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fcmily , should it not govern national economy ? Heduce * he annual charge for pauperism from five to four millions sterling , the million so saved , what is it but so much money retained in the hands of the people to be expended in the purchase of articles produced by the independent labour " at large" ? Reduce it two millions more , by the common-sense application of the labour of the poor to works of a reproductive character , and- the two millions go to the purchase of products in the general market . All this is quite irrespective of the Jiumane feature of the derived
question , or the collateral advantages by society from the instruction of the poor in habits of thought and industry , and their preparation for a future life of selfreliance . At all events , it is surely high time that Free Traders should cease to stultify themselves , and ignore their own principles , by calling out for " protection to native industry , " against the competition of the labour of our own poor—whom , whether we like it or not , we must support—after having exposed the same native industry , whether agricultural or manufacturing , to the competition cf all the nations of the earth .
" Publicola" is easily pleased with some things , for he derives great consolation from a recent return , which shows that the number of persons in England and Wales on the list for poor-relief , fell from 862 , 827 on January 1 , 1851 , to 835 , 360 on January 1 , 1852 , —the interval , be it remembered , having been one of remarkable activity and prosperity among the working-classes . The damninglact remains , that in a period of almost unprecedented animation in the principal seats of national industry , nearly a million of paupers , day after day , are fed , lodged , clothed , nursed , physicked , and buried at the expense of the community . That , under the present system of administering the poor-law , this burden will be augmented , in the inverse ratio to the ability to sustain it , in a season of monetary or manufacturing crisis , brought about by over-competition or other causes , which may operate under free trade as well as other systems , no one can for a moment
question . In glancing across the Channel , and contemplating the condition and prospects of " poor Ireland , " I am sorry that I cannot look through the rose-coloured spectacles which have been applied to the eyes of "Publicola , " who has discovered that " ¦ a process is going on there of a consolatory and encouraging character . " Alast this is but " fancy-scene painting , " which , he tells us , is the abiding sin of Mr . Carlyle . The annual charge for the support of pauperism increased from 37 , 000 / . in 1840 , to 803 , 000 / . in 1847 ; to 1 , 886 , 0062 . in 1848 ; to 2 , 177 , 000 / . in 1849 ; falling to 1 , 430 , 000 / . in 1850 . By a return placed in the hands of members of the House of Commons at the
commencement of the session , the numbers relieved m workhouses in 1848-49-50-51 , respectively , were 610 , 578 , 932 , 207 , 776 , 532 , 709 , 235 ; while the deaths in these years , in the toorkhouses , were 47 , 756 ,, 73 , 170 , 47 , 172 , 48 , 332 . 216 , 390 persons died in the Irish workhouses in the coarse of four years ; upwards of a thousand a-week , exclusive of the frightful mortality outside of the workhouses , some idea of the magnitude of which may be formed from the statement that 1225 died of hunger in the KilrushUnion for the year ending March , 1851 . The Irish government organ , the Dublin Evening Post , which , of course , is not indisposed to put the best possible face on matters , in publishing the above return on Saturday last , says , " It will be seen from the foregoing that , although the number of those relieved had greatly diminished , the deaths have increased . Most probably this is owing to emigration , which left the old and feeble in the workhouses . " The
truth is , that death and exile have made sad havoc among the once-teeming Irish millions . The numbers in the workhouses , as well as the numbers outside , have diminished ; but have we ft right to congratulate ourselves on the result ? Have we reason to rejoice , and call this solitude " peace" P As well might the parent rejoice in the restoration of health and tranquillity to hia hearth , after having seen the flower of hia family carried off from him by disease and misfortune ! I have the honour to be , yours , Archibald G . Stahk .
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" The 1600 skilled men nt work in ManchcHtcr had never been turned out . Sharpo ' s shop had not more than four skilled men at work . Mr . Fairbairu hnd endeavoured by misrepresentations to engage hands nt Newcastle , but had failed . Mr . John Platt , also , had mode a Birnilar nn-Buocessfal Attempt at Glasgow . Both towns had not only
acted in this noble manner , but had supported them with money contributions . ( Cheers . ) The ' declaration' had proved a complete failure , and the masters were now again contemplating to close their shops untU they could get a proper understanding with their men . Some of the men who had signed had only earned 3 s . in two days , and only 15 s per week , and the foreman declared that that was more than they were worth . There was no mutuality m the ' declaration / It was all from theworkman to the master , and none from the master to theworkman . So little did the masters think of it , that they were discharging men who had signed it with contemptuous expressions . The masters had discharged apprentices because their fathers would not workand vice versd .
