On this page
-
Text (4)
-
Untitled Article
-
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
3 lr . S . Sackett returned thanks . He had novvpre-¦ < ied ' at the Board of Guardians some fifteen years , during the whole of which time his motto had been t carry the poor law out with firmness , yet with humanity—with justice to the ratepayers , and with 1 urnanity to the poor recipients of the charity . ( Applause . ' ) He was happy to testify to what the chairman had remarked—of there being but few ablebodied in the union . "Whenever it could be done work was procured those who could perform , it , and thus the pernicious effect of idleness were prevented .
To effectuate this , the guardians had taken , ten acres of land to cultivate with the spade , the result of which was most successful , as they obtained from it at the end of the year a profit of £ 50 to the guardians . ( Applause . ) He gave an assurance that it would be his endeavour , while continuing in the office to do all he could to promote economy ; while promoting those ends of humanity that should not cause pain to those who were driven there for shelter . ( Applause . )
Untitled Article
BOROUGH BRIBERY . An " ex-M . P . " has been writing to the Times , exposing the bribery system . Of course , he speaks with authority ; doubtless , from experience . A few passages from his last letter will show that the openand gross form which bribery assumes at St . Alban ' s is not the worst which is to be found . The " Edwards " at St . Alban's gives other " Edwardses " lend . " Mr . Edwards has advanced in loans to some hundred electors sums of money varying from £ 5 to £ 300 , and in one or two cases even more than the latter sum . I think there has been £ 7000 or £ 8000 lent ; these sums carry interest at five per cent . The interest of the smaller sums is seldom called for , except to keep the debts from falling under the Statute of Limitations , or to punish an the is
offending elector . The interest on larger sums generally paid . All the sums have been advanced to electors for their votes and interest , though perhaps not always immediately before an election . Iamsure , Sir , every one must see the difference of this system of bribery to that of St . Alban ' s . There , as far as has appeared in the evidence , the elector , having voted , is again a free and independent elector ; at the next election he is again open to the highest bidder . Here he is under the greatest thraldom ; should he presume to wish to support the other side , the loan , increased by the interest , is called in ; and it is well known persons who will accept such small sums as £ 5 or £ 10 , have seldom it in their power to pay . And the opposite side , although they may make a show of opposition , know the system is too well organized to make it advisable for them to advance mouey . Of course , to work this systemthe ' Mr . Edwards' must be a
, shrewd , cunning man , not over scrupulous , or burdened with much conscience ; and he well knows that the elector once in his hands cannot escape , should he attempt to do so , he is sure to suffer for it . This loan-lending is constantly s ? oingon , and is charged to the member ' s account . Then , Sir , follows the corruption on every opportunity , a municipal election , a parochial meeting . When ' Mr . Edwards ' considers a dinner necessary there is one . The member sends his venison and game . ' Mr . Edwards , ' to keep his party in good humour , invites the small voters—not only those whom he has caught , but those ho thinks are to be had . They enjoy a good dinner , drink to excess , and are most happy and satisfied , as no payment is expected from them . Their hill is sent by the landlord ( who is one of ' Mr . Edwurda ' s ' agents ) t . i ' Mr . Edwards . ' It is paid by him , and charged in
the member ' s account . " After stating what special grievances he thinks the new Reform Hill ought to remedy , he sketches in another form the prevailing evil . " The borough I am writing of is a small town , with a few agricultural parishes joined to it by the old Helen m Act " Tlic fanners , in the first place , will be under the command of their landlords , and if one man possesses a large estate in the parishes he will , to extend his influence and make the return of ins nominee certain , commence bribery on the loan system . And , Sir , the farmers arc as needy—are as much in want of moneyas the townspeople . They are quite as willing to accept loans ( I know , myself , at the present moment ., ot a ease where the farmer , who has been hitherto a most determined empower of 'Mr . Edwards , ' has accepted a loan ,
and , from an enemy , haH become himself and hia connections of ' the party ' ) ; but , Sir , the money was given by a third person , not by ' Mr . Kdwardu ' ; atill it is entered in the member ' s account ; and when they once belong t . o the party' the tradesmen of the village—the blacksmith , wheelwright , harness maker-must go with them , e > r 'Mr Kdwards' will set up another person m the-ir trades and all the farmers' custom goes to the new man . The question ankeel by all men in the town and iu the country parishes who lire iu trade is 'Shall I ofle-nel Mr . Kilwanbi ? ' lie prevails everywhere . I mi ^ ht . name many grosi ; erases of bullying by p . THO . is who are direct . eel by 'Mr 1-Mwards , ' but . the above is Mifhcient . I hen , Sir , look at . the jobbery of the patronage ot the borough , the ( J . iveiim , e ; nt . and the local . In regard to the lorma ,
the member never listen * to any request , except itcejine-H through 'Mr . Kdwardis , ' and lie always re-commend * bin nominee The- jobbery of the le > cal patronage is a more « eriouH affair fo ' tlie- ratepayer * . The' town eouiicil , lourlilt . hu of it are' ' the party , ' he-ade ; d by'Mr . hdwareln . All the puiilollieer . s of the ; boroug h bele . ng to ' the- party ; anil , lliou h illegal , the-se K ei » llemi-n Ire eiuently have bill * , which are passed by the council ; and il a ge > oel job Jh to be- done , why , ' Mr . Edwards' takes rare a tnidesman "hall have it , who must , ingratitude , velum the ; lundnesH by Huppe > rting ' the- party . ' " it ) il not u ulrong charge iigmiust pant and present
Governments that they have so long tacitly permitted the continuance of this iniquity ? Depend upon it Lord John Russell ' s peddling next session will not touch the evil .
