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Oct. 19, 1850.] ®f>e 3Lt&1ltX*
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THE NATIONAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. The gre...
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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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11edemption Society. Festival And Ball. ...
who now uphold it are loud in their complaints ; the farmers complain of want of capital , and the landlords oi insolvency . That system which divorces the labourer from the land is now found to be unworkable . The effect of that experience is now expressed in one word , -which I hear quoted in various marts of society , even by those who have no sympathy with you , and almost dread the doctrine you are united to support;—that word is now going forth in many publications , is pronounced in many quarters , in the highest and in the lowest , —and that word is the land . An idea has arisen among those who are suffering from the present state of things , even amongst those who support it , ? vmt nprhans . it mieht be a good thing : to restore labour
to the land . You have already begun to act on the principle ; and so far as you have gone you have found it perfectly successful . You have seen its success in the improvement of your own property ; and , by example , you are able to show that labourers can be supported on the land with benefit to their employers , and in a mode exceedingly agreeable to themselves . Turning from the picture presented by the fields of the Redemption Society , he now looked upon those fields which lost their fprtilitv because the labourers have been exiled to the
towns . The labourers were every one set against his fellow ; and under the pressure of competition they were obliged to forego the returns of their labour . Things had gradually become worse , until at last the labourer , his whole time consumed in unproductive labour , was deprived of all the enjoyments of life and of all the means of selfculture , and was , consequently , left without any means of extricating himself from his hopeless position . One great source of danger connected with this state of things was , that the labouring class were apt to entertain the feeling that no exertion on their part would enable them to rise above their present helpless and miserable level . And what has been the effect of this process even upon those who support it ? The effect is , they find encreasing upon them a deplorable burden of mannerism : —that is to say . a burden of living labour ,
which has become a burden because divorced from the proper means of labour . This burden is the retribution which has fallen upon those who support the present system . They are now beginning , by means of workhouse and industrial experiments , to organize an attempt something like that which you are making , —the attempt to restore concert to labour , and to employ it in the diminution of the burden of pauperism and taxes which they have entailed upon themselves . At Cork and Shefother lacesthe officers
field , and in some p , very parish are becoming communists , in order to relieve themselves of the burden brought upon them by the competitive system . ( Applause . ) This fact was a practical defence of the doctrine of the Redemption Society . It appeared to him , however , — though his words at present might not be welcome — that the success which had attended the propagation of their doctrine entailed upon them further responsibility . There were many modes by which their doctrines might trie nature ot
be propagated . One was by experiments ot those they were already making in Wales . Another was by unfolding and explaining the principle of association through the medium of the press ; that might be safely left to the craft to which he belonged . Another means of propagating their doctrines , one which he thought had been much neglected , was that oi the organization and numbering of their body . He was sure that the communists of the United Kingdom were many thousands strong : their number , even in the agricultural districts , was rapidly encreasing ; and if there were any means of oryanizimr those numbers , and of making the public
aware of their strength and importance as a body , the effect could not fail to be an encreased degree of attention to the subject and a conviction of the truth of their great principle . But the fourth means of propagating their doctrine , which would have appeared to him the most important of all , though it was one , perhaps , which might be least of all welcome to them , because he knew that many communists who were strong and earnest in their conviction of the truth of their principles , had little faith of succeeding under present circumstances , —they
in fact entertained a sort of contempt of the present state of things , but had not the confidence necessary to prepare the path from the present state of things to that which will be better . The plan of action he referred to was , that the communists should take a more active part in public affairs ; should , as a body , take a part in giving advice on those changes , those improvements m politics , and in the social condition of the people which were likely to be brought under agitation , especially those in connection with poor-law matters . He was sure that the communists could throw a vaBt amount of light on matters of this kind , and if their opinion were given as the opinion of a body , it would have the effect not only of promoting an improvement which would bring relief to would also much improve the
the rate-payers , but very state of the agricultural labourer , and do much towards raising them from that state of degradation to which they had been brought by existing arrangements . He was quite confident that if the communists would exercise their just influence in the conducting of public affairs , not only would the truth and importance of their doctrine soon be generally acknowledged , but the public at large would also be led to feel that the communists are among the most useful , enlightened , and influential members of society that were to be found ; he , therefore , urged upon them to take a more decided part in public affairs , and thus contribute to the advance , the onward progress of humanity , as well as to their own moral and material
interests . The Chairman said he had now great pleasure in in .-troducing one whose name ' must be dear to every xork-Bhireman , a true friend of the people , Mr . Joseph Barker . Mr . Barker said he should not attempt to make a Bpcpch ; he was forbidden by the critical state oi his health to do so . He should not , however , feel perfectly at ease in his mind were he not to make a remark or two
