On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (6)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
(DrpnrmtiiiM nf tire %tu\tf
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
Untitled Article
tinction which the " Old Guards " confer on those ¦ wh o serve tlieiu . That Mr . Thornton Hunt is censured I , do not , of course , complain ( he does not complain himself ) , but I complain of the partiality of such censure . Why should one Member of the Executive receive this distinction , and not another ¦ who equally merits it ? This partiality is unfairin fine , it is ^ democratic . In all that Mr . Hunt did I coincided , and coincide still ; and it is not right that I should be excluded from those votes of condemnation by which " pure and simple" Chartists express their gratitude to those who render any difficult service to the common cause . . "U : ,. !•* 4-V . ^ / " \ U / tL „ 3- t > J » _ -Ll
KOSSUTH , O'CONNOR , AND THORNTON HUNT . ( A LETTER TO THE LOCALITIES . ) Professed Co-Workers , —Accounts are rendered weekly of resolutions passed in Chartist Branches , ondemning a Member of the Executive , Mr . Thornton H unt , for what is described as his conduct to Mr . Feargus O'Connor at the Copenhagen-fields meeting , and at the Highbury-barn Banquet . There is a roval peculiarity about Chartism which is curious . As the Imperial Court of France had its " Legion of H onour , " and as other Courts distribute Stars and Gaiters to whomsoever they intend to distinguish , so the " Imperial Chartists " have their Legion of Honour—which is Censure . Censure is the dis-Ik
Summoned to take part in the demonstration at Copenhagen-house , I arrived in London at midday , and at once proceeded to the grounds . I was refused admission , until I produced an order , which I was so fortunate as to have about me , but to which I had attached no importance , as I deemed my name would be sufficient . But a valued friend who had accompanied me from , the country was thrust back , nor could I procure him admission after I was in myself . I asked Mr . Hunt , to whom my friend was equally known , to grant me an order ; but he answered that no order could be given , as the Committee found it necessary not to add any to
those previously issued . Private interests I knew must always obey the necessities of public rules , and I consented to -witness my friend thrust by the crowd into the water in front , without my being able to admit him . When Mr . O'Connor claimed admission the same rule was assigned as the reason , and I acquiesced in it—not readily , but reluctantly in his case ; and thjp reason of my ultimate acquiescence was the understood disinclination of Kossuth to be subjected to the same annoyance as Mr . O'Connor had subjected him to at Southampton , and which was
the reason Mr . Hunt was compelled to propose to the Committee the omission of Mr . O'Connor ' s name in the invitations . Surely no gentleman but Mr . O'Connor would have so far forgotten the respect due to himself as to present himself before Kossuth when lie knew he desired to avoid him ? And when ho many thousands of the people had met to honour Kossuth , it became Mr . O'Connor , : is a friend of tin ; people , to absent himself when he found that his presence endangered the unity of the honour , and was likely to create discord , which would have destroyed the whole ; demonstration .
While Mr . O'Connor was demanding admission , application came-from another Member of Parliament , who was in the crowd , which application 1 referred to Mr . Hunt , as a matter of form , but ho refused to entertain it . Next , a lady , bearing an honoured name , Kent up her card to Mr . Hunt , asking admission in the name of Mazzini . Mr . Hunt was imlmrtial , and declined to break the rules . Yet Mr . Hunt , who inflexibly maintained the- rule ndoptod by the Committee of Management , who refused a Member ofl ' ailiament , refused the application of personal iriendK , and of the application ot a lady for whom ho bud great respect—( ltd break the rule—ho broke the inle in favour of Mr . O'Connor . Mr . Thornton Hunt , whom Chartists have ho readily and rudely
censured , whs the only man who incurred risk to pay 1 " < npect to Mr . O'Connor ; and la ; went out , un co vered , into the crowd , and in the presence of a hundred applicants for admission- —whom ho wan refusing— // ,, ¦ admitted Mr . O ' Connor ! Yet . thj . s is the man whom tins ChurtiHtu select to censure for disr < Hpeet to Mr . O'Connor . llefore even thin could be do ne , Mr . ltcynoMn had volunteered , and Mr . f 'le ming had hovn ( solicited , to uho hi * personal "dlueni'o to prove-nt Mr . O'Connor from forcing himself into KohhuiIi ' h private ; room or into bin path . Nothing in pliiincr than thin , that , if Mr . O'Connor "I'll retained tin , ; pridu of a ge ; uLlemii ! i , Hie slig htest "'» t that this wan not desired would havo kept him Mack ; thero would lmvo been no weed of surveillance .
At the Highbury-barn banquet I also acquiesced in Mr . O'Connor not speaking , and I appeal to any one who observed his conduct on that occasion , both to Louis Blanc and Mr . Coningham , and to the entire audience , whether he was not Mr . O'Connor ' s truest friend who endeavoured to restrain him from committing farther humiliations on himself ? He made himself the buffoon of the company—he sank himself down to the level of Elmzlie Duncan ; and when a leader of the people so far forgets himself as to play the buffoon , he lowers the entire party whom he represents . Who are the true friends of the people , those who would keep ^ this painful chapter unwritten , or those who force it to be written in honest explanation ? It is strange that gentlemen who cry " measures and not men" should get up an excitement in favour of men and not manners !
