Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 11th February 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 132

Page 132
Page 12
12 of 24

On this page

  • Text (3)

      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.

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

  • Transcript

    • 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.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      envious distraction , "blood , and vice for their own eakes ; and it is possible - that Russia may find , too many an European country , this filthy red-handed bastards of the Revolution to be her Billies ;; and , for all lier professions of principles , she mil / vise them as willingly as she would the iJ $ MSf & " of . Liondon , if she were not prevented by nec impotence , to touch the heart of England . ^ ^ 1 ^ 9 ^ , in the perplexities of the approaching 8 t <> nDa , ' we can imagine honest enthusiasts , of 3 f $ e « r | & brain and unsteady heart , who might for it moment be deludLed by the prospect of a great

      alliance , ' and might feel-a bound of exultation in hopes for the Revolution , at the thought that ^ Russia would constitute herself the Grand Incen-. diary . There may l > e such Macbriars of the Re-Srpluiaoii ; but we cannot believe that the clear-Jheaded , firm-hearted men , who have for so many jeaiSj , iioppression and in pr ison , looked with jinquailing eye into the far future , can "be distracted by this passion , or be betrayed by illicit vdesirps to prostitute the revolution to the pur" laosea bfjthe great Ajoti-Revolutionist . The

      tempjtatiqn would be great for any members of the ^ eatSclavonian family ; but , at . all events , the genuine European nations will have a higher Stanaard ,. of political morals ,, and will view the JFuture history by something more than the transitory opportunity of the moment . ' ,... '¦ Bs ' , » not therefore needed that the nations should forego their opportuni ^? . But they must iijfce . it from , the honest hand of Progress , and not jPg b . itin complicity -writh the great robber of Ref&tura . . X * et us see Tiow Europe will stand , should

      Aiuti ? a remain firm to the alliance , and not offer ipdt ^ e Revolution the opportunity of her antagojoisin tjo England * In that case England mil not |> eranitherselfto join in direct attacks for relieving an , ppp ^ Bs ' sed empire from the tottering throne of ^ u ^ feia . ; Ibut idjoes it follow that the nations will ' tQeniliav . e rno ; voice , no power ? On the contrary , gue |;|» dns f $ il ; assar ^ dlj arise , in the course of the pppor ^ Miity that Russia forces upon Europe , by ^ Mcli Austria must be called to account . Have we riot seen on such occasions , even more transitory than the one now approaching promises to be , that constitutional ideas arose within

      Vienna itself , and recalled the days when a Prince pf $ he I ^ ouse of Austria att em pted to bestow upon the empire those * genuine reforms , political , econoinica } , and ecclesiastical , which he had secured spjwell for Tuscany that they survived generailpip pi ; imbecility amidst surrounding despotisms ? Should such questions arise , is it possible that England could forswear her own standard , or poiud abstain from holding out to Austria tbe example pf the strength which she derives from domestic freedom ? . There is also another example at Austria ' s own threshold . In the storm about to burst upon

      JSjurope there is no state which enters upon it fearless of any domestic weakness , confident , in a strength which renders victory Ithe certain correlative of her own exertions , excepting our own . Here every class J s free to come forward , and to declare to Government , with the undoubted sincerity of ah independent voice , that the ilag of England is sustained by the people of England . But if there is any state , whicli , starting with the weakness of small dimensions and recent nationalky , can survey the rough opportunity tfiw tuan ieaF

      nope racner , tuat state is tue kingdom , of Sardinia ; whose people have recently been eat free to share the dangers of their own throne , and Who now stand forward | iri support of that throne as one man . We have no expectation that even this example would work conviction upon Austria , unsustained . Now , although her Western allies can defend her against Russia , they will not , for assuredly they cannot , defend her against necessity . Russia has been the

      "backbonc of despotism : break that backbone , and in the latter half of this century despotism is a cri pple . It is a correlative necessity that constitutional freedom must be in the ascendant . In such a time England must exercise the lead over the states that give their adherence , not to Russian Incendiarism , but to constitutional freedom ; under whose ilag tl > e nationtj will learn to identify their cause and their hopes with the honour and safety of England .

