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Leader (1850-1860), 24th August 1850, Edition Country of 1, Page 10

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      The Irrationality Of Governments. London...

      the happiness of all to be much longer supported by any party claiming to be rational in mind or conduct . Its inconsistencies are becoming so glaring , that ehortly none but the most ignorant will openly support them . Early-taug ht prejudices and deep-rooted superstition may for a brief period retain some power ; but a sure criterion of truth having been discovered , it will now be applied to test all bigotry and prejudice of every description . . the examination of

      This test has been applied to the oldest and most fatal of all prejudices—that is , to the assumed notion that the character of man can be formed to be rational , and society be properly constructed and well governed , under the instruction that man creates by his will his own qualities and conduct , and that for these he should be punished and rewarded by his fellow-men . The criterion of truth , which is , that it is always consistent with itself and with all facts , has been

      applied to this notion , handed down to us from our early ancestors to the present day ; and by this unerring test this notion is demonstrated to be a gross imposition on the human faculties and the true origin of evil among the human race . An error , so fatal in its consequences , that it has deranged the reasoning powers of all and destroyed all notions of right and wrong , of truth and falsehood ; until now , very generally over the world , wrong is called right , falsehood is called truth , and grave absurdities are

      called profound wisdom . In proof of these statements , see the inconsistencies of the ruling powers and of the influencing authorities of the present day . These authorities and powers say they desire to make the population of the world good , intelligent , charitable , and kind ; and it is the highest permanent interest of these authorities , and of all men , that these results should be attained and made to progress towards greater perfection in each through all succeeding generations .

      Yet at this hour , over the world , these powers and authorities , through ignorance , are most actively occupied in measures to prevent the population of the world becoming truly good , and to make them bad ; to keep them ignorant , or to teach them most injurious errors ; to prevent its being possible for them to acquire the principles or spirit of charity and love for those taught to differ from them , or to become rational in feeling , thought , and conduct .

      They say they desire to make the population of the world wealthy and happy . Through the excess of ignorance they have adopted the most efficient means to keep the great mass of the population of the world in permanent poverty and misery , while the most ample means everywhere abound to saturate all with wealth , and to ensure the happiness from birth of the human race . These powers and authorities also know , and the facts are too obvious , numerous , and strong for denial , that inferior circumstances of necessity

      produce inferior men , and that superior will produce superior men ; yet do these powers adopt and direct decisive measures to create extensive arrangements , complicated and expensive , to punish what they call crime in the poor and ignorant ; while , with a very small part of the trouble and expenditure rationally applied , the crime , with the poverty and ignorance , might easily and most pleasantly be prevented .

      Will the Governments and people of Europe and America say why this change , so essentially for the benefit of all , should not now be made ?—Why the most active measures should not be adopted , upon rational principles , to have the change commenced at the great meeting of nations in the British metropolis in May next ? Robert Owen .

      514 &%$ Header. [Saturday,

      514 & %$ Header . [ Saturday ,

      C0ste11m0ngers' Supper And Ball. There W...

      C 0 STE 11 M 0 NGERS' SUPPER AND BALL . There was a Costermongers' ball and supper at the " Working-man ' s-hall , " Golden-lane , City , on Monday evening , nt which many friends and wellwishers of the Association and its objects attended . Grace was said by the Reverend E . R . Larken , Rector of Burton-by-Lincoln . The absence of intoxicating liquors and the utmost good humour and good feeling characterized the evening . Some Polish refugees sang one of their national airs . In the intervals of the dancing and singing several of the gentlemen present on the platform addressed the meeting . Mr . Mayhew , who occupied the chair , observed that the present occurrence was an experiment to see if working men could not enjoy themselves convivially without tho aid of inebriating stimulants , and whether they could not forward the objects of tho Association by other means than by exclusive speech-making .

      Mr . G . J . llolyoukc rend a letter from Mr . Thornton Hunt , as follows : — " Will you explain to Buch of our friends as arc likely to miss me that I am kept away by the duty of patching up the crazy bark in which my soul is content to travel the stream of life . I know that nobody will bo so disappointed as myself . I looked forward to the evening with pleased expectation for many reasons . I felt pride in publicly taking sides with my beloved brother in work , Edmund Larken , a true minister of the Universal Church . I have more than once been disappointed of meeting and hearing

      Jerrold on such occasions , and am sorry to be debarred again . I especially wished to meet Mayhew , who has been so strong and zealous a workman in the cause of the People : he is one of the best working men of our day , and his work is not wasted . His every blow tells . " But most of all I am sorry to be kept away from taking my place as one of the servants of the People , visibly in their presence . I hope that the honour is only postponed . Meanwhile they may count upon me , for what I am worth , as one of their servants out at grass .