Untitled Article
ASPECTS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IN AMERICA . [ Some time ago we published a letter addressed to " Ion , " by a gentleman of the legal profession , upon a new discovery in Social Science . The following letter written from " Modern Times" is a continuation of the same interesting subject . The writer obligingly transmits two works by Stephen Pearl Andrews , the chief expounder of the new theory . ] Modern Times , September , 1851 . Dear Ion , —I left England not against my will . Amongst the reasons which caused me to feel happy , rather than distressed , at my contemplated expatriation , was the conviction that in the United States of America the Social problem would be first solved—completely solved ; and that there , sooner than anywhere else , would superior Social arrangements come into being and yield satisfactory fruits .
I thought this first because here there exist , and have for some time existed , many and various communities of people practising Social moralities altogether different from those of the old world . All manner of Social experiments are going on . Many of them of years and years ' standing . These experiments , I judged , must have a twofold operation , on the one hand preparing the minds of the people generally for fundamental Social reforms ; and , on the other hand , furnishing the thoughtful with materials on which to reason . I believe I may say that these experiments have sufficed already to settle definitely several points . Their
number and extent are greater than is supposed in Europe . I am informed , on respectable authority , that there are fifty-two Shaker villages in the United States . These prove , at least , on thing , that starvation , or the possibility of starvation , is by no means necessary as an inducement to labour . And more , they prove that neither the pressure of want , nor the incitement of competition , is necessary to spur to production . The Shakers are universally industrious—as industrious as they can be . Their productions are proverbially excellent in the highest degree . Their religious system alone prevents the higher developments of industry — intellectual , artistic .
On the other hand , not the Shakers alone , but a great variety of other communities , seem to have almost equally well established the fact that systems involving community of property are destructive of personal liberty to such an extent as to render them unbearable , except where either strong religious feeling , or some other dominant influence , exists sufficient to render men willing subjects of despotic power . I know not how many attempts to establish communities on what were supposed to be rational principles , have failed from this
cause , but the number is large . I shall obtain more exact information on this point in due time , and all I learn you shall be informed of . Every attempt , I believe I may say confidently every attempt , to establish a community on the basis of the annihilation of private , individual property has utterly failed , except where it has been an absolute despotism , and where also some powerful religious influence has been at work , and , still further , where this influence has been absolutely inimical to inquiry and all intellectual progress .
There is certainly one exception . But this example would not be taken into account at all by the English public ; and you may judge of the extent of dee inquiry in this country as compared with England , when I tell you that here the exception te > which 1 refer is the subject of much attention anel dispassionate cemsuleratiem . It is the ease of certain reliti ; ie ) us . sects , and in particular e > f erne ealleelby themselves " The Free Church e > f Christ , " who have adopted what they call " complex marriage . " This is , in fact , what , would be at . emce stigmatized in 1
Englanel as the pre > mise ; ue > us intercoursee >( the- sexes , altheiugh really it is not . se > . lint one ^ real . elillicull . y that has hclpcel to assail all iie > n-re > ligious e-. oiiiinunitie-s is at e > ne stroke , cut entirely away . The-abolition of private property , and the- re-t . e-nt . ioii e > f any system hy whic : h erne indivielual has a meinopoly e > f the He > e : ie-t . y and intereemrse e > fany other iiulividual , is a flagrant inconsistency . These ; " Free Church " men have rejeet . e'el that ine : emsist , e'ncy . The ; great leveling principle ! e > f this singular people ; is , that all the aetiems e > f life- e ) ut ; lit to lie uueiertake ; n with a view t . o the ; attainment of perfection—perfce : tie > n in all , perfection in being , pe'rfeetiem in produe ; tion , pcrfectiem in the individual , pe-rfectiem in the ; race .
