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jemotratk pflkntnt ^ PUBLIC MEETINGS, &c.
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_______ __ bination . What many separate men did badly ; what many separate small combinations did a little better , a gigantic combination does best of all , or at least has the power to do if it will , and that is the point we are aiming at . We have selected the railroad as the most patent example , but everywhere , on land or water , in the factory and the mill , the same principle applies .
Isolation is weakness—combination is strength . All large masses are powerless perhaps in exact proportion to their numbers , so long as each man moves without reference to , or not in accordance with the will of his neighbours . They are powerful precisely in the ratio of their unity of purpose and the adaption of each individual to the other . This is the
secret of success of all large Co-operations—of railroad companies , dock companies , steam-boat companies , and trading companies . It is the cause why an army is superior to a mob . It is the main-spring of such large organizations as our Post-office department ; and on a knowledge of , and an adoption in practice of this truth , the many must rest their social progress .
Surely there is enough here—enough of the actual and practical and tangible to give us Faith in the principle upon which it all rests , without which it never could have been . There it is , power creating things , and do not let it be forgotten that just now it is only of power we are speaking . We have not touched upon the morality , or the Christianity , or the charity of the great bodies who are transforming the face of the earth , and covering the waters—we have not alluded
to their intentions , but only to their strength , and the sources from which they draw it . The individuals composing them may be the most selfish of men , seeking not the good of their kind , but simply what appears to them their own benefit . They may place that not in human happiness or advancement , but in cent per cent , or parliamentary or commercial influence . They may set a greater value upon low working expenses than upon high morality . They may regard traffic
returns as far more important than life itself . Probably they do , but that is not the question . The enquiry we have to make is what gives them the power to do either good or evil , and the plain answer rising out of the facts is , that they are associated together for a common * purpose . Weak and strong , poor and rich , great and small , they have each put something of strength , and wealth , and name , and so aggregated a power , greater far than an individual or a few could have aspired to .
It is a good thing to learn , even from our enemies . We want power , they have got it . From their practical teaching we may gather instruction . We think those who disclaim the desire for power are simply either knaves or fools . Fools , if their disclaimer is a true one ' , for without power we can do nothing . Knaves , if they deny in order to deceive . In one shape or another power to help the many , and power for the many , is the aim of all true political and social Reformers . With power men may do evil as some do , it is true , but it is
equally true that without it none can do good . Our justification for the wish for it then , if it need a justification , is that we mean to do good ; and that the great masses desire to do good too , to the great majority of men which they themselves make up . However , the possession of power is one thing , and its use or abuse another . We must get it first , in order to apply it afterwards as we best may ; and the getting it is the nail we are trying to hit on the head . The way to get it
is shown us by the commercial world . When individuals unite into firms , and firms aggregate into large companies , they do so with a well-defined and calculated purpose , to arrive at greater power . That is the lesson we have to learn —that is the instruction we have , to better—that is the example we have to copy . They have proved that the means are successful by their result—the best of all proofs ; and we must go and do likewise .
But we may be told that for great capatalists , or even wealthy men , to unite for such purposes is one thing , for poor men to do so is another . That in fact there is a great difference between the two cases . We grant it at once , but it is only a difference in degree . Each man has a certain portion of power , and whatever it is , real union increases it . So with the poor equally with the rich . A ton is but a ton ; whether it be made up of grains or hundred weights , it is to the full as heavy one way as the other . Ten men with ten
thousand pounds each , which they can spare for a given undertaking , are not better than a hundred thousand with a pound a piece to devote to it ; perhaps , indeed , if rightly managed , not so good . Some day we will try to illustrate the superior efficacy of little things in their millions over great things in their tens , but to do so now would make this chapter too long . The practical conclusion we have to draw is , that no man who has anything—never mind how little—to spare , can help , and that we may make up for our individual weakness by our aggregate strength .
But not only that , great capitalists when they unite for great works , do not depend only upon their own contributions . They make what they have security , and use it as the means of getting what they have not . They go into the world of money and credit and raise loans which increase their capability . Ay , but the doubter will say , that world is shut against combinations of the poor . Allow that it is so—have not the poor the means of doing something in that way for
themselves ? We think they . have . If we are right they have immense resources which they not only do not use for themselves , but are suffering others to use against them . Out of them they can now , if they will , create a vast system of credit , and then they will possess the true basis of association , production , distribution , and banking , the foundation of the present structure of commerce . What these resources are we shall next week proceed to show .
