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THE NORTHERN STAR , SATURDAY, OCTOBER SO, 1841.
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&w Uet&evf! anto GotvetiwvtomtfS
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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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MEETING IN ST . ANDREW'S HALL , KOBWICH . The unparalleled destitution now existing in the British Empire , and partitnlarij in Norwieh , induced the Chartists to present a requisition to a ^ J " * ** requesting bim to eaU a puWienieetis * to wasi **^ adopt some means of tanmediito and peraanea * reller , that the direfal effecU of involuntary idleness HSg&t be averted , and comfort restored to the industnoa * " lKy questions were aaked but , tfttmately , M . Worship consented to allow as the me of St Andrews BalHf yb thought proper to convene toe meeting ourselves - ire oooaeated to embrace the opportunity , and ¦ we gives to udotawi that ft repeal of the Com laws would be proposed u an emelenV remedy ; a » d that Sidney Smith n « M be solicited to attend , and ,, ¦ with other gentlemen , show to the meeting the benefitj to be exfeeted bom their abolition .
Nothing daunted , the bare Chartists went to work , pazing neither labovr or expense . The day aarived , and ea Wednesday Boon , Oct . SO , they entered the spaefeas halL Older being obtained , Ms . Richard Satsen was elected thainaan , and opesed 1 te meeting by leading the placard , and regnoftiag that each and every gentleman , who wUhed to address the meeting , would asoead the platform , and express Us sentiments without reserve . He then impressed uses , the meeting she necessity « T giving a pattes * hearing to each speaker , and should a difference of opinion arise , allow the arguments ef -each to be duly « oesidere 4 , And give ¦ tteir decision according to merit Two Reverend ^ ienttemen requested permission to address the meeting , and were isfttted to a seat near ti » chair . The Business of the meeting then proceeded . The £ ev . Gentlemen waited till near ^ the dose , then rising , said they had &o fault to find with the arguments adduced , and retoed .
Mr . HCRRCT . L , in moring the first resoInUon , refarred to the Buke of Weningtos . ' s declaration that the distress did sot exist to a great-extent , and that any man who was willing to work would be aUa to rise to riches . Sir Robert Peel , that very Joseph Surface of Cabinet Ministers , had ackaowledged that there was some distress , but at the same time gare the lie to bis dedara&M by quoting the amomnts placed in the Sitings * Basks in order to shew how rich and prosperous the country was . This was not true ; the living maw before Mm , with their pal&d cheeks , declared there was distress . He knew the pear « f Norwich well . ; and their homes bespoke their wretchedness . Be knew there were hundreds whe roe * in the morning not knowing 'where a find a breakfast . Nssubcn had sot a bed , but
were compelled to lay e « straw . He asked Sir Bobert Peel and the Duke of Weffington , was not that 4 istress ? As he came tn tbe Hsfl , be nvet a friend who was then going to the workbovse . He said he had remained in Norwich for work uata fee bad lost his all , and that he ¦ was now compelled to go to Wkklewood . - If they walked the streets ef Norwich , they would eease U bear the hum of imJustry—not a shuttle was to , be beard . If they went iato other district * , although they were bad , still they would find tbea weaving the work Norwich should d * . Distress wai throughout the country ; there was scsreiy a person who did not ia some degree feel it , except the aristocrat He had gone about with the requMtfeu , aad the shopkeepers unirersally
declared they felt it ; that where they formerly took ten pounds , they bow reeerred only one . Burrell then " reierred to the numbers in the workhouse , on relief , and the hundreds nbefeting either by charity or begging because they eouH obtain no relitf , in proof of the distress . He then read a long letter from a Stockport paper to shew the great distress in that district ' All this be argued , pro-red that the country was in a state of great misery . Was this to be borne , and ware they to ge on untQ the whole kingdom beeame one lump of degradation . The working men were fast failing , the shopkeepers woold next go , and the rich men would then be compelled to « t * fatiriw them . It was time for them to see what could be done . Measures would be
Brought forward ia which he thought all would agree , aad if aay one did not , let him come forward and pro pose bis own plans . He then read the first resolution : — " That tfcfa meeting is of opinion that unparalleled destitution and distress now exists in the British empire , and ^ h *\ immediate relief is abto ^ fo'ly necessary to stay its appalling e&cts . " Mr . Hbwett seconded the resolution . He quoted two cases of distress which he said he had aeen . One a woman named Hone , hi Thorpe Hamlet , who was laying in bed ill without furniture or food ; her
husband had been ill in the hospital for fire weeks , and the had to work . The other person was a woman of the name of Hadd , who had walked to Smallborgh for relief , but could obtain none , and was obliged to return the twelTe miles , the Guardians having told" her they did not care anything about her distress . He then referred to the numbers of poor compared with those Ct last year . Was ifcnot , he atked * an awful state . to be brought to , for industrious people to be travelling the streets of the city unable even to obtain sufficient potatoes ? The speaker then read a long extract from the Dispaich to show the distress in Tarious places . He concluded by seconding the resolution .
