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Democratic iHotmrnts.
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<Steo}m*atfoe G&ronfcU
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^ Tft ^ of population considerable . The foreign ffif thecountrV hasbeen sreater than in any other £ ? £ *¦ in the history of British commerce . The rtfitsariangtlierefromouglittoliavevastlyincreased . fed the trade of this country been really prosperous , SeduleD would have indicated an increase of the J-ofits of trade proportionate to the increase of the Lterial propert / of the country , and the actual sales nf British g oods . To prove your case of' prosperity ' it is not enough to acknowledge a' diminution , ' and jjOpe for an increase ; you ought to be able to show a verr large advance , amounting to at least one sixth ¦ Z ^ - I . .. "I « j LI- TV . a fnroitrn
of the net receip ts under Schedule D . Can you do g , ? You cannot ; 1817 was an unhappy commercial year ; the same spirit of speculating gambling , which j 5 a tree of rapid growth , still flourishes . England in her aggressive commercial policy is selling thcproducts of her industry at a reduced value ; her merchant princes playing the game of' hazard' with maddened impetuosity . The few win , the many lose . Each dear gain is a fortune to the gambler ; the losses are jo be found reflected in the reduced wages and increased toil of hundreds of thousands of human beings .
What say you , Disraeli ? The day lias heen , when jon , the author of , ' Coningaby , ' might have professed t o look into that matter . Now , you are exalted far above such grovelling themes , and you leave labour to be disposed of through the sieve of ' Exports and Imports '—a guide which to the uninitiated ib as deceptive as a blade-leg's betting book . Should the Chancellor of the Exchequer write a book containing hk Parliamentary experience and speeches , ¦ we recommend him to give the following brief oration a prominent place . We send it to him as a present from oarselves , the taxes paid : — Gentlemen on both sides of the jiOBse , and all of her Majesty ' s subjects interested in political discussionswillin judging of my acts generally , be
, , p leased to note that I have never had any clearly defined principles to guide me in political action on the qnestion of taxation . I prefer indirect taxation ; it is more secret in its operation , and better suited for the exigencies of the State . The trnth i 3 , tlie nation would rebel against direct taxation . Snch is much too straightforward and honest a means of raising revenue to meet with my approbation . The great ambition of my life has been to acquire place , Torer , and a share of the patronage of the Crown . I am retfvedtokeepinoScesolongas I pqsably can . _ I find £ 5 , ifiO a year to be a very handsome addition to my income . I will remain in office , and , if needs be , forget all abont the past . The farmers may call me treacherous ; let them ; to ma thev ara no Innrer useful . The artisans may sneer at
me and complain . I have always used men only to enable ms to gratifjr ambition . I will , to my utmost ability , strive to manage the House of Commons , and , under my gnidance , I doubt not bat Free Trade Conservatism will rise in the ascendant . Should I fail in my present course , I can fall back on Radicalism . The Jlarylebone Liberals will welcome ma with open arms . A General in the army of the Earl of Derby is snre to find a place under Sir James Graham . I aiean to be successful ; and my motto is , " Any port in a storm . " In following the course I have marked out I hare many precedents ; for , as Kelson remarked in Ms own rough sailor-like , but trnthful , manner , " All ministers of kings and princes are , in my opinion , as great EtDundrels as ever lived . "' Gracchus .
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23- Our Friends will oblige by forwarding reports of Chartist meetings , and other Democratic proceedings .
CHARTISM . XATIOXAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . The Executive Committee of the above Association on taiing office found an accumulated dobtofsomo thirty to forty pounds . It was at once resolved to incur no fresh liabilities , and that the utmost energy should be used to liquidate the amount already due . From that purpose we tare not swerved , and to those who have approved of our policy , by supporting us to carry it out , we tender our grateful acknowledgments . We had fain hoped that , among so large and influential a body as the Chartists are said by some to be , the above amount would long ere thi 3 have been liquidated , and that , after a lapse of four months , we should not have found ourselves with £ 0 or £ 7 still due .
Bat from what has recently been received , it does not appear that there is that disposition to contribute which we would desire to see manifested ; we have therefore decided that this shall be our last appeal ; consequently , we request all who hare funds in hand , or feel disposed to give towards the payment of this just debt , that they "sill forward the same on or before Thursday , May 13 th . The following sums have been received : —J . S . Clark , ls . ; DonbartoB , per W . M'latyre , 9 s . ; J . Julian , Manchester , Cd . ; John Howard Is . fid . ;—Total 11 s . Gd . James Gbassby , Secretary , 9 G , Regent-street , Lambeth .
