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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd October 1852, Edition 1 of 2, Page 11, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      vivi < l and strong , and among the nations who , fighting for liberty , "P to assert your place . To the Czar who , three years ago , had to Manifesto denied your .. nationality , you have answered in the Manifesto of your national committee by preaching the holy crusade trdemocracy- If there were a need for it , you have , by showing to ! L world-yowr nationality , which has grown and strengthened under e lash of its enemies , one more proof of the eternal truth that V areat nationalities are immortal . Roumanians ! the nations have heard your appeal , and to us mlians , it has conveyed a sound indicative of our common origin , tre are ready , brethren ; he you also ready ; strengthen the ties which unite you with your neighbours , the Greeks and the

      Slave-, lians ; strengthen them above all , with the Hungarians , your brothers both in errors and sufferings . Forget your differences / an d fra t ernally shake hands with each other . The Hungarians are brothers to you , as , like you , they demand justice for all , fraterniiy between all , and a close union between the oppressed against the jeasne of the oppressors This bond of fraternity , extended by your ancestors from the Tiber to the Danube , which time and calamities had broken , will l » e soon reunited again . Hitherto the Roumanian in Venice and the Italian at Hermanstadt , both soldiers of Austria , used to oppress the peop le , and in tongues possessing identical sounds called out to them » Obey I" Now-a-day , thank God , peoples have entered into a new

      jife . The Roumanian- garrison have ,-in the peasant of the Lombard valleys , acknowledged a brother , and the Italian garrison have r ecognised his own home-accents uttered among the mountains of Transy lvania . And soon will break the day when the Italian regiments * in Roiimania will fight side by side with their Roumanian brethren , as the Roumanian regiments in Italy will fight side by side with us , our common motto being , " One for All , and All fou Each !"

      Untitled Article

      exist only m the memory . If these movements have passed away is it extraordinary that the Chartist movement should be Sis ? rhere wanted new blood infused into an agitation Mr Newton is b ^ ffi * " * ^ f ^ ; You ^ inasmuch as he has n been actively associated with the movement now nasspd awnv T differ with Mr . Newton in reference to the ba J o h s proiLted oftZL ^ ^ - SUffmge al ° neiS nOt » Mhood « ttw'S , Gall c Z Olher ^ ddltlons n « cessary t (? ™^ it a verity and not a ? rj m ; The matter , however , u not yet fully discussed , and l sliould wish to hear a great deal more on the question . Mr New-SmrliS ^ - ' 11 SVC& - ? f ' whert others of experience have expressed their views , it is to be hoped that a common ground of agree , ment and union mil be arrived at . The question must not be hurried - lne public mmd , in my opinion , is not yet in a state to receive the advances ot any party , however promising it may appear . Witness the present stagnation of parties-net one capable of vigorous effort

      any . I think that ior a new movement to succeed we should wait till it is lrnpelled from circumstances outside our own circle-such circum-S . Ce f m ^ ° ? , a very short time ' certainly at no very distant period . A revolution on the Continent , or some political conflict m our own Legislature , both of which are possible ; immediately would arouse the dormant spirit of our countrymen , who would rally round a veritable party for the enfranchisement of the people . Such a party would have no faction-faction itself would be submerged , in the great gatherings of the people . When such a party is iormed , though I shall be ready to give it my advocacy , I must be excused if I take not a leading part therein . My views will be directed , not merely to the suffrage , but also to the iulure , when the 'Charter shall have been obtained . It is better for new men to have the guidance of this movement . To such

      men , if I can give them my confidence , I shall cheerfully submit . Let such a movement be inaugurated , and We shall soon establish the reign of political and social justice . Mr . Harriey resumed his seat amid the cheers of the meeting . Mr . Thornton Hunt then spoke at some length , and alluded to the apparent absence of the spirit which , once distinguished our ancestors . To be worthy of liberty we must be like the

      Americansshewthat . we are not afraid to fight for its defence . The American ha . s his rifle , and will use it in protection of his hard-won liberty . So should the Englishman-be resolved . We must have our rifles , and spirit to use them , and even the demonstration of such spirit would get our rights , and would maintain them without bloodshed . Mr . Robert Le Blond followed , and , in the course of an eloquent speech , said , if-men-would set up . a little man-god instead of principies , they would stultify themselves . We must be no longer like the lion and the fox quarreling about the prey not yet run down . The struggles of Reformers should be confined to the one thing needful . If they are strong enongh to carry one point they will carry the whole . . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦

      Mr . Le Blond having concluded his remarks amidst the applaus of the meeting , some conversation arose as to . the propriety of adopting the resolution , and it was finally agreed that the meeting should be considered as merely discussional and preliminary , and the audience dispersed evidently well pleased with so temperate and- wellconducted a discussion . It is expected that another meeting of a similar character will be held in the course of a week or two .

