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DEFENCE OP THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE (To the ...
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THE RECENT CO-OPERATIVE CONFERENCE (To t...
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NOTIONS TO COKltKHrONDHNTH. J. 1*. of Ip...
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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.
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The True Principle Of Concert Ik Railway...
• fa visitors . And in no class of _Jjersons was this ambition more ardent , or more enthusiastically put in practice than by the servants of the London and Northwestern Company . Each vied with the other in endeavouring to secure regularity with safety . And it Was this spontaneous feeling of interest in the industrial gathering , knowing that success partly depended upon themselves , that gave them the greater interest in tbeir duties at that time , and insured the required attention . And it is the want of this feeling of interest towards the company ( which the Exhibition was enabled to draw forth ) that causes the carelessness and inattention that have since produced the opposite results—the destruction of property and loss of life .
The expansive idea of amalgamation has materially assisted ( though perhaps unconsciously ) to bring about that " concert" which will ultimately insure the general welfare of all ; a step so far in advance of the general administration , that it may be taken as an indication that the time is not far distant when the head that arrived at so clear and disinterested a conclusion of the requirement of the day , will also devise and introduce a policy that shall insure from the employed that feeling of interest and devotion to the _^ perfection and prosperity of the company , as was called forth by the great National Exhibition of 1851 .
That tbis feeling is required , no one will deny ; and that it is obtainable is equally certain , when the proper means shall be used to bring it out . Unfortunately , railway companies , and the North Western with the rest , do not yet sufficiently understand the human animal so as to govern it to the best advantage . The majority of railway managers bave been schooled to the doctrine that man can be forced and disciplined into duty with the regularity of a machine . And they take the army as an evidence of that fact . But that institution itself would , if closely examined , disprove their conclusions in many particulars . That men have
feelings relative to their employers and employment _^ cannot be doubted , and that those feelings may be made subservient to a particular interest is also true , according as that interest is made attractive or reptdsive to the individual . It does not follow that in all cases it can be so successful as the railway liabilities demand it should be . But supposing the army to be the machine as represented , neither does it follow that it is desirable the railway staff of workers should be the same . There is this wide difference between the two , which should never be lost sight of—that while the whole of the movements of the one must be directed
by a superior or despotic power , to tbe other * nueh must _always be left to the judgment and discretion of the employed : and hence the individual , who is in fact held responsible for his discretion and judgment ( or the want of it , ) cannot but feel that the exercise of these faculties of mind , and the services rendered by them , should at least demand an acknowledgment ; whereas , such services aro practically treated as valueless , and men without these abilities and good conduct , or without any real qualification , from private interests alone , are found receiving the advantage of an improved position to which tho more deserving naturally prefer a superior claim .
With this want of appreciation , and tho cold and formal language in which he finds himself addressed by those in authority over him ; denied tho right to think , or of offering an opinion adverse to those who claim to be bis superiors , tbe railway servant is forcibly reminded of his inferior position , until his feelings become alienated and estranged from both his employers aud his emp loyment . And the result is , men to do the work—work tho most responsible that a man can
undertake , if we consider the lives that depend upon the activit y und correctness of his actions—who havo no thought , for the company or tbe public interest , no thought , for the vory great responsibilities resting on themselves , und who only value tbe situation as a means ° ' helping out a mere physical existence . Such is the 'CNulf of mini heing treated rather as a , machine , than " a living , flunking , and feeling human being . Tbe 'licet , of which is the indifference of the men ,
inconto the public , and loss to the company . And " ¦ nee arises the appearance of " over-crowding the ""' , which you allude to . Removing these uppear'Uic . es would no more remove tbe increasing disunities 'o life and properly , thun it would add to the convenience of _fh ( , public , or enrich the exchequer of the oonipuny , while the causes l have imperfectly alluded lo loniuin in operufion . Althoug h the view 1 have taken is not UHUiilly '" _duiowled ged , yet , I have u faith that so soon as tho _Kniut , idea of amalgamation- -which is Keeking , by exoinhng ' be powers of association , or concert , to impart to the public und the proprietors the benefits that only ' concert" can _give—whull havo felt tho boiiullta arising " _»•» tin , _ttotruotion of _uasleM « iuni > etition » ii will then
The True Principle Of Concert Ik Railway...
direct this power to other improvements ; the first of which should be the securing the services of men—by acknowledging them as men , and you will thereby make them more interested in the success of the body by whom they are employed , and our railways will then attain to the regularity and completeness we desire ; and their true and natural office will show itself in hearing a just value , to the proprietor , the public , and the worker _.-Tr-Yours , most respectfully , Noeth Western .