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PUBLIC FUNERAL OF ALBERT DARASZ , A POLISH EXILE . International , Democratic , and Fraternal Demonstration . Democracy has just suffered another loss , on the eve too , of a supreme struggle , when she needed the united efforts of all her children . Nevertheless , let us admire the power of his steadfast faith . The funeral demonstration , and the mourning for a man so devoted to the cause , was an act of international fraternity .
On the 19 th of the present month , expired in the rigours of a double exile , Albert Darasz , member of the Polish Democratic Centralisation , and the representative of his beloved Poland in the Central European Committee . At 11 o ' clock on the morning of Sunday the 22 d , there was collected in the street in the neighbourhood of Euston-square in which he had lived , a dense crowd of people , who , by the dignity of their grief , attracted the attention of the passers by , and caused a considerable agitation in that ordinarily quiet neighbourhood . These were the exiles for freedom of the nations , gathered around their respective banners , to render a last homage to one of the most meritorious of the meritorious sons of Poland , and one of the founders of the European Committee .
The members of the Committee themselves , Ledru Rollin , Mazzini , and Bratiano had come to accompany their colleague to his last resting-place . Citizen G-ogg , president of the German Refugee Committee , occupied amongst them the place of Citizen Arnold Ruge , whose absence was occasioned by a sudden indisposition at Brighton . Generals Kmethy , Perczel , Wukowiez , and ° Tally , and the venerable Bishop of Wa'itzen , Hyaient Ronay , were amongst the Hungarians . The democrats , Julian Harney , editor ° of the " Star of Freedom , " James Watson , and Richard Moore , were present , and with them the elite of the British capital , representing the England of the future .
The cortege departed for Highgate Cemetry at half-past twelve . The hearse , simple , like the habits of the exiles , and surmounted , instead of the ordinary plumes , with the sword and Polish cap of the deceased , was followed by Dr . Paul Darasz , Citizen Worcell , his colleague in the centralization . Next came a carriage for those who could not walk . Then followed the members of the Central European Committee , united in the same regret and the same faith in the future of
humanity . The French exiles followed five abreast , having borne before them a red banner , surmounted by crape , and bearing the inscription , " Republique democratique et sociale " Then came the Italians , proudly bearing the tri-coloured emblem of their henceforth inseparable unity . The Germans formed the third group , and the Poles , the countrymen of the departed , bearing their national banner , with the white eagle , brought up the rear .
It was two o ' clock when the procession reached the Cemetry . ^ When the burial service had been read , the Polish , Italian , and French flags floating over the mortal remains of the deceased , Stanislas Worcell , his colleague in the Polish Centralization , his friend and companion in exile , delivered , in French , the following speech : — Albert Darasz is no more ! The member of the European Central Committee — the representative in its midst of the Polish Democratic Centralization—the ardent , courageous and indefatigable defender of the democratic thought in Poland , and
of the national thought in Europe—the proscribed of two despotisms , and the victim of his fidelity to the post to which duty had called him—is no more ! And , looking around , we see representatives of different nationalities , but all representatives of one same humanitarian cause , and of identical principles united in one sentiment of common grief . Ah ! to me , his friend and his colleague—to me , his companion in exile—to me , his brother and his country excepted—his loss has been greatest ; but to the grief which you all feel , add that which is now felt for Poland , deprived in him of the most devoted , the most faithful of her
sons . Ah , Poland ! towards him a mother , prodigal of thy gifts , and that love of his native land which makes of thy sons so many heroes and martyrs , —Poland ,-the object of all his _ affections , the only end of liis aspirations and of his efforts , which he once more embraced before losing you for ever , when , in 1848 , he for an instant touched thy soil , and , like Moses , saw the promised land only to return to the arid solitudes of exile ! Poland has one more name to add to her long list of martyrs ; for I repeat , with the confidence of an inseparable ¦ witness of his last years , and the intimate confidant of his
patriotic inspirations , if he has died far from her and will rest beneath the soil of a strange land , he has never desired to live but for her , and has refused to prolong his existence at the expense of his duties to which , in the name of Poland , his companions in exile had called him . Citizens ! look around you 1 behold the re-action everywhere triumphant , — discouragement taking possession of men ' s souls—masses rushing beyond the seas , impelled by hunger , attracted by gold , —by greater personal liberty , or by a healthier climate . "Well , there , in Australia , or in Malta , Corfu , or Nice , was to be found for our friend health
