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220 T H E L> E A DE R. ESATPgDAY,
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PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION. MEETING"AT BKIG...
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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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Louis Blanc And Mazzini. "What French So...
future instrument of their calumnies , the word Comkunist . A doctrine of the Communists was , that all children should he admitted to enjoy the benefits of education , at the expense of society * as is now the privilege of the children of the rich exclusively ; on that doctrine the lying accusation was grafted , that the CoKununists aimed at the destruction' of the family . The C » muiunists had described as the fortune reserved by Progress for Humanity , a social order in which the forces of society should be treated as a common fund for production , and the eesottbces for consumption ; but in which every individual should preserve his
independence , his personality , the freedom of his affections , the choice of his friends ; should have his own apartments , his own domestic interior , his own hearth , an inviolable sanctuary ; with common rooms for reception , for recreation , for reading ,- —on the principle adopted practically at the Brunnen in Germany , at the Thermal establishments in the Pyrenees , in the grand hotels of our cities , in the clubs of London . But here was enough , and more than enough , for a text to the infamous accusation that the Communists desired a promiscuity of women and of children , and I know not what abominable amalgam of confusion . .
Unfortunately , this odious system of calumny was promoted by two circumstances . First , by the complexion itself of the word Communism , —an expression deplorably selected , as in truth it seemed to imply the idea of promiscuity , and which the Communists had the imprudence to employ before its precise signification could be known ; and , secondly , by the power of the calumniators , compared with the feeble resources at the disposal of the traduced . Two or three journals of a very limited circulation , a few books of very confined , publicity : this was all the Communists had to oppose to the most formidable propaganda of falsehood ever organized .
Every one knows for what end the famous league of the Rue de Poitiers was established . Inspired by M . de Montaleihbert , the man of the Jesuits—by that M . de Montalembert , to whom nothing more was wanting but to become the man of Louis Bonaparte , to fill up the measure of his dishonour—this league of the Rue de Poitiers opened a subscription , by means of which it succeeded in collecting nearly a million francs , on the pretence of " saving society . "
And this sum was spent in calumniating Socialism in general , and Communism in particular , by an overwhelming inundation of libels . In these flying sheets , whosoever was guilty of the crime of desiring any amelioration profitable to the people , was christened Communist : and to be Communist in these libels , edited by the pen of Basile , the hireling of Escobar , was to desire the equal division of the land and the agrarian law , —although the Communists supported the principle of large farms;—it was to desire promiscuous concubinage , although the Communists defended the principle of marriage;— -it was to desire the annihilation of religion , although the Communists had laid down as the basis of their social economy—the Gospel ; yes ! the GosPEii !
Terrible was the effect of these pamphlets , distributed in profusion , and given away in every town , and in every village , even to the remotest hamlets . On the one hand , many sincere and honourable , but uneducated men , were basely deceived as to the intentions and the principles of writers to whom were attributed ( but not supported by a single extract ) these monstrous doctrines : and , on the other bund , a certain number of wretches , rejoiced to be told that there was in active existence a party espousing their ovil passions , declared themselves of that parti / , whoso existence they wore lod to suppose . What was tho result ? Strange , indeed , and worthy to find a record in tho annals of calumny !
False denunciation created a reality out of u bugbear Spoliation was tho doctrine of men incited by the secret police to alarm tho bourgeoisie ; but who never had a thought in common with that Communist school , eHBontiully opposed to whatever , nearly or remotely , resembled agrariunism . I liavo promised to rest my reply upon facts ; to affirm nothing without riioova of my assertion . Here in tho proclamation , dated February 25 th , 1848 , in tho heat of tho insurrection , which M . Cubct addressed to tho Communists , and caused to be placarded on all the walls of Paris : —
" Lotus rally round tho Provisional Govbrnmont provided over by Pupont do FEuro , and which replaces the odious government recently stained with tho blood of citizens . Lot us support this provisional government which doclaroH iltiolf republican and democratic : whioh adoptH lVatornity , equality , and liborty for its prindnleN : and tho People for device and watchword : ana whim difmolvos tho Chambers to convoke the National AsHoinbly , which will give to France tho constitution she domandH , " But let us take care ourselves constantly to insist upon tho consequences of . thoeo principles .
