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Northern Star (1837-1852), 5th June 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4, to the kind of friends in 4 THE STAR OF ...

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    • THE STAE OF FBEEDOI, SAT5JKBAY, JUNE 5, 1S52.
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      Opening Of Tub Sudsiarine Tblkoraph Betw...

      LETTERS FOB WOEKING MEN . 2 fo . Tit— Keugious Liberty-. TO THE EDITOR OP THE STAR » ™ MjM . SH . -I must »« r ajpda to the Miktia Bil -for , in tfa- midst of all the egregious nonsense talked for and a « ai : » t that measure , certain grave principles Se turned -p - « ^ of ^ consid eration . On- of tlie = e is the question of Rehgious Libert y , Sted bT 31 r . IT . J . ** . late of Finsbury Chanel , in an amendment moved by him on MonitorMay 17 . Mr . Fox comes before us

      , by Tia means as a common-place member of P arliament . He sits in the House neither in right of noble birth , nor in virtue of large trade profits . He is there especially as a philosophical Radical ; and to him we have a right to look for sound principles . Of course , we do not expect them from the John WillianTes and the Jacob Bells , any more than from the aristocratic twigs that finish their education in the people's ' service . ' 1 proceed to notice Mr . Fox ' s soundness . His amendment was to the effect that

      ' no person shall be liable to cnmjiulsory military service whose name is not on the registration list as an elector . ' Thi amendment , of cour ? e , was lostbein ? far - too lance * for onr Tory Home Secretary , Mr . "Walpole . Had it been insignificant , it would have been rejected upon that ground- Some men meet you everywhere . It was an excellent amendment , rightly coupling together the right and the duty nf citizen ~ Iizf >; for indeed one cannot exist without the other . It is not for this that I will find fault with tbe member for Oldham ; nor yet for his refusal to be Htt »« -bn ? ged to alter bis proposition into giving every militia man a vote . A very cool

      recommendalion o f tha veteran calculator ' . But Mr . Fox ' s amendment was of a twofold character . ] N ot only -was it intended to make the duty of a freeman depend npon tbe recognition of the right of freedom , but it was meaat also to w ©* k another way , as a means whereby tender-conscienced peacemen might , by resigning the right of the franchise , evade the duty of military service . And this upon the ground of Religious Liberty . Here , I think , the Parliamentary philosopher was altogether at fault ; and the reply of the Attorney-General to that part of his argument quite conclusive . He ' did not think it desirable or reasonable to allow persons to escape from

      discharging , either ia that or any other way , the duty of citizens . Persons might have a conscientious objection to paying taxes , in doing work upon the highway , or to many other things which were an essential part of the duty of a subject ; hut the Legislature would not do wisely to admit such claims to exception . ' As the whole wide question of Religious Liberty , or , rather , the popular notion of religious liberty , is involved in this sentence , and as this question has of late been very frequently before us , and sometimes more prominently than merely as an incident of a debate on tbe Militia , I propose here to look a little into it .

      What is Religious Liberty ?— ' Religious Liberty is freedom for every man to form his own opinion npon all subjects , and to be utterly unrestrained in all matters of conscience . ' But all things are matters of conscience . "With the Brahmin to kill a son , is an offence against conscience ; the Thugs belief is in the who ^ esomeness of strangling travellers . The Quaker cannot conscientiously bear arms , even in self-defence ; the Mahommedan makes it a point of conscience to propagate his religion by the sword . The Churchman religiously uncovers himself and kneels down in that sanctuary which George Fox denounced

      as a steeple-house . It was part of George Fox s religion , too , to wear his hat . Almost all things are , or may be , matters of conscience ; all things should " be , whether * important * or ' indifferent . ' In truth , nothing can be indifferent to a relig ious man . It is clear , then , that if JRtligious Liberty is to have a definite meaning , it must be used in some narrower and more-exactly-specified sense than this . Thus , all matters o f conscience will not do so loosely . For , if it could he nsed bo , every man becomes a law to himself ; the bonds of society , —of nations , are broken * . the individual conscience is sole ruler .

      Today your conscience forbids you to take up arms to repel an invasion ; to-morrow my conscience will forbid me to pay taxes for the support of an unjust government ; a third man conscientiously objects lo punishment of felons , —would let tbe thieves take cloak as well as coat , and turn the other cheek to every ruffian ; a fourth believes that"' the earth is the Lords / and has conscience scruples against paying rent ; a fifth is conscientiously inclined to community of goods ; and who knows that it was not a full conscience and tender heart which led Lord Palmerston

      to approve the restoration of order en the 2 d of December last , which brought the amiable Dr . Dodd to the gallows , and which lands so many other rogues and vagabonds in high and out of the way places ? Bah I conscience may be made an excuse for anything ; and , so latitndanized , Meligioits Liberty is anarchy , and anarchy is not the millennium . Religious Liberty has , however , an exacter and more reasonable signification ; much as that signification has been lost sight of by defenders of Papal Aggression , and other enlightened liberals , the real meaning of Religious Liberty , as a special principle , is the right of forming one ' s own opinion on all matters—the right

      of worshipping God with such , rites and ceremonial observances in private or public as may seem best to the worshipper , without let or hindrance of any other religionists . Religious Liberty is the equality of conscience , the equality of creeds ; but it is not the license to act in the common daily occurrences of life as if there was no such thing as public duty . Let a man , if his conscience bid him , fly in the face of the world ' s law ; but if he do so , he must be prepared to be looked upon as a madman or a deserter , and to be treated accordingly . He may , if he choose , become a martyr for conscience sake ; and , if his conscience be let from God , his martyrdom will not be in vain ; but this is quite another matter from claiming an exemption . The duties of the individual to society must be determined by society . However iniquitous

      the determination , still that is the law . There can be no other rule , imperfect as that maybe . It rests with the objecting individual to submit , or for conscience sake to fight that question ont with society—¦ one against the many . But no middle course is open to him . He may not expect that society will allow his individual conscience to contradict the general conscience , and the unit give law to the many , or break the law of the many . ' But certain acts are different froni others . Some are purely religious . ' " Which are they , if all are not ? , It was an nnlappy division of human actions into political and religious ; for out of that division has : sprung aoendjof bluhderings . Life is altogether religious , or not at all . There are no affairs in it which are

      not human ; andHnmauiiy is as a multiple flame not human ; andHnmauiiy is as a multiple flame aspiring ever to . God or Religion is but a foolish word . But when we speak of Religious Freedom , we mean not Freedom from Reli gion , but Freedom of and for Religion . Religion is the doctrine of the laves of life , and polity ( brought down to politics ) ( he practical development of those laves . There is then , literally , not an act of life which can he said to he only between man and God : so to be placed upon Eome special ground of religious exemption . AH man's acts , from the highest to the lowest , belong to Humanity , either to Ms famil y , his nation , or the ¦ world . His thoughts alone are his . There is the domain of Reli gious Liberty .

