On this page
-
Text (4)
-
12ea THE LEADER. [No. 452, Novembbb 20, ...
-
THE LATE ROBERT OWEN. Robert Owen died o...
-
THE COMTE DE MONTALEMBERT. CnA.nr.ES For...
-
SINGULAR TASTES AND ANTIPATHIES ^ SKVKRA...
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
| ¦ | | Germany. (From Our Own Correspon...
Dartr yet his efforts in centralising have been more consDicnous than those of the whole Feudal party put together . During the period he has held office the nations of the civilised world have , by the inventions that have been made , and the opening of new and vast marts , nearly doubled their material wealth . Prussia has progressed with the rest . She has doubled the mileage of her railways [ since 1848 , a network of telegraphs has been spread Over the country , ship-building has greatly increased , mining has been extended to a degree that few anticipated ten or fifteen years ago , the imports and exports have been , as compared with those of ten years , enormous , and factory after factory has arisen as if by magic . " With all this material progress , Mr . von der
Heydt ' s name is identified . The Liberals do not question the active and beneficial influence of his administration upon this advance of the country in trade , but they fear his principles and the tendency of his energy . The principles -which the Minister has adopted as the guides of his policy are in complete opposition to the doctrines of the Gotha Congress , who follow the teachings of Adam Smith and the experiences of the freetrade nations . With regard to commerce in general , Mr . von der Herdt has shown himself a thorough Protectionist , and by his wavering and incomprehensible policy in the affair of the transit duties , & c , he has ¦ weakened the influence of Prussia in the countries of the Zollverein . He has all along endeavoured to get
every railway , telegraph , and bank into the hands of the Government—in one word , he is a State-monopolist . His commercial policy with foreign nations has been decidedly anti-German , and it may be said thereby anti-Prussian , as it will undoubtedly prove in the long run . In the treaty which he made , with the Netherlands in 1851 , and in that made with Belgium in 1852 * advantages were granted to those countries which have been steadily refused to German States . As respects the internal traffic , he has most arbitrarily interfered with the rights of property . Take as an instance the fact that he obliged the Cologne and Minden Kail way
Company , an independent body , to alter their contract entered into with the North German Railway for their common benefit . But what makes the Free-Trade and Tree-Labour men most inimical to this Minister is the new Prussian ordinance touching handicrafts , issued by him in 1849 , the object of which was to lead the people gradually back to the old tyranny of the guilds or snobocracy , with the hope , no doubt , that the privileged tinkers , and tailors , and butchers , and bakers , would , in case of another insurrection , range themselves pn the side of the privileged lords . Your readers must under- ? stand that in Prussia labour is not so entrarnmelled as
in other parts of Germany . A working man is permitted to gain his living without being a member of any corporation in Prussia : Mr . von der Heydt endeavoured in his ordinance to take away this just right , by requiring every workman to undergo an examination in his trade , and by instituting Councils or Boards of Handicrafts ( jGewerberathe ) , but fortunately the ordinance has become a dead letter , fox of the ninety-six institutions of this kind which he established only eight are now in existence , and of these eight only one is in activity . The effects of this backward tendency in freedom of labour and free agency may not be greatly felt in Prussia , where the people have had a taste , if but a slight one , of sweet liberty , and now despise the privileges which the centralising Minister would give them ; but the rest of Germany that still groans under the tyranny of the
guilds has been seriously injured by it , for ninety-nine out of a hundred of those who support the guilds point to the Prussian ordinance of 184 . 9 as a . proof that the abolition of the guilds has not been found to answer . The example of Prussia has mude the legislators of Germany still more undecided , and prevents the great majority of the working classes from deciding for freedom of labour and free agency , in preference to being at one time nursed , at another coerced , by tho State . These centralising and bureaucratic tendencies would liave produced still worse effects in Germany , if luckily Austria , out of rivalry to Prussia , had not begun to evince a leaning to freedom of labour and trade , well knowing . , that this was the simple arid easy way of gaining every thinking man of the middle and commercial class for Austria .
The Liberals hope much from the Minister of Finances Von Patow , who is a member of tho deputation of tho Gotha Congress , and who lately , at a council upon the subject of an increase of the tax upon beetroot augar , publicly proclaimed , hia adhesion to the principles of free trade .. There seems , however , but little prospect at present that the question will meet with any attention from the now Diet , for the people themselves take slight interest in it , as may be seen in the present election movements . Tho province of Pomorania alone , under tho influence of Baumatark , one of the most energetic freetraders of Germany , and that of the merchants of Stettin , has inscribed the words Freedom of Trade and Freedom of Labour upon her banner . In every other quarter the agitation , if agitation it can bo called , is bureaucratic , and . here and there , theological .