SlEinopauiis Delegate Cousca .--This body held its anal weekly meeting at the Literary and Scientific InstirauoD , little Saffron-hill , on Sunday afternoon , May 2 nd . ar . Suragg was called to the chair . The report of the 0 Const * Fund Committee was received . Mr . Wheeler stated tait the sister of Mr . O'Connor was in a deplorably destitute condition . Mr . "Wheeler said , the Committee of ooserratioa ha 1 determined to recommend to the Council to policy of adopting two resolutions , —viz ., " That no parsons be invited to speak in their behalf at meetings weened by them , but bona fide members of the National Carter Association ; " and secondly , " That an address be
SBfid to the country , getting forth the rejection of Mr . ftaiconibe ' a propositions by the borough of Finsbury siting , and calling on it to follow the example . " Report Ecaved . —Mr . Wheeler moved the first , and Mr . Stratton seonded it—ultimately carried . —Mr . E . Jones reminded -a Council that tee Treasurer had no funds in hand ; and jatthe Manchester Convention would be holden on the lift last . He suggested that a public meeting should be sperailyneld at John-street , for the election of delegates . -Mr . Wheeler thought that a soiree might be the means of
Sam [ funds He would therefore move- " That a soiree « held , n celebration of the establishment of the " People ' s ii par . —Mr . Butler seconded the motion , and Mr -tr atton opposed it He said they had not the funds to flDAsl ' " 7 i Mr- Farrab ' Treasnrer , moved the previona « p « ?* § e was ,, ° PP osed to getting up a soiree for the People bPapper" exclusively . The "Star of Freedom " SSW " * - duty asa S ° od Democratic paper , Tw ? tkrefore entltled to " 6 considered a « People ' s toAthfH *""^ ? ™! other . Da emphatically denied « Jt ift * organised Chartists of London were in Lour of sX T ter C ^ waitian . T * ere were thirteen localities , of it \ i ? ° D ^ re op 2 ° t 0 * six onl y in favour lialenrt u . L- rrah seconded th <* amendment . —Mr . "Men thought it right to meet and offer fh » fr xn « H ,, i ^
, " arSffi « ««> advent of the saidpaper , especially when Sr r «? !?* J > only Q ™ ™ «« 3 in England . - idef 5 ° Ugbt , " Star , of Freedom" ought tote S ?' ^" ^ an amendment to that effelt , which * f td J t Iguial "Mtafcm for a soiree was then » fes tolid'Jt i SDgg r Sted £ " * election of dele-« SS 5 *!* ^ - ***** *•» soiree > ^ public being •* mt £ ? conclusion at a low charge for admission . VaJS ^ f - ? 1 * 1 m 0 Te "solution to that eflect . - ^ J&nL *™^ , 1 ** 3 " * m' from each locality to % S £ tt ? pen 88 . « f ^ S ^ ion to Manchester . The mossEF- *? ca ^ ass- ^ sSrarv ^^ saa : JbtoSLSi $ J " ? h 0 ^ - - baknca of 8 s - 3 d . Mr . % d « i S ° ** ¥ S Committee , that they had teth nh - , members » ^ o had not taken any active feS ? <™ Mtt lately , and that they expressed their
in-* a « n / ej 01 mD S the Iiocality . The Locality adjourned jgunday next , at sis o ' clock p . m .-AtFEED Fesseu , , £ j ^ i' H !! ** % JF **®** Meeting , on Sunday £ WU 1 be held at the Co-operative Store , Royton , and f £ ; Ku V " fa order of the Cou ^' RoWi ^ S , W " « of this Localityheld their t < fi i On Monda y . MaJ 3 rd . The sending a dele-Niv , ~ . rthcomin S Conference was fully discussed and ! HfJT Tl- ' ' Dosier ffas P « in nomination . i * a-r , f lved tbat a meeting to elect the delegate bo i i : iT UnT B 5 ual P lace <* f nweticg , oa Tuesday evening , . &W ^ wenceat eight o ' clock . ^•^ Crn ^ T Tae Chartists of Bradford met on Sunday I ^ Ws n 1 « r ! ? ° 1 llom > * hca lt decided that a l ^ o ' cioTti I , eld on Sanda - next at half-past Ir ' - * . CrnV * the ^ "oon , in the Democratic School . ^^ - asai " * , l ' - for Pnrposo of electing a new l ^ soti ^ ea . importent business in connexion with I stares ; bV . - f * * ^ - J- Hoi joake is delivering a course of I Jm Locu wn ~ ^ respondent . lt " T iIr - ilaS ~ « lnee , tin - g was neld on Sunday , May I £ ^ e &M t Chalr - Mr ' FiDleD re P ° rted from IK ^ tf thn S 5 Ji was solved- " That in conse-I iS W at 1 ^ $ men * p' that the future meetv ^ Dean ., ^^ , ^ . Temperaace Coffee House , I ¦^ . S £ crS Sobo ' on ^« rdayevenings . » -Charles TDE
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r ELEcT si ^ s- ^ ° RsoF T /^ UEMr s ,,, — W ^ BP ^^ i ^ ^• f tfj S r S&r&Tts ^ jj » 4 net . 1 > IesD 2 t Tlews » or depend on their 85 'fe ^^ ^ to be wilW todo fnli cat
, ^^ r n 0 L « ,- - Ti ) ey admit that the f ^ w a . t cfVeJ ^ e to householders who pay f-l" > & « a iv , " ,, *^' ' transfer the re-Ni ^^ tiffi ?? " , ^ e larger borou h « . b tf ^ Sou hi w ?"" ot * ttlo the question . Every F ? ' - •' nf ? " » . hi ™ S ' ' b ? tbeir iahour , N * . v 1 f M- &SAi tnMt ! aUens in ^ e y ^ ten ^ i btentj C 0 Dtmuance of such a
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Ejectors ! Much responsibility rests upon you . On your choice depends in a great measure the welfare and happiness of three-fom fchs of the population . You will be called upon to give an account of your stewardship rabuse no your privilege , but endeavour , tothebeatofyourabiliiiest to . secure the lights of all , by returning thOEQmen , who . pledge themselves to the advocacy of a full , lair , and free representation of the whole adult males of the United Kingdom , who will be at the trouble to register themselves , and who are unconvicted of any crime by a jury of their countrymen . This is the only way to settle this important question . You can have no moral right to deprive your neighbour of his laving a voice in the legislation of the country , while you call upon him to pay taxes and obey the laws . Mr . Walter tells you he is " prepared to advocate Electors ! Much teSDOnsibilitv l'Psts nnnn ttaii On mm .
an extension of the Suffrage , "' but the honourable gentleman does not tell you to what extent;—he voted againBt Mr . Humes ' s motion , and , therefore , it is fair to presume that his extension of the suffrage will be very limited indeed . He is opposed to the Ballot , while no doubt he use 3 it at the club . There is one paragraph in his address with which I most cordially agree—viz . —'' Between moderate Whigs and Conservatives there is no essential difference . " The people have long Fince been convinced of that fact , and for tbat very reason they have so long been deprived of their fair share of political power . Both Whigs and Conservatives may rest assured that the present system cannot be much longer tolerated . The masses are tired of the political thimble-rigging of both factions , and desire most ardently to be relieved from all such selfish legislators .