Let those who lead and foment this unwarrantable mania for censuring those who serve—not the prejudices but what is far more useful—serve the honour and character of Chartism , declare two things , and then they may be understood : — 1 . Whether as gentlemen ( or " working men , " for working men I hope are not without delicacy and honour ) , they would have forced on Kossuth the presence of a man he desired not to be mixed up with ? 2 . Whether they would , observing Mr . O'Connor ' s conduct at Highbury-barn , make for him facilities of lowering his own character more , and of lowering the character of his own party ? If they would , they can neither call themselves the friends of Mr . O'Connor nor the friends of Chartism . ¦ '
Certainly I would not notice this matter if I did not see that the Chartists are committing themselves ( under instigation of those who ought to know better ) all over the country , in the eyes of every one capable of understanding public propriety , public duty , or of taking any interest in Chartist character . But I believe they have too much good sense to persist in this course , if the rights of the thing were explained to them . Therefore I will ask insertion for
this letter in the Northern Star and Mr . Reynolds s Newspaper , and in , Mr . Ernest Jones ' s Notes for the People ^ that some portion of the other side of the case may be before the Chartist readers . I have always found that the Chartists are as ready as any other" body of politicians , to act fairly when they understand the merits of the whole case they are called upon to criticise ( which unfortunately they seldom take care to understand before they judge ) .
As to personal respect to Mr . O'Connor , I have always entertained this , and as Mr . O'Connor lately said in Manchester , I had always showed it to him ; and 1 have on more than one occasion publicly protested against the real disrespect put upon him by persons now forward in this incoherent O'Connor excitement . Even now I do not consider that Mr . O'Connor ought to be treated other than with kindness ; as Mr . Hunt delicately said , his conduct " is evidently not under his own control , " and lie
deserves our sympathy ; and none capable of feeling real kindness towards him would force him . into public life until repose has recruited his broken health and exhausted powers . Mr . Hunt has always paid Mr . O'Connor the respect and consideration due from one gentleman to another , and lie has done that in my presence when others , makers of loud protestations now , have not done it . I only mention this for the sake of undeceiving those who are being egrogiously misled on this matter . ||
Mr . Hunt is not aware that I have written this letter , and he will object to its appearance when lie is aware ? of it ; as he will think semie may regard it as a plea offered on his behalf , with a view to promote his election . Mr . Hunt is te > o independent tej offv'r one word in his own just defence at this time , lest it should be construed in the sense above stateel ; mid I rewpe'et that sentiment teio much te > impair such brave indiifert'iieje . Nor ejo X menu b y this to offer one worel e > n my own behalf cither . But , differently placed from Mr . Hunt , my duty to Chartists , at whose hands I accepted the responsibility of one of their representatives , elire ; cts me te > explain te > them the truth of a cuse em which others are silent , however the offering of such explanation may be regarded ,
For myself , I would not accept a single vote at the ; expense ; of silence as te > my real KcntiincntH , or by any incxplicitncsM leave the ; Chartists to suppose me different from what Lam . 1 know this , and everybody outside uh knows it al . se > , and Chartists ought to kne > w it . like : wi . se ! — that Chartism has been reduced by its imwine frionels te ^ a simple power for nn . se'hicl . it cuu de > harm , but it , 1 ms ne > pe )\ ve ; r ye ; t te > do ge > e > el . It . can bring di . scrcelit dm Iti'lorincrs—it can urrest
reform—il pan afford a pretest ( or the ; enemy to oppress uh i » e > n ; — and th : it is all it can ele > . It has taken the- present Executive a year te > enele > , ive » ur to alter thin e . lmriiulcr , uml create a power for good in this name of Chartism , and iiwakcn some ; respect fenit . Chartists are ; now advised to unele > this ; anil they Hi ; om ( lispemcd . to take ; the ; advice . Ofcour . se , the ; y cim plea . so themselves ; but they ought not to talk any more of the apathy of a movement , if the ; y condemn it to apathy or hindrance . What Chartism wants in , hoiuo friends who will muko it fair , ditsnustjumiito , pructicul . antfuolvont : who
will keep its expenditure within its available means , who will neutralize its mischievous tendencies—and who will carry on its political agitation in harmony with the equally honest agitations of our fellow patriots around—who do not go so far as we do . Chartism wants representatives who will be able to understand their own case , without misunderstanding every body else ' s , and who are able to be independent in their own position , without being intolerant and abusive to every body else . This is what I have endeavoured to do , this is what I shall still endeavour to do ; and if the Chartists want this kind of service , they may command mine ; but if they do not , I have no business and no wish to be among them . And this is all I shall say about the election . George Jacob Holyoake , Member of the Executive .
