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0-CO > " > ' 0 R A > 'P THE PRESS . F Fr ; rriA >~ JACKETS , BLISTERED j ? 2 SJV 3 ~ A ? D TTVSHORN CHINS . | ^ J ^ ed ' to you , and I hope satisfactorily , ' ; * L to irhieh prejudice gave rise , as to ruy con- j *** . . u Mr O-CoBMll i whieh , in feet , was no ; ¦ it all But it really appears , as if this j f : ^ tot was , by « ommon consent , to hare j vJ ? to himself and his heirs for ever , the exclu- ; * ££ abuse , insult , » d vilify every gentleman i **! £ " to differ from him , and , if attack * ? 1 pS ^ ijd oi exemption from responsibility is j
K is there in this man , or in any other mrn , j L iua a Ks **** attack > aDd ^ Pe ^ deas j ? TS ^; Let it be your pride that your friend J ^ g ^ j man who successfully co \ nbatted , i * tr ^ overcame , and successfully exposed , the \ " ^ x rite Jbat evrf trod the political staff * . ) ^ -ISl to my ae ' enee upon another point Little M „ . rf licensed plunderers , and eT / en ScU , ana a / -., _»„ ,. n . « - -w « w" . _ and Geo Henry "f t aru
—? Edtrar f B * i »»> rge , ^ « , tried ti * bust of saint and sinner , Wh \ g » ad * * Tek * oBtw honest penny , ! -and , above all , tb « ^' " bisKlf- these bare all attributed my L L position , ^ d ** » ' «** "" T ' iolenc * 1- C " to the desire of a trafficking politician to * Z ' . r ** of popular credulity- Poor ' . ools ! Poor ^« wretches : How easy , how verj ; easy it is to 1 11 s , ft mune to Tiee , and a barj one to virtue . ' ! « bowl meet
ttieajna : is tbs princip le xipon which every uewsp # « r . & tiog aom is Parted , or raf jer what are the , jv ^ fcj fey si individual , with ti » hope -of ^ naney , or % f a company of shareholders , \ £$ & cottbk iodootment of adding political iuM ^^ - e tbeir party , "while they open a safe specs-1 . T ; ot jEttKst , a »« Q portionjof their SHrphrs capital- ' I ,- ire ^ e the tens * * npon vrhicb I started the Northern ! TT -vr hT , sssn * r enough , I have in my possession
E ojrelii : on of ff jSt a » d !<»• upon the highest cir- - ^ ,, 2 ^ eTer-arpeetfcd to attain , made before the \ pbtto estai > S *« d .. by Mr . Hobson and Mt . HOI ; i iai leaves "the cheering prospect of a loss of only . . , &- *<* & . *> . * £ ! ealealated , by saring doaole that n in naTeUfcf > and other expences incidental to > tat jj 3 . * ouEbe to me a gain of £ 10 -per week . ¦ us , 1 jbo » -. 7 oa the prospect at starting- ; and reduce ' tftscew the heinousness of having produced a ; si jritJb to the poetical marfcet ; and 'wjikb , be it i ' . 3 . b = rsi , Tas , froni its extreme tone at starting , to j T ' mI the short and nwrry life of « ne balf year
jsrir-s . Beeo'dfist that no Radical paper but the SYarerer kss ttKCrJ in Englsad , and &at Meed and foe ^ rophe--im-io Sat paper . TVea , I have given to Tiatiosal 3 T > sts , sad spelt upon tbe national cause , ev « TT ; fi « rj dat the SfaJ" has made Eince the ecarnieecee : *><¦ ie present moiasit , together tria other ati TrU 1 Bflemuly aver ; -while , since the Star u ea' -iiiard—say . from the day I took my seat in Ks E « x of Coemons , in Feb ., 1 * 33 , 1 have no < spent He ss : o ! one oound upoa amusement , luxury ,
plea-Hr& er disap » iion—not a poond , on my -word . I am t > : > 3 fti ¦ pvn today thas -when I establithed the ¦ i ' . - snd jsll -am & triffickiiigpolitician , -whiJe little ^ fcisa ias tit thousands * -yeax for Ieo 4 in ? himself B hexsI ? n « d ! Daniel { has nothing but the pliancy B bs K'Sicieaee to live uj » n ; and Baines and that ^ Ls r-xai sairre , bad it not been for the saccessful ^» £ : ia poiiticj ; yet " they are all honourable men , " Bi 1 "vrn a tsScking politician , lrho mi ^ bt , in the BraTsas is £ . a quarter thad I been aTanduusi , have Basri fr « a the proatJB of the Star alone , over
Bi . or , obserre that my cosrse is Irelacd vas preflkjj ± ~ ss « zs i : has bees is England . I isr&riably Hosss ^ ed stipsr ; diary magiKzatei , county magistrates , Hk ? s 5 se ? s ef police , shooting parsons , and erery Bp .-svr tf xhe j-oor , and dafeadad erery poor . man , and Bn . n s : icy ovn tiptnca Hi kf : et- eiresiit a : a momeo ^ 'i aotice , and -repaired Bjad-sn , andrtmaaned there for fire day ^ to prose-B » Cspain Tignoles , a stifoBdiiry magistrate , for B 2 £ 3 U * oSsred to po « r men .
K « : my bed , and rode fartf muesin TFet , 'when Tery B ra ailead an inquest of * boy , whose -body I ^ K lad Hiant » r-B ^ ^^ p ^ parrtf faring Assured me that Htda ± was caused by a ssTere beating received from a W& * Gocio , & magiitr&te . I speared ts preEecstor ; Ui , 1 issir&ycR ; to a geutlesao Uriag in the earn e V ? , ml cot quarrelsome : tfce » 3 are not enviable ¦^ fcisapsr&nn . There is senbethiog Tery bold smd » fc- ia haviag ^ major m * gistrafce brought and held B » j r ^ ne , . while an inquf « t u bein £ held upon the Bicsad body -cf the deceased « on -oi a poor -Iriih B ' ^ S ^ 3 i .
