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970 THE LEADER. [Sat,tojuT,
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[in this department, as at,i. opinions, ...
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There is no learned man btit will confes...
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M O I) E R N MANI (J II E ISM. (To tho M...
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WOMAN'S CONDITION AND CLAIMS. (To the Ed...
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they are unserviceable cither for learni...
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Transcript
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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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How Oldham Demonstrates In Favour Of Fox...
and panting for breath , who have hope deferred on account of a miserable progeny written in the furrows of their faded and withered cheeks—they , even they , are screaming- out " There ' s a good time coming . " They who through weary years—I know something of the history o f their daily life—have been , looking for that good time , and have never seen even the sign thereof , believe , it is coming . O boundless faith of the human heart ! There ought to be a good time coining . The instinct of humanity deserves to be prophetic here .
To the great delight of the red handkerchiefs—the women so cover their heads in lieu of bonnets—and the gray heads and the fustian jackets , the local poet has interweaved into song some stanzas , in which the return of Mr . Pox is held to be the sure sign of the aforesaid " good time . " Laurelled lyrists never succeeded in inditing anything which had the prima facie evidence of true popular inspiration , to the same extent as these stanzas evidence in the opinion of the Oldham mind .
The patriotism of Werneth and Mumps ( Mumps is the classical name of an important township here ) is very superior to its arts of composition . The resolutions submitted to the meeting are rather intervolved . Syntax , sentiment , and political principles mingle upon some Free-trade principle ; but the right feeling atones for all . The inevitable excitement of a contest so intense as that which rages in Oldham , leads the reformers into the use of provocative terms ; but , in this instance , they only test the strength of that vast unanimity of this meeting , in favour of Mr . Pox , which even some ill-judged derision of the opposition does not invalidate .
But the platform event of the evening is the appearance of Mr . William Newton , whose honourable letter on the " Amicus" question was inserted in your paper last week . Risking that popularity which is of so much importance to a rising man , Mr . [ Newton , in a speech of manliness and power , has given his support to Mr . Fox ' s friends . Mr . Fox is countenanced by some eminent manufacturers , who took part against Mr . Newton and the amalgamated engineers . Notwithstanding this implication , Mr . Newton has stepped forward to dissociate Mr . Fox and his political reputation from the accidental conduct of some of his supporters . Let those who tell us of the impracticability
of the working-class and their leaders pause hopefully over this instance . Surely it is the highest order of political capacity , not to say generosity , to volunteer co-operation for national purposes , with men with whom you have serious differences of opinion in other respects . Not to suffer any dissent or personal questions to interfere with public duty is an evidence of superiority of character which cannot be too ranch encouraged . Let us hope that the Employers , in their turn , on public occasions , will show a similar magnanimity , and there will then be some prospect of class hatreds fading out of society , to bo succeeded by one groat party , the party of the whole people—the party of the State .
According to the speakers , no expense is spared by the " rejected of Stoekport . " Mr . Heald , the Moderate Conservative , ( if any one can define that description ) appeal's to keep open endless pot-houses , where bone-aching " fourpenny , " and indefinite quantities of substantial fare , to match , can be had free gratis—for patriotism ! The virtue of the shop-keeper is sometimes shaken by a shower of orders from the party of a rival candidate . No wonder , then , that . shop-workers arc expected to manifest . some " unsteadiness" under the weight of multitudinous pots of " heavy . " It , however , appears that scarcely any but the young and ill-informed can be won in this way . There exists
Himifi hereditary integrity even in the inhabitants of these surrounding moors , where policemen do not penetrate , and magistrates are traditionary personages Mr . Quarinhy will tell us in an sifter-Meet ing speech , that a time is yet remembered when no man in Oldhani , in the blessed days of Tory supremacy , dared to move a " Liberal" resolution openly : that , parties used to assemble on snow-covered bills , and find nailed upon it tree , by some unknown band , a mysterious resolution , which was found to express the deep HenUinent of these hardy and wintry publicists . This temper has descended to the present race of Oldham radicals ; and the disciplined enthusiasm the stranger witnesses is no transient ebullition but an heroic inherilaiu'tt .