The hECfiKTABY ( Mr . Goat ) then read a letter from the weavers in the wearing shop in the workhouse , complaining of tfy " distressed state . After which he vent on to state what he said had occurred to himself when placed there . The men were not allowed sure than the amount of relief—one shilling per week per head , which was not more th&n seven furfoing . svday , and what was that , when oat of it they had to pay Cor rent , light , and firing . When he was there , he found that the loom hi which he was placed , from . its construction , would be fatal to his rmrtgnca He told the oTemer it must be altered—that he was a practical
nan , and had worked such cloth . Te which the overseer replied , yea do sot expect to come here to have your loom altered in such a way as to add to your comfort ? as it is fixed so , you . most work it Many were obliged to leave because they could not ; but he did sot say that there were not soaie who were able to work it ; bat he was looking at the tyranny of the Batters , who would hare compelled him . What , he asked , was the slaTsry of the West Indies to this ? These were circumstances of which he was sorry to speak , but they could be borne testimony to by many . He concluded by supporting the motion . Mr . Clarke
moved" That it is the opinion of this meeting , that it is the imperative duty of the present Government imtnediately to advance the sum of twenty millions sterling , for the purpose of locating upon the land the industrious artisans of our country whose labour is superseded through the application of machinery , and that an address be presented to her Majesty ' s Governxaent to that effect " In support of the resolution , be adverted to the state ments of preceding speakers , on the distressed condition of the country , and to the strange anomaly of extreme -wealth and extreme destitution existing together in so striking a manner as is afforded by the different risfflM of tax-esters , tithe-eaters , profit-mongers , landlords , and tax-payers , tithe-payers , and workers of this
country . He referred to the black Blare grant of twenty millions , and then went on . There is a portion at men in this country who get their bread without the sweat from the brow . We ask £ 20 , 000 , 060 for the people of England , who have been superseded by machinery . I > o we ask fcr it as a direct gift ? And is there no land in England which you have a right to ? What is become of the land which belongs to the people ? Where are the Crown lands ? Where axe the Church lands that were giren to yon ? Why , they have been swallowed np by men who have no right-to them . Let Government call upon them , and say , assist si to locate the people on the land—to giro them bread to eat There are other lands now lying waste "which might be taken in , upon which the people might
labour , and benefit themselves . The principle , has , we find , worked well in America , where , by the magic touch of her industry , the barren lands had become fertile , and that the * ¦ waters had withdrawn . Weknow that that great Being who gave us existence , and all things suitable for our wants , was ever ready to assist us , and if the ric h legislators of the eo-ontry would only so distxib'ate ¦ their wealth , there would be no such misery . They may call tu anarebista and revolutionists , but first let them prove that the institutions , as at present administered , were lor the general happiness of the country , while others , os the contrary , -were starring for want The institution in this ceuntry was like a little bey , who was grown out of bis clothes and wanted to have a new suit £ 26 , 000 , 000 was all they asked fer , and if the Gavern mect , Sir Bobert Peel and the Dote of Wellington , do justice to the people , they will grant it immediately .
Jf we , in order to give relief , alter the sugar duties , the monopolists will come forward and say , you shall sot meddle with oar interest If the Corn Law , the landowners and parsons jump up and say you must not touch our Tested rights . They then say the country is } n an alarming situation , of which he had no doubt But to yon who are powerless they turn a deaf ear to you , sad as powerless as you are , you have never yet righly understood the might and power placed in your hands . { Hear , hear . ) It is yon who produce the temple and j » i frw—it if yon who produce the clothing—it is you who produce all that decorate and ornament these buildings ; by your industry everything is made ; by your industry we see things travelling across the seas to exchange with all the countries in the world ; and If you have only the spirit to tell them in plain and < iistinct terms that you an prepared by your bonest industry to go upon the land , and as soon as yon eaa yon will return the capital
Mr . Ik JOKES then eama forward and addressed the meeting with fnat rapidity aad length- The meeting bad given him great pleasure , not inhering the distress , not in seeing their care-worn and haggard oountenaaees , but in bearing them diseaa the question with a calm and constitutional voice , which most have its effect He knew tEat it had been said that these meetings were snore the result of agitation sad the speeches of certain { tyring m ^ interested men tf ?« n of tf" * distress . He would teH « aeb'pecsens that a misrepresentation of distacts iBa 3 frjpj | sjrodnce such a cry of distress as had ' g «« tt for * , sssfliti it could not be allayed until a wise 6 » was tnrnsd to the miseries of the poor . It was not tbs speeches of agUaton but the distress which you feel deeply , bat caimai divert your eye—for you meet in very corner of thevsreet , meet it at every board , you meet it at every hearth . It is as palpable as the sun , « Bd Mtther tb * Pake o WeJButoa not Sir Bobert
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Fed « an cheat you o at of the btiief . In this distress you call upon the Government for twenty millions , that you may locate yo Arasives apoa the waste lands of this country—that by the union of you labour with their capital you may . place yourselves in mob ft position as had never bee A dose before . This call should not be violent—shoo id not arise out of « spirit of anger , that spirit is fast- lying away . Notwithstanding the bishops notwitataiK ' iing our venerable institutions—good institutions w ' jea raised—there is no doubt that they have allowed the mass of the people to remain matter ignorance , pat U this ignorance , acted upon by severe distreTi , arose a footinc among the peopt * at retaliation ¦» ' 4 revenge—thai was what must naturally first arise ? hmi thrfT mffiwinif flontinfWHJ They then asked , why
they were suffering ? And now came that wisdom which had produced the result , and had created a voice and shout which eoald not be put aside . He thought they were right ia dfimmding this money . He knew there was a great deal ofbenevolenee in the country . Would then were equal wisdom ; ue knew that benevolence was extending itself to every part of the country and in every form . Notwithstanding they had sent twenty mfflions to the West Indies—another half million for the saving of souls in other countries , and a third half million to the colonies of convicts—although they were caused by their own mismanagement , still he thought it high time they should ask for a Bum of money for their own use , and labour to divert the distress . There was no dombt that it was not the interest of society to support