W Essarai some chief eonitablei at m-y own ex-W jnseted tits EeT . Archdeacon Eider , Major ¦ HJ £ , B-: ( apajn Bagley , for the Ratheormac mnnler , ¦ e : j « r ezpecoe , far thirteen days , aad got a verdict ¦ six jn-aier a ^ inst them alL I attended at . tie B" * P ^ KOite them at my o-sra expeaee , bat-the » » i - * 7 "irew out the bills . B ^ ? Kfii in iae House for declaring that a W * * ° a lagistate iras a tyrant . He . gat np sll V 5 ? : ' « 53 i , petitioaftd against me , and be boasted ^¦ iw
S seiid « Gnttafs election for Jieath , in *» K « Ri -for DaaEt , at Mallow , in L € 32 . I » K « _ CaL SawelL at Eins&le , at the same time . ¦ j « xe » d tie Vest Biding of the county of -Cork ¦ P 2 *^ , »* ™ y own erpence . I hired a barrister » t ^ a the East Bidm ^ . "" » e-Hnsdf « & Mr .-Stully , at Mallow , in 1 £ 35 . B , ^ eo ::: * ** ^* ^ ohn OTonnell , at Toeihal ,
B ^ - ^ oa the ^ urtose , and was counsel / or ^¦^ . K DnajHaa , ia lS 3 i ; and for thote BtJ" ^ 5 Tita . I nerer secei-Rjd , never asted for , and K . " " * P > on « peanj pi tee . I got fcnocied m % eT 213 **** iDd ** & 15 eicd , and my elothee ¦ LT " . ' ^" . but th *; wai all I got ?» ow , bear W 7 "~ fy ^ wu ilvay , KHirnsd . I was np nearly
K ^^ - ' * * heart was ia the caase . Bj ^^^' r * ' ' IreIaBd . * g = > od and popular coan-^^ a targain np-an tfeose occasions , and seldom K ^ ^ ' ^ ^^ i ^* to ^ , 0 D 9 . I na always ^•^ highest penny , fiecoltect that O'ConneU m" ^' ""^ 0111 a Toi 7 c * BdiAat « , and Dickey Shiel ^ T ^ f ' ' -j ' a a Tory caadidxts . Recollect that I Banse ^ tv ^* " V * * **** » rithout fee , while K ^* r ja 6 a t 1 r ° hmdred gsiaaas special fees , and ^^^ » : &a « na to all the 0 ** -,- but Barristers of li T retttm fe « a- Baeoilect that this was Bjjj y , ^ ' ^ hen I had a paper , nor in a Kti » , * ^^^ dsre ^^ » S *«« t the rich , and
Jt ^ ToImtai 7 service * before you knew ¦ e ai-v . ° tty mpaid exertion * before I expe' ¦ P « ti »^' rf e 5 s ' illeea month ' * ia ^ riaomnent , pjfe profit consequent npo * % geod -poUB ^ 'eSf- ' 15 S 3 ' Jtme > 1 S 35 > l vrM ^ Iriah ^'" irfet ^ ^ iffections ** ny eonrt&uenta ; B J £ »^ * ri (> d € TH 1 my eaemies mMt aUow ^ BSoiTT *^ U pnilic ' ^ y « peeche » and w > tes in w ^ iT » ** directed by anjr desire to ^^ I * n a f , ^ ^ stLtuency , while mj every j B ; . j r ! ' ¦«» o ^ r of Irish , but of uniTCral * a » lwJ ?* il fflEJrt U aDowed > support the ' flu : frjy ***** * l ^ mrers , the Trades' Cnioos , w ** % " *** * opprt&sed ' ° pp ° «« ¦ ^ Jirt ptTffcz G « Ternment , leaving myself Km C 0 ItttitE «^ . « to make ateffic of my
i ^ . f' K ° T « 0 « , 1837 , two yean ¦^^ Jji f Olri 1 way > " ^ aot ^ e m ° « t B * ^? ?^ * » P * P « : » or should I K % JBStlce ° f ^^ hole preas , without a single m * ih ^' ^^ ™*** , !^!^ W * S « JKS * " *• ^^ Jea " H ^ ftT T * ^ * P endiag my life , mj w iSZZFL * ^ ^ h » « # ^ Shif- irtu * «« . " «^ » 7 mj ' H ^ t ^ rj ^ ? ^ - ^ - ^¦ **» s .. ^ , ^ 'eex ; but , instead of Uiat , so WBSF ^^ I ¦• *•» »•*? - iroibrt . tayfM
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made , -was spent in travelling , agitating , d ^ Qj ^ i ^ subscriptions , and bo forth , in support of ' che cause . If , then , in my case , there is crime , I hav « been but the passive instrument in the h ^ ada of a criminal community , woo , by their sup ^ rt , bare - < nagnifl » d offence into the blackest crime . "Was any man ever charged before with the crii ^ e of having succeeded even in a speculation ? wh ^ j ttm charged "with having my dark forebodings ^ jxa ^ a , into brinfci reality .
Well , a hire how offered c * her partieato vest £ 1 , 000 in Iie ^ stablifebffieTit of another paper , if I can be aecur ed against any greater loss for the space of two yfars , still willing to risk £ 10 a week in the estab - lishment of a preas , by which alone we can ever hope to frustrate the wicJred , support tke righteous , and triumplrover the nnjost . 1 shall now proceed to show the great danger to the individual , but the great strength to a cause , conse queattipoa tke success—mark , not the establishment , but the success , —of a dissent paper .
j I ; ' ; I The press is the first estate , the ruling power , the 1 governing medium in England . No party can exist i without ft- Time is too precious to allow some to j think f « themselves—some kave not the brains to ¦ think for themselves—some will not take the trouble—. aome vould Tather not , and henca we find a great i Tariety of minds , interests , and opinions , sacrificing ; the * aelves , body and soul , to the guardianship of the i press .
Ko party can hare an acknowledged political existence in a state , no matter however numerous , without the support of some portion of the press . In fact , the importance , power , and corruption of the British press is a fact so thoroughly admitted , that it needs not further comment , than , in passing , to observe , that if a newspaper was in the market to-morrow the sale would be regulated by the amount offered by tho purchaser without a question as to the future politics of the article . This proceeds , principally , from the immense profit drriTed from adTertisementa , made numerous by fictitious trade , fictitious capital , and an unsound state of the trafficking community , occasioned by our artificial state of society .
I said there was great danger to the man who attempts any innovation upon this legitimate branch of trade . In fact , he is looked npon as a smuggler . Had I abstained from interfering with the -estaSdished rules of the preas , I aight have keen the most popular , man in England , both with the press and aa ignorant community . Had I pandered to the prevaiiiar local pr < -Jodi « es in eeoa district , 1
might haT © ridden the district hobby-borse to death , while tho press would have kept up my local popularity Thui I mig&t have vapocred about ta « univcrsility of the Suffrage , aad regrett « J its impracticability , while I tickled th * fancy -of the all-powerful liberals with the necessity of tfae Ballot , the repeal of the Com L % . m , and denunciation cf the Tories and the House of Lords- ; I might have preserved enough of agreement with different sections of the movement to have rendered
me acceptable to all In Glasgow I might hare beenn Glasgow Reformer , and in Leeds a LeeOs Rufoncsr ; and if any differeocts appeared bttween my speeches at the f jveral places , I had but to qualify , contradict , cr , if the worst went to the worst , to retract , and tbos preserve a sectional or patchwork popularity , without any beae&t being conferred upon the people . To -this system , however , I preferred establishing a -great national mirror , in which , not only myself , but -every other public-mao should be reflected , dress asbeiE \ £ kt , change se he would , or attempt to disguise himseif aa be may .