Ar01706
Defence Op The Temperance Cause (To The ...
DEFENCE OP THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sir , — " The dangers of the Temperance movement " have been argued by " Ion" in your paper : I readily grant the justice of that writer ' s remarks , so far as they assail the coarseness and intolerance of Temperance advocates and committees , wherein they impute the worst of motives to our opponents , whether they be licensed victuallers or moderate drinkers . It is , however , well known that drunkenness is a great and unfortunate fact , and the Temperance movement was organized to destroy it : our object being reformation and prevention ; our conditions of membership , abstinence from all intoxicating liquors , without reference to creed , political or religious .
This is all that is meant by the " disagreeable designation , Teetotalism . " " Ion" in other places has taken some pains to show us , that for the sake of truth and progression we ought not to set much by a mere name . Then why object to it ?—we began with it—we have continued with it—and we now see no reason for abandoning it . We dp not pretend that intemperance is the sole cause of all the distress , evil , and oppression , to which civilized flesh is heir , but we do say that there is a vast amount of evil in the shape of immorality , dissipation , disease , imbecility of mind , and wickedness the most gross , all attributable to drunkenness .
It is true that " thousands are hopelessly poor and rigidly temperate at the same time , " but " Ion" gains nothing by this objection _; for it is a fact that intemperance would render their condition still more hopeless ; and we say that Teetotalism , because it is the antidote for drunkenness , will cure all those evils which , as cause and effect , are the result of drunkenness . We say next , that our work would only be half complete were we to rest here , for drunkenness being the effect of moderate drinking , we cannot as social reformers be content in tampering with mere effects , honcc wo -wage war _ugninst all moderate drinking .
Then if it be a fact that much of the evil and distress which at present afflict humanity is the effect of drunkenness , it is also a fact that drunkenness is the effect of moderate drinking , which Teetotalism consistently practised and carried out will cure . In arguing the question fairly , the analogy of " Ion " does not stand good , wherein he compares alcohol to a mutton chop , for any body knows , whatever may be tho conscientious opinion or motive of the vegetarian , that a mutton chop is not a poison , and before " Ion" took this ground he ought to have shown that alcohol is not a poison .
" Ion" tells us that " many have well stored cellars which they supply to their friends , but never were nor ever will be intoxicated themselves . " ( query ) . It is u fact , according to tho law of example , by which man is more or less influenced , that whether such gentlemen bo educated or illiterate , inasmuch as they drink , or cause others to drink , they have a share in the great product of drunkenness . If it be a fact that no man is born a drunkard , then moderation is tho only road to drunkenness , and all who drink have a share in making and perpetuating drunkenness , whether they be priests or philosophers , no matter what may bo their conscientiousness of motive . " Ion" tells us that Temperance hotel-keepers ,
although they be abstainers themselves , ought to supply alcoholic drinks to their customers ; why , to _suy the least , tbis is defending the grossest inconsistency . Does not " Ion" know that some of the most benign movements have been sacrificed by their udvocufes on this very ground , at the shrine of patronage nnd interest , perhaps for a mess of pottage ? If wo grant for the sake of argument that the " educated gentleman , " on the ground of moro opinion , has a right to have his taste satisfied , surely he ought not to insist that the Temperance hotel-keeper , being an abstainer , _sbull be u party to tbe gratifying of a taste that ho conscientiously flunks vitiated . That Home "drink moderately all tbeir life without ever being drunk themselves , " is quite the exception and tbe fact would be no proof tbat alcohol is not a poison . 1 know a woman that lived to u good age , who bud contracted tho habit ef taking _lnudummu until « U could
Defence Op The Temperance Cause (To The ...
take as much at one dose as would kill three healthy men unaccustomed to take it ; but can it be said , therefore , that laudanum is not a poison , because what our opponents would call excess in the men did not kill the
woman . Then the same is true in reference to alcohol . All about the _Homeopathist , the Allopathist , and the Hydropathiifc , can only have reference to invalids , whom the Teetotaler is quite consistent in leaving in the hands of the physician . Few medical men practise for themselves where there is danger , and although men may have a right to choose their physician , and
the kind of medicine , we have no right morally to choose the use of strong drink as a beverage , seeing that it is but gratifying a vitiated taste at the expense of the best interests of society , especially where such practices have a tendency to train up the rising generation in the way tbey should not go . John Watt . Kewcastle-on-Tyne .