them without work . At present society had done somethtag for them , and it was better they should take to the woods and forests , if they could not go on with better support If the rich oppress , the poor will hate them . If this bad not been removed , religion had been a serf , wisdom nothing , society not worth a fig , aad it would be far better to divide and separate at once . It bad been said that the evil had been caused by the introduction of machinery . He knew it was pot a general evil , and that though it produced distress , still H was beneficial to some societies . He should never say it was an evil—not that it must be allowed to continue to work evil—but as it is a new element , and has only effected that evil during the last twenty years , nothing could be more plain than to introduce new
forms and rales for its better regulation . Machines were originally made to meet a demand—they were now so increased as to require an extension of trade . They were told that the repeal of the Corn Law would produce that benefit—that trade could be doubled—but the supply would soon overstock the market—Mr . Johnson and Mr . Thomson do not know how much th « market exactly required—aad soon overstock the market , and they were forced to lay by their stock in their warehous e * , for however cheap their bread may be , they must compete with each other . Jnst so long as the market is overstocked must the working man remain out of employment , for he had nothing to depend on but his labour . These were the facts which came before him , sod be defied any one to contradict them . The
question then was , were they to cast them off , or were they te listen to tbem ? Were the working people of this country to suffer , and while they were clothing all the world to be compelled to walk about with none on their backs ? Were these the evidences of the policy and wisdom ef the Government ? No . Were these the proofs of our greatness as a nation ? Were these the things that made them the envy and admiration of the world ? When we look to the condition of our own people , we come to the conclusion , that if the world knew what we were , they would not think England so great as she would have them . The labour of the working man was most valuable , and the greatest next to that of the intellectual man , which points out to tbem how to use it They had heard of the large sums
received by the Bishops , but what did they do for it ? They preached a sermon which be could go and buy printed for twopence . Therefore we give them tout of thousands for what competition would produce us for twopence . You who produce this are thousands ef you living upon twopence . Was this rational ? Bat to long as you speak of violence , bo long will the rich walk away from you ; when you talk on the subject of distress , so long will they try to stifle the public voice and keep down the working man . If you shew that you under stand the subject , and when you speak , speak with a voice of a determination , that moment will they
manifest respect for you , and be as willing to assist you as they were to ^ give freedom to the blacks . Let us then choose for ourselves . There are the means in our hands , l'bonsands of acres are EnculUvated , and hundreds of thousands occupied by gentleman ' s parks which produce nothing . Let us tell the Government that we can do ranch for ourselves , and that we are ready to employ them for the benefit of ourselves and families . This will do more good in the country than any political party . Having made these few remarks , he hoped they would show the gentlemen that they were also the gentlemen of the land , and were determined to be the freemen also .
Mr . Misshall , in seconding the resolution , said , it was a question of importance that was before them , and he hoped that Great Britain would respond to the call , for who could resist that cry when pot in the right spirit You ask Government for your own land—land , which if they put the unemployed upon with capital and indnstry , will prove available to the poor man . WJH yoa be starving ? No ! my friends I you will not ; and I Bay we must call upon the Bishops aad Dean to come out like Christians ; and ask the Government to aid us . He felt it his duty to express his unanimous concurrence in the resolutioa . The resolution was passed unanimously .
The Secretabt ( Goat ) said be was confidently of opinion the observations that bad fallen from the vari ous speakers were useful , and were objects of the most vital importance , and more necessary of co-operation But he had one question to put to them , which was , the probability of success . It is a general maxim with me , when any object is in view , first to consider the means which ought to \> e exercised for the accomplishment of that object , and then to consider whether those means are at sty disposal . I feel confident with many , that what you ask for , you have no chance of obtaining , while the Government is constituted as it is , who exercise their utmost power to benefit themselves and crush the working classes . If we consider the position
which we hold , and the source from whence It springs , it is not probable , however humble might be the requisition made to the Government , that they would concede , for I assure you that uader the existing circumstance * of this country it is almost needless to attempt it He then read the resolution , and said that he entirely concurred in the expressions which had been uttered that day , but he felt confident that it was useless time for them to throw away in petitioning Government You will this day have an opportunity to show whether the People ' s Charter is an instrument of unfairness or illiberality . I fear not any antagonistic observations from any one present , and I now beg to prepese the resolution which I hold in my hand ;—
" That tins meeting is of opinion that however requisite it may be for the legislature to protect the sons of toil , and restrain the fiendish avarice of the monopolist , it is useless for this meeting to expect such an act of justice under the present representation in the Commons House of Parliament ; in constqaenco thereof it resolve to assist all virtuous men in their endeavours constitutionally to obtain those rights specified in the People ' s Charter . " Mr . Bexbow seconded the resolutioa A petition was then proposed by the Secretary , but ae it would occupy half an hour , was not read , and it was carried . Thanks were voted to the Mayor for the use of the HalL The meeting broke up about four o ' clock .
The Northern Star , Saturday, October So, 1841.
THE NORTHERN STAR , SATURDAY , OCTOBER SO , 1841 .
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HYPOCRISY OF THE WRONGHEADS . THE FOXES CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN TRAP . It is somewhat difficult to exhibit good humour after disappointment , and coartesy after defeat ; and where the human mind does rise superior to such circumstances , we are naturally led to imagine that its training must have been in some of the superior schools . We are not , therefore , at all earprised that the Leeds Foxes having failed to " put salt on the people's tails" find themselves , maugre their philosophy , "in a most towering passion , " and that their worthy ally , Mother Goose , should hiss and splutter vastly like an offended gander .
