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4 " ^ fHEJOHTfiEBNiMAR, ~ ' ' November 1...
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S=^- : : JTowreafly, Trice One Shining.
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Privates AlATiitw-ox asd Cook of the Seventh
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Hussars.—On Tuesday evening, » meeting o...
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m.E NORTHERN STAR. SATU11DAY, NOVEMBER. 14, 1S18.
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THE TEN HOURS' BILL. There is no better ...
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THE COLLIERS AND THEIR STAFF. It is a re...
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WEEKLY REVIEW. The week has been unusual...
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Colonial ant* jfcrefgtt fteimto*
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a deartn ot colonial intelligence this w...
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Transcript
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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.
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4 " ^ Fhejohtfiebnimar, ~ ' ' November 1...
4 " _^ _fHEJOHTfiEBNiMAR , ~ ' ' November 14 , 1846 _^
S=^- : : Jtowreafly, Trice One Shining.
_S = _^ - : : _JTowreafly _, Trice One Shining .
Ad00412
TUB SKCOJJD EDITION OF MY LIFE , OR OUR SOCIAL STATE , Pint I .. a Poem , by ERNEST JOXES , " Barrister at Law . Full of wild dreams , strange fancies and graceful _inuves _, interspersed with many bright aud beautiful thoughts , its chief defect is its brevity . The author ' s _inipiraflons seem to gush fresh and sparkling from Ilippoirene . He will want neither readersuor admirers . —Mornm f PosL It contains more pregnant thoughts , more bursts of Iwrpower , more , in fine , of tlie truly graiid ami beauti-*] , than any poetical work , whieh has made its appear-Muifor years . We know of few things more _dramatijgl \ intense than the scenes betweer Philipp , Warren * 3 tcGlare . —New _Quarferli _; Review . _jublisned by Mr . Jfenby , ' 2 , Mo . timer-street , _CilVMJfc-square . Orders received by all booksellers . By the same Author
Ad00413
TO TAILORS . LONDON And PA 1 M--5 FASHIONS FOIt AUTUMN ASD WINTER , 1816-17 . By BEAD and Co ., 12 , Hart-nreet , Bloomsbury square , London ; And G . Betger , Rolywell-street , Strand ; _ilay be had of all booksellers , wheresoever _residing .
Ad00414
LITHOGRAPHIC ENGRAVINGS Of THE DUNCOMBE TESTIMONIAL . _Tl / JAY still be had at tlie Office of Messrs . M'Gowas jJX aud Co ., l < i , Great _WindniiU Street , nayuiarkvt , London ; through any respectable bookseller in town or country ; or at any of tiie agents ofthe Northern Star . The engraving is on a large scale , is executed in tbe most finished styie , is finely printed on tinted paper , and gives a minute description of tlie Testimonial , and has the Inscription , & c , Ac , engraveduponit . PBICE _FOUBPEJiCE .
Ad00415
IMPORTANT TO PHOTOGRAPHISTS . A X application was made on the 22 nd _S « pt . * mber , to tbe _ Vice-Chancellor of England , by jlr . Beard ( who , acting under a mostextraordinv delusu . _i , considers bimseiftbe _^ _olepafentee of the Photographic i . _* _oeess !) to restrain MB . ESERTON , of 1 , Temple-strict , and 148 , Fleet-street , rom _taking _I'hotograpliie Porta . _u-is , which he does by a process entirely different fron » md very superior to Mr . Be-jrd ' s , and at one-half the cl . rge . His Honour refused the apphcation in toto . Ko license required fcj practice this process , which is taught by Mr . _Egerton iu a 5 * w lessons at a moderate charge . AU tbe Apprratus , Chemicals , * c , to be had as usual at his Depot , 1 , Temple-street , Wliitefi-iars .
Ad00416
Iu the Press , and will be ready on the 21 ih Instant , The Fifth _Blttum , ClotJi , 2 s 6 d . _PRACTICAL _2 IANAGEMEXT OF SMALL PABMS , By F . 0 'Co > sok , Esq . Abel Heywood , 53 , Oldham Street , Manchester ; and all Booksellers .
Ad00417
A GOOD FIT WARRANTED . _UBisDELL ASH CO ., Tailors , are now masting cp a complete Suit of Superfine Black , any size , for £ 3 Superfine West of England Diack , £ 3 10 s . ; and the very best Superfine Saxony , £ 5 , _-warrauteti not to snot or _cbanj-e colour . Juvenile Supsrfine Cloth Suii 3 , 24 s . liveries equally cheap—attbe Great Western Emporium , Nos . l and 2 , Oxford-street , London : the noted house fur food Mackcloths , _audpatentmade trousers . Gentlemen _san choose the colour and nuaiity of cloth from the iargeststoek inLoudon . The -.. 1 of cutting taught .
Ad00418
F IVE _HUNDRED POUNDS AND UPWARDS per annum to be realized with about £ 150 , or a proportionate _greater iiicoin . _* , by embarking a larger capital . The _management <•! the business is a sinecure—it is entirely d- _> void of risk , all transactions being for cashsuccess is cert-tin—* he occupation is extremel y gentlemanly , bting a _orLoitsa ' e business . The Advertiser is embarking large capital in the undertaking , and will continue to do so ; be will , therefore , have no difficulty in verifying the above facts at an interview . Applicants must reside in any county they may select in England or _Wa-es , or in our Colonics or Channel Isles . Direct , A B ., 15 , Fraaces Street , Waterloo Road .