Xon-Electors ! What becomes your duty at the present crisis : will you any longer lend yourselves as tools to men who withhold from you your Political Rights ? Can it matter to you who are sent as members for the town , while you are deprived of a voice in the matter ? Cease doing the dirty work of Faction ; let them distinctly understand that until justice ia done you they may fight their own battles ; that you protest against their ubu pation of power in your name . Hitherto yon have been designated as the ignorant mob , whom it would be dangerous to enfranchise ; thereby adding insult to injury . If you are ignorant , who are to blame ? The government , most certainly , who refuse the means to educate yon .
Is it not your duty to attend the public meetings at which the candidates address the electors , and ascertain for yourselves bow far they are prepared to recognise your just claims , and put such questions to them as will elicit in an unmistaUeable manner tbat information ? Do not follow the suicidal policy recommended by some individuals , who say- - we will have everything we want , or we will have nothing . " There is a wide difference between frittering away or giving up a righteous demand , and getting all you possibly can in part payment thereof . Tae time I hope will soon arrive when men will learn to be iust
to each other . By our good conduct let us hasten as far as possible that " good time coming . " I am , gentlemen , a firm believer in the omnipotence of truth , and feel assured tbat it will ultimately triumph . Her Majesty ' s chief adviser has declared that " Democracy shall progress no farther . " If we are Englishmen , we shall teach Mm as we have taught his predecessors , that " he is too small for his place . " All the aristocrats upon earth cannot stay the onward march of men who have made up their minds to be free . We cast back their threats with scorn , and we tell them , in the words of the Poet ,
that" The dawn of truth , long overcast , Shall kindle into day at last , Bright , boundless , and divine ; And man shall walk the peaceful sod , A being worthy of his God . " ^ It was never designed that man should be a slave to his fellow man , and it becomes us to aid in knocking off their fetters , and bidding the oppressed go free . The army of labourers throughout the country must now " stand by their order , " and declare for " Jastice , Immutable , Universal , Eternal . " I am , gentlemen , youra respectfully , James Sweet .
P . S . —Mr . Walter in his address last night ( Tuesday ) declared the policy which he intended , if returned , to adopt . In my next I shall take the liberty of review ing the same , and offering an opinion thereon .
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THE O'CONNOR FUXD-THE CHARTIST PRES ASD EXECUTIVE-THE WEST-RIDING ELECTION . Queen ' shead , near Halifax .-The Committee for the Relief of Mr . 0 Connor , met at Belmforth ' s Temperance Hotel , on Sunday last , for the purpose of handing in the funds which had been collected for that purpose . In consequence however , of the abrupt departure of that gentleman to America , the funds were not delivered in , nor any business in connexion therewith transacted , and as no information conld be gathered concerning his condition or future prospects the meeting was adjourned sine die . The meeting having been closed , a long and angry discussion ensued concerning the disgraceful system of denunciation and proscription again disgracing and tearing asundea the
Chartisc ranss , wnich resulted in the parties present forming themselves into a committee , in in order that some resolution might be come to on the subject . Mr . Joseph Alderson , of Bradford having been elected aa chairman , Gbxistopher Shackleton moved the following resolution , which was seconded by Tnomas Wood , and unanimously carried : —Resolved That the parties who are preparing the programme for the Manchester Convention be requested to draw up a code of laws for the guidance of the movementdefining the principles by which any future Executive shall be guided , and the policy which they shall pursue in carrying out those principles , and *¦—I dine a tribunal to which any officers having violated , or being sup . posed to have violated , such laws shall be brought , in order that they may have a fair trial . And likewise nrnvidi ™
that any conducted of newspapers or journals connected vvltb , or supposed to represent the Chartist body , shall not be allowed to attack either the policy or supposed motives of any of the officers of this body . But that any one having any charge to bring against such officer , Bhall brine it before such tribunal , and the case impartially heard And that any conductor or conductors violating thiB law Bhall if a member of the society , bo expelled Us ranks andhia paper abandoned , and no longer considered as an organ of themoveinentJAnd ; in | case 8 ucb | editorlbe not amember , and elected in the manner above-named , he shall be abandoned as a common enemy . And , further , should any member be
found attacking the motives , character , or policy of any officer or officers of this society , by private letter or otherwise , he shall be expelled from it , and the parties to whom such communications shall be sent shall be compelled to deliver up the Bame on proof thereof . Such a measure is indispensable for the safe working of the society , it being utterly impossible for any executive to live with an irresponsible censorship of the Press over them , except as the mere moutapieces of snch cenBor . " ( Signed)—Halifax : — Thomas Wood , William Flinn , Harrison Holt , Benjamin Wilson , Samuel Hilton . —Bradford : —Richard Gee , Thomas Cameron , Joseph Alderson . — Queenshed : — Christopher Shackleton .
