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Leader (1850-1860), 8th February 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 134

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      Untitled Article

      Poland with innumerable troops , and the K ing of Prussia had begun to get the ascendancy over the revolution of Berlin , that they said to us . — ' Go , organize your country ; place your experience at its service ; the roads thither have been widely re-opened for you . ' We _ went—our hearts full of grief , with death in our souls . We wentbecause we ought to have done so , for at that solemn moment Poland ought not to have been deprived of the cooperation ofher exiled children ; who , by the Democratic Society , have been so perseveringl y guided on the new path to futurity . We went—and in about a month afterwards we were driven away by the bombardment of Cracow and by the dismemberment of the Grand Duchy of Posen , and the promise of national organization , by which the exiles were allured , and the country lulled to sleep , vanished in a pool of blood . " We do not amuse , we simply narrate .

      " Besides , in 1848 , Poland was in a state of complete disorganization . In consequence of the movement of 1846 , the great bulk of the Democrats in the kingdom of Poland and in Lithuania , was either hung , banished to Siberia , or imprisoned ; and in Gallicia and Cracow all those who were not slaughtered by Metternich and Szela ' s hired assassins , were either wandering in exile , or confined in prisons . As to the Duchy of Posen and Western Prussia , the dungeons of Berlin contain—in consequence of the monster process—117 patriots

      sentenced to death or imprisonment . All hope , it is true , was not yet lost ; new conspiracies were formed , new relations established ; but , alas ! the centre of these scattered forces was no more in the country itself , but in the hands of the Democratic centralization in exile . Thus the impulse in 1848 could only proceed from the emigration , or rather from the chiefs of the conspiracy in 1846 , who , in consequence of the Vienna and Berlin revolutions , were set at liberty . " We have thus explained the principal reasons why he Democratic emigration was prevented from acting .

      " As to our compatriots released from prison , they , of course , believed that the old order of things was for ever at an end , —that the moment of Poland ' s redemption had arrived , and that there was nothing to do but simply to prepare for war against Russia ; a war in which the Poles were to be supported by Germany , by France , nay , by the whole of Europe . Alas ! these hopes proved to be sheer delusion ; but how could they avoid being deluded , when from all sides such words of hope were to be heard , —when , shortly after having been sentenced , tortured , imprisoned , they saw themselves at once perfectly free in the midst of the capital of their enemy , greeted by the

      out-cry , ' Long live Poland ! ' and received by the King himself , who , from the balcony of his royal palace , rendered forced homage to his captives ? We could , perhaps , blame their too easy confidence , but we could not reasonably condemn them . Honest souls are always confiding . It was , after all , justifiable in men , who , suddenly released , read in the declaration of Frederick William , that the provinces not being thorough German ones , were allowed to organize themselves as they pleased ; and Who with amazement saw their countrymen hastening to the Grand Duchy of Posen , armed by the police of Berlin , with weapons taken from the arsenals of that capital .

      " Others less justifiable of our compatriots rallied around the effete dignitaries , whoso first care , alter having formed themselves into committees , was to negotiate with the agonizing government , and to yield to it larger concessions than it could have expected . " These committees soon invested the prisoners of Berlin with public functions , which , absorbing their activity , deprived them of taking the initiative . Posen , like Milan , had — though under another name—its Carlo-Alberto party . With M . de Lamartinc ' s manifesto in hand , this party kept on recommending union , wisdom , and moderation , and whilst they were wasting precious time , M . de Lamartine ' s diplomatic a ^ ent at Berlin took advantage of it , in order to forge false and calumnious reports . *

      " By such means was impeded the external propaganda , viz ., that in the kingdom of Poland , in . Lithuania , and the ltussian provinces , whose inhabitants necessarily awaited the watchword from their better-informed brethren ( the Poles of Posen ) , who pretended to enjoy the privilege of arming themselves . Internally , viz ., in the Grand Duchy of Posen itself , the insurrectional organization was replaced by so-to-say regular stocks of regiments which , though their formation was formally authorized by the Prussian government , were , as fast as they succeeded to partly form themselves , disbanded by the latter . These pullingB and haulings produced

      the conflict whose short but glorious phases moved the Parisians , and gave rise to the manifestation of the lftth of May , 1818 , in Paris . Cracow nnd Gallicia were obliged to continue the temporizing policy of Posen without , hoping to derive any good on the part of the French government , whose adviccH were rather yielded to than followed . After the bombardment of Ijembcrg , all the exiles still remaining in ( iallicia , and who were furnishing the press with propagiindistic materials , and spreading thorn by every other means , were mercilessly expelled , whilst , thv debris of the Polish youth wet off across the buttle fields of heroic ; but hupless Hungary towards a painful and remote exile .

