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Leader (1850-1860), 22nd March 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 276

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      Untitled Article

      POLITICAL AND SOCIAL REFOKM . A public meeting , called by the National Reform League , was held on Wednesday evening , March 12 , in the Eclectic Institute , Denmark-street , to take into consideration the course to be adopted by the unenfranchised classes in the present state of parties . Mr . Pettigrew took the chair . Mr . Leno , a working printer , in a forcible speech , moved the first resolution , to the effect that , " while we are struggling for the People ' s Charter , it is incumbent on every leader of the people to instruct them in their social rights . " Mr . Wilson ably supported the resolution , which was carried nem : con . ; Mr . S . Oram said : — " The resolution passed proclaims the necessity for understanding social rights as the only means of deriving advantages from the Charter . The Charter is well understood and ardently desired , and from its being a dead letter it is advocated freely , showing that it has progressed even amongst middle-class men , and whenever it has been alluded to at public meetings hailed with enthusiasm ; and I cannot help here remarking that if the questions on social rights were really discussed in the logical and inoffensive manner which the important subject of religion has been of late by one whose name deserves honourable mention for the service he has rendered in removing much of the prejudice against public free discussion of religious topics , and who" has so perseveringly and ably maintained his ground on that almost universally taboo'd question , we might more successfully influence the middle classes to hear our reasons and become "brother labourers in the good cause . I allude to Mr . Holyoake , whose firm and temperate promulgation of his opinions awakens a regret in my mind that he does not appear to perceive the paramount necessity for taking up our social rights in detail . Until the evils resulting from the present monetary system are fully comprehended , depend upon it there can be no salvation ; and the plunder of five-sixths of all the products of labour from the producers must continue , entailing ignorance , misery , and crime , thereby giving an apparent necessity for the evil of religious interference to stem the torrent which springs alone from the existence of profitmongering and usury . The producers , the workers , are not apathetic as to the progress of the Charter , but I believe they are quite convinced that the mere possession of political power alone , even the Charter and all its securities , would not insure their extrication from , the evils which aiflict society , unless accompanied by certain social rights , which ought to be made plain to their apprehension by their leaders . This League proposes , in its seven propositions , clear , defined , and known practicable means , through peace , law , and order , to effect those changes in the condition of society which are inevitable , sooner or later . Firstly , it asks for an efficient poor law in order to shelter and feed those who need support . We believe , however , such a law would beunrequired in a wholesome state of society , I do not thinkthe middle classes could resist the evidence which sustains the seven propositions . Could they be made to understand them , they would see that no other set of reformers go so far as to admit the justice of permitting all present property to be held by its present owners , or paid for if required , wnich this League does ; and , in fact , this is the only hope the possessors of property can be assured of , that they would be guaranteed the safety of all they possess , as we repudiate all confiscation of Present holders as unjust . Even the middle classes feel the influence of the increasing tendency of our system to reconstruct monopolies and exolusivisms , and complain of the hardship . The monopolies of the Church , the law , physic , the army and navy , can only be entered through one door . The farmers see clear enough the mere rent they pay is not the cause of the depression of prices ; they have got over the incubus of squirarchy , a . nd begin to inquire into more oocial laws than of landlord and tenant ; and depend on it well-fed honeet men will not be lar from our cause when their eyes are fully enlightened as to real free trade and social truths . It is , therefore , incumbent on the League to maintain its ground , not because they may think that they alone possess a knowledge of all social truths , but because as yet no other oocly of reformers , in my opinion , so clearly define the causes ofsocietary evil , or produce any plan for Its abolition equally consistent and efaoacious . I , therefore , move— ' tim ^ l ?' * * Political and socinl reforms advocated by the Nauoimi ivctorm League merjt the support of the people , because , di £ . V- tionto tho ' Charter , ' they provide an efllciont and noni « 5 i & P 00 r-law , giving 1 comfortable subsistence or reproductfVnm ' M yinent t 0 R ' appHoiinta , and protecting tho labourer > i 7 . 7 i ly / anny or avarice of employers ; an udjustinont of the uuidons of publio and private indebtedness to moot the fall of B ' consequent upon a non-reciprocal and partial free trade , ofsi , w u ( Ja 80 d value ff ivon t 0 monoy by the unfair legislation "'„ . " Jfobort Peel ; these measures to prepare the wny for the giadual nationalization of the land of Great Britain and its depo nuoncles , giving compensation co existing holders : a sound tJini Of natlonal codit for the full development of the indusrw . HU ? T ol ' lno country ; a national currency bailed on the nJn . oi i Bttlt 0 « and not on tho variable amount of ncarce T . ? ' , ,, , . ° establishment of public bazaars for the iuterciiango ol all kinds of useful tvoalth or aervice , independent of the present system of shopkoflping . " Mr . Rogers spoke in support of the resolution , wruch . was carried unanimously .