Untitled Article
with duty and all we esteem virtuous , as well as with the advancement of the race , whilst the beautiful so abundantly followed , needs , like our more vi olent feelings , some depression , lest it connect itself with the feeble emotions , and a loss of noble energy . Hephaistos .
(Drpnrmtiiim Nf Tire %Tu\Tf
( DrpnrmtiiiM nf tire % tu \ tf
Untitled Article
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL . irfc
Untitled Article
Dec . 6 , 1851 . ] & %$ IHta ^ tx . n 67
Untitled Article
FEDERATIVE UNION . At a meeting of the Kossuth Committee on Wednesday , the following report was presented on the reorganization of the committee on the basis of a ^ Federative Union : — " In our present state of social transition , the want of an active , rational , and efficient political organization of the people has been much felt . All the old sheiues , as the old clothes of society , are now worn threadbare and in tatters , while the new ones are too contracted and galling to the giant growth and developmentof the present generation . From every specific project in the past , the people have been diverted by official promises ; or by intrigues they have been divided and set against each other . In like manner , nation has been set against nation by official cliques bent on upholding that sj'Steni of secret diplomacy , national debt , and mercenary standing armies , which enable Goverinents to turn each nation against itself and against all others . The substantial interest of every People is the same ; every nation desires freedom as the true guarantee of peace ; peace as the opportunity for industry ; industry as the only mode to support existence and rentier it happy . The despotic Governments , and others not so called , are allied for their own purposes ; the Peoples , kept apart , are made the unwilling instruments for a warfare of arms or commerce , which may be called a reciprocal suicide . Peoples can never desire secret alliance , for their objects are substantial justice , the substantial welfare of the human race . Enable the Peoples to understand each other , and they would unite in the maintenance of common rights ; enable the severed classes of the country to unite once more as a nation , and they will be too strong for intrigues or sectional interests . " Acting upon these views , and in compliance with the expressed wishes of a number of the delegates of the working classes , your sub-committee present to your consideration the following draft of a plan : — "The Peoi'lj : s' Fedekativk Union . " The principles of the Peoples' Federative Union are these : —¦ " 1 . The real unity of the moral , physical , and social interests of all the nations of the earth . Their close commercial alliance by the development of the principles of free exchange in ' open commerce . ' " 2 . The absolute , social , political , and legal i : quai , ity of every citizen without distinction' — ' Universal Suffrage . ' " o . The gradual but speedy abolition of every monopoly . " 4 . A property tax equal to the national expenditure , and the abolition of all oiher taxes . * ' 5 . The right of every citizen to useful and industrial education . " * he right of every citizen te > benciicial employment . " 7 . Full aindunix'sti-ii : tcel liberty in matters pertaining to religion — the ' Voluntary System . ' " 8 . Open ( awopposed to secret ) diplomatic intercourse with other nations . " The primary efforts of the Federation shall be directeel to the entablishnient e > f hucIi means of alliance , direct , and immediate , between the Peoples of all nations as shall tend to neutralize the efforts of the amenta of det-ipotisin ; " To dispel the illusions which are the source of natiemal and factional discord ; " To secure for the people of Britain a correct knowledge of the political and social position of the Peoples of America and Fhirope ; ' ? And to se : iae upon all existing opportunities , anil take advantage of opportunities which may arise , for advancing in practice the principle already accepted — namely , that in the brotherhood of the ; Peopkn rent « the hope ol civilization , the anHurancc of our progress in tho peaceful arts , and the free development of inan ' tj nobler faotilticfs . 1 e > further the arrangements already e ; oininene : e « l and indicated in thin re-port , by obtaining th < - prai : tical a . shistance of otticrti be . st united to give ; it , your Hubooiruiiit te-ei would Hugg » . st that you . should give it leave te > adel te ) its number . Thornton Hunt . " The , above report wan ii ^ ri'e'il te > unanimously , and the ^ e . iK'rid committee adjourneel till YVediiesdny ne ; xt . ] ii : i ) i : Mi > 'i'ioN Hoi . 'inrv . — We have ; got , our cooperative Ht . on ; e > pe : n ; and although eloing in a very hiii / iII way at present , we ; hope ; by attention to the want . n of our huI > - HcriberH to iniue'ase' rapidly . All the ; lnininet , H of tho He > ciet . y in now tranmuitcel at No . ;> , Trinit . y-Ht . reet , JLe-eelH . Moneyn reeeive-el for th <; week : —l . e-cels , I'Jh . lid . ; Newe : itm , l ( , ' on-Tynt ' , per Mr . Johnson , JLl . '/«• '¦) d . ; lliulelentu ' eld , ll » . rre >(> aganelint . Fund , 2 H . 'l . Jtl .- —J . iliiWDJiitaON , Secretary , Q , Trinity-Btroot , Lvudu .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 6, 1851, page 1167, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1912/page/19/
-