Goosey opines that the Chartists have committed mortal wrong in not standing quietly to have their tails salted . Bat Goosey should not be so very angry if the bird" was a little shy ; perhaps the salt" might have been more effective , if a little more " savour , " —a little more evidence of sincerity—had been infused into it . So far , however , as tsj cordial wish for any kind of " onion" save a union for thetntelves was concerned , the meeting in the Commercial Buildings on Monday week , which issued in the triumphant defeat of the Sham-Radicals , afforded ample proof of the utter insincerity of that tortuous
and wretched party . On the face of it , the first resolutioa proposed—the salt for the birds' tail—was deficient in its expression of principle ; and when the principle is bad , the practice is not likely to be good . It Tajpiely acknowledged the defective state of the representative system , bat contained no plain assertion to the effect , that oar political grievances were traceable to the want of tot vkbsil suffrage as if a mere extension of class legislation might not , — nay , Bins * net , —in reference to the people , be still more "defective" by increasing the power of the AMSTOCRACY OF IHB LOOM 0 V 6 T the DZMOCRACT OF
LABOUB .. But this bit of " salt" was a mere introduction to the quick lime that followed—a wedge to make an aperture for resolution number two—in the hope of so " uniting all grades of reformers" as to make them all serre the Plague . "
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But alas for the poor foxes ! The bird was too wide awake . It whisked away its naughty ta ^ and turned round to peck at them . And Borely aghast do Mother Goose and MiBter Afuckery alike stand ! Goosey is at its wit ' s end—an end soon reached—and laments , in * long doleful ditty , the " untimely end " of all its hopes and aspirations . It tells the u Geese " , its readers , that the Chartists have lost the good opinion of the middlemen—those who ape the pride , while they bow to - the power , of the loom or land-ociuCT . "They have disgusted these 1 "
Qaoth Goosey ? "They hate lost , by their irrational conduct , the support of the patriotic and intelligent shopocracyl" A hint to the wise is sufficient . If the Chartists ( by which we mean every honest man who seeks not to legislate at his neighbour's expenoe ) quietly withdraw their support from ihe sbopoerate , the shopocrats will quickly bring their support to the Chartists 1 The brains of the shopocraey lie in their tills ; and reason and right are to be taught tbem only in one way .
Goosey gives us another version of the fallacy propounded by the American hireling Squire of the H Plague "—that the Cora Law was the sword for enforcing elaes legislation . Mr . Lkks exploded the fancy , in showing that this " sword" had been itself first manufactured on the pre-existent anvil of class legislation—that it was an effect , not a cause , of the greatest of monopolies—the monopoly of making laws . Goosey demands to be informed how we intend to get thft Charter , if we persist in refusing to cooperate with the Anti-Corn Law and " extension " men . " You array yourselves , " says she : —
" Against the middle classes , the great body of Anti-Corn Law men , the manufacturers , machine employers , machinists and tradesmen , the fundholders , and the great body of possessors of property of all kinds , whether merchants or landowners . " Well , and what then , Goosey ? If all these be against us , are we , therefore , to " sing small * " and ask for less than our full right by way of conciliating them t ! Our fight is against all villany ; and we point to the array of forces that are marshalled against us , and , with the old General , we say to our brave brother Chartists . " Then is the enemy ; if we don't beat them , by G—d they will beat us !" And what should binder us ? Why , says
Goosey" They have the Suffrage , they elect the representatives , and unless the representatives elected by these pass the Charter , it will never be passed by moral and legitimate means . ' Granted ; and what then ! There is no need to concede anything ; and yet we may obtain their consent to elect such men as will obtain the Charter for us by legal means : and for the following reasons . There can be no action without a motive ; every motive is induced ; and the working classes possess the power to induce the motive and beget the action . How ! Because their opponents are
perfectly insignificant , as compared with the masses , in point of numbers ; and equally insignificant when compared with them in point of mind and morality . All that is necessary iB union among " the workies " . This once obtained , who or what can or dare resist their lawful and constitutional demands ! The terrors of the Almighty would be in their voice ; the puny opposition of the " property" men would flee before it ; the oppressor would lose courage , and faint for very fear ; and the shackles would drop
from his hands . At the roar of the king of the forest—at the united demand of the Sovereign People—all threats of coercion on the part of Government , would cease . They would evaporate like the morning cloud before the sun ; and long before the mid-day of their full onion and power , this same Government , as her only protection and safety , would throw open her wide embrace—place them w within the pale " , and proclaim them parts of the one great whole .
The people know this ; and hence they laugh at the stale salt" which Doctor Goosey would fain " place upon their tails . " Not even the good Colonel can get near enough to manage it . Gootey says : — ' The Devil and the Tories will enjoy this . " We wish them joy , and the Whigs to join them . They may laugh , if they think proper ,
but"The tale applied , Hay make them laugh on t ' other side . " At all events , we have taken the laughing out of the " Leeds Reform Association , " bo called . And when their scribe next prates of his attachment to the Charter ; and of the landowners being arrayed against us by their fears , we warn him not to lie so fast ; nor to misrepresent the conduct and language of those whose arguments he cannot answer , as is done in the following paragraph : —
" The fears of the possessors of land have been often appealed to ; nor is Mr . Feargus O'Connors recent promise to divide the land ofthecountry among his followers I allotting a five-acre paddock to each , by any means likely to allay the distrust of this powerful class of individuals . Was ever misrepresentation more base than this f " Divide among his followets" ! It is a bad cause that requires lying like this to protect it ; it out-Nedpt ' s " Nbddt . " " Allotting a five-acre paddock to each" 1 What for 1 That working menmay feed on grass !
O , Goosey , Goosey ! this is surely the full stretch of thy " lang craig ! " This is not merely M driving the nail through the moon , " but " clenching it on the other side . " We must , however , just look at the unanswerable questions with which Goosey winds up her cackle : — First—" Bow the prevention of all measures of practical reform and improvement can in any respect advance the cause of the People ' s Charter ?" Answer . — " You beg the question , Goosey ! Your measures are not ' practical , ' but wild , wicked , and visionary . Their professed object carries with it no certainty of being realised by those who most need it . "
Second— " Hew the Charter is to be obtained bo long as all the classes in actual possession of political power , and having at their command the armed physical force of the country , are arrayed in direct opposition to the Chartist party ?" Answer . —By the united efforts of the people . The people—the working people—can command all the armed physical force in the country whenever they will it . Third— " How the Charter is te be obtained without the aid of the middle classes , who are the only portion of the people whose sympathies and interests are with the Chartists , and who are at present in possession of any portion of political power ?"
