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May 24, 1851.] ©#$ 3Lea*tX. 495
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THE EBENEZER, NEAR THE NIAGARA. FALLS. T...
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dta Cnrarril
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— v [In this department, as all opinions...
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There is no learned man but will confess...
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THE MALTHUS CONTROVERSY. THOUGHTS ABOUT ...
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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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Heculalt .Kduoation In (Jalasiiielb. A P...
education should be made as neatly universal in its application as possible . "That the mass of ignorance which still prevails demonstrates the insufficiency of existing efforts—public and private—to educate the people . " That the crime which also still prevails , being obviously , to a great extent , the result of that ignorance , would be mo ' st effectually removed by the abolition of the cause which produces it while , at the same time , the anomaly of punishing breaches of morality , without inculcating its precepts , would become unknown . " Your petitioners , therefore , respectfully trust that your Honourable Hous e will seriously consider these statements , and provide the means of education which the condition of the people appears to demand .
" As important contributors to the taxation of the country , your petitioners feel that education is an universal want which ought to be universally supplied ; and that , therefore , all matters upon which discord exists in the public mind ought to be avoided . " The education which your petitioners would prefer , and submit to your Honourable House as preferable , is one in which the requisite schools shall be placed under local management , guided , but not controlled , by a trustworthy central authority . " Your petitioners further submit , that in these schools secular instruction only should be given , free from any
intermixture of sectarian theological doctrines , which they hold it to be the province of parents and pastors to impart to the young of their respective denominations . " May it , therefore , please your Honourable House to take the premises into your consideration , and pass a law for the establishment and support , by local rates , and under local management and central guidance , but without intermixture of sectarian religious instruction , of such number of elementary schools as shall be deemed necessary for the secular instruction of the people of Scotland ; or to do otherwise in the premises as to your wisdom shall seem meet . "
May 24, 1851.] ©#$ 3lea*Tx. 495
May 24 , 1851 . ] © #$ 3 Lea * tX . 495
The Ebenezer, Near The Niagara. Falls. T...
THE EBENEZER , NEAR THE NIAGARA . FALLS . The following passage from the pen of Park Goodwin , of New York , relates to a recent instance of Associative experience : — " An associative village has been established about seven miles from the city of Buffalo , and not far from the Niagara Falls , called Ebenezer . It is a colony of some one thousand Germans , who , about four years since , emigrated from Germany , where they were not allowed so free an opportunity as they wished for carrying out their peculiar plans . They were not driven to the undertaking by any civil or religious oppressions , nor actuated by any peculiar fanaticism , but simply by the desire to live a pure , spiritual , and happy life . Many of them were able to contribute from three to fifteen thousand dollars to the common stock , while one put in fifty , and another as high as a thousand dollars . With a portion of these funds they came to America , and purchased about seven thousand acres of Indian reservation land .
" They have cleared completely , and put up in the best order , nearly five thousand acres of their land , erected a . great many miles of durable fences , planted twenty-five thousand fruit-trees of various sorts , settled three compact villages , about one mile apart , each containing one hundred large and commodious dwellinghouses , some thirty or forty barns of the largest size , and most substantial structure , four saw-mills , which are kept constantly running , one flour-mill , one oil-mill ,
one large woollen factory , calico printworks , a tannery , a variety of workshops for mechanics , public-halls , and several school-houses . Besides these , they possess extensive herds of cattle and swine , their sheep alone numbering above two thousand head . Indeed , their property , with its improvements , is estimated to be worth more than a million dollars , which , if divided , would give ten thousand dollars to each man , woman , and child on the domain . Such are some of the internal advantages of unitary labour .
" Ihcir gardens , yards , and fields , display refined taBte , and the highest state of cultivation . All of a suitable age , both male and female , are required to work at auch business as either their taste , genius , or habit may render lit . And whenever , from any cause , such as change , of weather , or sudden ripening of a crop , an extra number of hands aro needed , they can brir . g fifty or a hundred hands into the fields ut once , with any requisite number of teams ; and thus enjoy great advantages in cultivating and securing their crops . Their cloth and other manufactured articles arc made in the b Ht manner ; and their farm operations are crowned with the highest BUC . C . ONH .
" Heparate barna , spacious and well ventilated , are provided for horses , oxen , cows , yearlings , calves , and sheep . So that they are all sheltered in the most comfortable manner during the winter , and apartmentB for the sheep are thoroughly whitewashed four or ftvo times a-year . Then then : are a series of barns , say 1 « H ) by 40 feet in size , standing in a line , eight or ten rodn apart ; Rome with hay , others with wheat , others with oatn , barley , & c . ; and then again other rangeu of buildings ene-loning hundreds of tiwino ; and others still , to accommodate all tho poultry bciloii ^ iufr to tho community .