, "The great strength of the Amalgamated Association was the defensive position wln ' ch it had maintained , oe manner in which it had been supported by the trades throughout the country showed a determination to resist the tyranny of the employers , and the prophecy that their funds would be exhausted , and that they would be Starved out in a month , had completely failed . Let the question be settled in any way , many sacrifices would be made , and it was for the support of such members that they were resolved to out the scheme of co-operative workshops .
carry Next week they proposed to summon a meeting , not ct their own , but of all trades , and to lay thoir course and principles of action before them . It had been computed that the present strike had cost the country 100 , 000 / . In Manchester the masters would give up overtime if they could get the men to work piecework . In London they would give up piecework provided they got overtime . Let them each give way , and they would find themselves in a better position than by remaining in antagonism with their men as at present . " ( Cheers . )
Mr . William Coningham was present at the same meeting , and made an excellent speech , full of instruction and sound advice . He first pointed out the advantages of co-operation : — "There was one point to which he had paid particular attention—viz ., co-operative associations . ( Cheers . ) He believed that the principle of co-operation was the most important practical means that the working classes possessed to emancipate themselves from their present dependent state on the capitalists of the country . ( Cheers . ) It was not merely the object of the employers , / with wEom they were contending , but it was the principle entertained
by all the holders of capital in the country , that it was necessary to keep the working classes in the state in which they had been . It was clearly their interest to emancipate themselves from that state , to make themselves selfdependent ; and he maintained that it was quite possible , by a combination of small capitals , to establish a system which would effect this result . An improved law of partnership had been introduced and discussed last year , and the Whig government had pledged itself to bring forward a measure on the subject , but it was now shelved for the present session . He had observed the state of things in Paris , and , whatever might have been said to the contrary
by the press , he maintained that the Pans ouvners had been eminently successful in their attempts . ( Cheers . ) There were associations at that time in existence having each nearly 200 members , while some numbered 80 and 100 men , employed by their own capital . In almost all the instances they were associations started with extremely small capitals , yet they had been brought to a prosperous state amid enormous pecuniary and political difficulties . ( Cheers . ) Every obstruction had been thrown in their way , and the opposition to them had reached . its culminating point under the military despotism which now prevailed in France , nnd the consequence was , that they had formed an emigration benefit society to carry themselves and their skill to the shores of America . " ( Cheers . )
Afterwards ho showed , by a reference to France , the benefits of combination : — " There were two important towns in France—Rouen and Nantes . The working-classes in Nantes were well off and well paid , and maintained those of their body who were out of work by combination . In Rouen , combination at one time existed , but had been broken down , and the consequence was , that the working-classes there were completely at the mercy of their employers , and were In the most miserable condition . " The aspect of the present struggle to him was that of a declaration of war between capital and labour . The following resolution marks the firmness of the men in the maintenance of their position : —
" That this meeting , believing it to be impossible , with justice to the operatives , to resume work , while they arc willed on , as the preliminary to doing so , to sign a declaration which would take from them all power of combination and every vcatige of independence , pledge themselves to remain firm in thoir refusal to consent to tho terms endeavoured to bo enforced upon them . ' " Lout week , sovorul engineers started for Belgium . Thcfio aro " nigim" which tho masters will do well not to contemn . At Shcerncss thoro is a CoUporativo Society , which has lately oxtended its business . It in said the late Admiralty betrayed a strange and suspicious curiosity in inquiring what workmen belonged to this Bociety .