The resolutions are vehemently Foxife . Mr . Newton ' s speech has told on every flank of the crowd . A gentleman on the platform injudiciously menaces a few not incoiidcou . s dissentients with peremptory ejection . The rudeness of the threat , which , elsewhere , would set ii meeting in a blaze , is here submerged itud pardoned in the general enthusiasm . The stranger in told that tin ; strife hero is half deadly , thut opponent parties " puntfe" each other , (/ . e . kick mutimlly and fraternally with wooden-soled clogs ;) but the iinui' / . iug objurgation which tho mooting hours from spoakon liable to
warm escapades , shows that all " rows" are born of mutual arrangement—that , in other words , you may go into meetings of the most vehement partisans , and no unseemly collision may be expected , unless provocation be first given , and even repeated . Give me the command of the tongues of one party , and there shall be no fear of the fists or sticks of the other . In every contest there is dictation .. One form it assumes here is by some individual declaring he can , and
of course will , return whom he pleases . One of Mr . Heald ' s supporters declares that " he could return a donkey for Oldham , if he chose to nominate him . " " Donkey" is his own expression . It is not at present known whether he intends his present efforts Torywards , to be a proof of his capacity that way , or whether he intends putting forth himself as a candidate in illustration of his principle . Thus runneth the stream of Oldham politics . The sample is genuine , if not of the most classical quality .
Now the proceedings are terminating . Mr . Baxter Langley is giving time for the Kentish fire . Neither Orange nor Odd-fellow ' s lodges can produce the equal of the Oldham manufacture of this resounding article . The whole meeting have given their minds , their hands , and feet to it . Upstanding and vociferating , 4000 feet are stamping , 4000 pairs of hands are clapping , 4000 zinc tubes are shouting at the roof . The platform rocks , the very building vibrates . Many who surround me are considered levellers in principle , but they manifest a very conservative objection to the levelling of the building—which seems not improbable , unless this Kentish thunder should cease . After this will follow ,
" Three cheers for Fox / ' Already my ears are stunned . Kentish fire , whirling the Oldham dust , has so covered my paper , that I cease to write , not being able to see . Yours , in all the confusion , Ion . Platform : "Woeking Mew ' s Hall , Oldham . Monday evening , half-past 10 o ' clock . October 4 th , 1852 .
970 The Leader. [Sat,Tojut,
970 THE LEADER . [ Sat , tojuT ,
Ddpnt Cmntril
dDpnt CmntriL
Pc01406
[In This Department, As At,I. Opinions, ...
[ in this department , as at , i . opinions , however extiiemt ! auk allowki ) an uxi'ilkhhioif , t 1 ik isditoit necessarily HOLDS HlMHIilil'' KESrONBIULK FOIl NONE . ]
There Is No Learned Man Btit Will Confes...
There is no learned man btit will confess lio hath rrvuch pro I i Led by reading controversies , las senses awakened , and / us judgment sharpened . If , LIkjji , it bo prolitable for him to read , why should it not , at Idiot , be Lolcrubic for Ins adversary to write . —Milton .
M O I) E R N Mani (J Ii E Ism. (To Tho M...
M O I ) E R N MANI ( J II E ISM . ( To tho Mlitor of tho Leader . ) Sir , —I not only worship in the " Cathedral of Immensity , " but gladly acknowledge you to be a fellowworshipper , without whose act my own must be incomplete ; but why cannot you recognise , with me , a more spiritual temple still , in which " the Divine Life that animates creation" is reflected and interpreted , not in the starry heavens , but in the sympathies and acts of men . If over you havo sat at good man ' s feant , J fever from your eyelids wiped a tear , and know what 'tis to pity and he pitied , how can it seeni to you less logical than " Devil-worship" to believe in a Divine J ' erson , who is neither so far off nor so dissimilar from us men and our ways of life and action , but . thai He can take a real interest in doing good and showing mercy to us , in a manner not less spiritual than we an ; capable of , man with man ? It would be absurd " to ask Infinite Wisdom to turn aside from its plans , " if it were tho wisdom of an engineer dealing with brufe matter , or oven a despot with his slaves absurd to ask " I nfhritc ( ioodncss to alleviate the misery if . sends , " , if we had to do with a goodness and ii misery not applied to those moral uses to which ( ^ veii men know how to direct them — -absurd to call on " Infinite Mercy to have mercy on us miHerablo sinners , " if the mercy were of tho same kind ( only infinite ) as the indiscriminate charity of a Mr . Solly : but you a ; . ' , reo with me that such wisdom , goodness , and mercy an ; not the only kind—rather not the kind at till— -with which man Hhould deal withnannj and must
we be satisfied with a God not in , but below , our image ? > wn The " Hebrew myth" not only recognises the fact that men are both capable of and morally bound t this , not merely mechanical , kind of sympathy and action with their fellows , but it goes on to declare the reason . It pretends that men have been made in tl image , and do therefore more or less perfectl y reflect the character , of a God whose highest wisdom shows itself in enabling men to enter into , co-operate with
and so ( if you insist on the word ) " to turn Him aside ' from His plans "—whose highest goodness is engaged in assisting men , and requiring and enabling them to assist Him in so regulating the miseries and enjoyments of earthly existence as shall best subserve the end of spiritual development and training ; and whoso highest mercy is exercised in personally reclaiming and raising them from a state of mere naturalism , or positive debasement , in which , while they continue , they are necessarily incapable of that spiritual mercy—that true love—which neither God nor man can show to an in .