JJut 1 ne'cd waste' no more time e > r space ; e > ve-r these ; ptirfcetieuiistH . I will only nay that they ceniKtele-r all inte're-emrse ; with cae : h either shemld be ; in e've-ry re : spe-el regulateel by this perfective ; law ; that , in it . they should Hee-k t . he ; ir own perfection unel each e > lhe-r \ s , as well as that , of their oil ' spring ; that , fe > lh > wing this ielea , and bringing t . e > be-ar upem the- que . st . iem . e : e-rt . aiii alleged physiological facts , the-y aboliNh all manure as be-t . wee'n individuals anel live t . eigeM . he-r as erne ; hiisbanel and one ; wile , the- details of which arrunge-me ; ut 1 need not cnte-r iut . e > . L am infe > rnieel that the-y are- a large and pre > spernUH community ; that , the ,- utmost , h . irmony and aH < e : tion prevail ; that , t . o st . ntnxe ; rs they appear like ; e > ne ; family e > l brothers anel tii .-itcrs ; anel that they are- eiiiihle-el to e : emelueit . t . heii allairs without , the despotism which nt . ainn other communitie-s , while ( ret ? iuepiiry e > n ; ill subje'e : t . n prevails amongst t . heiu , and , eon / -ee | iu nt . ly , a high de ' grec of intellectual and u-sllie-tie ; eailiinc .
Hut 1 must , pass to aue > t . her of my reasons fur bi ; - lii'viiig that , to the- United . States is 1 Chci-veil i . he ; hemour anel happiness involved in seilving the ; gre-ut Social problem ; and I will adduce the fuel , that here * » he ; lanel the all iu all-in available let the people . This letter in diiteul ( Venn a projected town , whie : h is he ; ing formed fen the purpe ) sc of e ^ uryin ^ ' emt . in all their ' fullneii ;; the )
principles slightly hinted at in my last . Here we haye been able to secure 800 acres of land available for the erectiem of a town without the actual outlay of a dollar , except for the survey of a small part and the purchase of some half dozen acres to commence upon . The " Cost Principle " I spoke of in my last might possibly be got into operation some other way in a European country ; but a whole city could not be laid out and erected on land kept at one uniform price of less than £ 4 per acre I Again , the habits of this people have prepared them for rapid changes of employment . To any great and successful Social Reform this is very necessary . The problem is to redeem the labourer from the exactions of what is ( wrongly ) called Capital ; a task next to impossible if at the very outset you find the labourer universally degraded into a mere " appendage to some should
trade , " as Andrews says . That every man De able successfully to follow half a dozen different occupations I do not contend ; but where no man can do anything but just one thing which he has always done , perhaps make the twentieth part of a pin !—a great Social Reform on truly fundamental principles is not hopelei 8 , hut immeasurably difficult . _ # And then there are our political immunities . We have no such atrocious partnership laws as you can boast in England ; no Joint Stock Companies Act ! no Governmental inter
Combination Laws ! no jealous - ference . And if we had any legal hindrances , we should abolish them in a trice . While on the other hand , the laws are themselves continually recognizing and enforcing more and more of the social rights claimed for the people . It would fill the remainder of this sheet to detail the admirable , the glorious concessions to social advance that have of late years been inscribed on the Statute Book of New York State ! This subject deserves at least one whole letter , and I reserve it accordingly . here
Another reason , the people are more independent than in Europe ; let foreigners say what they will , the people are more independent both of law and of custom . You may have heard of our talked of new female costume . Now , apart from the fact that an industrial aim lies concealed in this very reform itself , what did we see last 4 th of July ? The factory girls of Lowell setting the fashion ! With perfect decorum and order did these most veritable young ladies parade ^ the streets of that town , arrayed in the new and beautiful Bloomer dress ; and if they attracted attentionthey met with no sign of disrespect .