Let us demand thatall Frenchmen be declared Bbktheen ; equal in duties and in rights , without any kind of privilege : all members of the National Guard : all electors and eligible to all the public functions , without any vile pecuniary conditions . Let us demand the natural and unprescriptible right of association , of meeting , and of discussion : individual liberty , without the arbitrary control of any man : the liberty of- the press . ' without hindrances , without cautionmoney ,-or stamp . Let us especially demand the guarantee of all the rights and all the interests of working-men i the formal recognition ofthe right to live working , so that the father of a family be no more reduced to the t errible necessit y of abandoning liis wife and his children to go and die fighting . Let us demand the organization of labour , and the
assurance of a fair livelihood by fair work . \ , Let us demand the suppression of all taxes on objects of primary necessity . Let us demand the abolition ofthe humiliating , vexatious , and iniquitous institutions ofthe Customs and the Octroi . Let us demand , for the people , education made general , gratuitous , common to all , real and complete . Let us demand institutions and guarantees for the happiness of "wives and of children , so that every man may have the possibility of marriage , -with the certainty of being able to rear up his f amily in happiness and comfort . Faithful to our principles of fraternity , liumanity , and moderation , let us cry , always , and in all places—No vengeance ! no disorder ! no violence!—no oppression towards any person ! But firmness , vigi lance , and prudence : that we may obtain justice for all !
No attack upon property : but unshaken perseverance in demanding all means that justice may accept , to suppress pauperism : notably by adopting a democratic system of successively decreasing inequality , and successively increasing equality . Let us beware of demanding the instant application of our Communist doctrines . We have always said that we desire their triumph through discussion only , through conviction , through the power of public opinion , by individual consent , and by the national will : let us remain faithful to our words ! " *
Well , now what does M . Mazzini think of this ? Is this what he thinks himself justified in calling the wild , absurd , and immoral dream of Communism ? It will not do for him to come forward and say , that if there are in France certain Communif t opinions , avowable by honest men , there are others which deserve to be branded with disgrace , and that it is of the latter Only that he meant to speak . For my own part , I protest , my hand upon my heart , I have never in my life met in France , either the exposition in a book , or the profession by word of mouth , of the savage , absurd , and immoral Communism which M . Mazzini does well to
repudiate , but whose existence he has done wrong to take for granted on the faith of libels black with falsehoods and calumnies , —a snare into which a mind like his might well have refused to follow the train of obscure and perverted intellects , for which it was contrived . Louis Blanc . ( To be continued . )
Louis Blanc And Mazzini. "What French So...
* This proclamation appoaru at length among tho Viboas JustifwativcR , in the admirable work recently published by Madame La Comteseo d'Ayoult , under tho title of History ofthe Revolution of IMS , and by ( ho pseudonym of Daniel fftcrn .
220 T H E L> E A De R. Esatpgday,
220 T H E L > E A DE R . ESATPgDAY ,
Progress Of Association. Meeting"At Bkig...
PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION . MEETING " AT BKIGHTON . At the Brighton Town-hall , a large assembly , mustering at least a thousand , consisting mainly of the mechanics employed at the workshops of the Brighton Railway Company , met on Thursday week , to hear the statements of Messrs . Newton and Usher , who attended as a deputation from tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers . Mr . S . Laing , chairman of tho London , Brighton , and South Coast Railway , was present , and took part in tho discussion . Mr . W . Coningham presided , and stated that all doubt , if any existed , as to
tho merits of tho dispute , must have been entirely removed by the " declaration" which tho masters now required their workmen to sign , and which ho made bold to assert that nono but a tyrant would have dared to attempt to enforce . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho then read thc 3 " declaration , " which prohibits tho workmen from joining or contributing to any combination which necks to interfere with any master's arrangements , Even tho organ of tho masters , tho Weekly Dispatch , had declared ngninst them on this point . Mr . Coningham then went into tho history of tho dispute , and contended that ten hours' work was as much as ought to
bo required of any man ; and that it was not tho system of piecework generally that was objected to , but that pernicious practice by which oinployorn attempted to got extra work at the ordinary rate of pay . In the Times , tho Daily JVrmv , and othor papers , wo fVc-¦ qnGiiMy- Haw tho wordn , " Engineers' Strike ; " but it waH not the men ' s i-triko , but tho masters' strike , by which a great number of men woro also turned out of work who had nothing at all to do wit / h tho dispute . Mr . Saundoi'H moved , and Mr . Ilandcock ( seconded tho resolution : — " That in tho opinion of this mooting , any intorforenco on tho part of tho employers , or any attompt to control