      " Possibly if I had come , and if there is to be anything said , I might have erred into a profitless breach of rule : you know that I am ' no speaker' ; but also that I am so much filled with politics just now , that if I open my mouth , out pours that unconvivial quality of stream ; and , possibly , you may taboo politics on Monday evening . If I had said a single word , it must have run in that vein . The sight of so many of my fellow men , met under one of the most sacred impulses , labouring against obstructions to the welfare and advance of their kind , must have forced me to utter the feeling of surprise and regret which oppresses me at looking upon those obstructions , which create them

      upon the political and social mistakes , and upon the unconscious sufferance of the people which prevents that people from shaking them off . If the children of the people had faith in themselves and in each other , they might establish the means of coming to a common understanding and a common accord on their condition and its improvement . To every man upon the surface of this planet , by the law of Nature , so far as I can interpret it , are given the elements from which his labour may extract subsistence for himself , his mate , and their progeny ; also the faculties to enjoy the bounties poured out before him . I can see that artificial bungling laws repeal that law of Nature , and convert multitudes

      of the human children of God into what a presumptuous science—a science of those mistakes—calls a' surplus population '; that numbers toil not to live ; and that to many of us , a day ending in ease and happiness , like our Monday , is a rarity , not as it should be , the natural condition—daily rest and recreation after work . But the more I watch the operation of social machinery , the more conscious I become that the depressed condition of the people is a purely artificial state , and that it is one which demands only a common understanding and common accord among themselves for an effective , and not a very remote , self-rescue .

      ' Common understanding and common accord , upon the simplest elementary conditions of life—give that , and the People , knowing what it wants , will simply , most easily , also most peaceably , take it . " Ever yours affectionately , Thornton Hunt . " Mr . George Cruikshank , in giving as a sentiment *• The People , " dwelt on the advantages of teetotalism . The main cause of the prevalence of drinking habits was the lack of means of rational amusement , so indispensable to man after his daily labour . To obviate this he suggested that in every populous neighbourhood there ought to be a large room in which amusement could be combined with mental instruction .

      Mr . Salmon , a member of the body , pointed out the evils to which Costermongers are subject , as one instance , they are charged at the rate of 1040 per cent , per annum for interest on advances for the purchase of their barrows and stock in trade : in their present position they are complete slaves in the hands of those who lend them money . He added that they had in contemplation a mutual improvement society and a library . They hoped soon to effect those objects , but had been delayed by want of funds . Mr . Salmon concluded by a recitation of some interesting lines illustrative of the sufferings of his class , and their prospects of alleviation .

      The Reverend E . R . Larken , complimented Mr . Mayhew , whose exertions originated the association . It would receive support from other philanthropists , but the members should cultivate a manly spirit of independence by relying mainly on their own exertions . He congratulated the body on the practical tendency of all their proposals , especially those for " the Benefit and Loan Fund . " They would succeed in freeing themselves from the usury and other evils of the barrow system , but let them do so in no uncharitable feeling to the wealthier members of their body , recollecting that in similar circumstances their own conduct might have been similarly objectionable . The principle of

      association , already put into practice by bodies of various trades in the metropolis , was not , perhaps , applicable to the same extent to tho Costerrnongers , but could not but be productive of vast advantage to them . Those various associated bodies should form a centre of union , where by delegated representatives their interests might be , by united action , promoted and secured . Mr . Larken concluded by promising the Society , in every available way , his hearty cooperation , and by reminding them that in all their exertions they should consider something more than mero material advantages , and seek at the same time tho mental and spiritual advancement of themselves and those "who were dependent upon them for support .

      New Political Economy. M. Jules Lecheval...