      Untitled Article

      THE PRESTON " LOCK-OUT" AT All END . Tub events of the pant week have put an entirely new aspect upon tin ; Lancashire Labour-battle : the " Lock-out" is at an tiiul . While we write oveiy mill in Preston i . s at work : tin . ; en « incs me

      speeded , the machinery is prepared , ami nothing is wanted save a full complement of industrious operatives to restore the wonted activity of tie town . Last Wednesday the Associated Masters gave public notice : — " That , in consequence of the greatly increased disposition shown by the operatives to resume work , since the meeting of Associated Masters , on the 26 th of January last , and firmly believing that larg « numbers bare been deterred from openly manifesting a desire to free themselves from their present leaders , and to return to their respective

      employnients , only by fear of ill-treatment , and of the loss of their present means of subsistence , this meeting is of opinion that the time has at length arrived when it is incumbent on the masters , in fulfilment of the pledges repeatedly given by them , to kk-opbn their mills , in tlie hope ot thereby bringing this unfortunate and protracted dispute to an end , and of rescuing the town and neighbourhood from that widespread and rapidly-increasing distress from which they are now unhappily- suffering . Public notice is therefore given , that the several mills of the Associated Masters will be

      reopened ,, and will be prepared for the resumption of work tomorrow ( Thursday ) , at eight o ' clock ia the morning , upon the terms of , and in accordance with , th « resolution passed on the 4 th of November last ; and all persons desirous of obtaining employment may depend upon constant wobk . and are reminded that the masters ar « pledged , and are folly determined , to protect them against any improper interference or molestation . "

      When a sensible thing is done , we are not disposed to be very critical about the reasons alleged for doing it , and we , therefore , pass over the allegation of a " greatly increased disposition to resume work ; " suffice it to record our hearty approval of the course adopted by the employers . ^ - It was evidently the only solution of the difficulty in which both parties were placed . So long Us they 'kept themselves within the closely serried phalanx of their combination , the Associated Masters prevented any . concession being made to them , and only imitated those faulty tactics of the operatives which organised them into an indissoluble body , impervious alike against conviction and concession . At the outset of the

      disyour name to be respected . ' and your proceedings to be watched -with , interest by every friend of progress and humanity . " Your employers , thrown into confusion and dismay by your noble behaviour , have no other hope left than either to come to un honourable arrangement , or to cull to their aid some wonderful influence more powerful than starvation , to yon to agree , to accept , their unjust and unnecessary reduction of ten per cent " Operatives , we have called your attention ^*) this , not that we would doubt your integrity , for af ter eighteen weeks of an arduous struggle , we know that you are not to be done by trickery , when a few more days of perseverance will

      achieve that which we have so long fought for , but because in a few days , or perh ' aps before this meets your eje } the curtain will have risen upon the last scene of delusion in this unfortunate drama , and all the intrigue and disappointment will have met the world ' s view . You know that your cause is the cause of labour throughout the world , —that a reduction in your wages will be followed by a similar reduction throughout the manufacturing districts , and we know your fixed and determined resolution not to disgrace the cause of hbonr . You have hitherto been treated as inanimate machines , henceforth you are determined to be treated as Christians and human beings ; having the selfsame necessities , hope 3 , fears , duties , and rights , as your employers . Women of Preston , your conduct hitherto has

      been worthy of all commendation ; the most severe critics have failed to injure your reputation ; yon have been firm , devoted , and cnthu-siastic in tbe glorious cause you-have been engage ! in ; we know tliat they will be disappointed who anticipate you are prepared to become renegades to humanity . Be firm , be united , be true . Remember that Union is strength , and a glimous settlement awaits you . " Men and Women of Preston , with a confidence in your honesty and discretion , we await witli calmness the result of this attempt to lure you from the path of duty . Let your motto be , Uuited we stand , divided we fall . ' If our Employers tell us collectively that they will reduce our wages , we have no alternative but to answer collectively , that we will not vrork at the proposed reduction . "

      Besides this , the committees have been very active in keeping the general body of the operatives from acting independently . Meetings of all the unionists were called throughout-Thursday , null by mill , and the muster-roll called over , for the purpose of immediately detecting the " knobsticks . " In spite of this formidable inthnidatory force , nearly 200 persona applied for and received work , and it was expected yesterday that the number would be considerably augmented . Meantime the Jown is kept in a fever of excitement .