Kow , my po « r but honest friends , be assured that nothing baa se far tended to your debasement , and yonr country ' s r * in , as the deceitful , dastardly , and dishonest practice -at acquiring popularity upon the promise at applying H for one purpose , and then directing it to a diametrically opposite one . Tbe man , then , who Biakes such an inroad upon the sum supposed to belong legitimately tothe "Establishment , " as the immense circulation of tbe- £ 4 er must make , insures for himself no Tery £ » rcurable treatment from tbe sufferers ; while tbe exposition of public delinquent * subjects him to the taunt tad reproach of the detected cheat .
Ariticg from these circumstances , have you rjotoonstantly marTelled at the rule observed by the press , the lawyer * ,-and the demagogues , towards me , as the . proprietor « f thefiiwt dissent paper ever established , aad successfully upheld , in this country . If a violent doctrine is p * opounded by the Timis , the ChronicU ., orasy other daily paper , you never hear the name of 7 £ s . Walter , Mr . Ea * tbope , or the prqprietor mentioned . Xo , not eren as aanntcted with "the politics of th ; paper . S « b it is with all other journals , whether metropolitan -ox ' projfiacial . But now . observe tbe cos
trast I aa Jiot only held responsible for every -word written by the . Editor , 1 which I avow myself personally , legaiiy .-and morally responiMa for , ) but I am held responsible for every letter , nith the proper signature of the writsr , which appeaee-in the Star . I am held responsible . for evtry word spoken by every person reported in the £ lar ; and I am held responsible for every act -committed by the people , even where those acts are ic direct « rposition to the » dvice given in the Star . You never hear that " the Star said so and : So "— " tbe Ediior recosimends so and o ; ' no , but " O'Connor recommend ! , and says so and-ep . "
L « t me give you one jeost striking , ludicrous , and convincing instance . Sometime in the spriag of liZ ' J , ^ ie Tyne Mercury , or Ptict , I know not which , gave a representation « f a " cat" for the anaojtance an 4 destruction of herses , in the event <* f cavalry being brought against the people , Ihis cut of a eat was accompanied by an anxious wish , iipon the part of-the Editor , that such a bet ! . rijht 6 e ^ prepared for Jlr . O'CemiOT . The sab-editer of tie Mar thought it worth the insertion , and gave it accosiingly , with other news . Weil , whit was the result ? Why , every paper in Englaad , « jt « i honest Mercury , ; had an article npon the base recommendation , not of ti& * Star , bs ! « f the bloodthirsty . O'Connor , who gave a
description in his paper of thai destructive instrument ¦ called a " cat , " and reeozameiid&d his bloodthirsti ' -. fal--lcweM to be prepared with a vnrfficient quantity ; -. the fact . being , that I never «» i drawing of a cat ,. er a £ y 'Other cat than a pttssj . cc £ , until 1 saw k ia the . £ iar , taken , as I hare -s&id , from this T #± e pagez . " Sow , need I giv « yen a more convinciag proa ! . si th « length to which trafficking politicians , vho h&ye nothing bat the ctarsq > -e = 3 of others to lisfr open , anil go ? This falsehood jus actually urged agaiaet jae by "the Attorney-Creoexai , who is , beyond all eomfczrison , the mast ingenious iiar in England . Thus I shew you that there is great deager to the man who tinll venture as a pirate ap » n -the ocean of
politaealatrife . Xow , tbaa , let me ask you yrhaJ . haeieen the result to the easse 2 Before you had the Star , — , fat it has been your orga *—you have had the benefit , . vriiile I have had that reward -which ever will b « aw « 4 ad by the powerful tyras-t to the struggling patriot . )—arell , before you had tbe £ iar , what were you , who ware you , and who were yoor leaders ? You were nothing- ; jou were like tke dut&oeed horse in the race—nowhere ; and your leaders wee * your drivers . What are yc * note ? Everything , everywhere , and leading yourtel » es ! Snch ia your position , while I am here for having placed you there ; ud right glad 1 am that my crime has beea 89 great , and my end ao well accomplished .
Kow , jast observe ,, the man who makes pergoo&i aggrandisement his aim and end , must keep the people in ignorance ; while the man who wishes to see justice done to all , having only a man ' * share himself , will look to the light of knowltdge as bis polar star . When the Iriah preas refuses to lie , to slave , or to ¦ work on Sundays ,-for Mr . O'ConneU ' s breeches pockets , what does he say ? He « y » , ¦ " I'll get a paper ; I have been offered £ 3 , 000 to establish one . " Well , I tell him , he dare not I tell kirn , if he establish such a paper as the Star to-morrow , and , along with it , established reading societies for the purpose of communicating its contents , that Universal Suffrage ,
total abolition of Tithes , and repeal of the Union , w # uld be carried in twelve montls , —but without that profit sow arising from tbe vapouring about them , and tbe consequent Bobscripi ' wnM paid by the wealthy abso lutely and actually to suppress them . When Q'Con . sell get * sut * criplioHJ , the Eogliah people foolishly imagine that they come from those who desire the accomplishment of the measure agitated tor ; bat nothing ii more erroneous . The / come from persons , who " know hii temper , " and who " know how tohould him , " Those who fire the each know fall well that they give it as the golden link which binds Das to property , and they also know that , that resource failing , he most either be shelved in office , or thrown headlong into Uw
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arms of the people ; in the one case they a . I " sure that their order could never again expect W . Procure the services of so successful a juggler , while in * he other be would fight with all the " fervency oi » renegade . " H OConneU established a paper to-morrow , thi ^ press which now praise * him would maul him to death in a month , and make such an exhibition of tattered
delinquency ai was never before served np to the public . This newspaper , then , has given me » most destructive popularity—destructive , because it has marked me as a prey for the vengeance of all who choose to oppress , with a certainty of being well backed by the " Establishment But have I not , ainglehanded , fought them all like a man ? It has done this for me , while It has made yon the most powerful people of which history makes mention .
Good God , how I glory in the rich and consoling reflection ; not one drop of blood shed through five years and a half of unparalleled cruelty and persecution upon the one hand , and patient suffering upon the other , —while I am victimised for tho result Yes , that ' s my crime ; not that I libelled or defamed , but that I would not allow you , though bard pressed by tyranny , to pollute your hands with blood , or soii your cause by crime , thereby making 7 on an easy rrcy to the powerful .