with respect to the Redemption Society . The manner in which this society had been conducted from the first of his becoming acquainted with it to the present time , had secured his admiration . It had not only given him great satisfaction , but had made him feel that there must be something peculiarly sterling in the characters and principles of those who had had its management . So far as he was acquainted with the principles of the ^ society he approved of them . It would be wrong in him to avow himself a communist , he was not aware that he was one ; but he saw nothing either in the principles or proceedings of the Redemption Society which he did not approve ; and he certainly felt disposed to
give the strongest proof he could of his approbationnamely , that of uniting with the society himself . He felt disposed just to go with them as far as he could ; and if , in going along with them , he should happen to run his head against a post , he would then consider whether he ought to go any farther . He had frequently advised a course of conduct similar to this to people who would not take part in a good reforming movement , because they could not see the end from the beginning ; and he now thought that he might do worse than reduce his own advice to practice in reference to the Redemption Society . On a misty day no traveller could see from the beginning : to the end of his journey ; but the way
became clear as he proceeded . So with the Redemption Society . He could not see the end to which it would lead : he could , however , see a certain way before him ; so far as he could see , all was right ; so far , therefore , he was resolved to go with them and to assist them . The previous speaker had made some remarks on the importance of bringing the labourers in contact with the land , and securing its productions for their own benefit . In connection with this subject there were three or four facts which must present themselves to most thinking minds . The first fact is , that in this country and in our colonies we have a great deal of uncultivated land ; the second fact is , that we have a great deal of unemployed labour ; and the third fact is , that we have also a portion
of surplus capital which might very well be employed in placing these unemployed labourers in contact with this uncultivated or * W-cultivated land , and thus encreasing the wealth of the community and redeeming vast multitudes from pauperism and crime . The speaker who had last addressed them had encouraged communists to take part in all movements which had for their object political and general improvement . There was one particular work in which he ( Mr . Barker ) felt himself most at home , to which he felt himself particularly called , that work was the advocacy of a thorough reformation of the landlaws of the country . The land-laws of the country were intimately connected with the present unjust system of
taxation . The principal part of our taxes are raised Irom the products of industry and articles of commerce , —they , consequently , check industry andimpede commerce . He wished to see all those taxes on industry and commerce abolished , and commerce and industry set perfectly free . But he also wished the taxes which were removed from products of industry and articles of commerce to be laid upon the land;—to be laid upon the land not as at present , in proportion to the extent of its cultivation and the amount of its products , for that would be inflicting a penalty on those who do justice to the land;—he wished the taxes to be levied on the principle of so much an acre on all landwhether cultivated or uncultivated . This , in
, his opinion , would have the happiest effect . It would force all who had land either to cultivate it themselves , or sell it to those who would cultivate it , or else oblige them to let the Government take it for the taxes . This simple principle of a tax of so much an acre on land , accompanied with the abolition of all the laws standing in the way of the sale and transfer of land , and with the abolition of the law of entail and primogeniture , would quickly bring three-fourths of the land of the country into the market . These , he repeated , were the objects which it was the end of his life to accomplish ; and he felt
satisfaction in thinking that in this way he was , if not directly , at least indirectly , helping the Redemption Society . He anxiously desired that the Redemption Society might succeed in proportion to the extent of the industry and perseverance of its leader and of those members who had so manfully stood around him . Mr . David Green had reason to be proud of the position which he occupied ; and though he ( Mr . Barker ) , had no disposition to envy the honours of any individual , he should yet be sorry if he did not both feel admiration for Mr . Green , and a disposition to go and do likewise . Song— " Hark , the lark at heaven ' s gate sings . "
Mr . Holmes would inform them at the outset , however , that he was a communist . He was a communist , because he perceived that in community things could be better managed , both for employers and employed . He believed that shoe-making , cloth-making , corn growing , and , in fact , all useful arts and manufactures could be much better carried on for all parties under the communistic principle than under the present system of competition . The land contained in it all the elements for the existence and comfort of the people . Our paupers ought to be employed on the land ; they would thus be enabled to support themselves by their own industrious toil . The poor-law guardians of Leeds were now considering this subject of pauper employment ; he
himself was one of a committee of three appointed to confer and advise the guardians on the subject ; and he was glad to observe that the guardians of Leeds were in a disposition to profit by the example of the guardians of Sheffield . He trusted much good would result from their discussion of this subject . It was men and women rightly minded—persons of industry , patience , long endurance , and invincible determination which they wanted ; capital would follow . Mr . Holmes concluded by an earnest appeal to the audience to study the principle of association—to be patient in their consideration of it , and not to suffer the festivities of the occasion to draw off their minds from the great object of the meeting . " Old women go a-shearing . "
Mr . Greio was then introduced . In the cou address he dwelt particularly on the prejudices gious people against the Redemption Society , picted in eloquent terms the happy change which U munistic principle was calculated to produce in th dition of woman . He considered that communism „„» , essentially necessary to carry out the beneficent spirit of Christianity , and that the religion of Christ would never universally triumph till the present competitive , antagonistic system of society was abolished . Communism was in accordance with or in opposition to Christianity ; he was bold to throw down a challenge to the opponents of communism on religious grounds , and he would be ready on all fitting occasions to justify it .
