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education should be made as neatly uhiversal in its application as possible . " That the mass of ignorance which still prevails demonstrates the insufficiency of existing efforts—public and private—to educate the people . "That the crime which also still prevails , being obviously , to a great extent , the result of that ignorance , would be most effectually removed by the abolition of the cause which produces it ; while , at the same time , the anomaly of punishing breaches of morality , without inculcating its precepts , would become unknown . " Your petitioners , therefore , respectfully trust that your Honourable House will seriously consider these statements , and provide the means of education which the condition of the people appears to demand . "As important contributors to the taxation of the
country , your petitioners feel that education i 3 an universal want which ought to be universally supplied ; and that , therefore , all matters upon which discord exists in the public mind ought to be avoided . " The education which your petitioners would prefer , and submit to your Honourable House as preferable , is one ia which the requisite schools shall be placed under local management , guided , but not controlled , by a trustworthy central authority . " Your petitioners further submit , that in these schools secular instruction only , should be given , free from any
intermixture of sectarian theological doctrines , which they hold it to be the province of parents and pastors to impart to the young of their respective denominations . " May it , therefore , please your Honourable House to take the premises into your consideration , and pass a law for the establishment and support , by local rates , and under local management and central guidance , but without intermixture of sectariau religious instruction , of such number of elementary schools as shall be deemed necessary for the secular instruction of the people of Scotland ; or to do otherwise in the premises as to your wisdom shall seem meet . "
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THE EBENEZER , NEAR THE NIAGARA FALLS . The following passage from the pen of Park Goodwin , of . New York , relates to a recent instance of Associative experience : — «• An associative village has been established about seven miles from the city of Buffalo , and not far from the Niagara Falls , called Ebenezer . It is a colony of some one thousand Germans , who , about four years since , emigrated from Germany , where they were not
allowed so free an opportunity as they wished for carrying out th ^ ir peculiar plan * . They were not driven to the undertaking by any civil or religious oppressions , nor actuated by any peculiar fanaticism , but simply by the desire to live a pure , spiritual , and happy life . Many of them were able to contribute from three to fifteen thousand dollar ' s to the common stock , while one put in fifty , and another as high as a thousand dollars . With a portion of these funds they came to America , and purchased about seven thousand acres of Indian reservation
land . " They have cleared completely , and put up in the best order , nearly five thousand acres of their land , erected a great many miles of durable fences , planted twenty-five thousand fruit-trees of various sorts , settled three compact villages , about one mile apart , ' each containing one hundred large and commodious dwellinghouses , some thirty or forty barns of the largest size , and most substantial structure , four saw-mills , which are kept constantly running , one flour-mill , one oil-mill ,
one large woollen factory , calico printworks , a tannery , a variety of workshops for mechanics , public-halls , and several school-houses . Besides these , they possess extensive herds of cattle and swine , their sheep alone numbering above two thousand head . Indeed , their property , with its improvements , is estimated to be worth more than a million dollars , which , if divided , would give ten thousand dollars to each man , woman , and child on the domain . Such are some of the internal advantages of unitary labour .
" Ihcir gardens , yards , and fields , display refined taste , and the highest state of cultivation . All of a suitable age , both male and female , are required to work at such business as either their taste , genius , or habit may render fit . And whenever , from any cause , such as change of weutlier , or sudden ripening of a crop , an extra number of hands are needed , they cun bridg fifty or a hundred hands into the fields at once , with any requisite number of teams ; and thus enjoy great advantages in cultivating and aecurina their crops . Thi'ir cloth and other manufactured articles are made in the bent manner ; and their furm operations are crowned with the highest success .
" Separate barns , spacious and well ventilated , are provided for horeen , oxen , rows , yearlings , oalvos , and sheep . So that they are all sheltered in tjie most . comfortable manner during the winter , and upartuieuts for the sheep are thoroughl y whitewashed four or five times a ^ yeur . Then there are a series of burns , Bay 150 by 40 feet in size , standing in a line , eight or ten rods apart ; Hoinu with liny , otherH witlj wheat ,, others with outs , barley , &c . ; and then again other ranges of buildings enclosing hundred / of fiwii ' ie ; and others stil ) , to aceommoduto ull the poultry belonging to the community .