      " To resume our argumentx , we affirm that the preaching of the peace , at any rate by M . de Laniartine , in the name of republican France on the one hand , and the iiiHuHicieucy of the organization of the Democratic pnrt . y in Poland on the other , were the reasons which , in \ 8 iH prevented our country from answering the general expectation otherwise than by partial , subordinate movement *! , which compelled the kingdom of lHlf » , f that core of Poland , to remain quiet . . . . "

      Dtnrarnrfir. Stttdltgmtf

      Dtnrarnrfir . Stttdltgmtf

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      TO THE ENROLLED CHARTISTS OF ENGLAND . Hammersmith , Feb . 3 , 1851 . Fellow Chartists , —I accept the trust which you have reposed in me as a sign that , in spite of past deceptions , you still participate in reliance on the higher motives of men ; that you approve of efforts to promote union among the People , without compromising the independence of our organization ; and that you sanction the desire to give our policy a more practical turn , so as to further , in the directest mode , the material well-being of the many . I hold that you can obtain no great national measure unless you are backed by the great body of the People itself . It is equally true that you cannot obtain the recognition and permanent establishment of any power until that power exists and is displayed : you cannot obtain the Parliamentary enactment of Universal Suffrage until you have created Universal Suffrage , and used it . By that I mean that you must be able to command , not in single , convulsive , and transitory efforts , but steadily , and on every needful occasion , the manifest support of

      the People . But you cannot command that support , steadily and readily , unless you hold out to the People some idea more tangible than that of political power ; sufficient as that idea may be for you , who constitute the thinking and active portion of the People . You must make the national policy appeal to the wants which press immediately on the immense mass of the People ; thus giving to the multitude , while you struggle for political power , an earnest of the benefits which that acquisition would secure for them hereafter .

      It is for these grounds that I expect the agitation for the Charter to be strengthened and forwarded if we use our organization , without further delay , to concentrate the claim of the People to the right of subsistence for labour—a fair day's wage for a fair day ' s work , on land , in factory , or shop ; the claim to relief from taxation , by transferring it from industry to property ; and the claim to improvement of the laws regulating labour—the laws of combination , partnership , contracts , and the like .

      To do that there is no need to relax the movement for the Charter . On the contrary , every benefit obtained by the w ; i ) r will hasten your course , by strengthening the confidence of the People at your back , and manifesting ) 'our power to your opponents . Feeling that I have your sanction in that view , I shall use every suitable opportunity to strengthen our movement by combining in our policy the great leading principles of political and social regeneration for the People . Believe me to be your faithful servant , Thornton Hunt .

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      LETTERS TO CHARTISTS . II . —On Political Suicidk . In the letter addressed by Mr . Ilolyonke to Mr . Thornton Hunt , in No . 43 of this paper , there occurred n passage upon that species of political suicide which results from the voluntary abandonment of Democratiq ^ movements , owing to personal and political dislikes / which always spring up in the strife of parties and the conflict of sentiment . The passage alluded to drew forth a reply from Mr . Addincott , in No . 45 , entitled " Chartist Leaders , " in which he entered a protest against being included among those who by desertion betray a public cause . All acquainted with Mr . Addiscott will readily agree in the exemption of one who works so constantly and to such excellent purpose lor tho welfare of the working class .

      The passage to which Mr . Addiscott objected is as follows , and the justice of his criticism ( which other estimable colleagues of Iuh might urge also ) has induced Mr . Holyoake to supply the qualifications indicated in the italicized words : — " The reputation of the Chartist party in this country has sunk ho low that few men believe it capable of elevation , or care to attempt it . One would suppose that no men of reputation or political knowledge have existed among the working classes for the last , twelve years . " Yet . there has been no lack of them : but they

      have virtually betrayed their order . Not intendint ) it indeed , but judyiny from its effects , trcatum is the appropriate description of the course they have chosen for themselves . They who desert u cause are practically uh criminal an they who betray ; if by the desertion the cause is ruined . It is too often overlooked that they who desert u democratic contest give up tho eaiiHe of democracy to its eneinien . It iu Haying that the right cannot get to rule in democracy , and to Bay this in to condemn it . "

      Ah tho passage now kLuimih , we iiHk those to consider it who , in Manchester atul in London , are preparing again to inundate tho Chartist movement by a ( lisuutrous ilood of peraonulitics , such as have ire-

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      quently before swept away , in a single week , the fruits of the toil of years and the hopes of thousands . When will there be an end to this Political suicide ? * At the Manchester Conference just held , notwithstanding the indefensible mode by which it was convened , it is but just to say more good sense was talked than at any Chartist Conference held in this country for many years . Even Mr . O'Conn or proposed an appeal to reason and common sense . The

      general disposition seemed to be in favour of that policy which , would bury antagonism , abjure person - alities , and hold out a friendly hand to all who work for the common weal . Many things were said strangely inconsistent with these professions , but these sayings it is not worth while to enumerate . We shall never get on unless we agree to accept whatever of good things are said , and forget the indifferent .