      NEW POLITICAL ECONOMY . M . Jules Lechevalier , a ¦ well-known writer in France upon the social sciences , and who is at present residing in this country , has just finished a very interesting series of lectures , nt Exeter hall , on the grave and important subject which is now beginning to occupy the minds of the reflecting in

      volutions , and maintained that , by the adoption of the associative principle alone , society can be preserved from confusion and destruction . He showed , also , what will surprise many , viz ., that the new political economy , or Socialism , is essentially Conservative , while the present system of unlimited competition , or buying cheap and selling dear , is plainly destructive . M . Iiechevalier bases his system on the moral principles of Christ , and maintain s that Christianity cannot be practically carried out in

      all countries . These lectures have , we believe , been delivered in Paris , and lately in Berlin , where they attracted considerable attention . M . Jules Lechevalier ' s system , which he denominates * ' New Political Economy , " is based upon the principle of association , in opposition to that of competition and laissez-faire , which constitute the groundwork of the school of the present political ( Economists . In the course of his series the lecturer pointed out , in forcible language , the gradual tendency of the competitive principle to produce extremes of riches and poverty , and ultimately

      reany other way . His lectures abounded in interesting examples of the working of the two opposing systems , and we are glad to learn the whole of them will shortly be published in English ( they were delivered in French ) , for it is the duty of all who desire the peace and happiness of the world to study the vexed question of •? labour , capital , and skill ; " and we can assure those who take an interest in the subject that in M . Jules Lechevalier ' s system they will find ample food for thought and meditation .

      The Working Associations Of Paris.—We Sh...

      The Working Associations of Paris . —We shall give a short series of articles on the Working Associations of Paris , written by a gentleman of the late Weekly Tribune , who has lately visited Paris , and made careful enquiries into the state of these Societies . SociAii Improvements in Gaol . —It is pleasing to record the improvements that are making their way in certain classes of society , hitherto deemed almost irreclaimable . I learn that a report has been just , presented to the authorities on the state of the prisons of Paris , and that a really wonderful change is perceptible . In the prison situate in the Hue St . Lazare , where unfortunate women are confined , this is particularly the case .

      The management of that part of the prison has been removed by the Prefect of Police , M . Carlier , from the control of the civil authorities , and completely entrusted to a religious order , the Sisters of St . Joseph . The benefit derived from the new regulation introduced by those admirable women is something wonderful . The discipline has been entirely changed , and during the time — some four months only — that the Sceurs de St . Joseph have managed the establishment , not a single degrading punishment of the kind hitherto practised has taken place or been found necessary . — Times Correspondent , July 23 . [ We should be glad to see from the same pen an account of the past and present discipline , as showing how the chance has been effected . ]

      Working Builders' Association . —We hear , from authentic sources , that the Working Builders have succeeded in setting about the establishment of an association similar to the tailors , bootmakers , and bakers . They are full of courage and industry ; Mr . Vansittart Neale has already employed them in repairing his house , and they have promises of support from the other gentlemen who compose the body called " Promoters of Associations among Working Men . " If they are only held together by the bond-timber of unity , and the management is carried up fairly on the square , if they can manage to work the business of the Association as they work in their trade , heartily , manfully , and with care , we can see no reason why they should not prosper .

      Money-order Office . Reform . —A requisition to the following effect is in course of signature in the metropolitan cities and boroughs : —" We respectfully direct attention to the alleged misapplication of the public money in the management of the money-order department of the General Post Office . It has been publicly said that , in this department 240 clerks have been appointed , when only 22 were necessary , and that competent parties are prepared to give substantial sureties

      and to undertake the management of the office for £ 3920 per annum , which , according to the latest Parliamentary returns published , is £ 23 , 299 less than the amount annually expended for salaries and allowances at the chief office . We , therefore , are of opinion that a most searching investigation should be immediately instituted , for the purpose of obtaining either a reformation of the abuses , or a refutation of the very serious charges alleged . '' _ __ _ _ addressed

      Dr . Watts , of Manchester , a large public meeting in the Townhall , Macclesfield , on Tuesday evening last , in favour of establishing a public park and free library in memory of the late Sir Iiobert Peel . The meeting was highly enthusiastic , and resolved unanimous ly to carry out the object . Just Opinion of Soutjiuy . —I incline to think there will come a time when public opinion will no more tolerate the extreme of poverty in a large class of the community than it now tolerates slavery in Europe . Meantime it is perfectly clear that the more we can improve the condition of the lower classes , the greater number of customers we procure for the home market ; and that , if we can make people pay taxes instead of poor-rates , the wealth as well as the security of the State is increased . The poor-rates are a momentous

      subject . I see , or think I see , palliatives and alteratives , in providing the labourers with garden and Rrass land , in establishing savings-banks , in national education , in affording all possible facilities aud encouragement for emigration , and in colonizing at home upon our waste lands . —Southey ' s Correspondence .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 24, 1850, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24081850/page/10/