" They have not yet erected any unitary mansion , inont of the families preferring separate dwellings and households ; but their cooking , washing , and other domestic operations arc "d ' uii ' e by divisions of ten families « aoh , ho as , to a \ oul the confusion pf a large number on one hand , Or waste and trouble of » n extreme isolation of families on the o . thcr ., The ijIiiu in found to work prvlty well . " The children are required to intend the schools , where they arc instruction a | l branches pf useful knowledge , and in the Bullish imd German languages . They arc carefully ' instructed in their moral duties , though 1 believe no specific formn of religion are taught . The larger portion of the cpiumunity are attached to the Lutheran church , but do not innist upon others . "
Ihe National Reform League . —Mr . O'Brien presided over the quarterly meeting of this League , at the Eclectic Institute , on the 23 rd of April . The report of the Council alluded to the Chartist programme as one of the encouraging proofs of the advance of the doctrines of the League . It decidedly protested against the " untried and problematical theory of Communism being put forward as the sole means by which , society can be regenerated . " The report congratulates the members on the
advancement of the principles of the League . On Tuesday evening last a concert was given at Johnstreet Institution , in aid of the "National Charter Fund . " The services of the singers were volunteered for the occasion—a handsome tribute to the popular cause . Mr . H . T . Holyoake conducted the concert , which was greatly applauded , most of the songs being encored ; and the evening passed off in a manner which must have been highly gratifying to the promoters . We understand that concerts will be given monthly .
Redemption Society :. —One of the propositions to be submitted to the coming Congress is the creation of a Propagandist fund ; another is the engagement of a paid secretary . The growing importance of the society now demands such an assistant , yet he cannot be paid out of the funds collected for the Communal objects of the society . A general Propagandist fund from all the branches would supply the requisite funds without being felt by any . His labours will be of the utmost use to the society generally . Of course we calculate upon his being an
efficient lecturer , and able to furnish paragraphs and articles to the press . "We cannot well undervalue the services of a good secretary , who will make himself useful . We trust the various branches will well weigh tnis matter . It is expected that the first camp meeting this year will be held on Long Moor , near Dregglington . It is a central position , not far from Bradford , Birstall , Birkenshaw , Clackheaton , Heckmondwieke , Geldersorn , &c . Monies received—Leeds , £ 1 5 s . 7 d . ; Manchester , per Mr . Bloomer , £ 1 14 s . ; Burnley , per Mr . TJttley , £ 1 3 s . 6 d .
At a meeting of the committee appointed by the Bury Cooperative Conference , held on the 11 th , at Rochdale , it was resolved to call a conference , to be held in Manchester on the Friday in Whitsun week , at ten o ' clock in the morning . The place of meeting will be made known before that time . Societies numbering more than twelve members , and less than 112 , to send one delegate , and one more for every additional 100 members . Messrs . Hil , Greenwood , and Bell were appointed a committee to prepare a programme for the guidance of the conference , eet it printed , and send a copy to all the
cooperative concerns they know of . The committee recommend the establishment of a general depot in Manchester for the sale of all kinds of grocery goods and provisions ; to raise a capital of £ 2500 to start the cooperative stores , on private individuals ; , and pay interest at the rate of five ptr cent . ; and they particularly request societies to get guarantees from their officers , as parties entrusted with sums of money or goods , through the medium of some guarantee society , in order to avoid losses . Stores are requested to purchase such articles , as they can buy best from the London store , Charlotte-street .
Halifax . —On Sunday last two exceedingly effective lectures on the question of Cooperation were delivered in the large room of the Odd-Fellows Hall , by Dr . F . R . Lees , of Leeds . The audience on each occasion was good . Dundee Ragged School . —Among other useful institutions of modern date in Dundee is an industrial ragged school , in which a considerablenumber of children are well housed , wholesomely fed , and moderately taught ; and , in addition to rudimentary knowledge , there is the practice of trades imparted . The average cost is about £ 5 per child per annum . The boys go with the male teaclier to his church on Sundays , and the girls go to where the female teacher worships . The teachers are selected according to fitness , and not according to religious views . Lord ICinnaird is opening coffee-houses in Dundee , which is a piece of praiseworthy consideration for the working men .
Mr . Cameron—We have to lament the death of one of the fathers of Communism , Mr .. William Cameron died in Leeds , of inflammation of the lungs , on Monday night , April 28 , in bin fifty-ninth ye . ir . He commenced an active Communistic life with Mr . Mudie , in London , in 182 . ' } . lie went to Orbistor > by the recommendation of J . M . Morgan , Esq ., and had the management of the tailoring department there till the final break up . He has taken an active part in every communal and co-operative attempt which lay in his way since he joined the Redemption . Society , when residing ut llounslow . Last year he removed to Leeds , and soon after became a member of the board of directors , at which Inn attendance wan unremitting .