When did yon ever hear before . In the worst days of dark oppression , even under th « j hellish away of a I Sidmonth or a CasUereagh , of » gentleman being thus treated for libel . ' I am in solitary confinement The only prisoner In the « npire in solitary confinement . 1 The letters of my ' . asters , my friends , and relatives , are ( all perused by a . gaoler , or his deputy ; and mine to j them are as Bjlimtely scanned . My cterk dare not ] baud me an rMxtont of three figures , without flist submiUing it for inspection to my keeper and spy . I am obliged to fi * A my own coals . I aru locked up from rooruin e tiSi -night in a stone cell , which was l * st
oocupiid by a soldier , vrho was removed bera from tas felor . a" praaon , as a further punishment , s > greater one than tht prison allowed . I &m between two and three hundrefi yards from the p i * ce where I a » told I am to exercise . I have not sees it yet , for , since my y > . rd "was gJvon up to convicts , I have not left my fa . iise . Tbe ( ptisoruers have their day-room doors op $ n , from seve * in tbe morning titt they go to bed , —mine k never opea . I am locked up in one cell all day and «! 1 night , mat when my keeper « sfcs me what time I 'wocld wish te'walk , should it tain at the appointed hcur , then I am a prisoner fftr the day . If a friend comes
\ t > see me , our every word is heard by a spy , ami reiposted . I pass t > y-ill the other wards in my way to iny exercise ground . ; and , than , I se © fmn fifteen to twenty , having , at all events , the consol&tion of the society of their on order , a room to walk in and oui of , as they tiling proper , their coals paid for , thtir washing paid for ; and , what'Js still more galling , I see men who have -committed forgeries , r * pes , larcenies , assa ; ilta ty -stabbing , and sU sorts of crimes , commit' ed , oa -an average , for not more tben nine months , whi 1 st I Uare fio « b ! e the time to sarva ; and this in a free , country , and under a Reformed Government , who loo k * d upon the use made by the Tories of the law of lib el , as the moot oppressive engine against the freedom
of a people , ilethis the worst ? fto . Butmatkthe w . > rst . If any-ether aewspapur proprietor in England hf dbeea * imilatJy treated , no matter what hia politics w sre , tke fraternity of pirates would have insisted , ay e , instated , upon his being treated as libellers were wontte-be irifforytimes . Ye Gods ! what luxury in th e tenth . y ear' « f Reform , to-yearn after the good old tii nes of fcidmecthand Castleretgh ! Well , how has the " Establishment" treated ne ? Why , in order to level all distinction , they t » peat of all ot ' iere aa . PQAVJfcTA . L LiBELLEKfc , while I am the only on e of tfeat claae in this kingdom ia prison . Was -ever so ch a fence ? Hf I was at large , could they fceep E Iward Baiaee in close , degrading , solitary caafinem < int , as they b £ * e kept me , and for the same offence ?
" . JSc , no ; a million "times XJ . " I rtefy theK . J ^ rould lose my life , or have hits , even hi m , or John . Edward Taylor , « ut , or properly treated ¦ while they wereiki . You have iiearttof so me of the Abominations practised at Waktfield ., and otb-er hells and raad-b «* G « e . ; but George White iha * not yiet told you that , evea -upon the usual puniah » errt , there is a relnement Wfcat ia it ? Why , sentence . V » three d . iys * glitabt gonij . ve ment . That ve the state in which I am to be , Jiave be « n in , for FiiiE ai ; N » B . Ki > a *» foi : r . D&TfS- ; two whole summers , and one whole winter !
What thinfc you . ot that , my meads ? Wfil-aay-nLa say that my sentence , carried > rat , * s it has It * ea ^ n 4 1 it may be , to the -end , for an \ ht I -care , k ¦ cot - * 7 ors than six years' ordinary irupris . mmest ? Just think of all . ay letters I ting banded open , 4 . U : having been perused , and that- in direct rotation « c ¦ the only prison rale upon the subject , &ud in ¦ oca pliance with the order of r ax upstart ^ aekanapt of a state pauper , fit for no earthly oeoupatio -but that passive -cae of Ik ung practised iupo by a barber ' s apprentice , to teach hiin how 1
shave men ; and suet ie your I tome Seerefcary . "> A . pox" on such secretarioe , -eay I . J am litre , and » I am ' thos treat-d , because I am the pr oprietor of 't&e ^ SlarJ and'because the Slar tto&fctens the citaiVel ct corrupticm with its downfall . The Star has made .-as many Genecala as Xapoleon © v « r made ; and m&ny-of these Generals , forgetting tbe-oause of their promotim , hate me asd the Slar with a hatred evi in more implaoable than tbe open and avow « C > foe . 1 assure yoc , I havQ more -euemits to contend >-ln . st than you aw ? ware of , X ever man was so watched .
In rec £ acting some of » jvj » or services to Itt&aad , I forgot to-uieotion that my % k ? first act , as a fcanirter , was to volunteer my services for the defence « f Uenest John Lawless , the bonestecl-Miblic man that fre& * has seen for- 'the last forty years . Yea , I defe » ded ) feini against oa& otthe most tyraaakxd charges ever preferred against aum , bronght agziant -hiin by Mr . O'Ceiraell , and submittoc to a tribunal < zt < ihe Corn Exeaange , Mr . 0 Conc « ll appearing as prosecutor . After wue days of gro « £ jiersecution , Law 2 » . -4 was acquitted , but no satisfacU « c . was ever rendecait » this much injured man . That « & * in 1 S 31 , xoA stai a circumstance not very lik ^ f tio irj , ? ratiate me <* r {! fe the crown proseen tor .