the expenditure of their workmen's earnings , or to punish them for contributing towards objects they may not approve , is an act of injustice ( loud applause ) , and such as no body of artisans ought to submit to . " Mr . Usher commented on the " declaration" of the Central Association of Masters ., As to signing it the men would never do it ; they were determined to stand by One another until the masters came and reasoned with them . '
Mr . Nichols ( employed in the Brighton workshops ) agreed that piecework was a bad system , and so was systematic overtime , and those who originated the dispute had to complain of both . But in the Brighton Company neither obtained ; there was no piecework and the only overtime required was when cases of accident or emergency arose . Then why were notices served on the Company against what did not exist here ? Mr . Newton said , that if there was nothing to complain of in Brighton , the men would not complain ^ -
" The sole point in dispute in Brighton was , that the men felt inclined to assist those in other places who were not fairly dealt with , and the directors said they should not . But the fact of twelve men having been discharged and the rest put on five days arweek , showed that continuous work could not be secured in Brighton ; and as the men might next week leave and go to London , it was their interest to support the Amalgamated Society , which sought to get for the workmen as good regulations in other places as existed in Brighton . The directors could not surely complain of this ; and as for the manner in which
the men disposed of their wages , the directors had no more right to interfere with that than the men had to interfere with the use of the locomotive for which they had been paid . The men had not refused to work overtime on emergencies , and they had not claimed double time for doing so . They , then , had been neutral ; and if the company had not reduced the work to five days , in order to deprive the men of the means of subscribing a day's wages to their brethren , then they had observed a neutrality . ( Laughter . ) But on the authority of'Mr . Fielding , he stated that the reduction to five days was made to deprive them of the means of so subscribing . "
• "" Mr . Laing then came forward , and Was much applauded . He believed he was as sincere a friend to the working classes as any one in the room . He saw no reason why employers and employed should not meet and discuss these matters fully and fairly , for much of the feeling on both sides arose from misunderstanding . Some people imagined that the general feeling of the capitalist towards the workman was that of the tyrant towards the slave . This was a mistake" There might be black sheep in the flock among rich men , as well as poor men , but tho greater portion of tho capitalists earnestly desired to elevate the condition of the working 1 men . Speaking : for himBelf , as an employer of
labour , he said honestly , that his sympathies were all with the working classes . His greatest pride was to know that he had been a working man himself ; and he wished for nothing more than to see every working man in a condition to elevate himself socially and morally . ( Applause . ) His belief was , that if they trusted to combinations and associations , they would bo grievously mistaken . If they entered into the history of trades unions , they would find that in tho countries where tho working men stood highest , there woro tho fewest of these trades unions , nnd that where they were tho most ready to combine , their condition was tho lowest . ( " What aro tho countries ? " ) Tho — - —^ ^» ™ -j * " » » w *^»»»* ** && w ^* j ¦ r ^— 'iirf v ¦ m » ^ - »» - — — - w-w»— — — — — f h
country where tho condition of the labouring classes stood highest , both for intelligence , and in a pecuniary way , was tho United States of America . It was a well-known fact , that in tho United States combinations were low . Again , in tho opposite oxtremo of tho ecalo is Franco . No man who has boon in Franco would state that the condition of tho French mechanic was as good as in England ; and in Franco they did almost everything by combination . Again , would any one say that tho averago standard of intelligonco is as high in Ireland as in Scotland and America e Ireland had boon tho country of trades unions . Tho only place whoro ho ovev hoard that a strike carried tho day was Dublin . And what was tho result ? They drove tho
trade away and ruined tho town . Tho real question was distinctly between combination and self-reliance . What had rained all the present difficulty ? A council of seven in London wished to dictate to all the employers and trades of tho kingdom what the terms and conditions of emp loyment should bo . They issued n general order to every establis hment , including thin Brighton Railway , without inquiring how far it was applicable , that p iece-work shall cease , and overtime bo paid double .. Now , there might bo establishments where overtime was carried to tho greatest extent ; there might bo others whero wt
piece-work wan injuriously enforced . " Very Bring public opinion to' bear on them ; go to Manchester and denounce thoiti , if you like , p ^ 1 w ) jf issue general orders to people who hud nothing t <> < ° with tho dispute ? " Why woro 20 , 000 men and llio > r families requiring mipporfcP No shop wan clowd uijtu tho council oftheA lnajgiuniited Society had been cauea upon to withdraw their notices , which thoy roi ! uscil w do . Mr . Laing then accused tho Anml giunatod ^ ociety , on the evidence of their own accounts , of living }»• money to " pickets" of men to coorco or intiin «««< those who woro willing to work on terms which otno had declined . Tho ond of this present strike would w
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 6, 1852, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06031852/page/8/
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