for the immediate levy of 1096 men as the number ordered for that county , in accordance with the Militia Act . A " Kespectable " Smasher . —William Jarkson , a fashionably dressed young man , son of a gentleman , residing in Newman-street , has been committed to the Old Bailey on a charge of passing counterfeit coins . Murderous Assault . —John Michael , and Hannah Carey , and John Crompton , were on Saturday committed to prison for a murderous assault on the police .

      Birmingham and Oxford Railway . —This line , giving the Great Western an entrance into Birmingham , is to be opened on the first of next month . Release of Mr . Cobbett . —A few days ago , Mr . William Cobbett , son to the late William Cobbett , who had been for many years an inmate of the Queen ' s Bench , was enlarged . Death of Lord Tankerville . —The Gateshead Observer of Saturday states that intelligence reached that office , just as the paper was going to press , announcing the death of the venerable Earl of Tankerville . " "

      The Lokdok Chartered Bank of Australia . —Under this title a bank is about to be established in London , with the object of providing additional banking facilities to the Australian colonies . The Position of Parties in the House op Commons . — . The members returned have been thus classified by the various London journals : — Min . Lib . Lib . Con . Total . The Times ... 284 309 58 651

      DailyNeivs ... 313 338 — 651 Chronicle ... 290 310 50 650 Herald 341 307 — 648 Post 335 366 ~ 651 Globe 289 .......... 329 36 654 Observer 217 329 34 650 Spectator ... 310 344 — 654 Marriages in Ireland . —The total number of marriages registered last year in Ireland by the district registrars under the new act was 9 , 339 ,

      Untitled Article

      SATURDAY , AUGUST 14 , 1852 .

      THE NEW PARLIAMENT . It would serve no useful purpose to burden our columns with long lists of the names unknown or too well known , of the " knights and burgesses" returned to sit in the new Parliament ; and it would be as little useful to speculate upon the course of legislation destined to result from the late mock " appeal to the country . " The issue of the electoral struggle has replaced the contending factions much in the same position they occupied previous to the dissolution of the late Parliament . The several " authorities disagree , considerably , as to the exact number of Ministerialists and Anti-Ministerialists ; one only , the Morning Herald , has ventured to hint at a Derby majority . " The wish is father to the thought . " But the Herald is " out in its reckoning . Still , it cannot be denied that the Ministerialists constitute the most numerous if not the most compact of the various factions . The Daily News thus tells off the several sections : —

      Radical Reformers gy New members pledged to reform \ 26 Liberals and Whigs '" 206 Liberals and Whigs \\ 30 Total Liberals and Free-traders 357 The above may be taken as representing the real force of the Free-traders in Parliament . Let us now turn to the other side and we find— ' Derbyites , 270 Derbyites who have renounced protection 29

      Total Derbyite force 299 In this muster-roll of the Tory camp it will be seen that many elements of discord appear . Some of Lord Derby ' s men " go the whole hog " of protection ; others will protect all things but corn ; others support Lord Derby personally , though " givineup protection " altogether . b The Spectator estimates the Ministerialists as numbering 310 ; the Non-Ministerialists 344 . According to the News the Ministry will be in a minority of 58 according to the Spectator , that minority will be reduced to 44 . In our opinion much will depend upon the policy enunciated by the Government at the opening of the Session . If Ministers venture to propose any material changes in the existing financial system , or any chance of " compensation , " to the landed interest for the loss of the Corn Laws , they will at once call into force and united action , the several . sections of their oppo- ' nents ; and in that case , whoever may come in , Derby Disraeli and Co . walk out . If , on the contrary ! Ministers can succeed in keeping their troops together ' content with the chivalric (!) part assigned to them of defending the altar and the throne against " the encroachments of Democracy , " without receiving " compensation " in meal or malt ; and can contrive , despate all sneers and jeers at their inconsistency , to continue the not very straightforward policy they pursued during the late session , they may and probably will , succeed in commanding a majority upon all ordinary occasions . Every Parliament contains a certain number of

      patronage-expectants , anything but incorruptible , and not unwilling to vote for the reigning Minister " fora consideration . " The new Parliament is rather rich (?) in the possession of a number of political hermaphrodites denominated " Liberal-Conservatives , " and " Conservative-Liberals , "—politicians of easy virtue and no very decided convictions . These worthies may be expected to support or oppose the Ministry according to circumstances . In the meantime the assembling of Parliament is postponed to it is impossible to say when . Something " loving in the distance , ' may probably cut short the intrigues of placemen and their hungry rivals , and cause the Parliament and Ministry to come together in hot haste . The « cloud in the west , " exhibits portentous signs of growing broader and blacker : pray heaven it burst not in thunder , fire ¦ and storm ! W oe to those on either side of the Atlantic who would plunge England and America into a fratricidal warthe direst misfortune that could befall Humanity . —*^ ..

      Untitled Article

      THE POLITICAL ASPECT .

      A new Parliament has just been elected , and will soon assemble for business ; and it is high time to ask ourselves what is the duty of the people with regard to it . The character and the acts of the recently chosen body belong to the future but we must now endeavour to form some estimate of what they are likely to be . This is a difficult task with respect to matters of detail , and their bearin g upon the old traditionary parties of the state ; but a broad and general view of the relations of the legislature to the people is comparatively easy

      Cb^Tanrfifmkm.

      Cb ^ tanrfifmkm .

      Notices To Correspondents.

      NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 14, 1852, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1691/page/8/