Ad00419
THEATRE ROYAL MARYLEBONE . _PHOPKIETOB , HE . lOVERIDGE . _LKSSEE , MB : JOBS DOUGLASS . O N MONDAY , and during tbe week , ( Wednesday excepted ) , to commence with a romantic drama , entided , "Hawk , tlie Highwayman ; or , The Shadow of Death * ' _Princ-pal characters by Messrs . Cowle , J . 'Rayner , Biddell , T . Lee , Gates , Pennett , Liekfold , Phillips , Mrs . Campbell , _-Mrs . Liekfold , Miss Martin , aud Miss Hodson . To be followed , on Monday , Tuesday , Thursday , Friday , and Saturday , by " The Philosopher iu a Fix . " Every cveniug { Wednesday excepted ) , tlie wouderiul performances of Mr . Walkers dog , Fanny . To conclude on _ilouday , Tuesday , Friday , and Saturday , with " Joe , the Orphan . " On Thursday , by particular desire , with "Yirginius . ' Yirgiuius , Mr . Cowle ; Scillius , Mr . J . _Uayner ; Virginia , Mrs . J . Douglass ; _Servia , Mrs . CampbeU . On Wednesday , for thebeuefit of the St . James's Philaiillir » f . Ir _Society of Painters and _G- 'aziers _, " Sen , tlie Boatswain * * " Born to Good Luck ; " and * ily Pretty Jane . " Boxes 2 s . ; Pit Is . ; Gallery Gd . Doors open at half-past Six—Commence at Seven . _Acthiji _Eianaser , Mr . T . Lee .
Privates Alatiitw-Ox Asd Cook Of The Seventh
Privates AlATiitw-ox asd Cook of the Seventh
Hussars.—On Tuesday Evening, » Meeting O...
Hussars . —On Tuesday _evening , » meeting of the gentlemen who have formed _therm-cives inro a vom" mittee for " purchasing ihe discharge of privates ilathewson and Cook , witnesses at the late coroner ' s _inquest at Hounsbw , from the 7 th _Hus-sirs , " _to- _* k place at the Blue Posts Tavern , _> hoe Lane , Fleet Street , for the purpose of receiving the report of the treasurer and secretary , and to determine oa the most efficient _measures lor carrying out the humane fcbjeet of the committee . Subscriptions exceeding £ 30 in amount were announced . Tne requisite sum is £ 50 , being -. 30 forMathewson _. ashehasoniy been in the regiment a few months , and £ 20 for Cook , who has been ten years in the service .
_Thk Poor is St . Paxcras Workhuose . —On _Tnesday a fully attended meeting ofthe board of directors ofthe pour of St . Pancras took pkee in the board room ofthe workhouse , Kings Road , for tho purpese of considering their reply to the recent report of the Poor Law Commissioner in reference to the late inquest on the pauper , Mary Anne Jones , and the general treatment and manigcmeat ofthe poor in St . _Pa-ut-ras workhouse . Mr . Church warden Howarth occupied the chair , and read the late communication ofthe Poor Law Commissioners , and in defence of the Board of Guardians . The main noints were , that the dietary was established many years ago , nnder the sanction of eminent medical authorities , and that the dietary of the inmates of the tatam _^ ard via also fixed by _thwa . As to the man Witt—it is alleged that the employment in whieh he was engaged was nearly as possible at an end ,
Hussars.—On Tuesday Evening, » Meeting O...
when he was dismissed fron it ; the Guardians regret the master should have deprived him of any privilege on account of the evidence he gave , but refuse any compensation . As to remedies , the Directors have ordered tbat all punishments are to be recorded , and copies sent to the Commissioners . The able-bodied poor are to be allowed to leave the workhouse , bnt shall not be re-admitted without an order from the Board on Tuesday or Friday . The dampness of the shed has been partially removed , and the directory ol the oakum room improved , as well as its inmates limited to the number required by Dr . Fane . The resolutions of the vestry , laudatory of the woiishouse authorities , and by implication of the Board , bavi n' * been appended to the leply , « , Douglas objected to them as a part of the reply ; they were withdrawn , and on the motion of that gentleman , the answer , as amended , was adopted unaniipoiiblv , and ordered tt be sent forthwith to the Poor Law Commissioners . The Board then broke up .
Teetotal Dbmokstration . —On Monday night a very crowded meeting of _teetotallers was held in Exeter Hall , Dr . Oxley in the chair , when , after upwards of twenty working men had _addressed the assembly , a memorial to Lord John Russell was adopted , praying his Lordship to prevent the _consumption of grain in brewing or distilling , nud to preserve it for the use of those who were " writhing under tbe effects of famine . . They marched to and departed from Exeter Hall in _loges , _preceded by bands of music . It was computed that there were 4 , 000 present , each of whom paid an admission feeoi fourpence .
M.E Northern Star. Satu11day, November. 14, 1s18.
m . E NORTHERN STAR . SATU 11 DAY , NOVEMBER . 14 , 1 S 18 .
The Ten Hours' Bill. There Is No Better ...