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      A NATIONAL PARTY . FINSBURY MANHOOD SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION . On Sunday morning last a select meeting of the members and frie nds of the Finsbury Manhood Suffrage Association was held at their hall , Ray-street , Clerkenwell . Mr . Johnson took the chair . After the secretary had read letters of apology for absence from various gentlemen , Mr . Hockley moved a resolution to the effect that a committee he appointed to consider the best means of inaugurating a National Party for the accomplishment of manhood suffrage .

      Mr . Benbow seconded the motion . He had for the term of a long life been a reformer . He had supported Major Cartwright in his demand for household suffrage . When the Chartist movement was inaugurated he felt glad to think that it was a movement worthy of the people ' s support . His enthusiasm at that time led him to believe that the agitation would soon accomplish its object . Since the year 1838 , however , they had gone on one long year after another and were further off now than they appeared to be then . Much of this had been due to the hostility raised to the movement in the public mind by those who had pretended to advocate the Charter .

      We had had a succession of political tricksters . One after another they came forth to serve their own ends and make a trade of-asita * tion . These men did not want the Charter , because they could no longer live by agitation . Political tricksieis had given a handle to every government , and had so Drought Chartism into disfavour that it was now powerless for good . He had travelled in the north , the toasted stronghold of the principles , and he found that Chartism there was nothing but a farce . The Chartists made a mistake in calling themselves the people—they never were the majority , and it

      was no libel to say that in an agitation they never would be . Places he could mention where Chartism was strong once , but where there is not now a single man who will give his adhesion to the party . He agreed with the proposal to agitate for Manhood Suffrage . If the people are to have a real movement they must lop off everything but the principle , and must agitate for one thing only . Let them leave the details to a Manhood Suffrage Parliament . The people "being free " , their parliament would soon make arrangement for theequalisation of districts , payment of the members , and all the other modes of making the suffrage national . r

      Mr . Osborne dwelt upon the utter mefficacy of pursuing the old round of agitation . It was a singular fact that in this democratic borough the Chartists were completely outvoted during Mr . Duncombe ' s candidature upon the question whether Mr . Buncombe sliould be pledged to the Charter . The hall was full , and there were not more than six tovofe for the Charter , " whole hog . " Upwards of sixty lectures had been given in this hall , and during the

      whole time [ not six strangers were enrolled in the "National " Charter Association . Mr . Osborne appeared to think the name of Chartist to be in disfavour , through prejudice , too strong to remove . He would , therefore , support an agitation for the suffrage only . How many adherents had they gained by their amendments ? None , but had lost friends . Mr . Osborne resumed his seat amidst applause . The chairman observing Mr . G . Julian Harney present , thought the meeeting would be gratified to hear any remarks Mr . Harney

      would be pleased to make . ' Mr . Julian Harn ey then rose and said . - —Friends ,-As I have been directly appealed to I will say a few words . I had no hope when I received the invitation that I should be able to attend this meeting , having an engagement with a gentleman relative to the employment of some of the unfortunate refugees . ' I have been ao e to terminate the interview sooner than I expected . I will only repeat the terms of the letter I sent to your secretary , and say that I consider this meeting , if called for any other purpose than ciscussionas being premature . Much remains to be said yet , on the

      , principles which shall be enunciated and the policy which shall be pursued by the new party . Mr . Newton has taken the lead in suggesting the formation of a National Party , and to that gentleman should be conceded the initiative of convening a meeting for action . That a thoroughly new movement is needed will not be denied by any but those who are interested in upholding faction ; and I am here , sir , face to face , and teeth to teeth with those who wish to answer me , to make that declaration which I made months ago in siting , that the Chartist organisation is literally dead . Yes , dead ; Its les immortal

      and no galvanised efforts can revive it . principare . They can never die . But the old worn-out agitation js no more . And here let me express my contempt for those who , to serve their own ends have distorted such language into a declaration that the principles aTe dead . Such language I never used . I said , that m my belief there was for Chartism no future existence save through aj new birth coupling therewith my views on the policy of forming a new party , avoiding the errors of the past . The same 1 repeat . Chartist organisation is dead . 1 hat which is supposed to exist is but a hollow sham ; falsehood alone can deny

      that it is a .-sham . I have been too long connected with Chartism not to know what your " localities" mean . We see the name ' s Brompton , Chelsea , Tower Hamlets , and so on , and the veritable peopl e of these places are actually ignorant of the existence of any semblance of agitation among them . Half-a-dozen men here and a less number there , passing themselves off as " The Chartists of the district / ' It is no new thing for movements to die out ; many have met such a fate before accomp lishing their object . The "

      Consti tutional Society , " the " Bevolution Society , " of sixty years ago , and the « Hampden , " the "Sydney , " and " Speneean" Associalions , of thirty years ago . p 4 s ? e 4 &way from tfte world , mi a 9 ?