Answer . —What brought them , now , to Beek " extension" and the repeal of the Corn Laws ? Their aid will come , when the till shews them that it mast ; and not a jot before . Fourth— " How the removal of any practical grievance would lessen the people ' s chances of carrying the Charter , or place the working classes in a worse position in respect of political power and influence than that which they now occupy ?" Answer . —The Bame amount of agitation required to remove this same " practical grievance" would obtain for us the Charter . Moreover we have no
! desire to strengthen the hands of our enemies , for without Universal Safirage , the repeal of the Corn Laws would increase the opposition to the Charter , and perpetuate for many years longer the wicked factory system . All , all must go together , and , therefore , we say , On for the Charter I One thing at a time—the Charter !" So much for Mother Goose ' s long cackle on the defeat . But who would have expected to find the defeat of the Household Suffrage party lamented by
the ministarial Mercury ? Yet , so it is . The Mercuty reciprocates the woeful " Smiles" of Goosey and is evidently mortfSed at the defeat of the Foxes . As usual , the herring-soup man keeps up his character . The logical and philosophical address of Mr . F . R . Lkes , which was based upon no personality , suoh as disgraced the Corn Law Repealers ' speeches , but on general principles , is selected for especial injustice , because it was especially hated and feared . The lying record of " the Liar of the
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North" is this—that be , indulged in personality and imputed iMrcmary motives U > too manufacturers 1 ! This is a positive andmalicious falsehood , ( doubtless designed to injure our advocate with the readers of the Merpury ) for ihe address had no reference either to the » ncWvrf <; of dne party or another , but great principle * * n& . iniertits . The speech of Mr . Laas ia jaoflt carefulJy iwrWi that the He may not appear ; while the fsJse , personal , and impudent remarks of the enraged Whigling who succeeded him , and wbioh deservedly received a check from the indignant assembly , is inserted at full length I by wbioh the lie is perpetrated over
If the canting scoundrels of the Whig and Mongrel Whi g-Radical factions are thus to take advantage of the liberty to lie —( asking to be contradicted afterwards , but suppressing the speeches and explanations of the people ' s champions , )—we shall recommend the people to hiss them off" in future . The reptiles have the mere pretence of fair play , and richly deserve to be hooted off the stage when ever they appear . The day of beckoning will comkj and even now it tarrieth not .
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THE PLAGUE PAID IN THEIR OWN COIN . We direct the attention of onr readers to the report of a meeting held in the Carpenter's Hall , Manchester , on Monday evening last , in which we have another instance of the blood-thirstiness of the "Big Loaf" gentry and their pencWtf for physical force , " which now appears to be the only argument from Wbioh the " Plague" can hope for support in its expiring moments .
The old adage says , that " whom the gods design to destroy they first infatuate , " and we think the proverb was never more palpably verified than in the conduct of the Corn Law Repealers . Their infatuation has been evinced in the attempt to hoodwink the people by representing the Repeal of the Corn Laws as the panacea- for all the ills under which the body politic now groans . It has be « n manifested by a blind perseverance in their Utopian projects , after the complete refutation of their untenable fallacies . It has been shown in their own expose of their objects , namely , to
cheapen food that wages may be reduced , and the profits of the capitalist be thus secured . And now it is demonstrated by claiming their right and title to all the dark deeds with which the factions were ever ready to charge the undeserving Chartists . Surely our opponents will now " place the saddle upon the right horse , " and henceforth crown the " Plague" with the laurels they have so valiantly won . They cannot now hava the effrontery to declare the Chartists the advocates of physical force , seeing that it is now entirely monopolised by " the powers that be , " and the power that would be—the large loaf and more work fraternity .
We are not advocates for physical force . We have contended , and still contend , that the great body of the Chartists repudiate the idea of wresting their rights from the grasp of tyranny by means of physical force , until every other means has been adopted and proved ineffective . It is the dernier resort ; and whoever he be that recommends its application , under existing circumstances , is an enemy to the liberties of his country . Oppression may load men beyond the possibility of endurance , then nature will dictate her own remedy .
But this is not the doctrine promulgated by the " Plague , " for , lacking all argument , finding themselves bewildered in a labyrinth of difficulties from which no , artifice can extricate them , and seeing that they must make their exit from the stage , they resolve to go out of the world in an honourable manner , bullying , blustering , and breaking heads . Well , let them go , with " all their blushing honours thick upon them . " Peace be to their manes , and may they never be disturbed by a resurrection .
But alas ! what a falling off since the Stephenson ' s Square tragedy I The " Prepare to meetyoxtr God" troop have dwindled down to such an insignificant number as to be kicked out of the door of the Carpenter ' s Hall , and well they merited the oastigation they received—they were the aggressors . The Chartists desired order—their weapons were argument and unsophisticated facts ; these were too powerful for the crafty League , therefore their hired ruffians must be brought into action—the preconcerted signal was given , and the onslaught commenced ; but victory Bmiled not upon the assassins . No , the Chartists , though lovers of peace , showed the cowardly ruffians that they could fight and conquer when driven to the point .
We cannot blame the Chartists for the part they acted in the affair . Self-defence is necessary , and we are glad they gave the drunken blackguards a bint to find their way home . It gives us great pleasure to state that the Repeal Association denounce such brutality on the part of their deluded countrymen , and we trust that they will ever discountenance the wretches who would create and perpetuate animosity between Irishmen and Englishmen . Even the Manchester Guardian says the fight was promoted by those " who ought to have known better" and does not attempt , in this instance , to oharge it on the Chartists .