Mr . Smith moved a vote of thanks to the chairman and to Mr . Thornton Hunt for their able services on the occasion , and also for their able defence of the principles of communism through the medium off the Leader—a paper which commanded the support of all communists , as it was the only newspaper which efficiently advocated associative progress . The motion was seconded , and carried by acclamation .
The Reverend Mr . Larken returned thanks , stating that he rendered his services on such occasions as a matter of duty ; and that he always felt satisfaction in aiding popular movements , and especially had he pleasure in attending meetings for the promotion of the cause of association : he felt it was to that , and to that alone , that we must look for the salvation of the country . It was now half-past ten o ' clock , and , the seats in the body of the hall having been removed , numerous parties joined in . dancing , which was kept up with the utmost vivacity until one , when the interesting proceedings terminated .
Oct. 19, 1850.] ®F>E 3lt&1ltx*
Oct . 19 , 1850 . ] ® f > e 3 Lt & 1 ltX *
The National Reform Association. The Gre...
THE NATIONAL REFORM ASSOCIATION . The great hall of the London Tavern was crowded , last Monday , with members and friends of the abovenamed association , convened for the purpose of holding their first aggregate meeting this season . The chair was filled by the President , Sir Joshua Walmsley , M . P ., who , in his opening speech , said , on behalf of the council of the association , that they had called the present meeting in the metropolis as a prelude to a series of meetings to be held in various parts of the country . He referred to the history of the late session of Parliament as a lesson to the
people that they must gain their political rights by their own exertions . Saving only the Government measure for Ireland , no measure affecting the great measure of the franchise had been allowed to pass . In arguing the " constitutional" nature of the association ' s demands , Sir J . Walmsley said : — "We are asking for nothing but that which that constitution has solemnly guaranteed to the people of England . No one will deny that the constitution has said , the people shall elect their representatives in the House of Commons , but not more than one man in seven has a vote , and those who are free do not control the elections so much as do the timid , the slavish , and the corrupt . Amongst your boroughs you have a hundred that are as completely nomination boroughs as any that were placed in Schedule A of the Reform Bill . The constitution has
secured the throne to the Queen and her descendants . The constitution has secured to the peers , as a privileged order , seats in an upper chamber , but has denied to them the power originating a money bill , or encreasing by a fraction a tax imposed by the Commons , To the people the constitution has given the right of electing those who have power over their property , their liberties , and their lives . The right of the Sovereign to her throne , her dignities , and her prerogatives—the right of the peers to their privileges and their titles , and the right of the people to elect the House of Commons—stand upon the same foundation . The monarch enjoys her rights ; the peers are in possession of theirs ; but the people are without the power of electing their representatives . That right we are seeking to restore . "
The first resolution , which was proposed by Mr . J . T . Serle , was expressive of dissatisfaction with many of the votes of the public money passed during the late session , as well as the neglect of the numerous petitions of the people for parliamentary and other reforms at home ; the disregard of the general and just complaints of our fellow-subjects in the colonies abroad ; the continuance of heavy and oppressive taxation , and the maintenance of overgrown and unnecessary establishments . He trusted , and believed , that in the course of the next session something would be done for them . The £ 12 franchise had already been granted to Ireland ; they might , perhaps , have the same measure extended to England , giving them one step towards the attainment of their object .
The resolution was seconded by Mr . W . J . Fox , M . P . He was not a lleformer , he said , on account of what passed last year . It was somewhere about half a century since political truth and principle first dawned on his mind—when , to be a Reformer , was a stigma and an opprobrium . " If every measure passed in that session had been one of the wisest and best , if there had been nothing objectionable in any one vote , ho should still say , Let us have reform , for this reason , that no nation is secure in its rights and interests , no nation developes its commercial , intellectual , or moral power , unless it be selfgoverned . ' He remembered when it was thought that borough-niongering had been abolished , but those who thought so had found they were mistaken . A new
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 19, 1850, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19101850/page/3/
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