BEPBODtrCTIVE XAtflKBB XABOtfB . The rate-payers of Bolton held a meeting in the Town-hall on Thursday week , to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament in behalf of the substitution of reproductive labour in Poor-law Unions , instead of the prevailing system of compulsory idleness , and useless and odiousi task-work ; . Mr . R . Heywood , the Rev ] J . S . Birley , several other magistrates , and some members of the' Town Council , were present . Mr . A . G Stark attended as a deputation from the Poor-law ' Association . Mr . Heywood presided . Mr . Stark explained the objects of the Association which he represented , and alluded to the triumphant success with which the changes they recommended had been attended in various parts of England and
Ireland , wherever they had been worked out With judgment and caution . "We lodged , fed , and clothed nearly a million paupers , not one of whom was allowed to return one solitary sixpence in lieu of the relief extended to him i and yet the relief was doled out to him as one would throw a bone to a dog . Every man was deeply interested in this question ; every working , man paid towards the poor-rates , either directl y or indirectly , and all were entitled to see that the institution supported out of their , funds was conducted on principles of economy , morality , and common sense . It was right that the working classes should see that in the day of trouble and distress they could nave a refuge to which they could apply for shelter " without losing all that self-respect which was the very bone and sinew of man ' s existence . "
Mr . Stark was much applauded throughout his speech . A working man named Ralph Kennedy spoke in support of one of the resolutions , and eulogized the systeni of reproductive labour as the best measure ever propounded for the regeneration of the working classes . A petition embodying the objects of the association was adopted . ' Ther strike of InV ship-carpenters at Hylton , near Sunderland , still continues . The shipwrights of Sunderland have voted 100 / . to their fellow-labourers at Hylton .
A large number of registered coal-whippers of the Port of London struck for an advance of 2 d . per ton wages on Thursday week . It is said that , in the main , they have successfully carried their point : compliance being the rule , and resistance the exception , on the part of the captains .
CENTBAL CO-OPBBATIVE AGENCY . Weekly Report , Fed . VI to Feb . 24 . The Agency transacted business with the following stores : —Ullesthorpo , Leeds , Mauchline , Braintree , Middlcsboro' , Banbury , Birmingham , Heywood , Woolwich , Glasgow , Swindon , Portsea , Galashiels , Edinburgh , and Norwich . A package of samples of cobourgs , alpacas , &c , has been consigned to the Agency from the Bradford Co-operative Store , and are now on view at their offices . The Agency are in continual receipt of demands for pro 8-pectuses , catalogues , and rules , from co-operative stores in course of establishment in different parts of England , Scotlandand Wales .
, The report of the official accountant on the books of the Agency for the first nine months has jnst been sent in , and the principal statements will be mentioned in the yearly report of the partners to the trustees and supporters of the establishment , which is in course of preparation , and will be ready in the beginning of April . The last weekly report stated the mode of distributing bonuses to the customers of the Agency . Some analogous arrangements have been proposed by the Agency to their wholesale customers . Hitherto the large and daily increasing business of the establishment has been carried on by the
Agency paying cash far everything , and only upon the capital advanced by its founders . Now , it may bo said that tho first experiment , which was tried at the risk ot the founders , hn » proved successful ; nnd the timo has come when the increase of the grocery business , tho convenience of giving more extension , either in London or in tho counties , to the counteracting of adulteration , and to start several new departments of tho Agency , must bo provided for by an accession of capital coming from tue supporters and customers of the Agency . To that cilcct , some proposals are in contemplation , which will bo mmo known at tho next ffcncrnl mectinor . This new aspect oi in
tho business is tho more worthy of attention , as any - crease of capital would enable the Agency to make boitio efforts for opening a new field , not less important for t » o success of the co-operative principle , namely , tho solo oi the produce of the different associations .
PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION . THB MASTEBS' 8 TBIKE . TnB strike in the iron trade continues much in the Bame position . The masters have gained very littlo by the famoufl , or rather infamous , " declaration / ' The men have been " out" seven weeks ; but , as Mr . Newton justly observed , in Bt . Martin ' s-hall , on Monday , many of them have l > oen forced , by dearth of employment , and monopoly of employment caused by the system of overtime , to be out much longer . Altogether , tho declaration policy , which Mr . Coningham called a " moat disgraceful prooooding , " Booms to have failed , as it deserved to fail . At the mooting , in Longacre , Mr . Newton stated some facta illuatmtivo of tho present position of tho question : —
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NATIONAL DEFENCES . A Biro * club having boon formed in Southamp ton * composed of professional gentlemen , tradesmen , an others , Mr . Baflflott , a soucitor ( the originator ot an hon . secretary to tho corps ) , u few days sinco wrote the Dnko of Wellington , who is Lord-Licutonant o tho comity of Hants , requesting to know under w rules and regulation * the oorp » would bo enJbotucu .
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196 fftt tEisiit .:. . ; -: ;^
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 28, 1852, page 196, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1924/page/8/
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