      Here , concluding , I may not pass unnoticed the shuffling manner in which all House of Commons ' work is done . The very atmosphere of the place appears to be demoralising—a pest house for any healthy man to avoid . Mr . Fox hides his relief to the peace men under a p lausible talk of the coexistence of rights and duties , under the sophism that became a duty implies a right , and a right involves a duty , therefore whosoever chooses to give up the one may be guiltless in shirking the other . A most mischievous deceit . Mr . Hume cannot pass the opportunity of a trick ; pretending to see no difference between making none but voters liable to the militia ,

      and giving the privilege of voting to every militiaman . A true Parliamentary Reform dodge . And that blessed innocent of a Tory , Attorney-General , who would have no man exempted from the duties of citizenship , sneaks , like any Whig , into some special pleader ' s quibble about the rights evil , and the rights political . Anything to cover knavery with words e on- ^ S i and so bewilder the fools , who ' have ears , but hear not . ' Look for truth in a well , for figs in thighs , for patriotism in a peace-man , for honesty in ft Whig statesmen ; hut there is no such folly as looking for sound principles of morality ia the Reformed Souse of British Representatives . Spaktaccs .

      To The Kind Of Friends In 4 The Star Of ...

      4 THE STAR OF FREEDOM . ^ ,

      Tea On Table At Half-Past Six O'Clock Pr...

      Tea on table at half-past six o ' clock precisely ; an Q the public m ? etinj » to commence at ei « lit o ' clock . . .,,, Admission to the Tea and Public Meeting , 9 deach . To Public Meeting only . Gallery , 3 d ., Hall . 2 d . Tickets mav be had of John Shaw , 24 . GloHcestcr-street Commercial road , East ; John MatUias , SO , Broad street , Rateliff ; wm . Brafield . GM > e House . 3 I : ie end-road ; A . E . Belainrce . 10 Nortbfqiwre , Portland-place , Glohe-road , Mile-end ; Mr . ivell , winte Horse , Hare-street , Bethnal-green : Win . Travers , 1 / , Margaretplace , Hackney ; C F . Nichols , 10 , Great IVinclicster-street , City ; John Washington . 136 . Golden-lane . Barbican ; George Taylor , llw , Gosnell-sfreet ; John Bezer , 7 S 3 , Fleelstreet ; Henry Uolmike , 3 , Queen ' s Head-passage . Pateraoswr-row : James Grassuy , 3 d . Recent-street , l . amlieth ; John Milne . 1 , Uniciwireet , Berkeleyfqaare ; Isaac TVUson ; 7 , Sheffield-street , Clare-market ; l j o"l " Parte , 32 , Little Windmill-streer . Haymarket ; D . W . Ruffy , n , Tot fenham-CGurt , ~ Xewroad ; John Arnotr . 31 , Middlesex-place , Somers Town ; and Edward True ' ove , at the Institution . N . B . —The proceeds will be givea to the Refcgee Fcsd . . are ,

      FOR IHE BENEFIT OF TH 3 DEMOCRATIC KEFDGEES . "iU . 11 CS Mffi BHWHUES . " A SOIBEE , consisting of a „„„ ,, ¦* - « TEA PARTY AND PUBLIC MEETING , - ^ - is noxooa or "THE STAR OP FREEDOM , " Will he held in the Literary and Scientific Insuiution . John-street , Tottenham-court-road , on Tuesday evening , June t . ; e Stli , 1 S-J--Thefolloninjrfilends to political and social reform will attend and take part in the proceedings : — ROBERT LE BLOXD , WALTER COOPER , G . JULIAS HARXEY , Gm ^ ,-lr ^ ' SAMUEL KYDD . D . W . HIFFY , and JOHN PETITE . ,....., _ ,, T . S . DUXCOJIBE . 3 LP ., THOKNTO-V HUNT , G . J . IIOLTOAkE , BKOXTERRE O'BRIEN , sndotliers also invitedand expected to attend .

      &$ (Eoitcispnifeitts.

      & $ ( EoiTCiSpnifeitts .

      2^- The Great Increase Of Correspondence...

      2 ^ - The great increase of correspondence compels us very reluctantly to abridge : i mass of communications down to mere notices in this column . The Ssushixg Pouct . — Vr . Snackleton has written another letter , for which we cannot find room in full , commenting on the attempt of Sir . Jones to expla n away bis smashing speech at Manchester ; which attempt , it appears , is supported by a certificate from Mr . Grocott . . Mr . ShacHeton says Sir . Jones ' s version of his speech is a pure fiction . "I have again looked over my notes , -which were taken down at the time when the words were uttei ed , and , I repeat , that the words reported to have been spoken hyJor . es and Cockrofc , are verbatim , as they fell from their lips . " Mr , Shacklelon adds '' the Chartists should hear this in mind , that no report was taken of these speeches at the tivr . e , except the one which I took . The speech which 3 £ --. Jones publishes in his paper has been written out to suit the ease , and bears no resemblance