From a correspondent at Bradford we have received a report of the above meeting so far as concerns the O'Connor Fund ; with the following addition : — The Committee then took into consideration the forthcoming election , when it was resolved : — " That a West Riding Delegate Meeting should be held next Sunday , W " . at Mitchell ' s Temperanoe Hotel , Union-street , iJraarord , for the purpose of devising means to brine forward a candidate , on the day of nomination , for the west Biding of Yorkshire . A person that will represent the opinions of the inhabitants of the Riding ,-at least one that will represent the principles of democracy at the nustwgs , and that question of all questions—the labour question . Also to discuss the programme pot forth by the Manchester Chartist Council , for the propo sed Couveneariyday 3 aDn 0 UnCed t 0 be held " ° hW on an
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ADDRESS FROM THE WORKING MEN OF BRADFORD . J % ^ 'Z ° ? F a t ~ An election ia at hand » y ° tt wiu » i . « «! r ? % a ? S J mv su PP ° rt to those candidates who are pledged to Free Trade , UnlimitedCompetition , and the making this country depend more upon commercial enterpnse for its means of life , than upon our own resources being applied to our own native soil . Before you eive vour support to such men , it will be as well to wligh the merits of the cap seriously over in your minds , with a view of ascertaining whether it really deserves yourunqualined support or not . If we listen to the statements of such men as Richard Cobden and John Bright , we find , as they tell us , that this country , ever since its government began to pursue a Free Trade Policy , ha 3 experienced more happiness and contentment than it did before that period ; because , they say , Free Trade , as based upon competitionhas given to
, tlie people more food , more wages , and more clothing . If we could see that Free Trade had really given the people all these blessings , the same as it has given Bright and Cobden them , probably we should make the aame statenients as those gentlemen . But allow us to say , that these individuals are attempting to deceive you , the working men , by making these assertions . They fancy , that by raising tbe cry that bread is cheaper since the Repeal of the Corn Laws , they imagine they can gull you into the belief that you have also more wages and better clothing than you had previous to their repeal . As an answer to this , we would call upon the factory operatives woolcombers , weavers , spinners , and oth ' ers connected with Manufacturing Industry , to say what are the averaeo wages they receive now , after six years of Free Trade experience , with what they were previous to that time and if they say the average is higaer now than then , we ' will allow that Free Trade is reaUy a blessing . findnot onl
But when we , y from our own experience but from that of others , that tbe rate of wages is far less now than it was formeriy , we are obli ged to assert that Cobden and Bright are deceiving tbe people by their cry of cheap bread meaning plenty of work and high wages If cheap bread means plenty of work and high wages we should like to know how it i 3 that Woolcombers—numbering at least 14 , 000 in this district—do not average now more than eight shillings a week wages when in full work but besides this , large numbers are being thrown out of work by the continual extension of machinery ; and bein " thus thrown out of work in their own trades , thev are forced to resort to other trades , which are already " overstocked with a surplus of hands , thereby gradually pullin <* down the wages of the men engaged in ttioso trades until they will shortly be brought down to the level of the poverty-stricken Woolcombers . This wo see and feel will shortly bo tbe effect of the cursed Sjsteni of Competition , caused partly by the conti-
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™ i ^ crease machinery , and partly bv other causes such as the desire to enter upon a system of rJlTwitl every part of the world , which , of neoeS 1 2 m 5 ? Jotew to make manual labour do its Jffi SSSSt S&E& th e wSd ! hat tbey ffiay compete * ^ Sow when we find such professed philanthropists as CobeSnWS ? ° ? ° T , ? ' ™ * Sab and extend a system of trade , based upon competition which meana placing men in hostile array one against anSer how can we , as workingmen , support such person ? ' Besides this , we find Colonel Thompson ( a man who it w Mid , is favourable to the political enfranchisement of the people ) coming forward in the House of Commons on benait of money mongers and usurers , by giving noti ™ hat he intends to move a series of resolutions EK ? their object the continued payment of therateofintfreRf upon the money which was advanced some fifty o " \ tv years ago , by speculators , in order to give the eovcrWnnf wibuwmb r . r . «;„ 1 TI
ot carrying on a continental war at that time against Napoleon , and for crushing the spirit of DeSowSJ which rose m France at the time of Bobespiem . and : 2 r 7 baud . This money-which is now called tfie Hatfil Debt -amounts to at least £ 800 , 000 , 000 , and the iXeS imH rate of 27 000 , 000 , is annually Voted out of the pub He reve nues . Ttas Colonel Thompson is afraid will be paid dK the markets , are beginning to be well supplied withTffold from Austra ia and California ; he is also afraid the Pond holders will lose their blood money , which exists in ill shape of three or four per cent , interes -and , bearin mind this is a Free Trader ! If this question had been SsSbv a rabid Tory , or great ftndhotfer , why then weSfiI not Thompspn-a man of the people-in effect tallini „ , T , t
, hw national Debt shall be for ever fixed upon , our shout tiers , like some dead -weight , crushing our induatrv to tha SS ^ t SF pauperiaM ' is " ^ M But as the elections are near at hand , let working mnn fairly test the various candidates upon thoTe q 2 S which are of the most importance ; and as KS M t ^^
than formeriy they got for twen £ nine ° ' "" """"* u 8 lee if'Z ° , ^ r ' tt * 1101 " ^ these things , and let fl ngand IX SJZylT ? th 6 m With the usual suufttHfi TrXpStv WhlCh haYege ^ allycharacteriSed mmm 5 UouMt i then Z ? ° f tbe 8 f t 3 k & > Protection S » gned on behalf of the Working Men ' o Committee , W . Moobb , President