and the sources of life . For eighteen months professional men told him that change of climate alone could save him ; but where was his duty fixed ? It was here he could influence Poland by representing her interests and wishes in the council of the peoples of the future ; it was here that he had proposed and concluded the pact of that great alliance , and where , with a firm hand in the eyes of Poland , he could keep afloat the banner of Democracy ; and so it was here he remained looking death in the face , and succumbed at last , after a long illness , but without recoiling for an instant before it . Yes , brothers ! Darasz lias
died upright aud unshaken . Upright is the standard that he has planted and maintained . You are now gathered around him from all the corners of Europe . Hear the lesson his example leaves us . His life was the incarnation of a single thought , that of his country regenerated on the new basis of social democracy . Its recital will be simple . Born atVarsovia in 1808 , he was but twenty-two years of age when 1830
came , and the country lived again , though but for an instant . For three years he had studied the law in the university of his native town , but his country called him , and he charged himself with the musket of a soldier . Joining one of the regiments of the elite of our army , he took part in all our great battles , and , after a few months , was made officer , only to commence a new series of struggles in a long and painful career of exile . The epaulette still formed a new species of aristocracy ,
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but the natural feeling of his heart and a deep study of his country ' s history , had impressed Darasz with the principle of equality , and lie placed himself at the side of the soldiers and the people , declaring war a outrance—a war , which , with him ceased only with his life , to all privilege , to all despotism . He at once became the idol of our progressive youth ; the terror and the antipathy of all the partisans of the old prejudices . Thug he had enemies , many enemies , whose calumnies were for him so many passports to the gratitude of the Polish people . Members of all the councils elected by the despots to Avhich he appertained , secretary of the greater part of them , he soon
joined the secret societies which spread the idea of social pro gress in France , and when the light came from beneath the bushel , and the Polish democracy appeared under the only possible form of a party of the future in our emigration 5 he entered its ranks and identified himself with it so that he no longer lived but with its life , —no longer lived but for it , according to its noble device , ' By the Democratic Society for Poland , and by Poland for Humanity . " The influence which Darasz exercised soon spread , became generally known and appreciated , and when , in 1834 , the Democratic Society commenced the work of its re-organisation and definitive constitution at Poicteurs , he was called upon to take part in one of its
first acting committees , instituted under the name of " Centralization . " The denunciations of the press of our oppressors make it needless for me to recount its history which was henceforth the history of Albert Darasz . Suffice it to say , that when the Centralization took upon itself the direction of the journal the JJemohrata Polski , which soon penetrated into the most obscure corners of Poland , and shook society to its foundations , the editorship was confided to Darasz , and when , by his re-election to the Central Committee , he was compelled to give up the editorship ^ lie never ceased to direct it , to inspire it , and enrich it with his contributions , which the Polish emigration soon learned to know by their clearness of laneuasro . their logical
style , and implacable reasoning . At length the propaganda ot the Centralization bore fruit ; from all parts of Europe came demands for aid in a movement becoming irresistible . The Centralization hastened to join the patriots of the country , and confided to Darasz the task of hastening in France the men entrusted with the preparations . The Insurrectional Committees had reserved for him one of the most important posts in the revolutionary organisation of Poland , when the arrests of the chiefs uf the Grand Duchy of Posen , and the massacre of the patriots in Galicia retarded a revolution , a single
episode of which—the insurrection of Cracovia in 1846 , — sufficed to awaken the revolutionary spirit in Europe , and appeared as the aurora of the revolution of February , which broke out at Paris exactly two years afterwards . They were the members of the Polish Committees formed in France in 1846 , who , in 1848 , occupied the chairs of the Provisional Government , formed the ministry , and took the command of the National Guard . Darasz went to shake them by the hand , to salute in them the founders of the European Republic , then hastily re-organised the departure for Poland of the Polish
