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dDrgiunjiittaM nf il)t tyttylt, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL.
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cD|mt Cnmtril. , n^h» i
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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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Ddrgiunjiittam Nf Il)T Tyttylt, Political And Social.
dDrgiunjiittaM nf il ) t tyttylt , POLITICAL AND SOCIAL .
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NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . It was stated at the meeting of the Executive , that Mr Watson , of Queen ' s Head-passage , has presented the Association with 2000 copies of a tract , entitled , " What is a Chartist ? " to be sold for the benefit of the Charter Fund . The following letters have arrived from Mr . Or . J . Holyoake and Mr . Julian Harney . Stockport , October 8 , 185 L Dear Aiinott , —Absence in the provinces has prevented me taking part in your Wednesday Councils , of late and for some short time longer it may be so . Perhaps , by way of compensation , I may regard myself as a species of free Missionary of Chartism , as means of serving it occur in my journeyings ; but I would rather join in the meetings of my colleagues , especially at this
The necessity of making such an " appeal" ( for so it will be regarded ) as that just published in reference to our funds , or , rather , want of funds , argues an unsatisfactory state of Chartist ideas , respecting the maintenance of their views and position . Will our friends never learn that if their principles are worth hulling they are worth maintaining ? If we are to answer for Chartism , we must be enabled to support it : wemustnot beset up as so many ciphers to represent abottomless Exchequer and a stranded party . Where are all the deputations who wait upon us time after time , and all the localities who stand up for
the entire Charter ? Is not their enthusiasm worth a few pence ? If they would subscribe an " entire " shilling each , we should be able to move . But your statement speaks of " liabilities . " What have been incurred must be met , but I can te no party to incurring more . I would go some lengths to serve Chartism ; I would serve it at the expense of liberty , perhaps of life ; but I will not go into debt to serve it ; for the sufficient reason that Chartism cannot be served in that way . A movement that attempts to live after that fashion , does not deserve to live . Let us give up our secretary , relinquish our office , rather than justify this suspicion .
When a Congress was about to assemble in London some two years ago , I asked a gentleman in Manchester what would be the best test t . h ^ t could be proposed to try the fitness of members of it , so as to secure their influence out of doors . " Simply that they should believe in their tradesmen ' s bills , " was the brief repb ' , ' and there is truth in it . There can be no lasting political influence that is not based on some moral character . And so small a proof as this of political sincerity is the Jeast we can give . Therefore , one of two tbings must take place . Either the Chartists must take care ( and that without twice soliciting ) that we are supplied with funds to meet all liabilities—or we must take care that there are none .
In my absence , therefore , understand me to vote for the liquidation of all existing claims , and against every proposition which Bhall in any way imply a new one . But I need not argue a point upon which there will be , probably , no difference of opinion among us . A course so severe as this will indeed restrict some of our operations , but it will the better entitle us to the cooperation of men of business and character . All men who love a self-sustaining course will be disposed to work with us . It has been a source of pleasure to me to see that Thomas Cooper has for some time been working for us ;
and I hope soon to find him working ivithus . In filling up any vacancy occurring in the Executive , our intelligent coworkers in the localities will not forget one so able to advance our common cause—one who is indeed the greatest missionary we have . Were I not a member of the Executive , 1 should take some means of communicating to the Chartists on this subject . So practical an ally as Mr- C . E . NichollB is proving himself would be < 1 ( Birablo as vacancies occur . I do not allude to Mr . ltobert lo Blond ; one who is our treasurer , and who so constantly sustains Chartism by his tongue , and his pen , and hid purse , is not likely to be out of the thoughts of any of us .
Mr . Arthur Trevelyan , whose name is familiar to the friends of every progressive cause , instructs me to pay you 40 a . as the subscription from him-Yourn faithfully , G . J . IIoi . yoakh .
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1 •¦ nipk-hill , Troon , Ayrshire , October 14 , 1851 . MyDi . au Ait no rr ,- I am ^ lad to sec ; that in response to the Executive ' s late »< l < lr <^ H , certain localities und individuals have forwarded their contributions towards discharging the doht of £ ' M . It is to bo hoped that what a few have already done will be imitated by the party in general , anil that a handsome balance will remain to band to the treasurer after payment of the debt . Should this hope not b «> realized , it . wiil become a serious question for the members of the Executive as to whether they will continue the t . hankUh . i ( jisk of serving on the eonunitt . ee . For myself , asking nothing of the association , I am not willing to make shipwreck <> f my honour personal and political in acting as the officer of a body , impotent for everything but that of getting into debt . Each member of the committee will determine his course . 1 have Haid enough to indicate that which circumstances may not unlikely determine me to lake .