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THE WOMAN'S ELEVATION LEAGUE . my . „ . , , OBJECTS . fflSStaffwSS' ¦ PrOfeSSiODa 1 ' »™™* . Political MEMBERSHIP AND SUBBCRIPnoN Member " ymentOf Oao Shillingto ^ stitute any person a On ? ShUHn n g U . ° atribution ' due on the First of January , a V&SSSS ?* " ° f Hve Gdneaa t 0 COnstitute tbe D ° nor SS gsssfiua worid-w i nf - W 01 ? gs of Woraan aPPear not to the beautv rr . 1 S asso ? lated with happiness , love , and Ch £ » 5 SSI gi ? H S 'J « verently bow and do influprK ; , So . . » KM < n 3 her power , and so g reat her SSftSS ¦**" 80 ft ? ««« ed the most favoured of all
* . = mt ^ severi ? o * cruel r , l ™ OT ? ' P ines under the fordeDenVnn * "tos , which consign her to uncalledwn £ 8 hS and d .. mimsh her moral influence . Such SSfit ai rtfJ 4 ncfclon , 7 " ™ . « " authorised by the MdDedIaiSfY ? S EleJ « t «« league denounces , &l © K 23 7 a " 00 nstltutional m 6 ans » to labour ea £ a 7 eSy fi hing 3 u Whi 0 h ™ e strictly « inthe hmZffi b i 7 ° ? » are now considered as grossly Mworal . Several of the moral duties of the Patriarchal ! ??? »«««¦«« henontraito ttoi ° Mowirn /
wSv . '™ , »« «» a fnvafafV . «« n i \ . { . .. "'• " w , nuou VUUIL'UBWJU 10 IDBlr statlS I * - tlme of the Koman in ™ ion , but , in a V 0 BtBt ^ yn a ? A 6 a nr " ' when contrasted to their St «? S our . day The variety of changes which have fowJ J Ia e . UMngthe advanceB of the people of England towards civilisation , have been accompanied with cornspondmg changes m "tne doctrine of the duties of life , " SbeeTinS / ^ " " . toNMtwMe . that Woman has the mo « r fe m ? v £ Privile 2 es oommensuratowith st ? ckHnTL ad K ^ ? l ? ^ and fche Lea gu ° . ^ thout be donB g t ? th tb Rl 8 lltS ° /^ oman , pleads that justice may tudS ? S « Wl T Of Wo , » insistin S on the recti " Sf Woman ' s being morally raised to the level of Man , a wiff IS 6 eDabled J ° L her duties as » Center cnise member of the great human family . iVo / eswHc ^ Who should plead the oauao nf ininro ^
umocence ? Who should stay the progress of d sea e ? fcSLT ^ T ^ oman » * " « educated prove from rpilJin bynatur ? ' , reives not any suppoiiSiTr ^ ' ^^ r fs ^ tsss iayssjsfj-fe the sex cun be physically and intellectually-fitted . Hnn ^ T - ' ' <"" Immoranty aad crime are frequently produced b y ignorance and novertv . and thorn Avii « . XLvl
admS e a T' «» ftwdena « ment 8 to whiohwoman is oSS' ^ JK clusiOn from others , for which she is r ™ ' or would become so , were opportunities and in-S 22 SS ?* P resented « The League , imspective of sex , demands compensation for labour , according to the value En" 7 ation ° P ' remuneration sufficiently ample for rendering each daughter able to sustain herself —that marriage may result from affection , and be less frequently an arrangement merely for maintenance . rolihcal .-. Blackstone Bays- * . — « The very being or legal existence of the woman , is suspended during marriage , or , at least , is incorporated or consolidated into that of the husband
, under whose wing , protection , and care she performs everytbing . " All who are debarred from taking an active part m the formation , from participating in the ad-S ^" the government of the country ; who are prohibited from voting , from holding office ; who are under the necessity of contributing their individual share tol £ Z \ J ^ P 6118 ?? of igovernment , without being allowed thJ t u m lt ? potion ; who are held amenable to . Jf ? , 9 n made , but not permitted to have any voice in making them ; all such individuals are in a state of PoMieai slavery , of civil and moral depression : and this is tne state of all the women in England—they are punishable for transgressing lawa imposed unon them without their
f h « ™ Jr f J ate cotn P "e ° , by law , to pay taxes for thesupport of a government they had not any share in establishing , and over which they have not any control . As custom , however ancieniror universal , cannot convert a 2 Svm 2 S . £ j ° r ° W ri 9 ht > the . Counoil of the woman a Mevation League , protests against the continuance , * les in their present humiliating condition , and resolves to agitate this grievance against humanity , until a new public opinion shall be created on this subiect—when ] U mL ce wlU 8 P . e 3 i'y triumph over oppression . Tho stolid indifference of some females in the higher ranks , of life , and the insensibility of women in general , to the existing low state of woman , as a member of the community , speak volumes on the necessity of elevating the
sex toasense of their ignoble , unmerited positionin society and the Council of the league will shortly attempt to awaken the women of England from their letharev bv public meetings , lectures , publications , &c . Council op the League , Mrs . noLMEs , Anse Knight , Mrs . 'Kino , Mr . Dexter , Mrs . Robertson , Mr . Horseli ,, Mrs . Dexter , Mr . Kino , 1 Mrs . Nailer , Mr , Natler . tommunications and suggestions may bo addressed to the Secretaries of the Woman's Elevation League , 71 , High-Etreet , Camden Town , London .
Birmingham . —Hail of Progress . —Recently a tea party was held in the above Hall , to commence an organisation for progressive , purposes . Mr . Broom , of London , lectured on Tbe Religious Sentiment . " The meeting was addressed by Mr . Wright , Mr . Skerritt , Mr . Broom , Mr . Hankesford , &e . The following sentiments were heartily responded to : — " The Banished of Despotism—Michelet and Guinet , the consistent opposers of Jesuitism—and Auguste Comte , tho illustrious enforcer of Positive
Science . " " To the friends and advocates of Mentai and Physical Progress . " " Reason , tho Grand Guide , may all become its expounders . " The proceedings were terminated by aa address from Mr . Broom , in which he announced that he should shortly give a lecture on "A Fact and a Warning , " the proceeds of which would be presented to Auguste Comte . Lectures are delivered at the Hall of Progress , Essex-etreet , Birmingham , every Sunday , Monday , and Tuesday evenings . Every Sunday afternoon Mr . Broom p reaches in the open air near Vauxball .
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Arrival cfmerchaki SnipS in the TnAME 3 . ~ On Monday and Tuesday 331 vessels of all classes arrived in the river , and were entered at the Custom-house . Of this number 139 were from foreign and colonial ports . The remaining 192 vessels were colliers and coasters .