      to the speech he delivered . Sot a man among them had anythin ; to guide Uim but his memory - , and , I humbly submit , that my note-book is more likely to be correct , both as to the words and the circumstances under which they were uttered , than the memory or the inventive faculty of any man . " D . Bbatuso . —We are sorry that press of matter compels the postponement of your valuable communication respecting that interesting and valiant nenple , the Roumanian ? . MiSTDi Jura informs us that " an Association has been formed , consisting of humane and philanthropic , of all classes , to make special investigation into every loss cf life in collieries , and doduce from observation and experience the most practical reme . dies for such disasters . GoWsworth Gwraey , Esq ., and Mr . James Mather , of South Shields , are foremost in this work of humanity . " W * shall be happy to publish any information connected with this society , and to render to it all the aid in our power . In the same letter , Mr . Ju 4 e says— "I hope the soiree in honour of the ' Star of Freedom , ' on the Stli of June , will be 8

      hamper . I should like to be present . " Mr . Jude adds— " the resolution at Manchester to expatriate all who differ from their policy , is quite in keep in ; with the original project . Verily , what a farce to attemp :, by abreachofaU the rules of Democracy , to heal all dissensions . '—to virtually depose one lawfully elected Executive , and setup one illegally elected !—to heal the divisions of the body by dividing us more and more . ' tJ Acccs M'JLeod , Gateshead . —Many thanks for your letter . Jons Gilbebxson , Carlisle , writes , "It is enough to make Chartists ashamed to own they are such , to see the way in which Chartism is disgraced by some of its professed advocates . For instance , those who lately met in Manchester and called themselves a * Convention . ' I received a letter from Grocott with a subscription sheet , * desiring me to collect and send , to the care of Ernest Jones , ten shillings . ' For what ? To enable them to go through the country , to propagate the doctrine , that the 'middle classes ought to be opposed , ' even if they come out and ' advocate " . the Charter ! ' I hope that wherever they present themselves to

      advocate such preposterous stuff they wUl be scouted as they deserve , " W . Ems , Brighton , Sussex , —We cannot impart the information you desire . Yen had better address a letter to Mr . Goodchap , accountant , nest to the City Xews Rooms , Cheapside , London , C . SEAGBAVE , Farnham . —We know nothing of the matter to which you refer . To whom did you send the money ? Mb . Snurrox writes in reference to Mr . Kyfld ' s letter , published in the "Star" of Saturday week , that he ( Mr . Stratton ) " said nothing at the Delegate Council derogatory to Mr . Kydd . " We have forwarded Mr . Stratton ' sletter to Mr . Kydd . A Voice feosi Bieeenijead —I have read the report of the ManchesterConference of Chartist Delegates ia your excellent "Star " of the 22 nd , and I must say I have read it with a most humiliating sensation of pain and disgust . K no wiser and better men can be found in tbe ranks of tbe Chartists than have met at that Conference , it is high time that Chartism "was laid on the shelf among the myths of former ages . It is lamentable , and creates an

      unspeakable melancholy in my mind , to see the ignorance and bigotry evinced at that meeting of delegates , more especially by ens who presumes to lead anduircct the people by one of the most powerful levers known to us—the Press . If the suicidal doctrine and resolution , which he backed , and which was carried at that meeting , is foVtovrefap Va his paper , it will he flispicahle , and detested by every man who can have the least pretensions to rationality . Mr . E . Jones , and his colleagues at the Conference , talked about acting oh an antagonistic plan , and smashing in upon every meeting ; which conduct none but fools or _ madmen would ever think of . My opinion is , that they and their consti . tuents have tried the power of repulsion long enough to prove its inntility ; they should now try the other greater and more agreeable power of attraction . " I Will the writer of the above be good enough to send his par . tkular address , and we will answer his ouestion with reference to the pamphlet he intends to publish . ] Jons Stodd . —Lord John Russell was Secretary r . f Stale for Home Affairs at the period you speak of . We have not a file of tbe "Star" of that year at hand , hut we wiH endeavour to answer your question in a future number . Thomas Bccklev , Oldham Thanks for your friendly suggestion ; we intend to act upon it at the first opportunity . Please to

      favour us with your lull address . Thomas Dewis , Packering ( whose letter we are sorry we cannot give in full , J writes— " As a constant subscriber and reader of all your writings and publications , and as a paying member of the Chartist Association , andatme Democrat , I must express my thorough disgust for the ' Crushers '—or would-be' Crushers' of the'Star of Freedom . ' Ithink the Chartist body ought to return their best thanks to Mr . Farrab , for the noble manner in which he opposed the address of the Metropolitan Delegate Council , designed to exalt Mr . Jones to the position of a ' second' Bonaparte . To my thinking , Chartism does not want , nor can it flourish under such despotism , and the only thing that Mr . Jones and his 'Crashers' have to do is to beware they do not ' crush' themselves . The principles yon , Mr . Editor , advocate are above suspicion , and I will do all I can to get the' Star of Freedom' well circulated in this district . " C . B . JLvionr , Gateshead . Before publishing the statements respecting the two newsagents , we will communicate with them , and ascertain what they have to say . Fissuc & t . Locum . —The notice of last week ' s meeting was accidenta !! y omitted . T . Wjicock , Bradford . —The remedy is in the hands of yourself and friends . You remember the old motto— " When bad men conspire good men must combine . " A word to the wise is

      sufficient . Mb . W . Broom , Lecturer , wishes us to state that if the Democrats of Dudley will communicate with him he will lecture for them in the open air . on a Sunday morning . Their letter uiust be sent to No . 2 , Suffolk-street , BirmuiRuani . [ Press of matter prevented the publication of Mr ; Broom ' s last report ] Thomas Moibebshed , Failsworth , writes— " Glad was I to see you had res rated your old labours as editor of the 'Star . ' I have been a subscriber to all yo'ir publications . I have followed you throagh all vour trials and difficulties , and I cannot see , for the ; lifeef me , that you are' no Chartist . ' As to the attempt to crush your Journal , I think it is rather presuming too much upon'our patience , and the attempt will but recoil upon thoseiwho have ehy gaged in this dastardly work . " ' . * ' • . [' KoiriNGnAMAsoSoBTnAJiPTON . —We are sorry , that the reports of the Electioneering meetings , received last week , ' were crowded out . We shall he obliged by future communications from our cor . '