The prf . seut nothingness nf Chartism is greatly to be deplored . The j ; ainc of political humbug will , as heretofore , be successfully played by sham reformers , through the want of a body powerful enough to spoil that game . As to Lord John ' s bill , it . in enough to say that no Kood thuiK can possibly come out of the Nazareth of Whiggery . When the skies fall , we shall catch larkH ; and » i > mo » ucU uuuttturul !> Uuuou ) vuoii will bo huio to U » u-
spire ere Lord John will set his seal to a measure of real reform . ,. . . ., . nF I observe with sorrow a disposition on the part ot some of our friends—even members of the Committee —to glorify the " Parliamentary Reformers for their enlarged liberalism ! In the Leader of the 4 th instant , our friend " Ion , " trumpets the ate Manchester meeting , and tells as that , " the points of the new Parliamentary Charter are so comprehensive as to merit the description of being the largest practicable measure of reiorm the people can ask of the House of Commons . " . . ^ , . , ' how
If such is" Ion ' s" conviction , I do not see he can consistently continue a member of the Executive , of a body existing to obtain what he must hold to be an impracticable measure . He appro ^ s of Sir Joshua Walmsley ' s fling at " untractable ultraliberalism "; that is to say Chartism . The talk about « great concessions made to the people is an insult By what right do Sir Joshua and Co . assume the authority to withhold or concede rights at their pleasure ? It is not true that the " the overtures now made are generous and truthful . " The Editor of the Leader , too , asserts that " that which the Parliamentary Reformers now stand for is ' Universal Suffrage ' — the representation of the whole people , " &c &c . " The Extension of the Suffrage to every occupier of a tenement , or portion of a tenement . " sounds very fair ; but there must be some
system of registration . Will the Editor of the Leader tell us whether we are to have Charter registration , or the registration always hitherto set forth by the little Charter men , namely , " for which the occupier shall be rated , or shall have claimed to be rated to the relief of the poor . " Has this rate-paying qualification been thrown overboard ? If so , how is it the Parliamentary Reformers have kept a matter of so much importance to themselves ? Moreover , let me ask what system of reg istration do they now favour ? They hold fast by Triennial Parliament * , for the working of which see France . They shirk Payment of Members , clearly to keep working men . out of the House of Commons ; while the abolition of the Property Qualification would enable them to secure the return of their own paid , needy , and unscrupulous hirelings . As to the " honest tone , " " boldness of speech ,
• 'broadness of sympathy , " " vigorous" and " warmer spirit , " old birds understand this kind . of chaff . Let them give bold measures , broad principles , and details strictly according therewith , and then 1 will trust them ; but until then I will trust them not . I mig ht have said much more , but I will not trespass on the time of the Committee . Health and Fraternity , G . Julian Harney .
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Redemption Society . —At the meeting held on Wednesday , October 8 , the whole of the laws for the cooperative store were passed , and the following persons , with the president , vice-president , secretary , and treasurer of the Redemption Society , were appointed managers of the store : —Messrs . J . Iiamsden , W . Ramsden , J . Ruddock , J . Grasham , R . Jones , R . O . Cameron , W . Laycock , and J . T . Wilson . Auditors : Messrs . J . Ardill and T . Jones . Moneys received for the week : — Leeds , £ 1 . 4 s . lid . ; Edinburgh , per Mr . Rrnton , 2 a . ; Etruria , per Mr . Wilbraham , 6 s . 5 d . Building Fund : —Leeds , 5 s . 6 ( 1 . ; Edinburgh , 6 d . Propagandist Fund : —2 s . Gd . — J . Hhndkuson , Secretary .
There i . i no learned man but will confess he hat . h much profited b y rciidnif' cont . rovernieji . Inn senses awakened , nn < l hi . ijud { . ( i ( ieut . sharpened . 11 , t . lien , if- t « : protit-alde Cor him to read , why should it , not ., ul . least ., be tolerable lor his adversary t . o wril . e . —Mii . ton .
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IS POLAND STILL ItKVOLUTIONARY ? * ' Kvcry handful of youi cailli in a relic of niai t j r : i . " Heptcnil . cr •„» : { , lK . > l . Sir , --Men who have ntmlicri Poland only from books , or from articles of newspapers , continue to speuk , write , and print that ' Poland must , have ceased to be revolutionary , nay , him < -e , ised to wish for independence , since sho did not seriously join the universal enthusiasm which in 1 H 4 H and 18 19 prevailed throughout . Europe . As a Pole , may 1 he allowed , through the medium of your valuable paper , t . o investigate whether thone mm , — Home of whom , doubtless , entertain the best fetilingH towards my country , —are right in hucIi assertion ? ftuu whether roland ' u tim > e doBi > otig
having made in her turn , as did some other Peoples , an isolated movement , let us first draw the attention of the reader to the series of bitter lessons and disappointments she has experienced ever since 1793 ; how often she has risen to shake off her thraldom , and how those lessons and disappointments have taught her to wait till it be meet for her again to take up arms , knowing , as she does , that she must reckon only on her own resources , which are all in the hands of the three foreign despots .