[ We readily insert the earnest letter of Mr . Watt , & s we bave those of others on tbis subject . Mr . Watt further presents the other side of the topic discussed , which we are willing should stand before our readers , who after perusing this letter and others in course of insertion , will not we think be of opinion that " Ion " has much mistaken the " dangers of the Temperance cause . "—Ed . ]
The Recent Co-Operative Conference (To T...
THE RECENT CO-OPERATIVE CONFERENCE ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) London , September 4 , 1852 . Sie , —As I am desirous of relieving , if possible , the perplexity of a " Looker-on , " concerning the subject ol the recent co-operative conference , will you permit me to say , in reply to his inquiries , tbat that conference was convoked ( as stated in my former note ) by the " Society for promoting Working Men ' s Associations ;" and that the constitution of the conference was very similar to that of tbe one held at Bury , Lancashire , in April , 1851 , except that in issuing their " proposals " for the conference , the society stated that , " as it is desirable that as many co-operative bodies as possible should be represented at the conference , it is proposed
that any number of associated bodies should be at liberty to unite for the purpose of sending delegates ;" and it also being by the society considered desirable that a larger number of productive associations should be represented at this , than was represented at the former conference , to effect this object it was proposed that such associations , though having a less number of members than distributive associations ( which have generally a much larger number of members ) should be permitted to send delegates . The subjects proposed for discussion at tbe conference , and the conditions of representation were sent to every society known to bo engaged in practical co-operation , and in no one instance was any complaint made as to those conditions , or any suggestion received for their amendment .
The constitution of the " Society for promoting Working Men ' s Associations , " is contained in No . 5 of the Tracts on Christian Socialism . , published by Mr . Bell , of Fleet-street , to which tract I must direct your correspondent for information us to its organization and management , at the same time informing him that I believe it to be in contemplation to revise that constitution , in consequence of the changes that will bo effected in the working associations b y the passing of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act . The proceedings of the society have been regularly reported in the Christian Socialist and thc Journal of Association , until the recent discontinuance of the latter publication . A report of tbe society will shortly be published .
'Ihe resolutions of tbe conference , us contained in tho Morning Advertiser , are quite correct ; a full report is , however , in the press , and will be ready in a few days . Tbe request of your correspondent , and the importance of a clear and cordial understanding between all friends of tbe co-operative movement , must , be my apology for again troubling you . — I am , Sir , your obedient servant , Tiiomab Siiorthk , Secretary to tbe Conference .
Notions To Cokltkhrondhnth. J. 1*. Of Ip...
NOTIONS TO COKltKHrONDHNTH . J . 1 * . of _IpHwioh . Woomil . hiH hitter of oorroboraf ion iiudaoknowlod _^ mont of Ilio nido tulton hy " Jon" on tho Toinnoriuioo _oiw-hI ion , uh wo arc nnxioiiH lo inmjrl , ns niuuy hh potmildo from uin 8 t' ! ititMitM . Wo havo a valuable _ootmuunltiiition from Dr . Loon , of _l-i'tnls ; IoIIcih from Air . J ' i » llist < tr , Air . ( 1 . Hunter , uud _ollioiri , Manding over . Wo aro _obliged to " A _HuliNorihor" for I ho oorrootiou of a Hli f _^ lil , error of _tdtitomonl in our _lunl imprrMH . on . Wo reported lho dinner lo tho Guild of I . itoruLuro at _JVtiuioliCHfer to _liuvo boon held iu Ilio Kroo Trtido Hull , wliureim it wan only tho parlor * innnco of tho Guild thut took _irinuo in the _l- ' roo Trade Hull , and tho _biiiiquot givnn to _tjio Guild by tho luuinhoiau of tho MunoheM tar _Allumtauua , took i ) lm » e iu Out rooms vf tW _Inotitutluui
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 11, 1852, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11091852/page/17/
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