different or unwilling recipient . I am , & c . E . D . W Sept . 27 .
Woman's Condition And Claims. (To The Ed...
WOMAN'S CONDITION AND CLAIMS . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) SlE , —Permit me to offer you my sincere and hearty thanks for the kindness and liberality you displayed in last week ' s Leader , in drawing the attention of the public to a subject upon which few editors of newspapers deign to speak . I allude to the agitation in favour of woman ' s rights . For such kindness I am deeply grateful , and every true woman will know how to appreciate it . It is only men of large hearts who will offend the prejudices of mankind by advocating a cause so unpopular as ours , and ask for the redress of wrongs , even when the most part of those who suffer them are uncomplaining . Because women , who have ever been in a state of subjection , are attempting to break the chains of servitude , and place themselves
under healthier influence , a cry is raised against them ; they are said to be stepping out of their legitimate sphere , and encroaching upon the privileges of man ; as if they had no existence independent of him—had not rights and duties to exercise , the fulfilment of which no power from without should interrupt . The just demands of those who seek to work out their own redemption are sure in the beginning to meet with scorn and ridicule , whether those who make them be men or
women . Few are found advocating the cause of the weak , or inquiring into the justice of their demands ; and it is only when they become loud and urgent , that they cease to be treated with neglect . But you , Mr . Editor , Avho have wide sympathies , and a philosophical temperament , instead of pandering to the public ' s prejudices , seek to infuse into it a more liberal spirit , and to impart to it a more just appreciation of the claims of others . An Obsekvub .
They Are Unserviceable Cither For Learni...
they are unserviceable cither for learning or for tcaciiing ; and by a general consent of all parties , it i » M better to dispense- with the residence of almost thre <; - fourths of their number . Among those who ™ ' ^ them are many really good and really able moil > 3 wo are told by Mr . J'atfison , that— " It is to bo M ™ that a pious youth coming up iron ) a relig ious h <>» ' to Oxford would gain but little good from . Imbit "" " ^ tercourso with the senior common room in curtain y
Oxtord FEixowsirirS . —That , however , tho possession of a fellowship at Oxford is any prima facie evidence of capacity , is a misconception of which the country should as soon as possible be disabused . % mr the larger number of the fellows are neither distinguished nor likely to become so ; and are incompetent to contribute anything even to the existing education . Being seldom in possession of higher knowledge than what is necessary for an ordinary degree , and not seldom having experienced difficultin passing that simple ordcijl ,
the collides . "—Westminster Jteview , for October . * 111 ? Sympatii-tich ov IJorkwom . — Tho instinct with , wn « ^ our boro finds out another bore , and closes with l "" '^ , amazing . We have seen him pick bis man <> u . fifly men , in a couple of minutes . They love w b ^ ( which they do . naturally ) into a slow » r K "" (> , . i , previously exhausted subject , and to contrai UCl .. other , and to wear fho hearers oaf ,, without , »» I »" i
their own perennial freshness as bores . u < , the good understanding between them , ai »< l u ^ , together afterwards , and boro each other ; ll 1 " . ^ Whenever we see our bore behind a door wiM > j ^ . boro , w <> know that when be comes ioi-tli , t praiHothe other bore as one of tho most » lW £ , of men bo over met ,. And this bringing UH Ui , j <) 1 lH to what wo bad to say about our born , wo arc ii , w have it tmder « tood , that he never bcHtoweU uu » i upon u § . —DioiUJNS ' fl Uouaehold Word * -
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 9, 1852, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09101852/page/14/
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