THE TEN HOURS' BILL . There is no better system cf warfare than the undermining process , especially if ihe enemy ' s camp is otherwise impregnable . Many a battle has been lost by ill advised and hasty operations , which might have been won by patience and perseverance . We tolerated Free Trade more for th _« power of which it stripped the old feudal aristocracy , than for any immediate _lenefit it was likely to confer upon the popular army . Every feather plucked from the hi g h flying wing of rampant authority
brings it within nearer reach of that arm which has been so long but so hopelessly uplifted in suppliant imploring for justice or even mercy . Upon the same principle we now hail the renewed agitation for a TEN HOURS' BILL , though with the _ureat improvement of machinery , increasing population and diminished custom , we would much prefer an Eight Hours' Bill . However , we do hail the resuscitation of the question , provided it is not once more to be made a stalking horse for some aspiring
leader , or the sympathetic plaything of a goodnatured and pliant lord . In short , if the bailie is to be really fought , we shall cheerfully enlist iu the volunteer ranks , but we will not " march through Coventry" with the feather bed commanders and officers , commissioned and non-commissioned , who have hitherto marshalled , disciplined , _eiionuiaged and led on , damped and halted , the Short Time army . With the noble lord who surrendered his commission when his forces were r ' pe lor aclion , and with the Short Time committee who
treacherously offered to compromise tlie question without the consent of the forces , we will neither consult _, consort or fight . If , upon the other hand , wc are summoned hy our old aud faithful General , who has never deceived or deserted us , and under whose bold command we have so often checked the enemy ' s inarch , we are ready for tha struggle . If Duncombe takes the lead , wc will follow , and we tell those most favourable to the measure , that unless those for whose benefit it is sought are thus assured at least of honesty , that they will not exert themselves as thev otherwise would .
We contend for the Ten Hours' Bill for the same reasons that we tolerated Free Trade , namely , because it would pluck the master ' . quill from oppression ' s other wing , and lower the proud crest of the pompMis high flying cotton lord . Indeed we have always assigned to this measure the very highest importance , as well for its undermining effect as for the great and immediate benefit that it would inevitably confer upon society at large , hut more especially upon the industrious classes . There can be little doubt tbat a Chartist parliament would consider the regulation of labour a question of the very first importance , and consequently it must be treated essentially as a Chartist _measure . Indeed we know of no change which would inevitably give a greater impulse to the Chartist cause .
Firstly—It would lessen the hostility of those who now fatten upon the slave toil of the _overworked operative , and Secondly—It would tend to convince the enemies of Chartism , the proclaimers of the people ' s ignorance , that that ignorance was rather a consequence of Free Traders monopoly ofthe poor mail ' s time , than of his disinclination to instruct and improve himself and his family -, as we feci assured tbas the time saved from slave labour would he devoted to mental improve _, ment , as well as to the discovery of tbe value of free labonr . And here we fear is the rub . These two
circumstances weigh heavily with the monopolists of tbe poor man ' s time . Nothing is more _damaging to unjust authority than the education of the people upon the one hand , while , upon the other , nothing is more dangerous to monopoly in the slave mart , than the slave ' s knowledge of the value of his own labour . For all these reasons , aud others which wc shall presently assign , we rejoice to learn that the good old King of the Factory Children , Richard Oastler , has once more opened the campaign of the Ten Hours '
Bill . There is a great charm in humanity and vanity . Humanity we have ever considered as the main spring of justice—and honest vanity as the greatest impulse to useful action . In fact , without those two attributes , humanity and vanity , the popular leader would be but a cypher . Oastler undertook the cause of the Factory operative from humanity , while we feel assured that his honest vanity in being one day the successful actor in so noble a cause , makes him above purchase and above suspicion . Upon previous
occasions we have given it as our candid opinion , that Kichard Oastler would . very much prefer dying upon the floor of the House of Commons , _proclaiming lahour ' s triumph and infancy ' s release , with his last breath , to having the Crown of England placed on his head , as the reward of his treason to his hel pless clients . Now this is a large character , a great qualificatiou , and one which should insure for the apostle on his mission that respect due to so much virtue . The Chartists , who will constitute Mr . Oastler ' s audience wherever he speaks , for the working classes are now Chartists to a man . should hear in mind that
the TEN HOURS' BILL has been adopted as one of those immediate changes sought for hy the struggling Chartists ; that it is one of the things prayed for in our national petition ; and , above all , that Oastler is its sincere advocate—and therefore are the Chartists hound to give to the missionary of this branch of their creed , all the assistance iu their power . We shall now proceed to show the immediate and valuable advantages to be gained even by a " TEN HOURS * BILL . " Firstl y , it goes far to realize the princi ple of equitable distribution , it equalizes
the labour market aud deprives the master of a large idle reserve . It realizes equitable distribution to a certain extent , because , inasmuch as 6 , 000 persons are to 5 , 000 what twelve hours are to ten , it would change the 1 , 000 additional hands required hy short time from a competitive reserve into a necessary supply . Secondly , if the hour * of labour were regulated by law , as much wages would b e given for the working day of teuiours , as is now given for the working day of twelve hours , whereas any diminution in the time of the longest working day ia called short time , and is followed by a relative reduction i wages . That is , if the working day is ten
The Ten Hours' Bill. There Is No Better ...