      respondents . Mr . Jasies sweet , Nottinshara , sends us a letter addressed- "To Messrs . C . ; ciroft and Jones , " which we are unable to give in full . Mr . Sweet says , "I har . ily need inform jou ( Cochroft and Jones ) that for a great number of years the unwise policy , laid do ' wn by you for the guidance of the working men , has been acted upon , and failed to achieve the object said tube sought for . To ' , start afresh upjn that track will inevitably lead to tbe same disastrous results . I know of only two ways to obtain the People ' s Charter , —one ia cf a coercive , the other of a legal , peaceful , and constitutional character . What do the men of London , Newport , Sheffield , Bradford , Manchester , and other large tonus think of the first ? Do they acreewith the stntiraentsuttered by Mr . Cocki roft 5 Are they worshipers of men rather than principles ! Will they oppose any class who will aid them in the obtainment of the Charter ? Did Mr . Cockroft really represent the opinions of the men of Halifax ? For my own part , I am determined to act with any man , of any class , who will advocate political rights for uw

      fellow countrymen . Instead of proving vonrselves Democrats , your conduct is thoroughly despotic . You lalk abjut' raising the cause above these low passions , ' while you indulge in them your- ; selves . I would most emphatically warn the working men from acting upon the advice given at ihe late Conference , as it can only produce trouble , and delay their enfranchisement . I cannot imagine for a moment that the mass of my countrymen sympathise with such vindictive feelings , or will in anyway countenance such proceedings . " ' J , C ; , Holme , Manchester . —The information you require on emi . gration shall be supplied in next week ' s number . Maeivs FLtHvxc , Ki ' vush—It is quiie impossible to do anything with your lengthy communication this week . Next week we will endeavour , if postible . to make use of it . ALEXASDEB Campbem , Inverness , sends a lengthy -letter on the formation of a "feople ' s Party . " We are compelled ' to give ex . tracts merely . Mr . Campbell says : — "My own conviction is , that ambition of lea-icnbi p , inconsistency , personal spleen , and men's minds being warped " add wedded to silly crotchets and absurd pnjudices , have drhvn all parties into confusion and anarchy , destroyed all faith , without which no union can exist , lam forcibly struck with the old adage— ' That the man is of

      doubtful honesty who calls every one else a rogue . ' To re-organise the Chartist movement a general only is wanting—hut we need not want long . Thomas S . Duncombe is fhoman : and the only obstacle to hiscommand seems to be whether , he shall use his own tactics , or adopt those of his future army . There can be no doubt as to the course that , as a leader , he must pursue ; he must use h : s own , although , with the advice of his staff ; he will , no doubt , make some important alterauous . " Our correspondent tkenproceedi to defend Mr . Uuncoaibe's Programme ; but , with the most earnest wish to allow all to express their opinions , it is impossible to insert his comments . Differing from our corres . ponuent on sone important points , we nevertheless heartily coin ; ctde with his desire to see Mr . Dancombe once more at the head of the iJemocratic movement . A . C- ^ he quarurly subscription for the "Star of Freedom" is now . our shilling- ; and tonpence , or nineteen shillings annually . VY . JinasLES , Winchester . —We wid endeavour to insert the address to KobertOwcn in our next number Thomas Wau « . Stwktor ., and A . B ., Spilshv .-Wo are unacquainteawuiiili ,. p . virJojiani 3 ; Ifl-jira of the ' society you name . Mr . liv .: aasM . Wheeler ' s address is Ho . 4 , West-street , 3 oho , Loiid-n . ' .- ' ..

      Coila . —We will endeavour to mate use ofyoar communications uaxc week . Manchester . —We have this n been favoured with two communicationj-one of them detailing a series of resolutions adopted attheLflaejiBlure De .-egate Meeting held on Sunday , Uay'iSrd , and elm fly having reierence to the appointment of a delegate to

      2^- The Great Increase Of Correspondence...

      another dele gate meeting fixed for Sunday last , whic report we submit to our Manchester friends , should have been furnished us last week . Uf our Manchester friends will send their reports a the proper time , they shall not ; tail of publicity in the " Star of Freedom . " ] The second communication has relation to the letter of Mr . Longbottom , of Oldham , and Mr . Horsfall , of Boyton , published in a late number of this journal , and which , as our readers will remember , set forth that certain parties intended to take advantage of the ( now notorious ) " Conference * ' to "crush" ihe "Star ; " and which further represented Mr . Grocott as speaking of the Editor of this journal as " an enemy to Chartism . " The communication before u » denies both statements . So be it . If we have done any wrong to Mr . Grocott or any other person , we are ready to make the most ample apology . But , we must say , that the proceedings of the " Conference , " in relation to this journal , were altogether in accordance with the sentiments imputed to the South Lancashire delegates by Messrs . Lon gbottom and Horsfall . Whatever may have been said or not said , the design to " crash" the " Star of Freedom " is patent to the world . As regards Mr . Grocott , wo have before us another communication from Jlr . Horsfall , not hitherto noticed in this paper , re-affirming the truth of Mr . Longbottom ' s statements . The aac-tion , therefore , is between Mr . Grocott and

      his friends on the one hand , and Messrs . Longbottom and Hori fall on tbe other , Hal fax —Jlr , Uriah Hinehcliffe writes to inform u » that , in spile oftlu base and unprincipled opposition to the "Star of Free . dom . "the circulation is rising every week in that town . Thanks to such friends as Mr , Hinehcliffe ; we shall yet overcome the dastardly opposition to our unscrupulous foes . Fheedosi of ihe ftes is Halifax . —Xr . 2 Iinchc ? iffi > , ' . in a second letter informs us that our article , the "Manchester oowp d ' efaf , " so enraged certain persons that they committed last Saturday's " Star" to the flames . Can this be true ? Mr , Ilinchcliffe ' s informant was a Mr . John Longbottom , who professed to have witnessed the auto defa . Ife forbear comment for the present , as we must cling to the belief that no set of mea calling themselves Chartists , however prejudiced and niishd , could be guilty of such an act of insanity . W . Paecinsos . —Received . Thanks . * SpartacC ! . —Errata in Letter G . —For " What is to be gained by holding to f imply the ' Principles' of the Charter Is the greatest possible nuraUer ot adherents to be tbe mam object of our wishes ! " read , " That which is to be gained , by holding to simply the'Principle' of the Charter , is the greatest possible number of adherents to the main olyect of our wkhc--, " And lor" repeal principle , " in last line , read , '' real principle , "

      The Stae Of Fbeedoi, Sat5jkbay, June 5, 1s52.