      Untitled Article

      The Exooutivo Committee of the National Charter Association met on Wednesday evening . Present-Messrs . Amott , Grassby , Hunt , Jones , and Milne . Messrs , Harney , Holyoake , O'Connor , and Beynolds

      -were absent through , unavoidable engagements . James Grassby presided . Correspondence was read from Barnsley , Blyth , Breohin , Darlington , Devonport , Edinburgh , Greenwich , Landport , Pilkington , andRatcliffe Bridge , remitting cash ; also from Aberdeen , Bingley , Deptford , Glasgow , Hastings , Kirk Burton , Newcastle-upon-Tyne , and the Tower Hamlets , on general business . Ernest Jones then read a copy of the statement he had drawn tip and forwarded to Sir George Grey , relative to the case of the exiled patriot William Cuffey , which - was unanimously approved of . Ernest Jones reported that the subcommittee appointed at the last meeting had met and proceeded with the business entrusted to them , and trusted that they would be able to submit the result of their labours at the next meeting of the Executive . On the motion of Messrs . Jones and Amott , an address was unanimously adopted , which we regret not to be able to give this week .

      Untitled Article

      Public 'Meeting at JoHNSTR . EET . ~ On Tuesday evening the public meeting was held convened by the Chartist Executive ; Mr . Delafield presided . Mr . Holyoake moved : — " That , considering the fluctuation of parties which this country now witnesses , in which a part of the people is neither heard of nor appears to exist , this meeting is of opinion that the Democratic party have grave reasons for earnestness and activity . " Mr . Holyoake ' s speech was a brief development of the nature and conditions of organization , with a "view to show what had to be done before a party of the people ¦ wou ld be created . Declamation upon their present helpless condition he argued might be spared , until the means were at command for placing a popular movement above the fluctuations of accident . Mr . Benny seconded the the motion . Mr . T > . O'Connor made some striking remarks on the part of the working classes . Mr . Pettie , Mr . Rogers , and Mr . Finlen , addressed the meeting , and Mr . Holyoake replied on the part of the Executive . International Exhibition Thacts . —The Committee of Mr . Owen ' s friends have issued a second address ( too long to quote in full ) , from which we take these passages : — " The pronr . pt and cordial response to oiir former address demonstrates that the friends of the great Social Reformer of the age are fully alive to the opportunity of disseminating their sentiments amongst the foreigners who may be brought together during- the Exhibition of May next . " All parties seem to be impressed -with , the conviction that seed would be sown that might bring- forth fruit in every nation . "At no period in the history of mankind was it more imperative that truth alone should be spoken . The whispers of compromise or the blandishments of policy are unworthy of the memorable occasion . "When the destinies of empires may be effected , and the free . dom and happiness of the whole world , perhaps , advanced , it is a crime for those who think they have the truth to withhold it , or to trim it to suit party interests or party prejudices . " The Central Committee of Social Propaganda , therefore , wish it to be understood , that in the various tracts and publications they contemplate issuing- during- the Exhibition , Socialism will be developed in a sincere and charitable spirit . It will lie their object to show to the world that Socialism is a science rather than a creed , and therefore to attach to it any sectarian appellation is as absurd and ill-advised as to speak of Christian mathematics , Mahometan chemistry , or Infidel anatomy . * ' We urge the formation of committees in every town and village in the kingdom , to raise subscriptions in support of this movement . Do not sleep while the world is awake and at your doors . Every pound subscribed may contribute to the salvation of a people . With such aims before us , assist generously and promptly , in this bloodless crusade ag-ainst poverty , crime , slavery , and oppression . Let every matt be able to say—The triumphs of ' 51 were part of my work !" The Central Committee sit every Wednesday evening at 52 , College-place , Camden-town , London , to which address all communications from friends or local committees must be sent . Money orders to be made payable at the Tottenham-court-road Post-office . —Robert Cooper , Chairman ; John Kenny , Treasurer ; Henry Allsop Ivory , Secretary .