      If the present London Executive are to do any better , or fare any better , or deserve any better than their predecessors , it must be by developing wider measures , enlarging the Chartist party , improving its character , and advancing it towards political success . Scarcely has their work begun and public expectation raised , than all is in danger of being arrested by one of those insensate exhibitions which only Chartists can get up , and only Chartists tolerate . At the conference to which we have referred , Mr .

      Hirst was pleased to bring an accusation against a member of the London Executive ; Mr . O'Connor amplified it . So badly have the Chartist public been educated , that the London localities have taken up this irrelevant subject , and the great meeting at John-street , on Tuesday evening , actually passed a resolution " calling upon the Executive to investigate the matter . It has been said , " Frailty , thy name is woman : " it might be said with more truth , " Frailty , thy name is Chartism !"

      Great Britain , wherever any spot m it has a Chartist section , has been called upon to elect this Executive . It was said , and is assumed , that thousands of poor men are anxious for political and social progress , and to aid them persons not before publicly associated in the work have freely accepted the unpopular and critical trust of executive direction . By what agency is the directing body to be diverted from their task ? By what power is their work to be arrested ? Is the Government their opponent ? Does the Demon of Class-made Law frown in their path ? One man in an obscure room in Manchester rises in

      an assembly of scarcely half-a-dozen persons , and makes a personal remark of no public consequence whatever , which is reported only in one paper , and forthwith the entire country is to be agitated with a passionate controversy as to whether Mr . Snooks is to be believed against Mr . Spreckles , when the subject admitted of no doubt whatever ; and if it did it is no business of the public's . Until this form of political suicide is put an end to our political movements will be at the mercy of every man who chooses to invent or utter a ridiculous personality . Ion .

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      National Charter Association . —The Executive Committee of the body held their usual weekly meeting on Wednesday evening last . The whole of the committee , Mr . O'Connor excepted , were present . Mr . Thornton Hunt , the newly-elected member , was introduced by Mr . Holyoake . Mr . Le Blorid presided . Correspondence was received from Bingley , Halifax , Newport ( Isle of Wight ) , Northampton , and South Shields . On the motion of Messrs . Holyoake and Harney , it was unanimously resolved : — " In reference to the notice given last week by Mr . Jones , the Executive , considering that the people have a perfect right to elect whom they please to represent their interests , resolve that a simple notification be published ; that members of the Executive be considered eligible _ to

      be elected as delegates to the forthcoming convention . The secretary reported that the financial statement , from February to the 25 th of December last , which had been delayed in order to allow time for several localities to send in their returns , was now prepared , and was ordered to bo audited forthwith . The secretary stated that on the previous evening a resolution had been unanimously adopted , at the public meeting , held in the hall of the institution , John-street , requesting the Executive Committee to investigate the statements made by Mr . O Connor at Manchester , relative to Mr . G . J- Harney , ana report tho result to a public meeting to be called lor tliai purpose . Next Wednesday evening bo specially appointed for the Executive to enter on the matter . Messrs . Shaw , Newley , and Cummins attended as a deputation from the United Councils of the Tower Hamlets on tne subject they previously introduced . They had been instructed to call tho attention of the Executive to what

      had been reported in the proceedings Of Manchester , aa to what Mr . O'Connor had Huid regaring Mr . Harney . Mewirs . Roberts and Iloppy attended us a deputation from the Washington locality to solicit the assistance ol tho Executive in reorganizing that locality . The deputation were assured that the committee would do their utmost to foHter the localities . Tjih Qubhn ' s Si > himjii . — On Tuesduy evening the Johu-street Hall , Fitzroy-square , was crowded to excess by a meeting convened by the Chartist executive * to consider the Queen ' speech . Mr . Rally presided , and a resolution of qualified d satisfaction with tho Queen's Hpeech whs spoken to by Messrs . Bezer , Holyoako , Ernest Jones , O ' Brien , and Hurnoy , and carried unanimously .

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      • M . uuiiirliiu > . —Ntita <( / the . Tran&laUtr . + I'litcliod up in IHlfi , l > y tlio C '<> iiki « h « of Viouiin . —JVotoof tfu Trantlator .

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      134 ® fttf &ea& * t * [ ^ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 8, 1851, page 134, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1869/page/18/