      THE STAE OF FBEEDOI , SAT 5 JKBAY , JUNE 5 , 1 S 52 .

      Our Position, Principles. Am) Prospects....

      OUR POSITION , PRINCIPLES . AM ) PROSPECTS . ' It moves for all that , ' said grand old Galileo , when released from the rack , in spito of ihe recantation Avruug from him by the pangs of mortal agony . ' it moves for all that ; ' and in spite of the lies that have been circulated to damage ub—in spite of the dastardly tactics , and the stealthy stabs dealt us by an enemy working in secret—in spite of tho apathy of masses of the people , and the disgust of others—in spito of a \ l these obstacles , and of the dark and despondent aspect of the times in which we started , the ' Star of Freedom' has gone on , steadily increasing its circulation , and won its widening way

      through the length and breadth of the land ; and we can answer tho defiant shouts of our enemies , and the fearful prognostications of well-meaning , but lukewarm friends , with thetriumph-cry of him of old— 'Ix moves fob all THAT- ' Our thanks are duo to the Democrats of the Metropolis , for their manly and earnest appeal to the country , and the noble words spoken in our behalf , which appeared in our last number . We cannot but feel grateful for tho valuable testimony of men who have bravel y done , and through the fiery ordeal of suffering and pevsecution , proved their eternal devotion to the principles we cherish , and to the people , in whose cause we are

      proud to do battle . Their testimony is all the more valuable and truatwortUy , seeing that many among them are tried and trusted by the veritable Chartist public ; and that being on the spot , and knowing the relative position of ourselves and our unscrupulous-enemies , they also know what is going on behind the scenes , and are well calculated to form such an opinion as should direct the mind of the country . We hope our friends will give publicity to that address ; all we ask is , that the truth should be known ; we court the keenest scrutiny of our words and actions , and have nothing to fear , but everything to gain , from a full and fair examination . With fair and open dealing

      we can cope , with honest and honourable assailants , who may differ with us in matters of policy we can combat , but we are at a loss to compete in that infernal warfare , worthy of the Thugs , in which we are assassinated by an invisible enemy , who throws his poisoned weapons from his cowardly ambush , not having prostrated ourselves to such despicable practices . It is from the stinging shaft of slander , and the barbed arrow of calumny , that our friends , are called upon to guard us / It has been stated—and the statement has been assiduously circulated to our prejudice and injury—that this Paper was purchased by Mr . ' Le Blond , with Middle Class gold , for the

      purpose of advocating the Middle Class interest as opposed to that of tho Working Classes . Now , Mr . Le Blond has distinctly denied this in a communication to Mr . Eusest Jones ( the author of the said statement , ) at the same time reminding him , that he has been the recipient of Middle Class gold ! This was forwarded to him for publication , but Mr . Eknest . Jones has burked it ! in accordance with his usual policy regarding truth . This would have given the lie direct to so much that he has said , and which , it appears , he cannot afford to ha ve unsaid . Our friends can and should make this known among those who are against us , as well as those who are with us .., Again , on every hand it has been

      industriously propagated , that we are the enemies to the principles of Chartism ! God knows how we have loved and worked for Chartism ! God knows at what a cost we have stood' by it through good and evil report , and at what a sacrifice we have done our duty demanded by our principles ! This base He can have no ground of origin save in the fact , that we have differed with some on questions of policy , but not in matters of principle ! We , 'the enemies of Chartism , and the friends of the Middle Classes !' whose life-long thought has been to establish the holy principles of the one , and to expose the murderous tyranny of the other ! We ' the enemies' of Chartism ! ' who have suffered the falling off of friends , and the breaking up of old friendships into

      bitter and sorrowful strife , because we have been true and consistent , and never shrunk from exposing those who have masqueraded in the guise of Chartism , men who have been too ready to sacrifice the grand jold ; cause for the sake of gratif ying their own wretched . egotism or miserable ambition ? We ' the - enemies of Chartism ! 'who have ever proclaimed ourselves more than Chartists , and the , advocates of those revolutionary principles , towards the realisation of which Chartism is hut a march on the way , but which we deemed so necessary a one , that we were willing to forego the advocacy of all other aspirations , so that we might concentrate all our efforts for the accomplishment of . this one vital march on the way ?

      Chartists we have always been , and this we are today ,: and when our friends , in their address , do us the honour of adverting to our principles , we feel that they could not have paid a prouder tribute to our political truthfulness and honesty of purpose . We are only the -enemies of . sham Chartism , of tricksters , of hypocrites , of . men who are audacious because they have rib reputation to lose . "We are the enemies of that-policy , which would have us set our'hands against everyi man , friend or foe , and thus bring down the world ' s hatred and persecution on our principles , ; and give our opponents room to point the finger , of scorn to our glorious banner , on which we have inscribed the magnificent words Libeett ,

      Equality , and Fraternity . We are the enemies of all those who would trail that banner—the flag of Freedom—in the mire , instead of bearing it aloft pure and unsullied , so that the free wind and smiling sunshine of heaven may play upon it , and so that the whole world may read what is written thereon . We are the enemies of those who would make our cause a name at the mention of which the cheek of its dearest lovers will crimson with shame , instead of mantling with the proud flush of triumph . We are also the enemies of a misled faction , which has effected an usurpation only less criminal in so far as itismorecontemptible thanthatacomplished by Louis BoNE-THE-woLEfn ot Bon [ e ] -a-parte ) and which

      asserts itselt asthe veritable Democracy , to therighteous disgust , and mournful alienation of our innumerable friends . We confidently believe that Chartism has yet true disci ples enough who will stand by us in carrying out our policy , and in enabling us to achieve for the' Star of Freedom ' that proud position which we aspire to , of making it a Paper which shall be welcome at the poor man ' s hearth , and shed a cheering light m the poor man ' s heart and home—a Paper which shall be the exponent of the peopl 6 ' s aspirations , the dauntless defender of the People ' s Rio-hts , and the stern avenger of the People ' s Wrongs . ° In