My friend * , feaar one thing ia jni ^ d—that while I was spending tba » isinds , I had to {>^ r-ieariy tor every word of mine wbish the aevenpenej' ' ^ stabllslunenf ^}« jde « cended to jpaUisb ; whereas , sate I have to pay dezrly for the aeaiiwents ot others , DQt (> . nly for news , > b $ ^ tor the very tnmjis of dtitingutehk ^ talent . Let me ^ ive you one 0 iz \ itiag instance . WJosu I attended tbeigreat delegate meetMg of Scotch reprasattatives at Glasgow , in August , AfZS , and when tbe jsaceedings w ^ re . over , I took » dract » ge of the moment tor procaring a good condeasafcioa of Chartist newa inom the sereni districts represent *! by sixty-four ei ibe most efficiefflt men I ever met I then stated that I would
pay so ettiea per column far news , mark ne » 5 ; but that a baJf column must be tis extent allowed te jany one lo&iitf , in justice to sif men . Immediately ifr . AbrahaiH Dueaii said , what will you allow me tor reports ? Hie same , I inswet&i ; but mind , I bar speeches . W « ll , Messrs . Donesa « nd Lowrey made a a most efficient k > ur of agitation , tod sent their own speeches at fall length , without a line of news , and frequently complained if press of more important matter delayed t&eir publication for a week , and sent
me in a bill of £ 10 , which I paid . Thus , you will see , that I wae compelled to pay dearly for publication of garbled reports of my own speeches , wbile I was obliged to pay others for reports of their own speeches ; and I am sure , if those speeches had a beneficial effect , which I believe they bad , they were welcome to tbe money , while I merely relate tbe fact , to shew bow different were the means open to me , from those which I have opened for others . And also , injustice to Lowrey , I must say , that he thought hi was writing according to contract . ¦ •
These letters hitherto have been upon two subjects , which nay be considered as personally relating to myself . ? or three days to come , I shall write about matters wholly appertaining to you and your cause . I shaH pla » the question 0 / the Corn Laws , the attempt to establish * hungry dissent church , instead of a gorged state church , as the dominant religious state establishment , and many other questions clearly before you ; while I do expect that my having occupied two letters in self-defence , upop the vital point of physical force and political traffic , will be pardoned , when 70 a consider that I stand alone of my order , and that my character is of some value to my party . In conclusion , let me direct your attention to the great value of publication of the national will . Yob ill find tbe mofk efficient
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proof in the fact , that the " Establishment - does not publish Chartist practical « intelligence , as it publishes the humbug speeches of the tribe of practical R e formers , if it did , we sbonld never hear of physical force ; in fact , we should be over strong in our moral strength . I am , my friends , You true and faithful friend , Feaegus O'Connor .
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TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN . MaDah , —In my last , I noticed the arrangements of society generally , which directly tend to the increase of that mass of crime which all must lament and deplore . Let us pursue the subject a little more fully , and notice a few of those arrangements ia detail . Not to be tedious , I will only crave your attention > three , which are supposed to exist for , and to be * " ** essentially connected with , the prosperity of t ' munity . First one arrangement of our pre- ^ totUocial state is , t ^ l ^ farm 8 „« more v ^ fltaMe ^ ^ or ., * , and that what ar * - ^ waste kirib . shall be enclosed and brought under < jonsideration , Now , Madam , let me r ^ | fa the tatmal t tbe inevitable result ef all « , ,, u net thafc the farmer with small capital mu- driyon out of tb < J masket i and that he who has expended his money In stocking his farm , < held only ' iOr a short i < eaaB * becomes fearful of
sustaining loss , a ^ un er the influence « f this fear , surrenders his r ltm \ y independence , and becomes the crawling slave of hia imperious laBdlord . Then , as to the Indosure of Wftste i ^ s ; were not tbo lands , which have been enclosed during the last -eighty yeare , the common r jghtof the poor , and have tlMsyaot been wrung from th ' jm by an unprincipled aristocracy , without even the F / etence of giving an equivalent iu return- ? It is / aid that like begetteth its l&e , and the truth of the
aphorism is clearly shewn in this instance . The system ' of large farms necessarily threw many persons < mt of employment , and prevented the cultivation of muck valuable land , lest the price ef agricultural produce should fall so low as not to enable tbe tenant to < pay the rent agreed for ; and this is in itself a most griewis crime , since it puts a drag upou the exertions - « f industry , and prevents a healthy dovelopement of the powers of society . Nor was that system of legal robbery , perpetrated under the name of " Enclosure Bills , " one whit the less oriminal .
The lands were not waste ; they were the -oamnion right of the poor , in tke places to which -they were appendages , aad nothing but the boldatWL daring effrontery of a class legislation , would 'kave dared to place a fingec on tfewn . But they were taken , ami many a family < once rendered happy and comfortable by their means , is , by thoir -enclosure , reduced to misery , want , && 4 wretchedness . And what has been the result of all this modcrc march of improvement ?—Poverty . Am I a 3 ked f « r proof , 1 refer at once to the evidenoe « f thoso who have been
foremost in the misohtef . One of the reasons assigned by the aristocracy—that aristocracy who surround your throne , and prevent tfca accounts oC distress from approaching yonr royal ear—for the enactment of the New Poor Law , was , that the poor would eat up the land ; was ever s * ch a fear entertained since the enactment of the 43 rd of Klizabeth , till small farms had beea superseded by large ones , and the Peers and Commons hsti been swallowed up by greedy and insatiable avarice ? If , then , this tear was well founded , out of their -own mouths I convict them of having , to an alarm ' mg extent , pauperized tbe
nation . Tbe same parties declared tbe Bastardy A « t ~ t « be necessary , fceeause of the great immorality of-the woutea of Engtsad . I know Vke accusation was a-gro « and scandalou tibel , and tfeey knew it too , but we-cat defy them to produce even a-single decent pretexee'for such a charge , when the vottage was a peaceful ftn « happy feorae , when , ocr agricultural population reraaioed Ucated upon their native soil , ami when low rente and hajspy couples were preferred * o large receipts and abandened misery . Tho pretestSor the rural f olice , to which . Madam , you ifeave been < induced by tfee traitors wh « « uneund you , to give four assent , was tbe insecurity « C life and . property , iafthu agTicultar «\ . dktrict * . ( Ihia wae bat a j >» etext ; the « eal
motive for the einbodimeat of this infa-taeua andunc # nstitutionaJ force was * o put dewn Chartism , and to crush tho rising spirit -til tbe peoples ) Still oar calendars and « cr county ¦ rates tell eg that crime hag increased to a fearful extent , and it has done so in the rural district * ^ rogvesarely , as the -Crimea of legal robbery have become more bo ! d and fregaent , and ae the means of obtaining aa honest and -respectable subsistence , have become circumseribefi and precarious-Thus we behold the want of principle ia the governing few , producing a vaat amount of delinquency in this portion of tbe misgoverned many ; and we shall find , as we advance ifi ettr -review of the atrangemente -of society , that the same sad effects fluw in other . directions , from tbe « aine , prolific root of evil .
The second arrangetiient of society to which < I wk » to direct your Majoety- ' o notice , is the utdae infiuense ¦ which all our laws and institutions , especially those ct recent and liber \ i fabrication , givo to what , k called property . I say , to what is called propOTtiyu because so confeaad aud obscure are all our notions , oc really important Hmttew , . that we fail to . seoognise the . mest valuable of all . propeit ^—the skill a » d industry , ot the people , as * ay Jcind of jproperty whatever . What ^ wj ^ call property or wealth ¦>» money , hoiises , lan (! e .
or . scytbing which hoe acquired a nominal and iiotitious . value , and whtohcanstituteafl man " renpectabVa , "in . the conventional , the perverted -v . ee of the wo #£ . We lose si , ? ht of the important itiot that money i 3 * nJy the reprpsuitative of tlungs which , are conducive £ 0 the nacejisjries , the comforts , ami too conveniences'it * life , and . is used merely as a eooreniottt medium of exchange . So alter circumstances as that it ahall fetch noUking , and , beyond the mere intrinsic « due of the metal , it would bacnly so much aceiimul ^ e * rubbish or useless . iuniber .