The elections of delegates are progressing in peace And quietness , and daily tho oxoitomont Is decreasing . In the four electoral districts of Berlin all the candidates are l | koly to proye Liberals , and tho provinces , not
having the least political knowledge or experience , will follow the example of the metropolis , except in some quarters where the Feudal element is very strong . The Austrian editors are growing envious of the present comparatively pleasant position of their brethren in Prussia , while the latter are kind enough now and then to drop a word of compassion for their enthralled . Austrian brethren . No press has shown more patriotism to their country and devotion to its Government than the Austrian , and no press has met with such unkind returns . The grounds upon which the police confiscate Austrian newspapers are so ridiculous , so utterly pue- ^ rile , that it is hard to conceive how the Government can think any injury could occur from tbem . On Sunday
the Press was confiscated because it described m a humorous feuilleton article the confusion and comical scenes which daily occur in consequence of the introduction of the new coinage . The press police seem to fancy that if the people do not read of these inconveniences and annoyances they do not feel them . A moire unaccountable seizure still is that of the Between Acts , which contained a novel wherein an officer was described as having contracted debts to the amount of forty thousand florins . The police probably considered this as an insulting hint to the officers in Vienna to pay their debts . This feverish anxiety of the opinions of the press does not speak well for the stability of government in Austria .
The Bund , a journal which appears at Berne , in Switzerland , has been prohibited in Prussia , in consequence of an article which it contained reflecting upon the King of Prussia and the Prince Regent . Mr . Bright ' s orations and extracts from Mr . Carlyle ' s Frederick the Great have been real windfalls to the German journals since the Regency question has-been decided . The former gentleman is generally complimented with most space , his subject being one that never fails to delight all but the few reflecting and studied Liberals .
12ea The Leader. [No. 452, Novembbb 20, ...
12 ea THE LEADER . [ No . 452 , Novembbb 20 , lg 58 .
The Late Robert Owen. Robert Owen Died O...
THE LATE ROBERT OWEN . Robert Owen died on Wednesday , in the eighty-ninth year of his age , at Newtown , Wales , whither he had gone on a visit to his native place . His career is thus related : —At seven years ' of age he was usher , and at nine under master , of" a school in his native town . Next year he proceeded to Stamford to a draper ' s shop , supporting himself for four years , when he went to London . Arkwright ' s machinery was then coming into use ; and at the age of eighteen , Robert Owen became a partner in a cotton-mill where forty men were employed . He was prosperous , and rose from one lucrative concern to another till he became the head of the New Lanark establishment , which included a farm of 150 acres , and supported 2000 inhabitants . He mar / ied in 1797 .
His arrangements for the health of an aggregate multitude , for their comfortable feeding , clothing , leisure , and amusoihent ; the management of the mill and the farm , the school and the ball-room , everything requiring the exercise of the economic and administrative faculties , was of a rare quality of excellence under his hand . In ten years , while all the world was expecting his ruin from his new-fangled schemes , he bought out his partners at New Lanark for 81 , 000 / . His new partners and he realised in four years more than 150 , 000 / . profit , and he bought them out for 114 , 000 ? . These are facts which ought to be known . From 1810 to 1816 he published his " Essays on the Formation of Character . " About this time , too , ho formed friendships with Mr . James Mill , Sir James Macintosh , Mr . Malthus , Colonel Torrens , Mr . Ricardo , Francis Place , and Lord Brougham .
In 1817 he addressed memorials to tho sovereigns assembled at the Congress of Aix-la .-Chap . elle , confiding their presentation to Lord Castlereagh , and became a notoriety . Among his opposing friends ho further mentions the late Joseph Hume , Jeremy Bentham , Joseph Lancaster , Sir Francis Burdett , Mr . Cobbctt , and many other of the leading men of tho time , with whom he was in constant intimacy . Ho founded an infantschool at Now Lanark , and among other notable persons who visited it was tho late Emperor Nicholas of Russia ,
then the Grand-Duke . At that time there was a great commotion about the doctrines of Maltlms , and Mr . Owen relates that , " In a two hours' conversation witli the Grand-Duke , before he left me , ho said , As your country is over-peoplod I will take you , and two millions of population with you , nil in similar manufacturing communities . ' " This was in roferonco to New Lanark . Mr . Owen , however , declined , as ho thought , his hands were full enough then . Ho subsequently visited tho various European capitals , and America .
The last public appoaranco of Mr . Owen was at tho late Social Science Congress at Liverpool . Ho stood between Lord Brougham and Lord Jolin Russell . Ho spoko for a few minutes , when , his strength falling him , he was removod to tho Victoria Hotel , -whoro ho remained for several days . He then wont back Jo Newtown , where ho died at the Boar ' s Iload Hotel . Ho wob a man of ample moans , and disposed of a largo fortune in promulgating his principles . ' With Robert Owen , " nays tho Dally News , " dios out ono of the clearest and most striking signs of our timoe . He was a man who would have , been
remarkable at any period for the combination that via strong in him of benevolence and inclination to o ' rd * - ° and rule , but these natural dispositions took form unfl " the special pressure of the time . So entire was thl suitability , thus far , of the man to his ace that th can be little doubt , that if he had been gifted with S ° power in which he was most deficient—reasonin g -power —he would havo been among the foremost men of hia generation . As it was , bis peculiar faculties so far fell in with the popular need , that he effected much for the progress of society , and has been , tho cause of rnanv things which will never go by his name . " '
The Comte De Montalembert. Cna.Nr.Es For...