Tim Mormons' City on this Salt Lakh . —Three years ago the Mormons arrived in Salt Luke Valley , in the " Rocky Mountains , " and their progress in laying out a city , buildings , fencing , farmo , & < :., is truly wonderful . The city is luid out in about twenty different wards , and covers an area of three square miles . It already contains about . 1000 houses , nuurly one story and u half high , built of adobe , or Hun-hurnt brick . A . fine Hi ream of cold water ruslus doivn from the mountain * , which is distributed in ditches through every street in tho city , through the gnrd » UN , and to the doors of the
dwellings , where it is uk « : < 1 for culinary unil other purposes . The ground whereon the city in built in sloping , which affords a great fall for the water , and keeps up a continual supply of fresh water from the mountains . The valley where the city stands is liaiiduome , running east and west . Tueoit . y in niuiute about three miles from the TimpamigOH mountains on the east , within five of the Utah outlet , on the south-cust , and within twenty miles from the range of mountains on the south , within twenty-two milcH of the Groat Sail Lake . Its population is about . fiOOO , that of the valley 10 , 000 , exclusive of the city . —Quoted in the ( Jlasyow Sentinel .
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THOUGHTS ABOUT MALTHTJS . April 22 , 1851 . Sir , —I have waited in quiet anticipation of a renewal of the Malthusian discussion in the pages of your Open Council . Disappointed in my expectation , I unwillingly occupy the space which should be accorded to more able and more experienced writers . It is not so much my object to ilefend the original position of Malthus , or the modified statement of Mill , as to make such , suggestion and explanatory remarks as occur to me . That there is an excess of
power in the principle of population over the principle of snbsistence , is a theorem that would appear at present to be incapable of positive demonstration . It is , indeed , undeniable that the history of the past shows us , in most , though not in all , instances a deficiency of the means of subsistence . The quantity of food which the natural fertility of the earth , aided by the skill and industry of its cultivators , has hitherto furnished , has been unequal to the adequate support of mankind . There is , however , no actual proof in this case , that what can be affirmed of the Past will apply to the Future ; or that what can be predicated of man , selfish and ignorant , can be
predicated of man , social and scientific . Under new arrangements , the productive power of the land , assisted by the combined industry and intelligence of society , and stimulated by the organizing genius of the predicted Watt of agriculture , may be so increased as to keep subsistence always in advance of population . Emigration armadas , an united Europe , a confederate world , will facilitate the operations of the marts of industry , and transfer redundant population to uncultivated lanfas , and redundant production to the more sterile soils . While I acknowledge the possibility of such events , I cannot consider the following observations quite supeifluous : —
1 . Since the dimensions of the earth are limited , and the productive principle of population is not limited , we shall , in a i ' ew centuries , if the present rate of increase continue , have reached the term at which population must remain stationary ; or , since all further addition will be absolutely impracticable , without such fatal consequence , must return to a phasis of misery and crime similar to the present . If population remain stationary , society will , at one stage or other of its progress , adopt a check of some kind . One of those alternatives must be admitted . The extent of land is limited ; the amount of population depends on tho space which it has to occupy . Either tho principle of population must be regulated , or society , alter it has attained its maturity , will rosort to the deplorable condition of its childhood .
2 . Allowing that the human race la destined to realize that supremacy over the earth and over the instruments of production which will for long ages make Bubsiatence commensurate with population , yet there will always be exceptional periods , when the demand will exceed tho supply . For the perpetual imprcrvementK of which we Hupposc the soil to be cupablc depend on fresh discoveries arid new reHourceu , which cannot be commanded at will , or at any rate will not be ho commanded , until tho complete formation of social ami agricultural science . Again 1 say , a check must be employed during every such interregnum , whether it urisc from deficient science , from exhaustion of available land , or lrorn purely accidental causes ; or , if u cluck bo not employed , the ills that desolate our mortal life will continue .
3 . While it is true that the means ot subsistence , that ia the vegetables and animals that serve us food for man , may increase in a ratio more rapid thtin that in which the consumer himself increases ; yet these meant ) of sul > Hint < : nee me limited , not only because science is imperfect , and laud not always available , but because the earth that produces them has no uccommoduting power of expansion . If we increase
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Mav 24 , 1851 . ] ffi ^ j fteafcet . 495
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THE MALTHUS CONTROVERSY .
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There is no learned man but will confess lie hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened , and his judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to "write . —Milton .
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[ In this department , as all opinions , howkvbr extreme , are allowed an expression , the editor nkckssabily holds himself responsible for none . j
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Leader (1850-1860), May 24, 1851, page 495, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1884/page/19/
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