" 1 hey have not yet erected any unitary uiauHion , most of the families preferring separate dwellings and households - ^ but their cooking , washing , and other doinostic operations , are done by divisions often families each , tn > ns to avoid the confusion of a largo number on ouoliuiul , or waste and trouble of an extreino isolation of families on the other . , The plan i * . found to work pretty well . " The children are required to attend the noIiooIk , where they are iiiHtructcd in all branches of useful knowledge , » nd in the English and ( Jerman languages . They are carefully intruded in their moral dutieu , though I believe no speciHc forms of religion aro titught . The larger portion of the community aro attached to the Lutheran church , but do not ineiHt upon others . "
The National Refobm League . —Mr . O'Brien presided over the quarterly meeting of this League , at the Eclectic Institute , on the 23 rd of April . The report of the Council alluded to the Chartist programme as one of the encouraging proofs of the advance of the doctrines of the League . It decidedly protested against the " untried and problematical theory of Communism being put forward as the sole means by which society can be regenerated . " The report congratulates the members o n the
advancement of the principles of the League . On Tuesday evening last a concert was given at Johnstreet Institution , in aid of the " National Charter Fund . " The services of the singers were volunteered for the occasion—a handsome tribute to the popular cause . Mr . H . T . Holyoake conducted the concert , which was greatly applauded , most of the songs being encored ; and the evening passed off in a manner which must have been highly gratifying to the promoters . We understand that concerts will be given monthly .
Redemption Society . —One of the propositions to be submitted to the coming Congress is the creation of a Propagandist fund ; another is the engagement of a paid secretary . The growing importance of the society now demands such an assistant , yet he cannot be paid out of the funds collected for the Communal objects of the society . A general Propagandist fund from all the branches would supply the requisite funds without being felt by any . His labours will be of the utmost use to the society generally . Of course we calculate upon his being an efficient lecturer , and able to furnish paragraphs and articles to the press . We cannot well undervalue the services of a good secretary , who will make himself useful . We trust the -various branches will well weiah this
matter . It is expected that the first camp meeting this year will be held on Long Moor , near Dregglington . It is a central position , not" far from Bradford , Birstall , Birkenshaw , Clackheaton , Heekmondwicke , Geldersorn , & c . Monies received—Leeds , £ 1 5 s . 7 d . ; Manchester , per Mr . Bloomer , £ 1 14 s . ; Burnley , per Mr . Uttley , £ l 3 s . 6 d . At a meeting of the committee appointed by the Bury Cooperative Conference , held on the 11 th , at Rochdale , it was resolved to call a conference , to be held in Manchester on the Friday in Wuitsun week , at ten o ' clock in the morning . The place of meeting will be made known before that time . Societies numbering more than twelve members , and less than 112 , to send one delegate , and
one more for every additional 100 members . Messrs . Hill , Greenwood , and Bell were appointed a committee to prepare a programme for the guidance of the conference , get it printed , and send a copy to all the cooperative concerns they know of . The committee recommend the establishment of a general dep 6 t in Manchester for the sale of all kinds of grocery goods and provisions ; to raise a capital of £ 2500 to start the cooperative stores , on private individuals , and pay interest at the rate of five per cent . ; and they particularly request societies to get guarantees from their officers , as parties entrusted with sums of money or goods , through the medium of some guarantee society , in order to avoid losses . Stores are requested to purchase such articles , as they can buy best from the London store , Charlotte-street .
Halifax . —On Sunday last two exceedingly effective lectures on the question of Cooperation were delivered in the large room of the Odd-Fellows Hall , by Dr . F . It . Lees , of Leeds . The audience on each occasion was good . Dundee Ragged School . —Among other useful institutions of modern date in Dundee is an industrial ragged school , in which a considerable number of children are well housed , wholesomely fed , and moderately taught ; and , in addition to rudimentary knowledge , there is the practice of trades imparted . The average coat is about £ 5 per child per annum . The boys go with the male teacher to his church on Sundays , and the girls go to where the female teacher worships . The teachers are selected according to fitness , and not according to religious views . Lord Kinnaird is opening coffee-houses in Dundee , which is a piece of praiseworthy consideration for the working men .
Mil . Cameuon . —We have to lament the death of one of the fathers of Communism , Mr . William Cameron died in Leeds , of inflammation of the lungs , on Monday night , April 28 , in his fifty-ninth year . He commenced an active Communistic life with Mr . Mudie , in London , in 1823 . lie went to Orbit > toi > by the recommendation of J . M . Morgan , Ksq ., and had the management of the tailoring department there till the final break up . lie has taken an active part iu every communal and co-operative attempt which lay in his way since he joined the Redemption . Society , when residing at llommlow . Last year he removed to Leeds , and soon after became a member of the board of directors , at which his attendance was unremitting .