      Untitled Article

      Cooperative conference . —A preliminary meeting of friends of the cooperative cause was held in Hey wood , on Sunday , March 16 , at which members were present from seventeen cooperative societies in the neighbourhood . The following resolutions were passed , and recommended to the consideration of cooperative societies : — " 1 . That a g-enoral meeting of delegates from the various cooperative societies be called for Good Friday . " 2 . That the meeting of delegates be held at Bury . " 3 . That each cooperative society shall send delegates in proportion to its number of members in the following manner , viz ., for every sooiety having above 12 members and under 112 one delegate , 112 members two delegates , and for every 100 members above 112 one delegate . ' 4 . That no socioty limiting its members under 100 be allowed to send a delogate . " 5 , That a committee for arranging the business of the Conference bo chosen out of tlie members of the Hcywood Industrial Cooperative Stoio Company , to whom all suggestions mid proposilions for the said Conference he sent addressed to M . r . Win . Bell . " 6 . That tho following newspapers bs furnished with a import of the resolutions : —Northern Star , Loader , Christian Socialist , Working Man ' s Friend , Manchester Spectator , Jf ' utional Instructor , and I'riend of tho People " —Isaac Hoyle . Chairman . .

      Untitled Article

      Redemption Society . —Dr . Lees has been at Manchester , and has done much good . A proposition comes from Manchester requesting tho society to locate Dr . Lees in tho community , whence he might , from time to time , go out on propagandist missions to the country . We Bhould like first to see there a printing press , so that wo might avail ourselves of the literary talonts of our friends ; hut these things require capital . We have not yet raised the starting sum of £ 200 , Moneys received for the weekending the 16 th of March . :- ~ Leeds , £ 1 9 s . 2 d Burnley , per Mr . Huttley , 14 a . 2 d . ; Huddersfield , per Mr . D . France , 10 s . Communal Building Fund : — Burnley , per Mr . Huttley , 2 e . 6 d .