Place Oilcan without food or , ev » thing beneath a faueoing JiUTL , in the midst of the arid deserts of i . tiJbia , and-eirronnd him with gold end silver bearing jr * u r eoyalk / iaf 0 and superscription , insufficient plenty to discharge ( tbe National Debt , » ui he would give tbe vbale for e . < cup ot cold water , a Korsel of bread , a rag is cover him . and the most ineoaranianf ; vehicle to transport him-ts tbe society of men , wuongst whom be migfat obtain a subsistence , even Of the veriest drudgery .
What a misnomer , ihen , is it to call mooey , in the abstract , property . Pwperty in houses or land is just the same : the house is « f no value to the owner , if he cannot find a tenant ; aod the land is useless , unless made profitable by cultivation . It is , tben , skill and industry , in all tbeir multiplied and active forma , that give the real value to all these things , and to a thousand others , wbich their fond passions glory in as property , and because of which they claim a right to lord it over their fellow-men . And this is by the interested maiatainers of things as they are , eried up as the perfection of human society , and the
acquisition of this heterogeneous mass of lumber , which can neither ward off sickness , nor defy the approach of the king of terrors , is actually , according to our glorious Constitution , made the substitution for intelligence and honesty , in both the electors and the members of tbe Senate . It can exalt a man , whose intellectual talents would not recommend him to the situation of a common porter , to the magisterial bench , where , swelling with' hid fancied' importance , he " plays his fantastic tricks / ' and sends men , infinitely superior to himself , to the cell or the tread-wheel , for the high crime of poverty . And-what / 1 askris the
consequence of this vicious domination of that which ia miscalled property ? It is not that the bonds which should bind man to man ar « loosened , that the laws which are made by such unworthy legislators , and founded upon such unjust and partial principles , are despised , and , in many cases , openly defied ; and thai acts of reckless oppression are perpetually perpetrated ? No wonder that , under such a system , crime should continually' increase ; the real wondefr is , that things are not a thousand time * worse than we at present find them . ' These men of property are . notoriously the moat grinding , oppressive , and unprincipled wretches , is existence . Their solnnhnow is impazalleled j their lot *
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of domination , insatiable . If a man in t ^ jj employ ventures to think for himself in pelves , he is kindly admonished , by his condescending mas ^ i , that he has nothing to do with state matters , an ' j j , gent for sound instruction , in Wb various dutiee , to Father Vatican , or Parson Episcopal , or the B ^ mnd John Methodist , or , perchance , to the Rev ^^ otby j > isflent i the Reverend John"Pfr-W- ^ obadiah Broadbrim , who , though ready t- ^ d wh other to ^ faggo t ou almost every - jthet Bttbject > ^ cordIaiiy t ^ te in directing their ^^ pUcants to feow ^ obse . quies devot ^ 0 R & % ^ Bhrine rfMaJnmon , to « j er themsel- ^ sloWly and revereilt iy to all their betters . "
if all this pains and trouble fail to work convicr , < tod tb « toil-wom slave is still resolved that his thoughts shftll be free , thslast effort to bring him to a better miod , is feelingly resorted to , and in the midst of wiater , be is deprived of his employment , or driven from his cottage , with those he loves , his wife , per ' haps , far advanced iu pregnancy , or with an infant at tar breast , to die in a ditch , or be separated and poisoned in a Unioa Workhouse . Can you wondor , Madam , that , umteT such circumstances—and they are not ot rare occurrence—the distracted father will
steal , rather than voluntarily starve , or be legally subjected to a lingering dissolution ? No ; if you givo the matter a moment ' s consideration , you cannot wonder . The poor < totcast , the victim of the virtuous man of property , bas been driven to desperation by bis accumulated wrongs , and , in the bitterness of his anguish , he poetically exclaims : — ** Now men of death work out your will , IFor I can suffer and be still ; And come ho slow or come he fast , It is but death that comes at last . "
There remains yet one arrangement of society to bo ' wnsiilered , or rather a combination of several arrangements , which is of immense morueat , which is productive of incalculable mischief , and in wfefch ia involved some particulars , which ought especially to interest your Msjesty , as a woman and a aother ; I refer to the factory system , in «« onection with which must be taken into consideration the increased application of machinery , and . th « effects it baa upon the mining population .
It is a fact , which I must cap pose to w well known to your Majesty , that a v * atamount of capital has been of late years invest ) jd in factories for ike fabrication of silk , woollen , and . cotton goods ; imisense quantities of which , espec . ally «« tfton , havo been exported to foreign markets , and ftnenense quantities more would have beea « xpc # rted , tns * for the operation of the "English Cora Law a . By ft is system , targe fortunes were realised by t ) ie fortunate speculators in a few years A tide of w » lth « iJied through the manufacturing districts , anithis , % » doubt , yo * have been taught t coasidtr as au evidence of natonal prosperity . But
this is a me st fatel'Rud mischievrns conclusion . I admit that the M illownawr and the Capitalists of Jfauohester , ; < rf Leeds , Bradford ! , Ashton-uader-I / yne , Staky- 'Bridga ,, OKdall the * manufacturing towns of the empire prospered 1 « Kceedin / ly . J . «< lmit ( too , * hat the shipping interesr « f Load an .-Isiverpool , Hull ,-and other ports , shared 1 * 0 a vast a nount ic the commercial advantages which arese < iut of the eattensive exportation of Bsrtish manufactured g oods , l > ct I deny t&u these parties were naiE nat 10 . < . AUvthis prosp > tUy was only that ofactess , or at t ae raoct , of certain Masses ; and 4 shall she w ^ ou imroecliateljL'ihat in tbo «* securing clees prosperity , we
paid ' toolbar for oor whistle ; " and that , in fact , the natioi 1 , ^ tho tfeulk of tfee people , were injured and not benefited by snch 1 * rtM prosperity . Nothing , U . ap . prehand ,-08 H be fairly-considered as condHciva to national prosperity , wfcich has a direct tendasny to destroy the faeiiltti , defease the mind , and ~ short «! i the livea of tta worki'ig population . This being-admitted , let us inavujo how- farrtlie factory « y 3 tem a 8 atipresent conducted , ie dirtetly iconducwe to 4 hose 'fearfKl ends-The factory labour ^ raa , at its eommencement , carried on by < meanB « f vwtter power , oa the baufce of the varions ^ streams in •• Yorkshire and Lancashire , which
having forages tolled-on inundisturbed repose , ( became ag'lteted ¦ by tbe -whisk and noise of water-mills , and th sirwjeicities became peopled with a manufacturing pt . pulatioc . This aystasu was « ne in which -vast profits w aro-raatiited , aad ia which human life was sacrificed to an immeaee , an unknown extent . Still avarice-acted , and fe sJingteao capital ,-was unsatisfied . ; and upon ^ the introd < ictwa ^ jfjiteatn power , that agent was eageriy seized uj ) on ,. aoici the wator wheel , < whioh could not 'be kept pi troeiueAlr in motion , was almost universally made to
gi ee-. plaoe-to tbeateam engine , which could be sept in co nstAnt ^ aotivifcy , and which was in numerous cases so us jdAShttt ) 4 run the mills from twelve o'clock on Sunda , r nigbt , to twelve < e'clock en Saturday night , without- inUwHiission . By othis meaas , two thing * were at on < se secured . l ? irst , tiie steam engine aaj power loom displaced a vast amount of human lubour , and compelled thousands to s . jek ^ xf loymeat in some other branch of iudustry , and ,
Second , the labour market being thus overstocked , tbe insatiable monster , avarice , which like the horse leach is e * ar crying , " give , give , " had the opportunity , which it foiled not to lay hold of , of trampling down the price ct labour , and of thus reducing the working classes inta the condition of slaves and bondsmen . Besides this , ( he new factory aristocracy found out that much of the labour which must still be performed by human bandu , could be done better , at all events ( Cheaper , by children than by adults , and the labour iuarkot , as I observed before , being overstocked , it V 7 JIB no hard matter to induce , ( to compel would be the more correct expression , ) the fathers and mothers of large families to send their children to the mill , that , by their earnings they might aid iu providing & scanty subsistence for those who gave them birth .