hours , a day ' s wage is paid for ten hours' work , but if the working day is twelve hours , a sixth is deducted from the wages if hands are only ALLOWED to work ten hours . It would lead to a more equitable distribution , because the manufacturers would be compelled to give to their hands one-sixth more of the profits than they now give ; the one thousand in every six thousand being brought from the reserve into the rank 3 of heeessity , and the certainty of wages remaining as high , and , in our opinion , very much higher , inasmuch as a profitable disposal of the surplus hands is the one thing for wbich labour has most energetically struggled .. . So ,
then , the employment of an additional sixth not only benefits those who work at that branch of business , but it makes tbem better customers with all other branches . They wear more hats , and shoes , and clothes , eat more , and require more furniture , and thus is the Ten Hours' Bill , in point of sound fact , a whole , entire , and complete labour-question . Again , as we have more than once observed , our confidence that _tl-e hours spared from slave labour would be bestowed upon mental culture and the discovery of the value of free labour ; rather than wasted at the GIN PALACE and BEER SHOP , gives to the Ten Hour's Bill an additional charm—as we believe in
some of the sayings of political economists , and _especially in that which declares that where there is a demand there will be a supply , we would hail the Ten Hours' Bill as a great auxiliary in clearing the uuheallhy towns of their squalid population , and by these means , because we rejoice in believing tbat the LAND QUESTION is now the all-absorbing thought of the working classes , and that consequently the time spared from slave labour would be applied to free labour upon the Land , and which , of necessity , would lead to the establishment of cheap trains lo such distances as those districts to which
the town population would scamper after a day ' s slave foil ; not trains travelling twelve or fourteen miles an hour , but special labour trains , travelling at the rate of thirty miles an hour , or ten miles in twenty minutes . Let us illustrate the position , —it is worth it . Suppose factories to work in summer time from six to four ; at twenty miiiHtes past four , the hands would arrive in jog trot at their respective stations , and ten miles from smoke at forty minutes past four , and would be ready for free
labour from five till eight , nine , or ten , if they pleased , when lhcy could regale themselves with a good supper of their own producing , fresh , for the most part , from their own stores . Each mi ght have his bit of land , or six , ten , or twelve , might have a plot in common ; these would constitute great and powerful Normal agricultural schools , while attachment to the science , and the discovery of the value of free labour , would progressively remove the factorv weed to the free soil .
For these reasons , added to the fact that we have now opened a safe market for the . expenditure of spare time , and one which wonld seduce factory slaves from dissipation and idleness , aud believing the people themselves see this additional value given to the measure , we call upon all good Chartists to rally around Richard Oastler , to rid themselves of their false leaders and inefficient committee-men , to elect their own officers , to do their own work , and prepare for a short struggle and decisive victory , under Duucombe and Fielden , that is , provided the operatives are themselves in earnest .
The Ten Hours Bill is too large a subject to be trifled with , and we have too sincere an _^ interest in its success to recommend a struggle which may be defeated b y the p liancy of generals , or the inadequacy of machinery . Machinery is the monsterdevil , man s greatest enemy , and man must beat it , or it will beat him . Man must make it his holiday , instead of his curse ; he must subdue it to his necessities and wants , instead of allowing it to subdue him to its owner's convenience and caprice .
The Colliers And Their Staff. It Is A Re...
THE COLLIERS AND THEIR STAFF . It is a remarkable fact , that the cause of labour , and the success of those who struggle for its emancipation , is ever marred by those who profit by , and live upon , the grievances and sufferings which they are hired to redress and allay . In a previous article we have shown that our argument applies to those who have hitherto undertaken tlie guardianship and management of the Ten Hours' Bill . Upon many occasions we have traced the failure of Trades ' Unions to the treachery of idlers , who lived upon
the confidence—and something more—of the betrayed , while the present position of Ireland furnishes a wholesale illustration of the fact , so convincing and strong that denial or refutation is impossible . Indeed , the Chartist cause has suffered more from the attempt of idlers to eke a comfort _, able existence out of popular grievances than from any other circumstance . Upon tbe other hand , we have just cause of complaint against the labouring classes themselves , who are always slow to see and confess advantages that are gained without convulsion , commotion , excitement , and noise .
It is now some time since we published some of the doings of the collier leaders and . Iccturcrs , which were neither to our taste nor calculated to serve the interests of those by whom they are paid , and upon whose confidence and industry they live ; and we were only checked in the further exposure of much move that came to our knowledge , by what we must characterise as the weakness of Mr . Roberts , who assured us of the devotion and kindliness of those who hoped to smother our voice in tlie colliery _districis . Indeed , we have of late asked ourselves , of what use Mr . Roberts himself is to the colliers r as we now look in vain for any of those exciting trials and astounding triumphs which kept his name so prominently before the miners , the legal world , and the judges .
There is not , we believe , one single instance ofa collier now being imprisoned for violation of contract ; that underground stream , which threatened to burst its artificial limits , runs { smoothly in the legal course within which the miners' legal adviser has , by unremitting attention aud astouudiug legal knowledge , confined it , and , like all other pent in waters , it seeks an outlet and discharge . The poet says : —
" The course of true love never yet ran smooth "—* and hence , we presume , it is , that the over-grounders , dissatisfied with tlie even under-ground current , have become growlers . The case of the colliers and their indomitable union has ever been a subject of great interest to us . We have jealously watched the formation of their society from its infancy to its g iant growth ; from the introduction of the twelve apostles to the clearance of every gaol , we have chronicled their every triumph and exulted in their every victory .