Let the canting hypocrites fight their own battles , and let the oppressed form one mighty phalanx , and direct all their energies to the annihilation of the parent evil—class legislation . In conclusion , we conjure our brother Chartists to continue their onward course in the same pacific and praise-worthy manner they are now doing . They may depend upon it that every means will be resorted to , and every artifice employed to induce them to violate the law . Five hundred victims have not satiated the monster , despotism—it still pants for the blood of patriots , but let it thirst in vain . Be
not the aggressors . When attacked , be not slaughtered like sheep , but shew yourselves men who will not brook the unprovoked insults and assaults of designing knaves and their hired panders . You have a power—an invincible power—use it with prudence , and success is certain . The peaceful and moral demeanour evinced by the Chartists throughout the country , is winning the esteem , the admiration , and support of all the good and true—it is hastening the anihilation of despotism , and laying the foundation of a new order of things which will secure the happiness of all . Be peaceable—be manly .
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Now , this is not well . It is a dereliction of the Chartist's duty ; Amongst ourselves we ought to cultivate amity and brotherly love , and then , but hoi till then , will the National Charter Association become a mighty magnet , attracting into oie focus all the •* good men and true . " Eiie ChartfatthayiiU > pttrsne Wgligame , and keep ap an incessant warfare with the antagonist factions . We have bo time to waste , but must direct all onr artflleryaKaiBstthooitadelofcorraptioiu Wehave no ammunition to spare for child ' s . play * . This is known to all in our ranks , and coght to be attended to .
We have watched the career of Mr . HAHNBr very closely . For some time bis youthful impetuosity gave us some uneasiness , bat we consider him , now that ripe age and a little experience has matnred him , an honour to our cause . His sterling reotitude and adherence to principle render his character invnlnerable to the shafts of slander . We trust that we Bhall have no more of these paerile squabbles , and that all onr energies may be engrossed by the one great point of action and attraction—the establishment of the Charter . ^^\^»^ J-LfLyJ * L ^\^/\^ J ^ X ^^^^^^^^^ \ "i 0 / ' i' * ¦ ' ' '' ' '' *'
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THE MASON'S STRIKE . Wa refer attention to a lengthy report elsewhere of a most important delegate meeting on this subject . We do hope and firmly trust that not merely the masons but the operative classes generally , throughout the whole empire , will take care that these good men be net beaten in their righteous struggle . If working men be their own friends they need fear no enemies : but it too often happens that they display so much apathy or folly in the upholding of each other and themselves , as creates for tbem many difficulties that mi ght have been averted ; of which we cannot altogether acquit the masonB in regard to this struggle .
We have this week received in reference to them , the following letter : — 17 , Grantbam-street , City Road , London . Dear Sir , —Feeling deeply interested in whatever concerns the interests of what I and the great body of Chartists have been accustomed to look up to as our " national organ , " I cannot consider I should be doing my duty to the Editor of that organ if I neglected to call his attention to facts of importance on which the prosperity of the Star must necessarily depend . There have been of late several complaints nude against the Star , with what degree of truth it is net for me to decide ; I will only refer to one fact of very recent occurrence , I mean the strike of the stone masons at the House of Lords .
Now Sir , the Northern Star , witheut identifying itself with the Noble Fustian Petition carriers , without taking any active part on behalf of those men who bad sacrificed their time and money in the attempt to draw the trades of London into the Charter agitation . The Northern Star , week after week , copied the opinions and statements of the bribed Whig press of London , which were decidedly opposed to them , and the injury which has been dene these men , by the weapons of the treacherous press , having been picked up by the only stamped paper advocating the cause of the toiling millions , and re-burled at the men who had at first been assailed with them on the ground of their
being Chartist agitators , &c ) will take some time to efface from their minds ; and indeed so keenly have many of them felt it , that I have it from the best of authority , that twenty-four of these much injured men have relinquished the Star , who had before been the staunchest supporters of it and its principles . Where the error rests I know not I am unwilling to believe with you . I know it ia not Mr . O'Connor ' s wish . I am not a mason , or in any way connected with them , except as brother Chartists ; but as a subscriber to the Star from its commencement , as a humble worshipper of its principles , I am grieved , to say the least of it , both with the cause and the effect .
Hoping yon will attribute the above remarks to the true motives which actuated the writer , I beg to remain , Your obliged , humble Servant , J . Watts , sub-Secretary , ^ National Charter Association , FinsBury . October 25 th , 1841 . Now , we thank Mr . Watts very cordially , for this very proper expression of his feeling ; while we must beg entirely to disclaim all blame in the matter ; and to say , that if the masons have experienced any want of due attention from the
Northern Star , it has been solely and entirely their own fault . We are always ready to receive and to attend to everything in which the interests of the workman are involved that may be sent to us . The first week of this strike , having received no communication from the men , we took no notice of it . The second week we waited for the last post , in expectation of receiving some intelligence ; but , none coming , we were compelled t » have recourse to the only source of information open to us , the London papers , taking care distinctly to
specify our authority as a Whig official print . Our Sub-Editor then wrote to the Masons' Secretary , expressing oar surprise at hearing nothing from their body and wishing to have correct and authentic information . We have since then received some communications from the Masons' body , and every syllable has been inserted . We have omitted nothing that has been sent to us . We have looked to every source of information for authentic statements , and have inserted everything which we thought likely to serve the men .
Feeling conscious that we have in this , as in all other matters of discussion , consulted , simply , by the best means afforded to us , the interests and rights of labour , we think , and we know that every reflecting workman will agree with us in thinking , it unfair to withhold from us the means of service and then complain that we do not use them .