      Our Position, Principles. Am) Prospects....

      answer to the many kind inquiries of friends in all parts of the country , it is but fair that we should be frank with them as to our position and prospects . We tell them , then , that the circulation of one thousand copies more would place us beyond the reach of all assaults , and enable ua to defy all the dark machinations of plotters and liars , and secret letter writers ! And wo have faith , derived from our d aily experience , that there are far more than a thousand adherents to our principles in the country , who are not yet aware that we are in the field with the ' Star of Freedom , ' and who need only to be apprised of the fact to assist us at once , by becoming subscribers , and exerting themselves to add to the number of our readers . We have not the means of advertising—notwithstanding all that has been said about our liberal supplies of

      Middle Class Gold—so that we must trust , in a great measure , to our friends giving us the publicity which we need . Each of our subscribers might become a living advertisement , and speak the good word for us at the right time and place ; which would do more for us than immense sums of money spent in advertising . Truly , ' it is not the rich man ' s gold , but the poor man's aid and sympathy which we rely upon , ' to carry the ' Star of Freedom'to success . We read the sky of the present with a hope ful trust , and are prepared to work in the full faith of better times to come . Wo have been solicited to make a tour through the country , to meet old comrades , and to confront our foes , and it is quite possible that arrangements may be made to meet the wishes of our friends . Meanwhile , ' Nildesperandum ' is our motto ; let it be also that of our friends ,

      ' ' Nildesperandum , '' cried Leonidas to his heroic Spartans , and the salvation of Greece was wrought out of the bloody pass of Thermopylae ! ' Nil desperandum , ' said noble Lutuek , when he started alone from his cloister for Rome , a simple monk ! ' Nil desperaT / idum , ' and tho Vatican trembled , and the blood-cemented despotism of Popedom quaked as if with coming dissolution ! * Nil desperandum , ' pleaded Columbus to his mutinous crew when ripe for rebellion , and in three days the New World burst on their glistening eyes ! ' Nil desperandum , ' shouted heroic Kossuth , when the invader had penetrated to the heart of Hungary ; and at the words , the gallant Magyar nation rose like a lion refreshed with slumber , and roiled back the tide of war from the shores of the fatherland with a shock that shattered the

      Austrian empire to its rotten core ! ' Ml desperandum , ' cried brave Mazzini to the men of Rome , and trampled as they had been for ages , they rose and asserted that the flower of Freedom still flourished amid all her ruins and desolation , and once more established the Republic in the Capitol of the Csesars ' Nil desperandum , ' say we , remembering such sublime instances , and yet the ' Star of Freedom' shall shine out clear and luminous from the mists of Falsehood and the darkness of Despotism . Yet , shall it become the triumphant exponent of the People ' s Rights and Liberties , and a beacon-guide for tbe Workers on their upward march from tho Egypt of their Slavery .

      Bonaparte And Belgium. Notwithfitanding ...

      BONAPARTE AND BELGIUM . Notwithfitanding the honourable acquittal of the 1 Bulletin Francais' by a Belgian jury—who , as the citizens of a free country , did not hesitate to protect the freedom of the Press , in spite of the threats of tho infamous assassin of the liberties of France—Bonaparte has returned to the charge , determined that as the truth has been suppressed in France , bo shall it be in Belgium , and that ihe people of that country shall be reduced to silence , and be no longer allowed to call—an chat . un chat et' Rollet' xmfrippn . Bassaro , the agent of Louis Napoleon in Belgium , has prevailed upon the weak and timid Government to prosecute the Democratic journal , the ' Nation , ' . for haviug had the courage to express its contempt and hatred for the blood-stained desppt of France , the cowardly assassin of the unarmed people . .

      Now , this is a matter which concerns not merely the conductors of ' La Nation , ' but it is one in which the entire Belgium nation nay , even all the peoples of Europe , have an interest . ' Shall that vile Cossackism , which , for three years , laboured to imprison , and finally strangled in December 1851 , the noblest child of the Revolution—the French Republic—pass over its boundaries , within which it is now- devouring itself , and sweep away the last vestiges of constitution al liberty from the face of Europe ? - It is for the Belgians to answer . Will they consent to cringe to the usurper _ Bonaparte , and kiss tho perjured traitor ' s hand , red with the blood of their slaughtered

      brethren ? Or will they stand bravely forth , and become the vanguard of that glorious army of the peoples , which shall ere long arise to give battle to the tyrants , and to their brutal and mercenary hordes ? The future will show . Meanwhile , we would warn- the timid and wavering amongst the Belgian people , that they will gain nothing by servility ; that , however clearl y the Belgian lamb may show that it is innocent of any attempt 0 stir up the mud of the-stream , the Decembrist wolf will be at no loss for an excuse for devouring it , should it be his interest to do so .

      That such is his interest we do not doubt . His army are beginning to be- sensible of the ridiculous figure they cut in being -laucled lo the skies as the e ? i / e of the nation , the courageous and order-loving soldiers , while all the opportunity they have had of displaying their courage , was this midnight campaign against unsuspecting citizens , and their gallant butcheries of the defenceless multitudes in the streets of Paris in December . There must be war , that these , Jraue mtftfaires may have a chance of meriting a tithe of that sickening adulation , which is so unceasingly bestowed upon them , and that they may , by ; the attainment of military glory , wipe out the shame of the crimes they have committed in their drunkenness and slavery .