We have encouraged their leaders as long as we found them honest and persevering , and we have even withheld exposure when its publication was calculated to lessen their utility or destroy their efficiency . "We are ready to . admit that they were many of them efficient , zealous , and powerful , in pourtraying the grievances of their class , while we are compelled to say , that they seem to repine at the destruction of those grievances , as if the " rungs "
were cut from their ladder of promotion . Every sectional triumph gained by labour is a victory to the national cause , whilst , upon the other hand , every sectional defeat sustained is a wound to tlie national movement . For this reason , then , we feel ourselves compelled to publish the following letter , eloquent , though simple , —convincing , though plain , written by the hand of a devoted , but untutored miner . It is as follows : —
HoKooitED and RESPECTED Sib , —If you had allowed us to eontinue the exposure of somo of tlie tricks that have been practised in our ranks for a long time , we might have spared you * 4 e _twhje of again ! referring to
The Colliers And Their Staff. It Is A Re...
the subject . All that you published before waa quite true , and your refusal to publish more has only led to more _disasters . Honoured Sir , by union we had become powerful , and by a continuance of our union we mi ght have become rich , but it appears that there is always something to mar the success of the poor . As your timeie pneious , I shall at once proceed with whatl have to say . I am a Chartist collier , and therefore have a proper respect for Universal Suffrage , and indeed it was by making our delegates the organs of our will , instead ot their own sentiments , that wh became powerful , but now , _nir , will you believe that some of our lecturers and other voice
officers are endeavouring to overcome the popular by the _mastdisgracefultricks and insinuations . Perhaps , some of them may fiud it hard to get supported by those who work , unless they have a grievance to complain of , and now that , throughout Lancashire , and I believe England- there is not » _Mng lo miner in prison , and tliat our union has struck terror into those who used to use the law as a means of reducing wages , and seeing that we have no grievance on that head , some of our lecturers aru workinglieaven and earth td get rid of Mr . Roberts , and we , who have benefited by his victories , and still benefit by his presence , are of opinion that these Judascs aro in the pay of the masters , and , sir , they never
l » il to bestow some portion of their spleen upon the Northern Star . Now , Sir , it would be Curious to make a calculation of the amount that Mr . Roberts has saved the miners in wages , and indeed it would be hard to calculate it , except by guessing at tho tenderness of the masters , as but for him we don ' t know what it would now be , or how many families of victims would be now depending upon our subscriptions . Honoured sir , it those men succeed in breaking up our union by taking away the only scourge we have over tlie roasters , there is no doubt but we shall be handed over to the tender mercies of other lawyers , who will all live upon us and
sell us , while the _Jud-ises will be rewarded for their good work . Is it too much then , sir , to appeal to you in order that , through you , the eyes of the miners may be opened , and that our next Conference may speak the solid opinion of those who work and pay , iustead of the mind of those who work not and are paid for dustrojing us , I trust , sir , that you will not deny us this boon , but afford us the opportunity of _spaaking f o each other through your organ . It is our opinion that Mr . Roberts ' triumphs would soon render lecturers unnecessary , and therefore they hepe to encumber us with grievances by getting rid of him , and handing us over to the tools of the _maBters . 1 hear , sir , that Mr . Roberts lias already
mentioned his intention of resigning , but 1 hope and trust you will condescend to ask him to reconsider his resolution , until the miners themselves have an unbiassed opportunity of speaking out , as such a step is the very one to which our leaders hope to drive him , aud , sir , although Mr . Roberts appears to have more business than he can well raunnge , I hope lie will not be induced to desert US before he gives us an oportuuity to speak out for ourselves . I remain , dear and honoured sir , One who speaks the sentiments ot' a large number of our body , Your mo » t obedi . nt and humble servant , A _CniBTisT Collier .
The above letter requires but little comment . It is precisely similar in character to many that we have recently received . As far as we are concerned , we hurl defiance at the lecturers and leaders , and , as far as Mr . Roberts is concerned , we have but little sympathy for him , because it was he who requested of us not to publish some letters which he feared might tend to damage the character of parties in whom he professed entire confidence . We cannot , however , entirely acquiesce in the desire of our friend , to use our influence with Mr . Roberts ; he is the best judge of his own affairs ; he is upon the arot—we before attempted to open his eyes , but he rejected our
interference , and therefore he must now deal with the monster created by bis own good nature . We quite agree with the Chartist Collier , that it would be utterly impossible to estimate Mr . Roberts' services , as long as Mr . It . remains in his present position . And , perhaps , Mr . R . ' s resolution to resign has been formed with the view of allowing the miners the means of judging of his value ; which will be speedily discovered , in an abundant crop of victims , full Jails , reduced wages , increased grievances , and consequently an increased demand for lecturers . Whatever Mr . Roberts ' s resolution may be , we think he should abide the judgment of that tribunal to which the working miners appear anxious to appeal . For our part , we would recommend the labouring
portion to deal with their priests as bishops usuady deal with their ' s when refractory , by suspending them till they come to their senses . But at all events , if there is to he another conference , we would caution the constituencies against being led blindfold by those " artful dodgers . " Of course we do not apply tbe term , or our strictures , to all ; but let it be borne in mind " that one scabby sheep infects the whole flock , " and , that " what ' s done cannot be undone . " _"Jhe Chartists , we are happy to say , have more _gratitude than the miners , for they feel gratitude to their legal adviser who saved fifty-nine of them , two , three , and four years' imprisonment . But , like all other parties , even the Chartists look slightly upon their triumph , because it was so easily achieved .