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^^^^^ M ^^ WV ^^ V ^ MV THE WHIGS AND SWING ! The dastardly Whigs are at their old game again , striving to incite the suffering people to acts of outrage and incendiarism . Some of their diabolical agents last week committed two or three incendiary fires in Warwickshire ; and the Whig press is endeaTOaring to mislead the labourers of other connties into acts ot the same kind . The Chronicle says the incendiary fires result "from a feeling of revenge against the bread-taxing landlords ; " and the Globe oalls them " the beginning of a fearful organised system of destruction . " Did any one ever read villany like this 11 Did not O'Connor speak truly when he said , that the Whigs in opposition
would soon throw the torch and dagger Chartists into the shade J" Thank God ! the monsters are too well known for their appeals to have any effect uponns . But we must be cautious ; ons optbage ob act op incendiarism , by a member of the Association , would injure the cause more than ages of persecution . This is what the Whigs are aiming at . Brother Chartists , and especially in the agricultural distriots , beware ! spies are abroad ! villains are lurking about striving to incite you to outrage I Spurn them ! Cast them out from amongst you ! Remember the last hope of the expiring Whig faction rests upon your violating the law . Keep within it , asd disappoint them !
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scarcely seem credible , however , that , an amount BO enormous could actually have ' been prepared and sold , or even lodged s > gain 8 t money advasces , ^ without ' : almost imittediate detection y nor is the improbability diminished by the positive belief that these unlicensed issues have been systematically carried on for several yew past , ia order to cover stock gambling transactions and losses . The public Most for the present find conso lation in the fact that a strict investigation is going on into all the circumstances , but there is no hop © held out that those , whose inattention to the details of - business { except on quarter day ) has- opened the door for the commission of this knavery , will be . made to refund from their ill-gotten , gains the lim onnt which the public must certainly lose .
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( The following notices are of communication received but not noticed in our last . J JOHN Bkown , York , is desirous for every member of the National Charter Association to pay on halfpenny per week per head , for one month , to the Executive . u Supposing , " sags he , that toe had 60 , 000 members , it would realise £ 500 at the end of one month . The Executive might engage fifty lecturers to take a tour throughJhe country that each town , village , and hamteJmight hear the sound of Chartism . " Bbiqhtom . —Imaccubatb Beports . —A correspondent who signs himself U A Lover of Truth ? but offers to give his name if required , thus write us . — Dear Sir . —I have waited expecting to see
a statement in the Star of October 2 nd contradieted ; but as no one has undertaken to do so , J feel bound in duty to do so , although with great reluctance . In referance to the said report , the first part is quite correct ; but how your reporter could be guilty of such falsehood as to state , ' ' that the meeting was , if possible , more crowded on Monday that on Friday—that there woe scarcely standing room , " when it is well known that the room would have comfortably seated at least double the number that was present . Now such base falsehoods only tend to injure the cause which you advocate : First—by holding you in a nasitumwhich vou Corns J do not occupy , and so
deceiving our friends in other localities ; se ~ condiy—by giving a very cogent reason for those in this locality to disbelieve reports from other places : for I have heard our friends in Brighton say , O . very likely these meetings are not half what they make them out to be * mother places . ' I hope you will write to your correspondent , and endeavour to obtain correct reports for thefur ture . " Our correspondent also says , that previous reports from Brighton have been much exaggerated . Of course we can know nothing but what is sent to us : and we do hope that those who send reports to us will adhere rigidly to facts , and rather under than over state our
advantages . City ep Cork . —John O'Rourke writes . —~ I take the liberty of trespassing a little en your valuable space , my object being to call the attention of those of your kind readers who have been supplying us here with Stars to the change which J deem it desirable to make from the places to which they have been hitherto directed .. It will , in future , be more convenient to send them to Wm . Foley * of No . 1 , Stephen-street , Cork . Therefore , I trust this announcement will meet the eye of every reader who has sent the Star to No i , Cookstreet , or to No . 6 , Sullivan ' s Quay , and that he will be kind enough not to direct any henceforward to those places . I should , indeed , Mr . Edi-:
tor , be guilty of a great omission did I not acknowledge the liberal supply of Stars which we ' have been getting . We are distributing them ; and , believe me , the principles of Chartism are - ¦ spreading here to our heartfelt satisfaction , and I think will fructify beynd expectation . Men of England Wales , and Scotland , but continue to . send , and , if possible , to increase them ; and the day is not far distant when Irishmen will learn the true meaning of freedom , and join heart and soul with you—from whom they have been studiously separated—for ihe full and equal enjoyment of British rights and liberties ? Stabs to Ireland . —James Collier writes : — " While I acknowledae that areat good has already been
done to the Chartist cause by the circulation of the Northern Star in Ireland , I cannot help thinking that much more might be done if its importance was more strenuously and repeatedly impressed upon the attention of all your readers . Mr . O'Connor will be in Ireland very shortly , and by every one of your subscribers sending their Stars , they would serve as a powerful army of pioneers preparing his way for a glorious and successful campaign . A M'K . writes : — As a traveller , my route laying through Wills and Berkshire , I beg to observe , in the eastern parts of the former and the centre of the latter county , Chartism is hardly known even in name—what is the Executive about J I can assure you there are plenty of materials to
*¦ " work upon . H . M . Mat . —Declined . A Livery Servant sends us an appeal to his fel lows iu and out of livery , on behalf of the Stockport Spinners , and of the Chartist cause . We Mve not room for its insertion , but would very cordially " support its prayer . " Robert Holmes wishes to learn where several works . which we have reviewed in the Star may be purchased . We have often before had like inquiries . •¦ It will be well for all parties who feel interested \ in works thus noticed to observe what London publisher is named in the title , which wo always - ¦ - ¦ give . Any bookseller can get any work from the