      The necessity of war is increased rather than lessened , by the conduct of the Northern tyrants . Their contemptuous coldness , and their confident inaction show that , though they have the will , they have not the need , to invade France for the purpose of destroying . Bonaparte , as it is evident enough , that the bastard imperialism will soon tumble down of itself . They " will , not attack him , as that would only give him the power which is failing him HOWby driving the French nation to defend even him rather than Enffer ah alliance of foreign despots to dictate to her by what , and by whom , she shall be governed .

      Even the army will become his enemy , should peace corilinue . , War , therefore , there must be , oven in spite of the Czar . And , indeed , what now signifies to Bosaearte . the dictum of the Czar , when the restoration of-the . Bourbon to the throne of France is . spoken" of by " the Northern powers as an indisputable fact of the future ? _ On Belgium shall ' the first stroke fall . Its « anexation' will relieve the despot from an eyesore , and destroy the dangerous example of a free state at his very doors , where the voice of Freedom may still be raised in defiance of human liberty , and the imprescriptable rights of man .

      Bonaparte bribed the priestcraft to aid him in the subjugation of France ; and priestcraft , ever the ally of the tyrant , offers its services towards accomplishing the conquest of Belgium . The following passage from the ' Constitutional' sufficiently explains the anti-national tendencies of the Belgian priests , and their love for the Cossack ruler of France : — Cnd « vtliegOTerament of July , during the triumph of university itleaa , the . Belgian . Catholic party showed little sympathy with the French government . Sow , when they see Hie liberty anil dignity S " " V ? Napoleon has given to the Church , the Belgian Catholic party is favourably disposed towards France .

      Now as ever , Priest and Soldier , Fraud and Force , are the allied enemies of the peoples ! Bonaparte . has / by the pen of the infamous Elyseaa scribe , Granier de Cassagnac , poured forth a torrent of calumny and abuse upon liberal Belgium ami her liberal institutions , accompanied with threats of invasion and war , in the event of the approaching elections being favourable to other men than those devoted to the rascally tenant of the

      Elysee . It is the old game so well played in December . Then Bonaparte conjured up the red spectre , and terrified the shop-keeping class with pictures of anarch y and plunder ; and the cowards and fools voted for the * Saviour of society ! ' So he now attempts to traffic in the selfishness of tho Belgian middl e-class ,-by frightening them with the prospect of material losses into voting for the partisans of bis priestl y serfs . May the electors of Bel f ium , hating despotism ,

      Bonaparte And Belgium. Notwithfitanding ...

      and scorning the threa ts of tbT ^ n ^^ ^ and the curses of theTnavish ^^ ^ n ? - ' votes for those who wuf JXS £ iests . re cord fr and the national right W & 2 * 2 f « J rather do battle for right and I . lr' ^ Sn upon the blood-stained LmS ? St 5 ^ Cl b . ddmg the indignant and tr « StSJ ? K ,, » «* fi With such men will the countrv 2 1 Tl hem tho people will march with enthust ? : ^ er hack the hordes of the invader X **> to C hasten to their aid ; a „ d S „ 1 T mion * S nationality % ud ^ ' ty may l £ **& 2 spirit of revolutionary France- eU tho <<

      Betting Abomi^Itions . R May Be True Tha...

      BETTING ABOMI ^ ITIONS . R may be true that * itVaitocrethM . , empt to abolish public immora % bv A h ^ t . » fc . but surely it cannot be tne ,, ° , ° * * no steps should bo taken to put dotn t SjS system which has sprang up of trnffickt JS rahty , and obtaining a profit 0 Bt of £ ^ " ^ o . ment and propagation of vice . 0 nco , tt » gB . It is evident that , for the want of ' aomn i occupation for the minds of the ZT * J 1 Ca ! % resorting to gambling as a subkitute £ ? ar worthior mental stimulus . As usua \ Z iT * ° eged c ! aSSes-the hereditary so-called « NoU , I " * the first to plunge into the path ol a ^ ± > degradation , and , by rendering vice < «^^ t aid in drawing the multitude of We l J ¦ * ' and tho ughtless imitators after them unfit ti i ^ poisoned tho whole life of the nation , Ir h & Te guished or overwhelmed those purQ a id Tl extitlmeats and ideas , which aloue can nrcser ™ , *^ grout , glorious , and free . e ll ° oa

      It matters not that the men ivlio arc p 0 c 5 G 5 Spi 1 . such abase spirit of fiunkyisui , as to fL " r ! S ^ cratic knaves and fools even on the path of vi crime , are a vilo rabble , who form no « J IV ? real life of the people , who do uothin- for JL h of Progress and Humanity , and wbVW . Z ? £ by the labours of tho men of the past « U ( | 2 ?^ men of the present , without contributing ff slightest degree towards the common fund „ f ) , » knowledge . It is the duty of the nation aJ ?> " government ( that it had but a government « i to , tect the mentally as well as the physicaliv ll amongst its members , and to labour to turn the m u amount of energy they really possess , into befe and worthier paths than the ruinous and dc ^ l courses m which they are now Buffercd ' toi ! engulphed . D 8

      Bat , m most instances , wo trill find that tifotju gambling system is not the consequence , but j immediate cause of that imbecility , and depraj which wo have to deplore . Tho young man , more especially the highl y respectable' one ? is launched into the world , his mental powers dwarfed by our abominable system of education , the most prominent point of which is the parson ' s precept— ' Fear Goo and the King ; and honour and obey your superiors •' and with his mind thus crammed with a slavish respect for 'high people , and a holy veneration jfe aristocratic noodle-dom , it is not to ' be wondered at that he is prone to copy the habits of ' noblemen '

      and become a sportsman and a better . He becomes more : he becomes a confirmed gambler ; and in all probability , his associations with the mob of blacklegs and blackguards who frequent betting offices , at length convert him into a drunkard and a swindler like those around him . If , happily , he escape , such a fate ^ if his losses or success be trifling , and be insufficient to ruin him ( for the sudden gain of wealth , by inducing him to plunge info extravagance , would be as certain ruin as tho loss of his all ) , his passion is nourished , and becomes deeply rooted ; so much so , that all his thoughts become solely occupied with the chances of his ' favourite' horse .