It is a pity , nay a sin , that any disunion should occur in the miners' ranks just now , the vary period at which the masters would hail a breach . From now till the period of contract should be spent in wholesome aud friendly consultation , instead of being frittered away in useless and unprofitable wrangles ; and let tbe staff rest assured , that , however they may repudiate our interference , we will , nevertheless , hold the scourge over the refractorv ,
and teach the miners that they can devote the parings from their hard-earned pence to a better purpose than paying their betrayers . The very thing that the masters pant for is , the breaking up of the union ; and therefore our counsel and advice to those who have paid for its preservation , and who have derived benefit from its existence , is to put the check at once upon the unbridled tongue of slander , by teaching their lecturers that " union is strength , " and " dissension is weakness . "
Weekly Review. The Week Has Been Unusual...
WEEKLY REVIEW . The week has been unusually barren of incidents either , for record or comment . It ' s most noticeable and most important event , the revival of the association for the Ten Hours' Bill , under the auspices of Oastler the most popular , most powerful , and most successful advocate of that great measure , has been commented upon at length in another column , and it is , therefore , unnecessary to enter further upon the subject here . We can
only express our earnest hope that , under the guidance of honest , uncompromising , and disinterested leaders , like Messrs . Fielden , Oastler , and Ferrand , the factory operatives will speedily achieve that triumph , which has several times been lost solely through the adoption of a temporizing policy . We have no doubt of the present leaders of the movement ; let the people , therefore , be true to each other , and reject all offers less than their full demand , no matter from what quarter they may emanate , and success is _certain .
In connexion with this subject may be noted the fact , that the firm of Bright and Son were the first to commence running short time in their extensive mills at Bradford . This is a queer fulfilment of the promises , the glowing predictions of plenty , which the twin leader of the league used to indulge in , when describing the results that were to flow from Corn Law Repeal ! Mr . Bright has also , at all times , been the most bitter , the most unscrupulous , and the most personal opponent in Parliament of a Ten Hours' Bill , In resisting if he indulged in prophecies as to the ruin which it would bring upon our manufacturing system , quite as confident , quite as
vivid , as those uttered with respect to the effects of Repeal . "Seeing he has so utterly failed in the one case , why should be not be equally mistaken in tbe other ? We ask him to put this question to himself , for we have no doubt on the subject ; at all events , we hope "Bright John" will abate that swaggering bullying tone , that supercilious air of self-confidence and political superiority to those who differed from him on such topics , which made him notorious in the House of Commons . He can't afford that demeanour any longer . Let him re member that his mills are running four days a week , that the Corn Laws are virtually Repealed and " eat humble pie . "
Weekly Review. The Week Has Been Unusual...
By the proceedings at a meeting ofthe Spitalfields Weavers , last Saturday , it appears that the anticipations of that body , as to the injurious effects of the late tariff upon their occupation , have been fully realized . Under the tariff of 1842 , which altogether abolished , or materially reduced , the duty on imported raw material , and maintained a moderate discriminating duty on imported manufactured goods , the trade of this district was in a more prosperous state than it has been known for many years . The chance has been most disastrous for them . The
French manufacturer has beaten the British out of the home market , in all the finer description of fabrics ; and the consequence is , that for the present at least , that branch is at a complete stand still . Those employed and heretofore receiving good wages , are necessarily thrown back upon the inferior and lower paid work , and tiiere being . too many for that description of work _. the two fold consequence of low wages and insufficient employment is produced . This is a sorrv " state of things , and unfortunately
Spitalfields is not the only district in which it exists —the weavers of Leigh , Middleton , Macclesfield , and Manchester , join in the same complaint , and endure the same suffering . It is time that some bold and systematic measures were adopted , by which trade might be placed on a sound foundation , conducted upon rational principles , and conduce to beneficial results . At present it is a chaos . Machinery , competition , and selfishness , are its ruling elements , and these effects are such as might " make angels weep . "
The accounts from Ireland are of a more agreeable character than heretofore . The improvement noted last week has continued . Outrages and other indications of suffering and excitement are diminishing . The works for the relief of the unemployed and starving peasantry arecominginto general operation , arad at tbe same time tbe unexpected improvement of at least some parts of the abandoned potatoe crop _. _aiul the importation of large quantities of foreign provisions , have brought down prices . In the lull which is approaching , we trust that statesmen and legislators , will not see any cause for apathy—but rather , looking back with thankfulness at the imminent dangers they have escaped for the moment , betake themselves in all earnestness to the preparation of measures by which the recurrence of such a season mav be in
future prevented . The Gazette of Tuesday contained the long promised Brevet . Promotion has been given to a large number of officers in all branches of the service . Three of the oldest Generals have been made field Marshals . One of those upon whom this empty honour has beeen conferred ( General Nagent ) is , we believe , 97 years of age ! Of course the public must pav the oiper for all this promotion , which is
merely another genteel mode by which the aristocracy dip their hands into the public purse , and abstractfrom thence support for those branches of their family quartered upon the taxes . The fighting privates , the men upon whom the hardships of their profession most heavily fall—for them no bievet is ever gazetted . They live and die under the cold shade of the- aristocracy , by whom they are tyrannized over and -nirdered by the lash , under the authority of a barbarous and stern military code _.