      If the masters persevere in these tactics , and it cannot be doubted that they will , they must inevitably break through the power of the agitators . Hitherto the strength , of these leaders has been in starvation , but now the masters offer t ' o outbid them . Ten shillings is better than four , even if the privilege of idleness be attached to the lesser sum , and long and severe privations have disposed many to resume work at almost any terms . Nor will the cause of high wages be damnified by

      accepting immediately the terms offered by the masters . The rates paid by the different masters are not all alike ; some pay better than others , even according to the statements of the operatives . Let them select , then , those masters who pay the best , and fill their mills first ; the others will have to raise their terms in order to get hands to their lpoma . There will be a scarcity of labour in Preston , owing to the emigration of those "who have had no relief from the committees , and the masters first served will advance in their turn to

      keep the hands they get . Thus , by the ordinary process of those laws which ever have governed and ever will govern the price of wages , in . spite of the most violent and obstinate interference , will the rate of Preston wages become just and equable , and that without the achievement of a perilous and pernicious victory to either side .

      pute , the masters would have nothing but an unconditional surrender at discretion , and an abandonment of the union . Later on , they conceded the union , but referred to the prices of last March as the only terms upon which they could open their mills . Still later , they offered to receive apjilications for work ; but as they did not guarantee any certainty of work , and as the

      Operatives * committees did guarantee that "kaobr sticks should be expelled the Union , the experiment was never attended by any conspicuous success . Now they open their mills and guarantee all comers protection from molestation , and the certainty of a livelihood . Each step has been in advance of its predecessor , aud the last entitles us to announce that the Preston employers are n % length . recovering from their severe attack of commercial insanity .

      It is understood that , in thus re-opening the mills , the Preston masters are supported by all the employers in the Cotton District . The Defence FujnJ , organised in Manchester , by a levy upon the amount of wages paid , still continues to be a reality , and the expenses of the experiment , —coaling , interest , salaries , disbursements , &c ., -will be defrayed by the Combination . It is understood that the mills will be kept running for three months certain , whatever xnay be the result of the experiment . riment .

      As might have been expected , the operatives are sadly puzzled to know what to make of the movement . Their leaders tell them that it is indicative of giving way on the part of the masters ; but common sense must tell them the reverse of this , by pointing out that such an expensive experiment must be the result of strength and not of weakness . The Committee of Weavers , in default of arguments , has recourse to a rhapsody , and puts forward an extravagant production , from which tho following passages are selected : —

      " Fellow Operatives , —Wo address you at this critical moment , because , from the Watch-Towers of our citadel , wo perceive tho machinations of our opponents , unnblii to conquer you upon their own chosea field , they nro about to attempt to lure you upon the rocks itnd quicksands which surround you . You have , ever since the coinmencemont of this Htrugglo , proved yournelves over ready to adopt any plan by whomsoever proposed , that whs calculated to lead to an honourable arrangement . Our employers huvo refused

      to ad opt any plan that wu a proposed , and have refu .-ji'd . to make any proposal or BupjgcHtion that would j ; ive you an opportunity or milking a satisfactory svttlempnt . . . " In looting at tho paat , we Hud that tho name aud character of Prestjniimii hud hoc ^ uu ; a by-word aniongHl tho nations of tho earth for imbecility and cowardice ; vour noble conduct duriup ; this unhappy struggle has torn" tho onuid from your forehead , and clevaled you in tho esterm of Lhu civilirfod world . Your peaceful and orderly conduct , your admirable fortitude , and your united . ; ' : tio : i , has cnuscd

      Untitled Article

      BEWARE OF THE RUSSIAN TRADE . Some days since the Pnris Presse repeated , after o ^ own Economist , advice to merchants having dealings with . Russia , that henceforward they . should stipulate for payments to be made to them in the money of their own country . The advice is sound , but it may be somewhat extended . Indeed , we c : m scarcel y suppose it possible that , under existing circumstances , traders should overlook , in regard to Russia , a practice which has been observed in regard to other countries . How ofton it has happened that payments duo , say in I ^ e ^ - horn , huvo been stipulated to he made in the current coin of England ; meaning , not that tko debtor should actually provide so many sovereigns , but that lie should find the equivalent of a fixed English sum , without abatements or disguises by tlu : shifting coins that circulate around the Mediterranean . I 5 ut if Levantine dodges may be ]> vao t : si ) vl i : i the South , huw much more evident ia it ,

      Untitled Article

      132 THE LEADER . [ Saturday , —¦ * ¦ ¦¦ - ¦ - — i—i ¦ " * ~ — ¦ — ... ¦ . i M .. . i . i i . . — . — .. , — — , i — ... . . . _ .. _ _ — . — _ - r

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 11, 1854, page 132, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2025/page/12/