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PASSING EVENTS. 215
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
<U ^ Month It Is Obviousl To Compete Y I...
A measure recently proposed for the emancipation of the serfs appears to be meant in genuine good faith . Meetings of nobles have been held in most of
the provinces to prepare plans for carrying it out , and at the first sitting of that of Nijni _Novgorod , General Mouravief , the military governor of the province , held language reflecting high honour both on himself and the sovereign of
whose wishes he may be presumed to be the organ . He reminded his audience , consisting of serf proprietors , that " moral interests take precedence of material ones " ( though the two we believe are not often really incompatible ) .
He alluded to the argument often plausibly urged in favour of slavery , that " the slaves themselves in many instances desire no change . " " Among the people whose material existence we have to secure , there is
many an individual who , content with his present position , desires no other . Glory and honour to the owners of such individuals , but their _happiness is merely fortuitous . You , gentlemenare called upon to substitute certainty for chance
, —to remove from the administration which relates to an entire class of persons everything of an arbitrary character ; but success will not be obtained in this , so long as we see in man a mere productive power , similar to that of animals
in general : we shall only obtain success by resuscitating the human dignity that has been stifled , and by invoking the assistance of free labour . Do not separate from your material calculations the respect due to the rights of man _"
The very phrase of " the rights of man " heard in such a quarter seems to indicate the inauguration of a new era . Nothing is easier of course than to meet all this with sneering doubts of its sincerity—but we trust it is now no longer a
point of patriotism to doubt the possibility of Russia's advancing on the career of civilisation and humanity . We have a strong conviction , too , that a Russian serf is no less " a man and a brother . " than a slave of darker complexionand
we cannot look with indifference on the prospect of so mighty a change , for the better in the j _> osition of twenty-two millions of people . But we have good tidings too for those who think a black skin and a woolly head
indispensable conditions of sympathy . A Mr . Thomas Glegg , of Manchester , has published an account of some very successful efforts recently made to establish a cotton-trade with Western
Africa by the agency of native Africans only , it being considered that if Europeans took it up it might result in a revival of the slave-trade . One hundred and fifty-seven cotton-gins have been sent outand communication opened
, with seventy-six African traders , and 929 bales of cotton produced , though unfortunately more than 300 were afterwards destroyed by fire . From the increased facilities now obtained , it is calculated that 10 , 000 bales per annum
may be looked for . The cotton is said to be of a good quality , the best substitute for the American , and fetching in the Liverpool markets twopence or threepence a pound more than the East Indian . " Every ounce of cotton has
been collected , " says Mr . Glegg , " all the labour performed , and all the responsibility incurred , by native Africans alone . I believe that the trade will
prosper—first , because it will have God's blessing upon it ; secondly , because Africa is naturally adapted to the growing of cotton , as everywhere it springs _spontaneoiisly , and is indigenous to the soil ; and , thirdly , because wherever
else cotton will grow , _peojole cry out for the African to come and help them , showing in my opinion that he is its natural cultivator also . " Parkthe second of the two English engineers , so long unjustly and cruelly
imprisoned , in Napleshas at last been sent back to England , and has published an account of the , shameful treatment to which he and his companion
were subjected during the reign of the " spirited Minister" who was so keenly
Passing Events. 215
PASSING EVENTS . 215
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1858, page 215, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051858/page/71/
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