      Manchester . —On the 9 th and 10 th instant , Dr . Lees , editor of the Truth-SeekeTy delivered two lectures in the Social Institution , on Social Cooperation as necessary to realize practical Christianity , and on the Objects arid Principles of the " Leeds Redemption Society . " The audiences were good and attentive , and a salutary impression appeared to be made , w Hyde ,-Cheshire . —Oh . the 12 th and 13 th instant , Dr . Lees , of 'Leeds , gave two addresses , in the Temperanceroom , on the Wrongs of Labour and their Remedy , with especial reference to the Redemption Society- The numerous auditory -warmly expressed ; their approbation , and the friends of the association were encouraged in their labours . Cooperation xnt Padihaw . —The ' following are extracts from the letter of a shareholder to the editor of the Guardian : — " Sir ,-The respectable classes of this parish have had their laughing propensities well employed for some weeks back , by the establishment of a cooperative building for spinning , carding , weaving , &c . At Padiham , working men are foolish enough to think that they can work for themselves as well as others ^ and believe that they and their wives and children can and ought to wear the clothes they weave , as well as others . Accordingly , a number of working men met , some weeks back , and agreed to issue an address to their brother working men , and invite their hearty cooperation in carrying the foregoing project into a practical working state . The address was issued to the public , and met with a hearty response . At the first meeting the place employed for the purpose was found to be too small to accommodate all who wanted either information or shares . Seventyseven shares , at £ 25 each , have alread y been taken up the society is just five weeks old ; the building is commenced ; part of the foundation is alre ady in ; the building is thirty yards long , seventeen yards wide , with three good rooms capable of being turned to spinning , carding , &c . There is also land to erect a shed for power-looms at a small cost . Mr . Watson , a corn-miller , very kindly agreed to let off the water that supplies his mill , and let the cooperation people have the sand at the bottom . At three o ' clock I took a walk , and was utterly astonished at the vast multitude that were stripped and ' working hard , and , above all , cheerfully , at the work of excavation . —A Shareholder . —Padiharo , March 11 , 1851 . " Bingley . —Mutual Improvement . —A society ol this kind has recently been established in Bingley by a number of young men , who have engaged a room for three nights a-week : two hours each night , for reading , writing , and arithmetic ; one hour each night for discussion . The chief discourses are on temperance , cooperation , and politics . Members already entered are near fifty .- —W . W .

      Untitled Article

      WORKING ASSOCIATIONS OF PARIS . L'ASSOCIATION FRATERNELLE DES TaIXIiEURS . The Fraternal Association of Tailors , Rue du Faubourg St . Denis , 23 , is the first-born of Louis Blanc ' s progeny . Entering an omnibus on the Boulevard des Italiens I descended at the Porte St . Denis , and proceeded up the left hand side of the Rue du Faubourg St . Denis for about fifty or a hundred yards , when I saw before me , on the doorpost of a large gateway , the well-known emblem of equality—a mason ' s level—and the words Association Fraterndle conspicuous on a white board , above which was another board , with a similar emblem . Here I entered , and , having passed through a broad and clean passage , with the porter ' s lodge on one side , I found myself in an open court , summnded by a good , substantial , and rather new building . In front of me , on the first floor , I saw , in large letters , the words , " Association des Tailleurs , " on the left , Ateliers , " and on the right , " Magasins . " On the ground floor , on my right , were the Associated Cooks' diningrooms , and in one corner of the court a number of poor men and -women were standing drinking soup out of tin basins , the charitable offering of the poor to the poor . I passed on through the principal door to a spacious staircase , which , led to the tailors' establishment , consisting of three large rooms , and a small one over the entrance door termed the Bureau d'Administration , ornamented with portraits of Louis Blanc , Barbes , and other Socialist leaders . I opened the doox on my left , and entered a splendid room about 50 feet long by 20 feet broad , and 12 to 18 feet high , floored with oa ] c , and lighted by one window that occupies nearly the -whole breadth of the room ; near it was a handsome counter and a large stock of ready-made clothes , at the other end was the cashier ' s desk . Prom this room I passed into a still larger apartment , about 25 yards long "by 5 yards broad , one end of which is partitioned off ¦ with drapery , and elegantly furnished as an attiring room , with round mahogany table , sofa , chairs , and a large mirror . The other portion of the room is fitted up with counters , tables , shelves for woollen goods , of which there was a large and varied stock , a desk for the bookkeeper , a magnificent ornamental stove , large enough to warm the whole loom , and the other usual appurtenances of a warehouse . Citizen Berard , the ger&nt ( manager ) , soon entered , whoso sagacity in business and unwearied activity for the interests of tho society have caused him to be constantly selected as gernnt , an office which requires great tact and firmness in governing , and considerable experience in commercial transactions . The gerant has had a wenrisomo task to perform in attending on lawyers , notaries , courts of law , and other places to obtain payment of 120 , OOOf ., owed them for an . order they had executed at the command of the Pro-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 22, 1851, page 276, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1875/page/17/