THE COMTE DE MONTALEMBERT . CnA . nr . ES Forbes , Comte i > k Montalicmbeut , was born in London on the 10 th of March , 1810 . lie is the representative of an old family of Poitou , and his father was " a Peer of France , and Ambassador at Stockholm from the Court of Charles X . His mother was an English woman . At the outset of his career he was an advocate of the union of Catliolocism and democracy , of which Lamennais was the apostle , and was one of the editors of a journal founded to advocate that union , called L'Avcnir , He subsequently commenced a sort of crusade against the University , and opened , in April , 1831 , in conjunction with MM . Decoux and Lacordaire , a school called the Ecole Libre . His opposition to tlie existing Government brought him at last before the Police CorrectionneUe ; but during the process his father died , and as M . de Montak-mbert then became a peer of France , lie claimed the right of being tried by the Upper Chamber , by which he was condemned to a fine of lOOfr . His defence pronounced before the Chamber may be considered us the beginning of his political career , but" he was prevented , by his not having attained the legal age of . 'JO , from taking his seat until 1840 . The condemnation of Lamenrtais by the Pope greatly increased the severity of M . de JMontalembert ' s orthodoxy , and , both by writing and speaking , lie made himself thenceforward known as the great champion of Catholicism . He published his famous Life of F . lizabeth of Hungary , in 1830 . In 1812 he strongly , opposed the educational measure of M . Villcmain , and in thefollowingyear he published his L ' uthatic Manifesto , lie married , in 1843 , the daughter of a Belgian Minister , Mademoiselle de Me " rode , and alter a short absence from France he returned to deliver in the Chamber of Peers his
three celebrated speeches on the * liberty of the Church , the liberty of education , and the liberty of the mo- < nastic orders . In 1847 1 ns established a religious association to work in favour of the Sonderbund . He also made himself notorious for tho active part lie took on behalf of oppressed nationalities , arid on the 10 th of February , 1848 , he had a solemn funeral service celebrated at Notre-Damo to the memory of O'Connell , After the establishment of the Republic , M . do Montalembert was elected n member of the Constituent Assembly , and there acted sometimes with one and sometimes with another of tho parties that divided the Assembly . lie was opposed to the measure for affan * requiring journals to furnish security , to the coutinuthe admissioof Louis
ance of tho state of siege , and to n Bonaparte . 13 ut at the end of the session ho supporteu M . Dufauro in a bill for the restriction of tho press , and was loud in his approval of the Frcuoh espcdiuoii to Rome . Ho was re-elected by the department oltheDoubs for the National Assembly . Ho there distinguished himself principally by the part he took in preparing the law to restrain the suflrugo within narrower limits , Dy his frequent encounters with M . Victor Hugo , J » s "ily rival iu oratory , and by his defence of the readout . When the coim-d'itat cnino ho protested strongly against tho imprisonment of tlio deputies ; but lie , neverlW was named a member of the Consultative Conunta on , a distinction ho declined , and was elected , in Uoi , " f !«™ T ^ riHlntif . As a French bioirrnpUer incoiucauj
but happily , expresses it , » tf y rcprcscntaU pm 8 «« VOpposition . " At the last election , »»» l " ' , ''" „ . defeated in the department of the Doubs by tho " ^ ment candidate , and Iioh since retired from publ « . «" until this article in tho Corrcspoudaul brought ''"> ^ before the world . Of course M . do Montaloinbert i m a Liberal after tho English fashion . Hut ic . coim doubt that years and experience linvo tnutf it Inn som thing . And especially as regards Eng land , iio . . no now bo a more jsenlouB , discriminating , n > H » « J to every thing that is Knglish than M . do R ontnl . i » ber No ono , nlno , can doubt that ho is one of tlio i in Europe both as a writer and a spoakor ; , mitt dov ^ his eminence and his groat interest m " lliau « " nou education ho is among the loaders o uio * Academy , of whioh ho was olootod a moinber iu irw-Continental Jievivw .
Singular Tastes And Antipathies ^ Skvkra...
SINGULAR TASTES AND ANTIPATHIES ^ SKVKRAfc illustrious mon linvo evinced n » nn'f 0 ' fh | , t dllootion for certain days In the year . >> ° 1 , ' , Napoleon felt such a disposition for the 20 th cI « "Charles V ., " said UrantOmo , '' was pitlj- «» J / fond of the festival of St . MnUhlaM ( 21 th ol lob •« J * and sanctified it beyond all othor days , I ) OC "" ° ' , muI day ho was elected Emperor , on that « lny erovrntu .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 20, 1858, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20111858/page/22/
-