London publisher . A Subscriber at Longpokt is informed that the Arthur Blackburn spoken of in the StarV the * ¦ 16 lh instant was doorkeeper of St . Peter ' s We * - ley an Chapel , Leeds . If a "Sincere Chartist" at Ashton ~ under-Lpie ' had read the Star of the 16 th instant he would have seen why his communication was neither inserted nor noticed . His present note is a most ' ¦ insolent one . Samuel Wilkinson . —We have not room for the address sent , but he will see that we have noticed the school . Thomas Clark must stand over . We are toofuli . — — — ~ - - a *¦ — — - . A .. M -K ^^^^ 0 ssa ^^ K ^^^~ A . r ^ - ^ ^ % > t «_^ ^^ — - — ~ —
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THE DAILY BREAD PLAGUE . —We have received a very long communication , addressed to the Proprietor and Editor of the Northern Star , professedly in reply to our article of last week on this illegal conspiracy , from a person who states himself to be the author of " Daily Bread , " " The Bread Eaters' Advocate , " &c , and who attaches to it the impudent condition , that in case of our refusing to insert it " as a communication , " we shall give it as an advertisement , and state that we have first bullied and , then robbed him . This alone might be considered a sufficient reason for refusing to insert either this or any other communication from him ¦ at all . At present he is informed that we have not enough of" plague metal" in our com-, position to "sell justice " in the form of an
advertisement . Any communication in reply to our own strictures , which would be inserted in this paper with an advertisement fee , would be inserted without it . His communication is no reply to our article . It is a long tirade of paltry insinuations about Feargus O'Connor's inciting the people of Newport to riot , and thon going into Scotland out of the way—about the proprietor and editor of this paper wishing to see the people thinned by famine—and about we teaching and advice of the Northern Star having caused the prisons of England to be filled with law breakers . However , it shall appear in our next , and tell its own Btory . It should have appeared in this number if it had come in time ; but we did not receive it until that part of our paper which u appropriated to " original correspondence" was
Our nohebous Correspondents will oblige 4 s , «» all cases , if they will for ihe future write on one side of their , paper only . We wish this ' to be adopted as a general rule , in no case to bt \ departed from . The National Petition . —We announce with plea sure that our publisher , Mr . Hobson , has printed the National Petition for 1842 , on a neat sheet , for the purposes indicated in our short leader of last week . He is ready to supply them to the associations and to individuals at the following charges : —100 copies for 2 s ; l , W 0 for IBs . retition sheets , of good strong paper , ruled in fo ur columns , and holding two hundred names when filled , may also be had , price 2 d , each , Setrelttne * and persons who need them have onlf to send an order addressed to Mr . H ., enclosing . * ¥ s \ A » f . Anrit ^ ahJ ^ a jkh * !¦•»¦ ¦ . ' Aa " # s \^ ' mmaihiI . rifles *
they may have sent to their address any number , they require . A Republican , York . — -We cannot insert his cm * munication . We feel the truth of all he soyu and whenever we can do so effectively never fau to say it ourselves ; but we have no fancy f < provoking prosecution unnecessarily ana withov * benefit to the cause . This we should probably <*> i f we inserted his letter . Is the consciousness tf that the reason why Ae withholds his name ana address ? . A Friend to the Press . —The paper about toAwa , he writes has not reached us of some weeks . Vrt believe it to be dead . , A Chartistcatf * upon his brother Chartistsof Wands' - ¦ worth , and the country generally , to use every exertion for raising the necessary funds for tne supporting of he approaching Convention *
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UNITED WE STAND . " Take heed that ye fall not out by the way , '* was the warning of an ancient patriarch on the departure of his children ; and , in the sacred name of freedom , we would now reiterate the injunction * The success of our cause demands a strict observance of it . We . stand in a most important and most critical position ; a position , from which the combined powers of faction cannot remove ns . Faction has now lost its once boasted potency : its every attack
serves only to demonstrate its imbecility and accelerate its final overthrow . The apostates from our own ranks—the sowers of discord who mingle among us—and the proud and envious , who , for sinister purposes , arrogate to themselves the now honourable name of Chartists , are alone io be dreaded . The actions of 8 uoh characters are far more baneful than the open hostility of avowed opponents , inasmuch as they not only retard our progress , but furnish data for the enemv and food for corruption .
Though it is the duty of the Chartists to rebut every false allegation made against the cause , and to repel every attack of the foe , yet we sometimes find that there is " Much Ado about Nothing " performed on our stage , as well as upon that of St . Stephen ' s ; for instance , Mark Crabtree meets a few Dewsbury Chartists in a tap-room ; they disagree ; angry words are bandied about ; and then the half-dozen patrons of " mine host" most bring the matter into the Chartist court , to the exclusion of more important causes . Well , the eauseis heard , and the whole amounts to an alehouse squabble 1
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WHIG OFFICIAL KNAVERY . A discovery has , within the last few days , been made , which has caused a sudden and an unexpected panio in the money market , and led to an expose * of official villany , resulting in the apprehension of a person of high standing in the Exchequer Office ; but whose name , owing to the peculiar delicacy of the Whig aad Tory press in these matters , has hitherto been carefully withheld from the public . The circumstances are , that % number of Ex * chequer Bills were lately deposited in the City
as securities for loans to a large amount , and these being hastily wanted back , led to the discovery that there were other bills bearing : the same number , and signed in the same manner , in circulation , to the amount of from £ 150 , 000 to £ 200 , 000 . Tie bills , of course , bear the signature of Lord Monteaole ( to seat whom in the Exchequer office the country was saddled , by a peculiar Whig job , with Sir John Newport ' s thousand a year peaaion ) , which signature , it is stated , has been surreptitiously obtained ; so that it is delicately hinted the offence does not quit * amount to forgery . It would
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A THE NOR T H'it ' ft'ir < i S ^ A B ij T
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 30, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct572/page/4/
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