Tais state of things went on for many years , and not a voiee was heard agaiust it Parliament cared as little as it knew about tbe matter ; the revenue was increased by the duties on exported goods , and of course the Cbanceller of the Exchequer was enabled to tell the country that things were in a prosperous condition . By and bye , some glimpses of truth gained an admission into the public mind ; inquiry was instituted , facts of the most appalling character came te light , and some shadow of protection was , from time to time , afforded the helpless factory child . And what is the actual state of things at present ? Be it remembered thai we
are now enjoying the advantages of a reformed system , and that system leaves fathers unemployed , and little children , —little girls , Madam , as much entitled to tender care , and judicious training , as the Princess Royal , —confined for many hours in the heated and unwholesome engagements of factory labour . Without time or means for any kind of mental cnlture worth the name , and prevented from taking thoseinvigoratingexer cises so conducive to health , and so necessary to fit them to be the parents of a strong and healthful race . That reformed system also leaves , as far as adults are concerned , the operations of machinery entirely unchecked ,
and machinery itself untaxed , bo that man who needs food , clothing , and sleep , is left by those who pretend to be his representatives , to the feaiful odds of competing with that which requires neither food , sleep , nor clothing . I will only notice one thing more connected with this arrangement of society , before I inquire into its general results ; ' , The introduction of steam and its application to the purposes of manufacture by machinery , has had , and must necessarily have , a marked effect upon the mining population , especially in the departments of Iron add coal . ' It has been stated , and I fear with but too ' much truth ,, that the classes engaged in these weeks ate extremely
ignorant , and demoralised to an alarming degree . The quantities » f coal that have been required ! , since the application of steam U practical purposes ,, has been immense , and must have required a proportionate increase in the mining population . It has-been stated that one-third of those engaged in coal mines are WvJALES , ( if the men of England had the spirit of their ancestors / , they would not allow thia outrage on common decency to continue another month ' , )' young persons , in many Instances , who are compelled $ 0 work hundreds of feet below the surface of the eeuthj'to ' posturea ^ hicli mwst be Injurious to th ^' odiiiHitott *^; and Mmetimetfataost in a state of nudity . , A . . ; 1 these things ,. Madto , * exist in astate . of society ( and nnii « i » t till ibe prtaeok amngenwate a » ^ ianjedi
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• which you ara taught to bail as one of national proB pority and happiness . Now , I ask , is not this state of things one which has a dir « ct tendency to de . stroy the health , debase the mind , and shorten the lives of the working classes ,, or a large proportion of them ? Here we have children of ft tender age , deprived of the means of health , and confined for many hours in an atmosphere of contagion , disease , and death . This must destroy health . We h : vve large masses of untutored human beings collected tog * the » in a state of almost savage wildness , treated as b « wta of burden , and , by tbeir very situations , precluded from any tfiicient moral and social improvement ; being
witked in order to relax tbe mind ; in ignorance of any more pure or refined source of recreation , and compelled almost to glory in their shame . Thus , then , tbe system debases and degrades the mind ; and that life hi shortened by it , no one at all acquainted with the subject witt for * moment question . No wonder , then * that thb , in common with the other arrange men's of Bociety , which I have named , should be the proilfio parent of crimes of a ! moat every kind and description . That it is so , the documents laid before Parliament bear ample testimony . Then , until those arrangements are changed , it is in vain to leok for a better state of things . L ' - 't UB proceed to inquire how this important end nay be accomplished .
I am , Madam , Your Majesty ' s faithful and obedient subject aud servant , London , January 18 th , I 81 fc . NUMA .
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR .. Dear Sib , — An eventful week has slipped swny ^ Mid Chartism has received good or harm , ps , thefriend » and admirers of the " . measure may hereaf ax determine . I bave narrowly watched the niov < ^ merits of both parties—have heard and read mu < & of ther sayings and doings—and I . am convinced , < Ai 2 . t unle-ss many ot your excellent readers mind wh :. t they are doing , aad keep a sharp look out , the eneijy wil entrap them in the nitshes of » deep laid plot , which ia to juggle the whole people out of the Char + jer .
THE PROPOSED JUNCTION OF THE WORKING APTD MIDDLE CLASSES .
Collies is a most respecta ' ole , eloquent , and honourable man . Chartism owes , him much ; but I am told , in a speech delivered in ( jhe piesence of " Dan , " and the re » t of his compeer i at the " Feed , " hfc assured them , taat if the pnr . ciples embodied in tl . s Charter were brought forward ' oy them , he could promise the co-operation of the Chartist body . And I find in the addrws , as published in your Third Edition , by the Delegates , and signed by Ms . James Greaves and Mr . Samuel Healey , a leaning towards tt dddle-class union ; a kind of currying for favour and su pport ; a sort of mawkish squeuniishness and miuci aa of truth recommended—hiuts , I
gaess , for a gt- atte comprotuise of p- ' isition , when we ought rather * # have gloriled in the divine power of stroag truth , I x > ldly spoken , as manifct-ted in the proud « tnd exalted attitude we now hold , as a respectable , powerful , arid intellectual political body of working mea ; in t ' aeir onward career , able and willing to work out , in defiance of every obstacle , tbeir own , j > ali ; ical r < ^ aruption . Is this a time to shuw- a white feather ? Th « tinw of victory unparalleled' Be steady , jay broth . era « ^ tck to the real" workieh' und you will wsgain t ho equilibrium : but , " evil communiuttionf corrupt good stiaauers , " ami this is . buu a uioiuunt of forcetf alness .