spoliators and oppressors have really succeeded , either in rendering their tyrannical sway supportable to my countrymen , or in crushing and denationalizing them so that they have ceased to be Revolutionists and Poles ? Before coming _ to the justification of Poland for her not having joined the universal enthusiasm prevailing throughout Europe in the years 1848 and 1849 , or rather—to be nearer the truth—for her not
When , in 1793 ( after Poland s two previous partitions , she was menaced by a third one , by which her surrounding hostile neighbours could erase her from the list of independent nations , she resolved to rise , to prevent that deadly blow ) , Thadeus Kosciuszko , who bravely fought for the American independence , put himself at the head of the national movement . He read the decress of the French convention of November the 15 th and December 18 th , 1792 , and in them the following significant
sentences : — " Wherever she ( France ) enters , she ought frankly to declare herself a revolutionary power , to be undisguised , and ring the alarum-bell . If she neglects to do so , if , instead of acts she gives but words , the peoples will not have the strength to break their fetters . " And further , ' * Let us encourage those invaded peoples , let us give them a solemn declaration that we will never treat with their tyrants . Should there be some of the peoples which would be base enough to treat with tyranny , France will say to them , * From that moment you are my enemies ! ' and she will treat them as such . " - ? -& ' ¦
Such words encouraged Xosciuszko in his Jsacred enterprise , and knowing , as he did , the exhausted state of his country , brought on by a continuance of sanguinary resistance against foreign invasion and oppression , as well as the mis-erable state of the military forces , which the late King of Po ! and , 'Stanislaus Augustus , agreeably to the wishes of Catherine II ., had purposely neglected and moreover , seeing the foreign invaders already in the land watching every movement of the nation , he sent an envoy to the Government of the French republic , asking for a succour of 10 , 000 men . The envoy , having obtained the permission to appear before the two committees , viz ., that of public safety and that of general security , then constituting one deliberating body , in order to receive the message , and to take a decision ad hoc
thus addresed the assembly : — " From the shores of the Seine to those of the Vistula , the voice of Liberty has resounded . The alarum-bell ia being rung in Poland . The insurgents have sworn to restore liberty to their unfortunate country ; their first steps have already led them to victory , but the torrent of our enemies is daily swelling , and although thousands of Polish patriots come out as if from the bowela of the earth , General Kosciuszko sees not without apprehension the country inundated by a deluge of Prussian and Muscovite troops . Fathers of the French llepublic ! Poland is also your daughter . Scarcely out of her cradle she stand in need of your assistance . 1 come to ; isk you in the name of the pupil of Washington , for 10 , 000 of those heroes , whom victory and liberty never cease to accompany . "
But , alas ! the " Fathers of the French Ttepublic , " following the advice of St . Just and Uillaud Vareimes , unanimously refused all assistance , on the unjustifiable ground , or rather pretext , that Kosciuszko committed the unpardonable crime of having been born a nobleman : " that alter all , his appeal waa not . that of a whole nation , but merely that of an individual , and that individual a nobleman , not legally constituted . " They entirely forgot , or pretended to have forgotten , that at that moment the Polish nation was
prevented from expressing its collective ; will by Russian and Piussian bayonets , hence , unable to make any other appeal but through one man only , und that it was absurd to require this man to be legally constituted . If there was anybody in Poland legally constituted , it was the King , by the grace of Catherine 1 L . Would they have ' treated with him ? Was not the atruggle in which the whole Polish nation was then engaged , a Kuilieient and the most eloquent appeal for help ? Had words more value in the eyes of those great French Republicans thun deeds ?
The result of that ungrounded refusal wan , that the Polish ltepublic , after a most sanguinary struggle of nearly two years against ( he combined arini * s of Ittissia and Prussia , and the loss of the whole population of Pmga , Miiiounting to nearly 1 . S . 000 souls , massacred in a lew hours by the savage ttuvnrolfthe Iltiynuu mid the Windiscbgrael . / . of that time , -wan overthrown » n < l blottwl out ol the map of Europe . . Such was the first disappointment which the Polish iiutiou nut . with , and which I date my investigations from ; and it cannot ho denied that it wuh u juwt bitter ; one , coming tw it did from u republican
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Oct . 18 , 1851 . ] gfK HeWt . 999 _
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[ IN TIIIH imi'ARTMKNT , AH AM . OPINIONS , 1 IOWKVUH HXTHKMB . A . UU * I . l . OWl ' . l ) AN V . XI' HUSH ION , Till ' . KDITOH NMCKMSAUILY HOI . DM 111 MMU 1 . F UU . srONSlllI . U l ' Oll MONK . J
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 18, 1851, page 999, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1905/page/19/
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