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      TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE . LETTER "PROM JOSEPH HUME , M . P . . ' . . ' ¦ " Burnley Hall , 10 th of Oct ., 1852 . Dear Sir , —Your letter of the 7 th instant onl y reached me yesterday , and I hasten to answer your question . la the first place , you are right in using your best efforts to increase the number of Associations for removal of the Taxes on Knowledge , and I think the question becomes daily more and more approved of by all persons , except the Whigs and Tories—both these parties oppose , as they consider Government and its profits theirs alone ; and that the spread of knowledge endangers their monopoly of power and profit ! When I look back to the Deputation that attended Lord John . Russell , of which vou were one , and heard his declaration that be considered the

      repeal of these taxes only as a question of revenue , and yet after the evidence before the Committee on that subject , refused to do anything towards the objects which the Association have in view , when he had the power , I must protest altogether against the Association demeaning themselves to ask Lord John ' s assistance , now that he is out of power , and cannot do anything to aid us in the struggle . He will now make professions , I dare say , but I should consider them hollow and valueless .

      I consider Lord John as not sincere as a Reformer both civil and religious ; and , after the speech on my motion for Reform in 1850 , and his do-nothing policy afterwards , when he could have acted and could have kept the Reformers together , and have kept the Tories out of power , I would not pay him the compliment that you proposer 1 wiih I could look on his speech at Perth as honest and sincere—which I do not : and I theveofore object to the Association demeaning itself b y the course you propose . We shall certainly succeed—but it will be against both the Whigs and Tories ; and I would hold both parties cheap in regard to their assistance .

      All the Whigs deprecate in words the fettering of the Press ; and yet , with power in their hands , they have pertinaciously refused to knock off any one link of the enslaving chain that prevents tbe spread of knowledge , and the education of the Nation . I hope that Mr . Cobden and other members will agree with me > and that you will keep a high hand , and set the two great oppressing parties at a distance . , I remain , your obedient Servant . To C . D . Collett , Esq . JOSEPH HUME .

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      City Locality . —Locality meeting , Oct . 10 , 1852 , Mr . Diclcson in the chair , the 'auditors that were appointed at the previous meeting , brought forward the balance sheet , and stated that they had found the income to be 2 Z . 4 s . 0 £ d . the expenditure 1 Z . Is . Od . leaving iibalance in hand of the treasurer of 11 . 3 s . 0 £ d . The balance that was received , after which , Mr . Slocombe moved , and Mr . Mather seconded , that 10 s . be sent to the new Executive of the " National ^ barter Association . " Mr . Washington moved , . and Mr . Travers seconded , the following amendment . " That the Members of this locality of the late National Charter Association , seeing no political body efficiently struggling for the emancipation of the people , and hearing of the practicable formation of a national party for the attainment of universal suffrage , resolves to withhold its funds until a time arrives fora well considered disposal of the same . " Some considerable discussion having taken place , Mr . Taylor moved , and Mr . Farrali seconded , that the locality stand adjonrned;—carried .

      Public Meeting at Leicester . —A public meeting was held in the Market Place , Leicester , on Monday evening , Mr . J . Elliott in the chair , when the following resolution was passed . Moved by Mr . J . Newton , and seconded by Mr . G . Buckby : " That this Meeting views with feelings of the highest indignation and contempt , the conduct of those parties who render themselves the tools of persons whose conduct is equally ascontemptable , and whose dastardly and unprincipled object is to make null and void , if possible by any means , the late election of Messrs . Walmsley and Gardner , which was solemnised by the united and unbought votes of more than 1 , 700 liberal and independent electors of this borough —an example if carried out in other parts of this country , would ultimately lend to the entire enfranchisement of the male adult population . This meeting is also fully sensible that there is not the slightest foundation to warrant such disgraceful pix ^ e . dings as are now bein ^ carried , on by the worst enemies nf . the people , "

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      CO-OPERATIVE . THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING WORKING MEN ' S ASSOCIATIONS . ( From the Society ' s First Report . ) -ZSo ,, ' ^ »! l T' ? V ***" f 0 '' 1 Omo ' " Working Men ' s Association . Z ir 1 ¦ the Ttat * :