"A beneficial onion , " say * tfie- ad dross , " nisybe " , proba' ily , ereieag , accoiupluhed between tbe working classes ; and tbe honest advocates of right of every other class . " Now , Sir , I query tho words " beneficial union , " , and ? Jie " honest advocates . " Such unionahave happened before , and when did they work , woll for thupeojila ? . Ne \ , < er ; and aiy opinion is , theyt never wiJJ . ' lit skies , the union oontetuplaUd by them , is , that we should eit oer allow our pr inciples to receive a uew embodim 3 Dt , or join them for something les . » . Can * we do ei ther , and do right ? The- latter we cannot ; tbe fo rmer we -aHght not
Let it be remembered by whose unwearied-and disi-aterested -exertions we now exist , by whoso virtues , honesty , courage , and sufferings- we have a being —who it is has-placed us in the most independent and dreaded position , the foes of England « ver saw upon her bosom , and say , can we , ought we , to forsake this inimitable position to which he elevated us , for the same principles in a new form , ( supposing them to be the same , ) when thus is the malicious act of our own and beat friend ' s greatest enemy , done for no other purpose than that of crushing one of
the sincerest and truest men that ever breathed , if nothing more ? The whole world would blush at our shame . But when , on the other hand , by such a compromise , we must give up the leadership out of our own bands , into thV'se of our former betrayers , ( who would glory to repeat the dose , no matter by what amount of cajolery , in the shape of " promise to pay , " the power is obtained , ) we commit suicide upon our cause , and doubly ruined are all our further efforts * Can we make such overtures , without giving the direction of our affairs to " our superiors ? " I answer , no ! never , never i ,
* Trust not for freedom to the Franks , They have a King who buys and sells ; In native minds and native ranks The only hope for freedom dwells . " Hitherto , have we-not done our own work—done ifr well ; and are we not progressing gloriously ? What , theu , may hinder us from proceeding . ? We increase numerically , and more" abundantly in real knowledge and mental capability .- Xook at our uni <; n , sobriety , the anointed but unsophisticated eloquence of out speakers ! What body of politicians , or of anything else , can get up and conduct meetings , write and pass resolutions , in such business-like order and ability , aa the Chartists ? None ;• , no , not even Members of Parliament themselves , taken aa a whole .
And why , then , stay now to " soften our speech , and smooth our tongue ? " Is itless necessary to speaktha truth—to call things by their right names , than formerly ? Nay , I should think we have greater license to be plainer and bolder than ever—not to be intoxicated with success , but more assured of the rectitude and truth of our position . ' I know our opponents have long writhed in agony at our sayings and doings ; Jut now their moral and physical opposition are both of no avail—our heresy increasing the more—they come to treat us with their wbeedlidg twaddle—half censurebalf rub-down flattery . " Nay you are too bad , we own your principles in the main to be right , but you are toy harsh—too severe in your
censure—unreasonable in your demands—take a" little at once—you makeenemies where you might make friends—be milder , and join the middle classes—denounce the Tories as much as you like , only , don't call us , " and so on , &c &c . Now , if the Chartists speak" untruths , whether in smooth language or gross , it is wrong ; but if the strong language bo nothing more than a leal and just description—be truth—in the name of God let us go on rthis mode of conduct never was known to be wrong in the long run ; and never will;—while mincing the description ot crying evils , by which , for a time , we gain a few fair weather proselytes , has always been baneful in the end ; the evils complained of remaining the same .
This union with the middle classes is a subject which ought to be fairly canvassed , and , I trust , the Chartists as a body will look to it . Let me ask thcc » middle-class men when the Chartists ever refused a legitimate and healthy union with any class of men ? Did they ever refuse to receive into their association any who have offered to become members , unless they have been criminal characters ? : No , never . Their arm * have always been , and are now , thrown wide , open to receive all who are willing to aid in the righteous struggle ; and , therefore , if the middle classes have not united , tbe cause is' with themselves . It is evident
they are not willing to join on equal terms . Having wormed themselves , at the ex-pence of working men ^ into an aristocratic niche in society , they think to carry their obnoxious nonsense of " superiority" along witbv them , remain apart , or bring us over to the notion that we ought still to do their bidding , and remain slaves . But our position is a truly godlike aud primitive one ; . obtained , too , by dint of much painful labour and cos * : intellect and virtue alone can rule among us ; and we are better able , nay , almighty , to conquer without the middle-class men ; and ere long , if wo maintain the ad vantage , we now possess , necessity alone will compel these to come—to beg to come on our own terms .
To this we cheerfully exhort them . We say , " come with us , and we will do you good , " There is no obstacle on our part , but our determination is as immoveabie as our cause is just ; and I trust we shall go on in the same straight-forward course—courteous toreal friends , and a " terror to evil doers , "—conquering and to conquest , until the top st « ne of our superstructure be brought on , with shouting , by the sovereign and united people . While I advocate an unflinching decision ,. let me be understood to discountsnance the least approach to vulgarity , much less , brutality , in the advocacy of our cause jand that I am aware many of our friends have have not at all times manifested as much , discretion a # became them ; yet what of this ? We are to improve , and . not run into the other extreme , which haV ever proved worse of the two . the time bas come , when i win have all or none—all ' we ask , or something more , ratter than something less . Let the
expediency-mongers dub me mad , U they choose , for refusing their "" gradual" reforms ; I judge of what I ought to do , and every one else ought to do in this matter , by the past the present , and the future ; by the signs of the times , the construction of society , the misery of the millions , their , wants and weight ; of oppression , the , safety ,, honour ,, and wefare of my country ; and if I am mad , there shall be method in mj madness—method thai shall defy the political tricklsts ; and murderous jug glers of the age , whose itinerating rounds are taken to coll reund new victims , and leave a slime as they brawl to poison the very sir we breathe , spreadiagnew confusion , fresh donbts , confounding truth , simple honest truth , with treacherous sophistry ; s ^ id , if possible , doing their wont to widen the brettii , iaorgan isihgj instead , of healing and cementing In one bond of union and affection , the lovert of justice and fairplay . ' Ia trath and sobern «« , I mb , dear Sir , Ywm respectfully . ?; WitviAH hick ,
Untitled Article
I THE N ORTHERN ST A R . y
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 30, 1841, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct842/page/7/
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