After all the fuss about the Wellington statue , the expense incurred in raising it to the top of the arch in Piccadilly , and—worst of all—the conversion of the facile Times to the opinion that it ought to stay there , the Queen has expressly ordered it to descend again from its elevation ! Where this effigy of an overpraised soldier and absurdly lauded statesman will ultimately find a resting place , no one can tell . Waterloo place and the Horse Guards are both named . If we might give an opinion in the matter , it would be that it should be sent to the brass founders to be melted down again , and sold at the fair price
ofthe material , and the proceeds remitted to the Lord Lieutenant to be destributed among the Duke ' s countrymen . It would be almost the only good they ever got out of him , and it would confer a benefit on the country by ridding it of a monster in metal . We English are not a lucky people in matters of taste . The artistic sense requires educating in us . Had tbat faculty been developed nationally , sticb monstrosities as the fountains , pillar and statue of Trafalgar Square , or that last exposed to the face of day Piccadilly , would never have been perpetrated . It would be better for us to let such things alone till
we are able to do better , and not make ourselves the laughing stock of intelligent foreigners . When we have acquired the ability to do this kind of work well , we shall perhaps at the same time have acquired the moral faculty of discerning where honour should be paid . Instead of erecting statues to bloated sensualists , and lucky soldiers , we may find worthier objects in the long roll of philosophers , philanthropists , and political benefactors which distinguished our history . At present the instinct of hero worship works blindly , and expends its force on worthless or vicious idols-
Colonial Ant* Jfcrefgtt Fteimto*
Colonial ant * _jfcrefgtt fteimto *
A Deartn Ot Colonial Intelligence This W...
a deartn ot colonial intelligence this week , affords us the opportunity of offering a few re marks on a subject of great importance to the interests , and honour , of the people of this country . We allude to certain projects of our commercial classes , for extending the colonial territory of this country in the Indian Archipelago , and the opening of a trade with the Japanese Empire . From Free-Trade platforms , and in the journals of the profitocracy , how often have we heard , and read , of late years , the nauseating and lying cant of " the civilising results of trade , " and " the peaceful influences of commerce ! " This , too , in the teeth of the undeniable facts , that many of " our colonial possessions" have been achieved by violence ; that
" our Indian Empire has its foundations laid in the blood of many nations ; and that some of the most formidable wars in wbich this country has been engaged , have had their ori gin in the bloody-minded cupidity of our " civilising " traders . Well , the roar of our cannon in the dishonourable " opium war _* ' has ceased but a little time , the last of the plundered Chinese silver has , we may say , but just arrived , Cobden ' s cant of trade-engendered peace is yet sounding in our ears , when lo , our ever _restleas profitmongers are already sighing for new worlds to conquer—we beg pardon—for new regions to inoculate with the blessings of English trade and European civilization .
Respecting the precious project of colonising or " annexing" that huge den of savages , Borneo , we shall say nothing now , for the present we shall confine ourselves to the Japanese question . For some time past several of the public journals in the pay of the mamraonocracy , with the Morning Chronicle at their head , have been worrying at the Government to send an embassy to Japan , for the purpose of inducing the Japanese government to open the ports of Japan for purposes of trade with this country . It is argued by the advocates of this scheme that for more than two centuries
Japan has kept itself secluded from the rest of the nations af tbe earth , which is very wrong and should net be any longer tolerated ; that Japan has a population of at least thirty-five millions , capable of supporting a most extensive trade with England ; that its foreign trade is restricted to twenty-three vessels annually , of which three alone are European , and not one of those English ; that the little European trade permitted by the authorities of Japan is monopolised by the Dutch , which is , of course , very unfair to England ; that the necessity exists of _sesking everywhere new markets for En ljsh goods ; and , finally , to mini up tho catalogue
A Deartn Ot Colonial Intelligence This W...
of grievances , that whi / e " Young Europe" is anxious to pay back to "Old Asia" in the shape of an advanced civilization , that debt which the former owes to the latter for having first taught her the al pha _, beta of progress , this obstinate Japan stands in the way of carrying out intentions at once so disinter ested and philanthropic ! To abolish the evils and achieve the objects above enumerated , it is proposed that the British Govern ment should sena an embassy to the Japanese emperor . This British ambassador is to be instructed to conduct his negotiations in the most pacific manner , as all idea of war and conquest must be scouted , nevertheless , by way of impressing tho
emperor with thefact that we are a great and peace loving people , it is proposed that our ambassador should be escorted by " a first-rate line-of-battle ship , a frigate , and two or three war steamers . " It is thought that the sight of these accompaniments to the embassy , aided by the remembrance which his Japanese Majesty must entertain of the recent exploits of British-war ships , war-steamers and troops in tbe neighbouring Chinese seas , will so operate upon his reasoning faculties , that he will be induced to abandon the exclusive regulations which for more than two centuries past have kept English adventurers out of Japan ; at least it is expected that the Emperor will be induced to plaee " us" on an equal footing with our Dutch rivals .