, I thought then , a year ago , that to have any chance for living myself in the midst of superior social arrangements , ol- even for leaving my children in such when my own life had passed away , I must come to this country ; and now I think so very much more than I did then ; or rather , I think that the Social Reform will come here not merely sooner than in Europe , but soon . For aught I know , it may be very near at hand . You shall be able ere long to judoje for yourself . But it is time to return to the subject briefly noticed in my last , And I would first observe , in reference to
Thornton Hunt ' s article on Communism , in the Leader of July 2 G , that the partisans of the new Social Science maintain , that the evil to be combatted docs not , as has been supposed , lie in competition . Upon the Cost principle competition is changed in its nature . It ceases to be in any respect an evil , and becomes an unmixed good , by being simply changed in its direction . On the Cost principle it is " directed exclusively to the point of perfection in workmanship ; not at all to the point of remuneration . But this will probably not be understood with further knowledge of what the Cost principle is .
Another point ocuurs to me in connection with the same article . The object to be attained in the Social Hcforin , one object at least , is Cooperation—universal Cooperation . Uut we maintain there has been another error here , in supposing Cooperation to involve necessarily cemihination , association of interests , all which we repudiate * . I say we , but merely as representing for the time Mr . Anelrews ' s vie ; ws . It is evident , however , from all the : experiments which have taken place in thin country , that combined interests are an obimxiems interference ; with individual freedemi . In Europe the pe ; ople have so long been accustemied , all e > f you , to endure ; elespotic power , you are ; : se > t . he > niughly Dogberry ridden , that yem elo ne » t see this point ; so ' strongly as we elo he ' . rc . Uul , citizens of the- Unite-el States will ne > t submit to intci fe ; iene ; c with their pe-rsemal indepenelencc—they woulel fight rather , e > r starve !
And it is impeissible that the impending Social Reform shenild invetlve a retrogression in this respect . The ; people have ; e .-ve-ry where hael to le ; arn the- le-sson linst . e >( Liberty ; the Kquality and l ' 'rate ; rnit . y whie : h legit imate-ly lollenv in the wake of that cannot reeiuire its ele ^ tructiem . 11 . K .
Untitled Article
HOW Til ] -: ( iAMK LAWS WORK . ( j iaine ; pivse'rving invedve-s terrible e ; onHee | ue'ne ; e's rural eleinenali / . at . ion for e ; e rt , ain , ele-alh pe ; rhaps . tSomeexamples of beith have' late-l y eiceairre-el iu Netrtolk . For Home months past , the parishes of Letton , . Shipdhaiu , Cranworth , anel their iu-ighbe » urhoe > d , have ; be .-en iiifcsl . e . el by gangs of poachers , whe > se : proce-t .-elin ^ s have- been e >( ;» . ine > st outrage-ous eharact . eu" ; parties of ten e > r twelve ye > eing men g ) ing abe > ut , night after ni ^ ht ., arincet with loaded guns , in pursuit . e > i game-. The-y have e > f late alrao . st cl < ; ue ; el t \ ic e-slale- of l \ l r . Hrampton ( Jurelou e > f L'anie- ; nid even pi eicee-dcd so far as to thre ; ate-ii the life
e » f his game-kee-pe-r , Mr . Whit ear , if they were not . alletweil U ) eh > ; is t . he-y p leased . Mr . ( hirelon , in ceMiKe-queiice , e : e ) iisielere-el it . ne-ce-sHary te > e . all in the aid of the- pedice-. Late on . Saturday nh . ' , ht , a body of at least eh : ven int n Hurrounele-d the he-line- e > l Mr . White-ar , imel having ex .-ainineel all the : oullmilelingn , whe-re the-y iniagiueel lie nti ^ ht po .-ihibly he ; c . ime : e-ale-ej , anel ransae ; ke'el the wlieile of his preimi . se s without , ( inelin ^ him , the-y dare-el him with hitler ijnpre-e : atie > ns to eonie forth , .-. wearing that , il he- eliel tlie-y woulel shoot , him ; anel tlie-n , be-feui ; leaving , the-y ( ir « -el e > ll their | . miuk lit . his lieuiiie ; . Last . Meuielay week , { Superintendent J . ' arker , with about a dozen of the rural
Untitled Article
Dec . 20 , ^ 1851 . ] ffifH ? ? LF , l » f r . 1205
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 20, 1851, page 1205, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1914/page/9/
-