      Z , : zz ,, T ** """"• -,: ;» need to look far , or hesitate long , in London . Whenever the catcl is the e will the eagles be gathered together . Comnelitinn ihr , S t V , ' everywhere , is practically and activelv Sf 1 St ° ' V ^ T ^ * mi * ,, f **< .. *» » i , uv , . * . JLi . " . out cluefly ln h" » dc , and m that part of trade which is most and

      necessary most univer 1 wi V every day wants , our food , out clothes , ou ,- ftnC L " UPphe ' ° hold , from which she proclaims day by day an ve ^ r bv " ' ° ' , " * T ^ 8 tronB - that to buy cheap and sell dear-in o he ' r w rds to nnl ^ ° Spe 1 ' necessity an excuse for giving less thaS y " u Z Bft , and tkin ^ H " ^ are entitled to-ta the true wisdom of a nation oftrndSJ Tl" ? IZ , r H is cons idered a sort of wicked madness , or at best IiL , £ ? n ° S ^ an foUy t , deny here in England ; and which sits triumphant overth " wwkTon and the manufactory , uncontradicted , except by the voiceless misery « nhe millions who are daily giving more of their life ' s labour for less of the comforts and necessaries of life ; or by the occasional outbreak of some grf at strike Tor t advance of wage . s , or shortening of the hours of WOrk ' , which iMits un for ¦ ' 7 &VSJT- which isever - *¦* * - ' « - ^ "Sr .:

      of 1 49 of , r rT \ f ^ the Mmiin ° Chronicle in tIie ^ amn o 1849 , of the state ot the tailors and needlewomen of London , were tho immet m C h 1 l ? ' m ! ltiOnOt our Sodefy - Our fil ' ""' ing was if n ftovember 1849 , and at that meeting eight or ten gentlemen , and two or three work , ng men , determined to start an Association of Tailor . ; choo inVtM tr de because w had already a man whom we could thoroughly trust as mana e \ nd becaua we could immediately ensure a certain amount of usiness to t A oc tion by becommg ourselves its customers . And now , having as we cliev h d hold ot he true idea , we have to confess that our first attempt , to cam n oit were all wrong . We assumed that all the slopworks of London mu be aUve to the ev . ls of their , position , and reudv to fry PSy nd meekly any plan which otVeved a ^ livmnce . Ve did C ^ Xe SilSirS *? *'? fw «* P * eBt : called together

      ' ^ . ;« . "I' ««» we large bodies of talbrs , and told them , hat we MeS ^ o , ZlZ S ^ S r , t ^ T thGir nameS ' SCarCeIy *» « W » to thdr ^ W ters and set them down together at once in the house we had taken -34 Castle-street Oxford-street , to work out the great principle of AISaUon " d show the wotId what brotherly labour and self-governmenUould I TZ rkh - men . ^ Meantime , no sooner had our first Association started , than quest oul of all sort , arose as to its constitution and government , it relations to its ^ o un der and the pubhc ; moreover , other bodies of working-men applied to us f " h same land of help as we had given to the tailor ,. It became necessarvthtofol hat we should meet often , and organise ourselves so as to act with effect u . on tbe bodies of the working-men with whom we were getting into cLexto . nd so m February , 1850 , the Society was definitely formed , into the s pe id U still lceeps , and took offices at 458 , New Oxford-street

      We have published full details as to the organization of the Society in Tract V , on Chnstum Socialism ; it is needless therefore here to enter u ^ o . b JCct . In order however that thfaBeport may be understood by those wo ve never seen the Tract , Ave may here state shortly : —tliat the Societv consis of Promoters and Associates . The promoters are represented b 7 Cou O twelve , under the chairmanship of the . President of the Society . The Assod ef CeSr ? ' , S 0 C 1 ' f ° " S COn " BCfed WitU Uie S 0 c 5 et >« ^^ epreLn r y ; Centra Board , under the chairmanship of one of their own body , elected by themselves Tho Council of Promoters has charge of all business which the So " aety may have w , th the public at large , and of the teachings which the Society may fee itself bound to put forth : it has acted also in practice as a Court of Arbitration , to which the Members of the Associations may come , if the 2 ™ when - internal disputes arise . The Central Board settle , L trade . Statt A ction * ami their relation , with one another and the public Ttrndrng bodies . Both of these bodies meet weekly . h