Tin ; Mormons' City on the Salt Laick . —Three years ago the Mormons arrived in Salt Lake Valley , in the Rocky Mountains , " and their progress in laying out a city , buildings , fencing , farms , & c , is truly wonderful . The city is laid out in about twenty different wards , and covers an area of three square miles . It already contains about 1000 houses , nearly one ulory and a-half high , built of ndobe , or sun-burnt brick . A fine stream of cold water rushes down from the mountains , which in distributed in ditches through every street in tho city , through the gardens , aud to the doors of the
dwellings , where it is used for culinary and other purposed . The ground whereon the city is built in sloping , which affords a great fall for the water , and keeps up a continual supply of fresh water from the mountains . The valley where the city ntunds is haiulHome , running east aud wost . Tho city is nituate about three miles from the Timpanngos mountains <> n the east , within five of the Utah outlet , on the Houth-east , and within twenty miles from tho ran ^ e of mountains on the south , within twenty-two miles of the ( 3 real Salt Lake . Its population in about 6000 , that of the valley 10 , 000 , exchuuve of the city . —Quoted iu the ( Jlasyuio Sentinel .
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— V [In This Department, As All Opinions...
— v [ In this department , as all opinions , however extreme , are allowed an expression , the edit 0 & necessarily holds himself responsible for none . ]
There Is No Learned Man But Will Confess...
There is no learned man but will confess be hath , much profited by readin g controversies , his senses awakened , and his judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . —Milton .
The Malthus Controversy. Thoughts About ...
THE MALTHUS CONTROVERSY . THOUGHTS ABOUT MALTHUS . April ' 22 , 1851 . Sir , — -I have waited in quiet anticipation of a renewal of the Malthusian discussion in the pages of your Open Council . Disappointed in rny expectation , I unwillingly occupy the space which should be accorded to more able and more experienced writers . It is not so much my object to defend the original position of Malthus , or the modified statement of Mill , as to " make such , suggestion and explanatory remarks as occur to me . That there is an excess of power in the principle of population over the principle of subsistence , is a theorem that would appear
at present to be incapable of positive demonstration . It is , indeed , undeniable that the history of the past shows us , in most , though not in all , instances a deficiency of the means of subsistence . TKe quantity of food which the natural fertility of the earth , aided by the skill and industry of its cultivators , has hitherto furnished , has been unequal to the adequate support of mankind . There is , however , no actual proof in this case , that what can be affirmed of the Past will apply to the Future ; or that what can be predicated of man , selfish and ignorant , can be
predicated of man , social and scientific . Under new arrangements , the productive power of the land , assisted by the combined industry and intelligence of society , and stimulated by the organizing genius of the predicted Watt of agriculture , may be so increased as to keep subsistence always in advance of population . Emigration armadas , an united Europe , a confederate world , will facilitate the operations of the marts of industry , and transfcV redundant population to uncultivated lands , and redundant production to the more sterile soils . While I
acknowledge the possibility of such events , I cannot consider the following observations quite supeifluous : — 1 . Since the dimensions of the earth ure limited , and the productive principle of population is not limited , we shall , in a few centuries , if the present rate of increase continue , have reached the term at which population must remain stationary ; or , since all further addition will be absolutely impracticable , without such fatal consequence , must return to a
phasis of misery and crime similar to the present . If population remain stationary , society will , at one stage or other of its progress , adopt a chock of some kind . One of those alternatives must he admitted The extent of lurid is limited ; the amount of population depends on the space which it has to occupy . Either the principle of population must be regulated , or society , after it has attained its maturity , will re-Kort to the deplorable condition of its childhood .
2 . Allowing that the human nice ia destined to realize that supremacy over the earth and over tho instrumciits of production which will for long ages make subsistence commensurate with population , yet there will always be exceptional periods , when the demand will exceed the supply . Eor tho perpetual improvementH of winch wo suppose the soil to be capable depend on fresh discoveries and now resources , which cannot be commanded at will , or at any rate will not bo ho commanded , until the complete formation of social and agricultural science . Again I say , a check must be employed during every such interregnum , whether it arise from deficient science , from exhaustion of available land , or from purely accidental causes ; or , if a check be not employed , the ills that desolate our mortal life will continue .
3 . While it is true thiit tho menus ot Bubaisto . nee , that in , the vegetables ami animals that servo as food for man , may increusu in a ratio more rapid than that in which the consumer himself increases ; yet , these means of subsistence are limited , not onl y because scionee in imperfect , and land not always available , but because tho oarth that produces them hnn no accommodating power of expuutuon . If wo increase
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 24, 1851, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24051851/page/19/
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