      Such is the base , unmanly , aud degrading life of the ' sportsman . ' If his feelings be not altogether blunted , and he be not dead to every tie of affection and family , what agony he must suffer , as he goes home to his wife and children , conscious that he has madly risked and lost their inheritance , which was required to procure them the immediate necessaries of life , or to ensure them against want and begging in tho future . Truly our Governmental system is not a political tyranny merely , but it is also a fruitful source of social sin and degradation . Is it wonderful that the

      most ignorant amongst tho untaught—the poorest and most neglected amongst the poor and neglected toilers , should hasten to risk their much needed shillings at those betting dens of infamy , which are springing up in every street , when our rulers and legislators , who ought to be the wisest and most virtuous amongst us , shut up their ' Parliamentary prize-ring , ' aud leave unfought those tattles of fiction , dignified by tliem with the title of' National Legislation , ' in order that they may be off to the Derby , to attend to their gambling speculations , and to set the example of evil to those whom their selfishness and hypocrisy have rendered ignorant , unmanly , and vicious .

      To punish the traffickers in vice , and to elevate the people , so that they will feel themselves too nofaie to descend to the degradation of gambling , we must have to conduct the national affairs , unselfish men , who will have atheartonly the interests of tbe nation , and who will have both the courage and tho will to overthrow tho supremacy of the lordly corruptors . Yes , we must have a Government choscu by all from all—a Government of Universal Suffrage I

      Notice! We Are Compelled To Postpone An ...

      NOTICE ! We are compelled to postpone an article on the Foreign Policy of the existing Government . Meanwhile , we entreat the friends of humanity to give aid to THE POLITICAL REFUGEES . _ The lists published in another column comprise but a par * tion of the large number of men existing in this metrnpoliSi in a state of the most miserable destitution . The " A dvertiser of this morning ' s date contains an account of tk « discovery , bv the Christian Instruction Society , of a ' colony" of Ficnch and Hungarian Refugees , to the number of forty , in Whitfield-street , Long-acre-all of them m W most deplorable state of distress . To every Democrat , » every humane person , I earnestly anneal , to strengthen toe hands of the "Refugee Committee , " by atcnc 6 to « S subscriptions to the Treasurer or Secretaries .

      Guide To The Lecture-Room. Literary Inst...

      GUIDE TO THE LECTURE-ROOM . Literary Institution , John-street , Fitew-sauare . -JuneClh |(}! i a Lecture . .. South-plnoo , Mootfields .-June 5 tli ( lUii . tn . ) , & to ' 50 "' will Lecture . " , [• & Hall of Science , City-roaa .-June Gth ( 71 ) , Thomas Cooper , lumbus ami the Discovery of America . ' „ „ , p . «[ f , National H . ill , 242 , High Holborn .-Juno Stli ( S ) , T . W . PerMi . ' Life and Character of the Earl of Strafford . ' $ South London Hall , Webber-streer , JUacVfriars-roaa . -JO ™ - ( 7 J 1 , Charles Southwell , 'Hell according to Believers ana believers . ' ¦ Afi' ) , East London Literary Institufion , Bethn .- ! l-ffrewJune " ' a Lecture . wi ,- , ^ Areopagus Coffee and Heading Hoom , S 3 , Cliurch- !» M . » tf chapel-Every Sunday , Monday , and Wednesday ( S ) , aiiecn » Discussion . ennilari CityForura Coffee House 60 Redeross-street . -Every s uu

      , , Monday , and Thursday , ( 8 S ) , a Lecture , ,, „ ., „ m , Eclectic Institute , Denmark-street , Soho . -Every *™ g L , i £ v Mr . J . B . O'Brien . Home and Foreign Polities . Ercry a " ( 7 |) , on' Moral and Social Science . ' , f . into-Commercial Hall , Thilpotstreet , Commermi-roW ' tasi . - . ^ logical Discussions evc-ry Sunday morning { lib Sunoay even Tuesday ( 8 ) , Thursday ( 8 ) , and Saturday ( 8 ) . , . ... June Social Institution , Charles-street , Old Garratt , Manchester . 6 tli ( 11 ) , a Lecture . . ^ verj Temperance Star Hotel , Siran-street , Briffgate , Lecus .-Wednesday ( 6 ) , a Discussion . lectured Progressionist Hall , Cheapside , Leeds . —June 6 th V > i' < ^ eT 9 ry AVorkine Men ' s Academy , Edgar street , Preston . —M clur ? Sunday at 101 a . m . —Discussions every Sunday evening .

      West Rimno.-On Sundav, The 23rd Ult., An...

      West RiMNo .-On Sundav , the 23 rd ult ., an » d J ? "L 3 meeting was held at Bradford , composed ofrepre **™ ^ and friends from the several Co-operative btore _ . Working Associations in the district , when it ffa 8 rcs , forB 1 tbat the several societies , there represented , snouiu themselves into a union , to be named " The w j Union of Co-operative Societies , "for the purpose "' " ) ndrantnges , in the purchasing and distributing or Joduc . and promoting generally the cause of associative y . tion . And it was resolved , that tho drawing up « ^ j , of rules for the conducting the proposed union , sno rf entrusted to Messrs . Eggieston , Jloli , and V . ^ t ^ 0 Leeds , to be submitted to the next district meeting ^ held at tbe same place on the last Sunday m J ""^ tary , following associations were announced , by '" ' ' V ,, - , ^ , as composing the intended union :-Dradloro , j 3 j Leeds Redemption Society , Store , Ycadon ( two Sociei Wilsden , Howarth , Pudsoy , and Iiingloy .

      Tho Justices Of Peace For Edinburgh Have...

      Tho justices of peace for Edinburgh have ^ Jf ^ tions for preventing spirit shops from being opeu « days . . „„« rigni ia There were upwards of 800 fewer oases cifpa « g nathe parish of Birmingham last week , than in thocorit i ing week in 1851 ; . fiiis rctf ' ttSidtnoa appears to have deserted the Shannon ta \ > ^ though no Irish river , in former seasons , teemtu w abundance of this . deliciouslfish .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 5, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_05061852/page/4/