      The first difficulty which the Sociely had to meet was the impossibility of giving a legal existence to tbe Associations which were growing up around if If the number of members was less than twenly-flye , they were all partner , consequently , under the law ns it , then stood , every individual Member had power to pledge the credit of the Society , and might have made away with t « n stock or refused to obey the laws of the Society , while the onlv remedy agaTnst uch dishoneaiy was a suit in Chancery . If the Association numbered more than twenty . fi ve it placed itself out of tbe pale of legal protection , unless it chose to S ? ^ 6 , i" * ? ek Corn l » ies' Act ; the provisions of which , being L ^ T , ° M S ° fpetS" « rt » eribU . g capital merely , and not labour , were totally inappl . eable and too expensivein any caseto have been of

      , , use Under these circumstances , we made the best shirt we could for the time betaby vesting the whole property of ' each Association in Trustees , and civin- them power at any moment to enter , and deal summarily with that proper y ° We also seUenously to work to get the Law altered , and as Mr . Slaney had iust obtained a Committee of the House of Commons upon the WmJ ^ rtii Working Classes , we sent members both of the Council and Central Board to dve evulence before it , of this great want in our Statute Book . Mr . Blaney took I e mater up warmly , and tbe Report of his Committee urwd strongly he ncc c of giving proper facilities to working-men to combine together , for the ^ l nS ^ S ^^ ° ° tUeh " 0 W " ben 6 fit - In thC Autamn of flS ib tlie Bill

      m ^ ( ou ; , which has since i ^ asspi intn T . i « r ... „ ,, _ . _ „ , _ yoo , j uWum wn . cn has since passed into Law , was prepared by Mr Ludi , w ? 7 i « , C 0 Undl ° rr 0 inOters ) ttnd Carl > ' in « ' « ^ sessfon hv th x- ' ertions ot Mr Blaney and other gentlemen , it was submitted to and ailovrd by Ithe then Government , who undertook to pass it , hut did notkee , he i wo f 12 iiz ir ^ r e Iate sessbn ' ° s 52 ) *• * - ^ ; , s IMw h I , ! Government Illlvil 1 ^ Wf « sed to take it up-and that gentleman seconded by Mr . Tufnell and Mr . Sothoron , succeeded iu readlnpl ! , a "' ! l > 'T'nS a SC ! efit Commi"ee <* ^ House upon it in May . It ih st 1 however have stood

      over the session , but that several member , of Lord Derby ' s government took it up warmly , Lord John Manuers and Mr . Henley at-Se Bilfv , COm 1 tte f , regUlariy ' andsU P ^ Mr . Slnney at the third Sing . The BH vas read a tlnrtt Ume m Juno , and is now Law . Its short title is The Industna ana Provident Societies' Act , 1852 , " and , under its protons all bodies ot working men joining together for the purpose of trade mayTel themselves , and so obtain a legal existence . It enables them to sue aTbe , nS in the name , of their officers , gives a summary tribunal to which " ti y ,, nyZ peal m cases of d . spute , and power to bind their members by their rul Zl machinery o the Friendly Societies' Act . has been adopted , and SStnr rf Friendly Societies will now register Associations and Co-op rative Stores

      The Report then details the highly important and successful hbours ot Mr . Walter Cooper in the provinces ; and the ^ s he President of the Societ y to Bury , & < ,, &c . ; also the lectures delivered by members of the Society in London proSSlW ^ ^ ^' faiUotei ' ^ r - ? ' ? - " 4116 ' " - tra < Ies I ) roke out ' the Society could not " iem- entltTn ? t "" ™ l \ ° " ^ hand » lhe doctri »« ** ' «** in lhe i S " ? ? ° f tle Case of !»« Employerof Operative Enrincers / ' of the

      ,. , .. , hbou , 1 " 8 h 0 d ; w 1 Ilath . allk « d ^ h Iih 0 Wn | When he had once bought his 1 . bom by a "lnwfnl burgain , " excited its strongest reprobation , as being opposed to ... 1 those principles of mutual dependence and mutual justlcu whicn it had becu endeavouring to inculcate . On the oiher hand , we could not but be deeply pained to see a contest in which so much of right was on the side of the workingmen assume in its progress more and more the fruitless character of other similar disputes , and vast funds , which might have employed many a willing hand

      m co-operative labour , exhausted once more in the effort to maintain thousands in idleness . On the whole , one duty as a Society seemed to be to stand b y , and as iar as might be , to secure justice ioi- the working-men by enlightening opinion —above all , to strive to turn the dispute , whatever might be its issues , to the advantage of the cause of ftllow-wQii'j-ancj if ) the meantime , to leave jn . < JiYidua

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      fr ^ f ______ THE STAR OF FREEDOM . m

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 23, 1852, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1701/page/11/