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THE WOR ™» l ^ LORS' ASSOCIATION , ( By its late Secretary ) A CHAPTER HOWARD THE ASSOCIATIVE THE EXPERIMENT . Much of the sympathy called forth for the forlorn Seamstresses and "Sweated " Tailors .-indeed the mission of Mayhew himself in that good work of his , may be iraced to the effect wrought by pour Tom Hood ' s " Song of the Shirt . " A greater Sartor Resartus , ot Clothes Philosophy was contained in that than in Carlyle's work of that name . ' It burst like a tbunder-clap upon startled society , which
began to tremble , and to investigate the appalling truth . And it was discovered that human beings , tender females , were toiling and starving , and stitching their lives into their work lor twopence-halfpenny per day ! That whole families weie toiling worse than the Blaves in Egypt , in foodless and fireless garrets for a few shillings a week to subsist upon ! It was discovered that side-by-side With all our boasted wealth and magnificence was-the most hideous poverty and the moat squalid wretchedness . That all our splendour and grandeur was mingled with human blood and tears , and tbat our plenty and prosperity meant utter beggary and starvation for thousands . Pictures of horror
and terror were graphically pourtrayed of the scenes in which the bravest human hearts might well despair and die , wherein the children of labour , born in tears and reared in misery , where sapped of all the finer feelings , robbed ol their manhood , and the sweet treasure of intellect and love ; and when they ought to be summering in the leafy prime of life , they were dropping out of existence , and ending their dark and damning destiny with the pauper ' s grave . The Tailoring trade called especial attention . Meetings were held , and the poor slop-workers themselves gave their terrible experience to the world . It waB shown , that even where a tolerably fair price was given in the first place for the making of garments , the intermediate " sweaters "
were reaping rare profits out of it , and the work was abBolutely done for nothing . Thus , if Nicol—one of the most respectable raaeals-wanted a hundred Paletots made , he would give them out to some contractor to have them done say for 7 s . 6 d . each . This fellow-most probably some blubber-lipped , hook-nosed spoege-seller originallywould transfer the clothes to some other of the tribe , to oemade for 5 s . each ; and in turn would visit the slopworkers , in their dirty dens , and get them made for 3 a ., or a . 6 d . each . It was thought that tbe best remedy for this would be in setting the workers up in business upon their own account , and upon the associative principle . It would atleast conserve to the workers the profits of those middlemen . On this ground raany support Association who would
not support it did they foresee its ultimate tendencies . It does more—it conserves to tbe men all the profits of capital and previous cost of mastership , which in most cases amounts to more than labour itself gets out of its own produce . Walter Cooper chanced to be a tailor by trade , and an Association was determined upon under his management . And now , to my thinking , the first error was committed . It was in promising too much—in raising expectation too nigh . We did not rightly estimate what we had to do . We spoke of gain continually , instead of demanding aacri « lice ; and self-interest is not one of the best elements for a true bond of unity . We did not calculate the difficulties that lay a-head , the mighty monopolies of Capital and Law that were against us , the plots that would be
formed to thwart us , and the opposition we should receive from our own class , and that it would need the united energies of men prepared to do and suffer , rather than men who came merely to get what they could , the heroism of men who came to sow , rather than the blind selfishness of men who came merely to reap , to carry such an experiment to success , and work out Association . Again , in starting in such a cauBe , it is a most fatal thing to bring in personal friends with you ; like most others , the Associative Cause has been more curst in its friends than its enemies . So Walter Cooper has found it . He gathered around him aome personal friends to start with in this experiment—men whom he was solemnl y warned of , and assured that he could not work with . But Walter Cooper thought that the
millennium , at least , had dawned , and the reign of fraternity begun . He would waive all differences oJ opinion , and sink all crotchets , and , like the magnanimous French people after the struggle of February , on launching their yonng Republic , he had neither suspicion nor fear , and , therefore , took no precaution , and , like them , he found himself decewed . On the 11 th of February , 1850 , commodious workshops and premises having been taken in Castle ' -street , Bast , twelve men , called together promiscuously , were set to work , and before the expiration of that first week their number had increased to twenty . Work came in thick and fast , for the promoters bad organised a valuable customalmost calculated to keep a considerable business goingamong their own immediate friends and circle of connexion .
And to see the anomalous classes of supporters which thronged to that Association , any man as sanguine as Walter Cooper , might reasonably have thought that it personified the millennium so long spoken of as " coming , " for the lion most assuredly lay down with the lamb , and the most clashing and conflicting interests became mutual in supporting that Association . LordB , bishops , duchesses , marchionesses lawyers , clergymen , mechanics , and labourers were chronicled lnitahst of customers , and , for a time , « all went merry as a marriage bell . " It was proposed that the men should work together for three months on probation , to test each others social and working qualitias , and their mutual fitness for entering upon the life in association . Meanwhile they were to discuss a code of laws which they wonld agree to work under when the Association was formed . And here was
perpetrated the greatest error at starting . Instead of the promoters drawing up a code of laws and presenting it to the men , asking whether they would be willing to form an association and work together on such and such terms , at least until the borrowed capital had been repaid , a set of laws , translated from the French by M . Le Chevalier , was given to them to discuss , which suited them admirably , for , mark you , these were the laws of an Association which had found its own capital , and , consequentl y , was its own master . Therefore they were in nowise applicable to an association which had not found its own capital , and which was to be governed , not by a manager of its own choosing , but by one who was placed over it to represent that capital , for which he was held solely responsible , Here began the struggle between manager and men . Gerald Massey .