This is hoped for , nevertheless success is doubtful . No matter , " Peaceably if we may , but forcibly if we must , " is themottoof our peace-loving free-trade civilize ' rs ; therefore , they are determined by soim » means or other to accomplish their ends . " England , " says the Morning Chronicle , " has never yet imitated fhe Knight of La Mancha , by compassing sea and land in quest of enemies ; but in the peaceful pursuits of trade there is no limits which itis not ready to pass , and , -we may add , no danger which it is not willing to brave . " This is pretty significant . Again , gays the chronicle , " The
necessity of seeking everywhere new markets for our goods , will henceforth lead us perpetually into the neighbourhood of Japan , to traverse its seas , to circumnavigate its coasts , and to encounter its native traders ; even on their own thresholds . Lack , moreover , of provisions , or stress of weather , will _iVora time to time force us into its ports ; so that our mariners , in that pugnacious temper of mind produced by expected ill-usage , will be brought violently into contact with the Japanese provincial authorities , in which quarrels may be expected to ensue , whose consequences it would be difficult to foresee . " It is not at all difficult to see what is m eant by these surmises . If the " soft-sawdor " of
our Ambassador , aided by the " war steamers , & c „ fail in effecting the desired results , then the mask will be thrown away . English ships well manned and armed will attempt to carry on a contraband trade , in defiance of the Japanese government ; they will rather pick a quarrel than seek to avoid one ; in all likelihood force will be had reeourse to by the Japanese authorities to expel the intruders from their harbours , tbe employment of this force will be denounced by the English as " an outrage against the law of natiions ; " then will come an imitation of the Chiuese war , with the usual results . Such we may safely shadow forth as the " peace programme " of the free trade civilizers .
Here we must pause ; we shall , however , return to ihe subject , and in a future article will endeavour to inform our readers something of the people of Japan , and the reasons of their government for e xcluding the abomination of European trade . For the present we conclude by denouncing this Japan project as a scheme fraught with mischief to the true interests of tbe people of this country , aud with dishonour to our national character .
It will by seen by our " Foreign Intelligence , " that simultaneously with the revival of the Chartist agitation in this country there lias commenced an Electoral Reform Movement in France . We have one fault to find with the French Petition , it asks for nothing definite . It demands a reform of the present infamous system of representation / but does not specify what sort of reform . This word reform may mean anything , from universal suffrage to tbe veriest fraud which would find favour in the eves of
a rascal like Thiers , or a humbug likeBarrot . A national agitation which resulted , for instance , in the clearing out of the Government officials from the Chamber of Deputies , would be called a " reform , " hut such a " reform" would make no sensible difference to the people if the suffrage was confined , as at present , * to some two hundred thousand the haute bourgeoisie . In fact there is no reform of of the representation short of Universal Suffrage which would be worth the while of the people o £ France struggling for ; and we venture to predict that anything short of that will fail to rouse the enthusiasm of the French people . No doubt
there are plenty of good-meaning temporisers who fear to excite tbe prejudices of tbe middle class by hoisting the flag of Universal Suffrage—but We tell such that the middle class are too cowardly and too selfish to effect any change for the better . As for the working men , they would befools indeed to give their support to any niovement that had not for its object their direct emancipation . The national sovereignty is proclaimed in the French Petition , but that there may be no illusion , no mistake , let that phrase be defined ; let the French people be made to understand , that the national sovereignty means the investing of every male adult with all the rights of man and of the citizen .
We take the following from the Reforme of the 10 th : — It was several days ago rumoured that endeavours were being made to throw on the soil of Algeria numbers of those noble exiles whom Poland has confided to our keeping until her final deliverance . A general , himself a Pole , has , it is said , undertaken to march them into Africa , where they might take a part in those unfortunate campaigns , the wretched wastes of our squandered glory .
Is there not some wily combination hidden under this design ! CaB it be the mere result of despair in a great misfortune ! Or , may it not rather arise from the wish of our government to reuder themselves agreeable to Russia , by diminishing by these means the number of tho adversaries whom the Cssar may on some future day encounter again on the field of battle ? We will not inquire further into the depths of this mystery . We hope to see the Poles escape from this new snare . Common sense and the instinct of their duty towards their fatherland ought to guard _thero . against this new danger ,
If some of them are likely to allow themselves to be mislead , we would call out to them : Think first of all of Poland , and of Poland alone . You are no vulgar soldiers , who might indulge all the fancies of your warlike propensities . Your bands and your swords do not belong to you alone ; you have other barbarians to struggle against than those of Africa . Preserve your strength for your own country ; your lives are of a greater value than those of others , because you carry in your veins the blood of a whole people , and in your souls As life of an empire _.
To the above noble exhortations of onr French contemporary , we can add from our own information that these endeavours of General Bern and of the French government , are not the first of the kind . Twelve years ago this same line of policy was pursued against the Polish soldiers at Woolwich and Portsmouth by the agents ofthe Literary Association , headed by Prince Czartoryski _, under the name of Lord Dudley Stuart . Better informed of the interests of Poland than we then were , the French democrats at that time appreciated , as now we do , the value of that Czartoryski policy . That the democrats of Poland concur with them on this subject , but are more severe in their condemnation , is a fact we can and ought to fully certify .
_Sume painfull y interesting information concerning uuhappy Poland will be found in our seventh page * Just before going to press , we have received som « further revelations of the present state of things ia that bleeding land , which it is impossible to find room for this week , but which shall not be lost sight
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 14, 1846, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_14111846/page/4/
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