columns , which no power on earth could longer retain , and departed once more to touch his mother earth ; but , alas ! only to witness at Posen , as at Cracovia , new and cruel deceptions . Entrusted by the National Committee of the latter Republic , with an important mission to France , he had scarcely reached the frontiers , when Cracovia was bombarded and its committee driven anew into exile . A new era , alas ! was opened for the Polish emigration , and Darasz returned to his painful labours
with all the ardour of his indomitable courage . Thanks to his activity , the Demohrata Polski , which had disappeared for some months , re-appeared ; the Democratic Society was formed anew , Ye-elected the members of the Centralization , maintained Albert Darasz therein , and actively continued its labours , when the re-action in . France , triumphant by the elections for the Legislative , &c . profited by the purely " French demonstration of June , 1849 , in favour of the Italian cause , to expel from France all the members of the Polish Centralization then in Paris . It
was then began that long struggle for our friend , which has ended in the tomb now open at our feet . Two countries were then open to us . Belgium and England-, but the latter was thenceforth to become the last refuge of the proscribed of all nations ; already it had some of the most notable , and offered a neutral ground for their mutual alliance ; and , notwithstanding the disadvantage of living in a country of whose language he was then ignorant , and whose climate he feared , it was it ho chose .. The difficulties which confront us here are great , and if we overcome these it will be to the fecundity of his resources , to the activity of his mind , to his perseverance and to his courage , that we will owe them . The Democratic Society
disorganised for an instant , was reconstituted . The Demoh-ata Polski , fallen in France , under the rigour of the re-action , reappeared in Belgium . The Polish Democratic Society was about to be submitted to the iron yoke of the state of seige in France , when the pact of the holy alliance of the peoples was concluded m England , and if he to whoso efforts all these effects are due died at the task , the representatives of all the nations working in union here , show how just and great was the object to which he has not immolated himself in vain . Thanks , then , generous friends , thanks in the name of Polandhis motherfor the
, , tostimony that , by your presence , you are come to render to the moral and political valour of our friend and to the holiness of a national cause , which inspires such devotion and a perseverance as firm m the agony of personal sufferings , as in the sight of the glorious gibbet of Wiszniowski or the holy tortures of lvonarski , or of Siberia . Thanks to you all our brothers of * ranee , of Italy , Germany , and England , from the shores of the Danube and the Theiss , whoby your unionconstitute the
, , vanguard ot the peoples soon to be victorious , and will change the procession to the tomb of a Pole into a triumphal march of the loland of the future . This act of international fraternity waicn we renew on the grave of its founders , is the purest incense which could mount from this land of exile to his soul , thirsting for country and liberty . And you , my sorrowful countrymen , —you , the rivals in devotion of him we weep together , carry with you in your labours the privations of exile
me , m the efforts and struggles of your political apostleship , winch the encouragement the example of he who is no more , lurmshes . No , my brothers ! to die for our country and humanity , is never to die in vain . The last moments of our inend were sweetened by the news brought by his brother and the companion of his apostolic lahours in our country , concerning the disposition of the Polish people . That good and patriotic people he leaves in the approaching realisation of these celestial decrees , waits with impatience the signal to obey them , the pikes , the axesthe muskets of the disarmed enemy
, in hand . The universal disgust 4 fc . it for the ' most ignoble of despotisms mounts like a spring tide and threatens to overthrow it . To you then is the future ; to Poland triumphs , thenceforth the assured of humanity . Then look towards that tuture , and away from the grave of our friend ; and since thousands have fallen , at our sides , close our ranks and forward 1
Jemotratk Pflkntnt ^ Public Meetings, &C.
jemotratk pflkntnt ^ PUBLIC MEETINGS , &c .
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A Bonaparte in the American Arsiy . —A promotion of 43 cadets of the Military Academy at West-point has just taken place in the United States' army . We remark among the number the name of the cadet Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte , who was No . 11 in his class at the time of the examination , and who is appointed to the Regiment of Mounted Eiflemen . He is the grandson of Jerome Bonaparte , brother of the Emperor Napoleon , ex-King of Westphalia , and now president of the French Senate .
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42 THE STAR OF FREEDOM . August 28 , 1852 .
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 28, 1852, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1693/page/10/
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