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR OF FREEDOM . Dear Sir , —The cause of Association is flourishing in this neighbourhood , notwithstanding the late attack made by Mr . Ernest Jones upon it . A sound , cause will make progress ftm tUUowsand lich of enemies , as well as from the hndly propulsion of friends , and Buch ia the cause of Co-operation : But , what do I see , sir ? Mr . Ernest Jones himself come over to us ? Well , the weighty argumeutsof Mr . Lloyd Jones must have had their effect on the mind of his opponent after all , for , in Ms address to the electors of this borough , he comes forward as the assumed champion of Free Association of Labour . Hear him descant upon tho subject . I quote his own words : —
At pvfesent the laws , as you are aware , throw insuperable difficulties in the way of associations of working-men for productive and distributive purposes . Is it not a monstrous thing that difficulties Should he thrown ra the way of industry ? Instead of difficulties being thrown m the way of men becoming idle , difficulties are thrown in the way of men becoming industrious ! Instead of the surplus labour of the country being encouraged to associate together and to produce , tho law soys , you shall remain idle : we will prevent your being useiul-work at your peril . So much labour power shall be wasted-so many resources shall he undevelopedso much starvation ehall exist . To remedy this , I propose new laws of partnership , and the establishment of a credit-fuud by the state , for the assistance of associative labour .
And this , sir , from a man who has thrown every possible Obstacle in the way of Working men desirous of associating —who has misrepresented the motives of men promoting Association , and quoted lie upon lie respecting them , after he had been assured they were lies . What a miserable repentant sinner ho must be . But , no , sir , we are not deceived . Mr . Ernest Jones is gre . it in plausibility , perfect at a quibble , unequalled in putting a squinting meaning on things , but , truthfulness , franknfss , and honesty are not easily feigned by those who have thorn not . And the Co-operative electora of Halifax will have onooi
n mm ; with us , sir , tho Associative idea is fast gaining ground . Mr . Jones ia aware of this , and he is like a miser who becomes charitable when he smells hell through the keyhole of his death-chamber door ? but , will not do ! Besides , sir , lit is fresh in [ my memory that ^\ l ? - ? £ . tu 0 U 8 ly repudiated taking his seat on the Chartist Executive with men of such chlractei as Mr . T . Wheeler , and yet this very week he advertises this same person as his co-worker on the forthcoming' « Peonle ' s S « r " T « L , S 6 ! Woh "" Yours , Faithfully and Fraternally , Halifax
A Co-operator and CHARTIST . We learn , by tho « Journal of Association , " that a body Sfra saw ? * r ? « si their meetings , to advise them as to the best means o carrying out their object . The Clpckmakers are forming themselves into a society for carryzng out Association Some preliminary LeS have already been held at their place of meeting tho Alhn marle ' s Head St . John-square , C \ SLT ^! S ; SS 5 SS 8 T meffibers ' pay a ffeekl * - bWion * Z £%% ^ $ r *^ ^ "o " of Aa
Christian SociALisi Conferences wiiii Working Men-The fifth adjouvnod meeting of this body Zffid in the room of the Castle-street Tailors' Association , on Wednesday evening last . _ Professor Maurice in the chair . The 3 subject ot debate being- " What should bo the duty of Co-operation with veferenco to othea parties . " Mr .
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Lloyd Jones , who opened the discussion , advocated that ! their policy should be to keep aloof from all other sects and work out their own plans , Mr . Fleming though otherwise : he thought there were various other movements they could work in conjunction with . An interesting discussion ensued , in which Mr . V . Ifeale , Mr . Bezer , and others , took part . The subject of debate being adjourned to that evening fortnight . SHUFFiELD .-On Tuesday evening the Sheffield Equitable uoneers Co-operative Association held a Soiree and Ball in the « au ot Science , Rockingham-street . This society is doing On nr j ^ of &e co-operative societies in this town . deHfiW : n uesd , ' and Wednesday evenings , Mr . Tracy £ « Sri 5 By } rt - , ctUrM - I think John Parker , who has I hoaffin Th "" s borough since 1832 , is doomed , at least , ¦ we . Thw ., ° % of the townis by no means flourish-Trade" m § out theiv mistake about "Free
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HAOOKAL AMOOMBW OF UKITED . " HAT JUSIIIIA . " X . " If it were possible for the ~ wori-in » i among themselves , to raise , or keeu 8 'Jf eS b * fining wages , it need hardly be saidIfluit S 0 L £ T ' *<** ol punished , but to be welcomed and rejoiced at" s hwe not t 0 be ' ¦—"" UBlillLT ,.
We were unable last week to announce tim mu tion of the Wolvernampton * 1 oh 2 H ^ £ "E * pnwnment of just five months , the laBt tw oflfi coslSX red UnderaU attacbment ^ "S The defendants themselves could no doubt have evaded , or escaped from their responsibility in tha matter ; but the interest of the eighteen iudividu al 8 who had so generously proffered themselves as their Dan , would have rendered any such step on their part mean and dishonourable . An ineffectual attempt was made to effect a compromise with the
wosecuuuBj nom the mistaken notion , that after the imprifionment of theis victims , and tlie large subscriptions wmch u was known had been entered into by tha f 2 ^«« n te ^ iW ^ &c , of thediatrict , ttoSK I P rosecutoi's f < * flwe same costs thej would have had the decency , if not the justice . buHh ?? deriD ! ^ lcast some Parfc of tueir cS So iof Af ° - Par . \ a 11 aa mn cha ^ his ^ o ' tba selvesorT - ? ° ? y 8 kin > as these men dives * themmtar iS 3 TO ° f revenge and P <* ution . Tha 5 STk ? ° ? costs have been Paid in cash , and a balance of £ 188 by bills , the last of which ia JS ™* « fom thiB , at the joint responsi ! D £ ctmit ef adaDtS aUd the ^ the
The defendants would " certainly not have entered heVSrM i , P ° " ^ ility , excepttorelieve the ban from the legal effects of their recognisances , uW ° P nd ^ trust not without reason- ^ ™ S * vm at once enable them to meet this lastliability ; and thus will have terminated one o £ the most fiercely contested struggles between Labour rSftJ ' ? ^ •^ usurpations 5 £ X ? V ? T lv andaltbough the fcBuehasnot able . ± rom the beginning to the end of this tadinna
contest , no iota of principle has been sacrificed upon the altar of expediency . The thing contested for waa so justand moderate as to obtain the spontaneoug admission of Justice Erie , whose duty , it appears , on that judgment-seat , was to administer law , rathec than equity , or an acquittal must have followed that admission . The means by which these just and moderate claims were enforced , were marked throughout with an unexampled degree of moderation , patience , and endurance by the delegated deputations , and the men , unaccompanied with the slightest particle of fraud or deception . The subsequent persecution was met with manly defiance and an uncompromising resistance , and the legal nenaltiesofont
deteat have been suffered with cheerful fortitude and a proud consciousness of having done our duty . We think , therefore , we are justified in assuming that tha Wolverhampton Conspirators will not be considered by their fellow workmen as having in the slightest degree betrayed those principles of which they wera the fortuitous defenders , and that they come out o £ the battle defeated , but not dishonoured . It will now be our duty to prepare for another campaign with a spirit unbroken by our persecution , and a judgment improved , we hope , by our past experience .
The double defeat of the Wolverhampton Tin-plata Workers , and the more powerful Amalgamated Engineers , demonstrate the folly of all partial and secti * onal combination . The legal right of combination has been , at all events , judicially confirmed ; but we are now taught that any but a wide and general combination is utterl y useless . The law is virtually repealed by the decrees of the Napoleons of Bucklers « bury , and pains and penalties are enforced without sanction and in violation of the law .
_ Capitalist conspirators are tolerated , buttheAsso . ciates of Industry are proscribed , starved , and incarcerated . The demon-spirit of insatiable avarice stalks through the land with triumph of its recent successes , eager and fully prepared for fresh victories and new triumphs . The last feather has not yet been placed upon the donkey ' s back , though the poor animal groans and Btaggers under its burden , and winces and trembles at its barbarous usage . Let ua make one more glorious effoit—one more struggle for our industrial freedom , ere we yield ourselves to ouc tyrants . WilliamPeel , Secretary .
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THE SILK WEAVERS AXD FREE TRADE .
On Tuesday night a general meeting of the broad silkweavers of Spitalfields and its vicinity was held at tha bchool-room , St . John-street , Brick-lane , the same having been convened by the Trade Society for the Protection ol Native Industry , " for tho purpose of taking into consideration the alarming position of the trade , and to adopt reso . utions condemnatory of tho present unregulated and stimu . lated system of competition , which is reducing the working classes of this country to the continental level . " Mr . Howsham took the chair .
The Secretary ( Mr . Delaforce ) read the following letter from Mr . T . Brook , of 26 , Spital-square : — "I am by no means surprised atthe determination of the operative Spital . fields weavers to hold a meeting for the purpose of expreasing their views upon the present system of tho importation ot foreign goods , and I have no hesitation in saying that they have abundant reason for complaint , The deplorable condition to which many are reduced by the want of employment for the last Bix months , is , I fear , beyond the apprehension of those who are not acquainted with this locality , while the wages of those who have been lortunate enough to obtain employment are so low as soaroely to afford them a Subsistence . "
<« rrif \ i ^ xMM too moved the following resolution : — lnat this meeting is painfully convinced that the distress now existing among the operatives engaged in silk manu « tacturo is unprecedented in charaoter , inasmuch as wages are reduced not less than 25 per cent , since 1846 , and at tha present time one half of tho trade are unemployed . Wa therefore hold the opinion that the present government should take the earliest opportunity to bring to a speedy termination the present system of reckless competition , by introducing tho principle of external protection and internal regulation , and prevent the sacrifiGO of the industrial classes to the idle consumer and commercial speculator . " Mr . J . Fox seconded the resolution , which was spoken to also by Mr . Hollis . Mr . Yakdome proposed an amendment to the effect that nothing short of the total abolition of the importation of all foreign raw goods could be of real Bevvice to the trade . Mr . TEiirEST seconded tho amendment .
Mr . Henry Mayiiew ( who waa received with loud cheers ) said ' . —Gentlemen , I commenced my inquiries into the state of the working classes , being at the time an inveterate Free-trader . I began those inquiries among men who gave methc firs shock . ( Hear , hear . ) . The conclusion I arrive a is , that there is a system which degenerates the working classes ( rotu their natural position . I find that the boot , making trade is cut up , that men are starving , and that from the same reason-the foreign boots are largely imported ; and the system involves this—that that work is wrested from the Eaglish workmen which they hlyel % hl Wprfffi / 0 ^ , ? 611 l goto the « make rs Here 1 bnd a greater state of destitution . I find the man labouring ; from early morn to the last gleaming of light . I BpealC ot those who are called "slop cabinet-makers , " who matte the fancy writing-desks , and who are brought into competition with the French trader . I see every Saturday some poor fellow with his load upon his back , carrying it to what is most sineificantlv called
" the slaughter-house . " I know this was brought about by the unrestricted importation of foreign labour . It is only two or three years since I began my inquiry , and no person has dared to deny what 1 have stated . I said at tho meeting of tailors , let Cobden , if he has a soul , accom pany me , and I will take him to a placo where I will teai it out of him . I will show him such scenes of misery ai shall provo the best appeal to the alleged cheap bread anc the increased consumption . I will show him those casei of misery , where the means of existence is merely dn bread and tea-leavca from year to year . I am told tha ' pauperism has decreased—that crimeiias decreased . I dew it . I take the last ten yoai'B , and I say that sinco Fre Trade commenced , tho crimo of tho country has bee greater than it was before . Mr . Mayhew then entered int a variety of statistics , in elucidation and support of the r ( solution , vhiob , after eomo further discussion , was carriet and the meeting broke up , . .. * v rtuin
Democratic Ihotmrnts.
Democratic iHotmrnts .
≪Steo}M*Atfoe G&Ronfcu
< Steo } m * atfoe G&ronfcU
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of to 8 , 1852 . THE STAR OF FREEDOM . 1 ~ *~*~ ° — " ~—^^ - »——— .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 8, 1852, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1677/page/5/
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