On this page
- Departments (4)
- Adverts (3)
-
Text (10)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
$u?jltr Mzttintp.
-
THE ivORTHEKN STAR. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER U . 1846.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Colonial antr jfom'cpt ftebteiu*
-
Untitled Article
-
; Now reaily, Price Ona Shilling. T11K SECOND EDITION *F ilY LIFE, OR OUR, SOCIAL STATE, Fun I.
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 Ad
a Poem , bv ERNEST JOXKS , Barrister at Law . Pull of wild dreams , strange fancies and "raccful images , interspersed with many blight and beautiful tnmijhts ,. its chief defect is its brevity . The author's inspirations seem to imsli fresh and sparkling from Hhipocrene . He will want neither reader * nor admirers . -Morn . "gFost . jt contains more pregnant thoughts , more bursts of Ufniovrer , more , in fine , of the tnify grand and beauti-Sl-thaHanypoeticalwort , which has made its appear--Jl < < for years . We know of few things mire draiiu'ti-« 2 Mjintense than the scenes b ^ tweer Vhilipp , Warren j 8 C . Clare . —Hew Quarterly Review . : published by Mr . Xewby , 72 , Moi timer-street , Cav » n-- Si-square . Orders received by all booksellers . By the same Author THE WOOD SPIRIT ; An H-sfm-ieal Romance , in Two Vols . An unequivocally straHge andeventfullustory—Ossiamc i 3 its qualitv . —Horning Ikrald , In everv page before as tn : iy be discovered some fresh . porous ~ audWKtie . il conception . The fearful breaking SJWnnf fiiedvkrs is beautifully brought into tbe minds £ r *>—ifoniir > qFost . Va rea-Jin-- * " The Wood Spirit / ' we would , were it pos 3 & 3 e jrladlr seize the author's pen to paint its merits i " -J I ' shadow furtli its excellences in his own poetie Izzgoags . We turn to such a work as " The Wood iijyirit " * with sensations somewhat similar to those of the -Ssarv travellers in the desert , when they approach those 45 riagsfroni which they draw renovated life and vigour iaeontinue their course . —Bury and Suffolk Herald . CHARTIST POEMS , BY ERNEST JOXES . Price Thm Pence . SECOND EDITION , KETISED ASD COBBECTED . She wish having been expressed in several quarters for ~ % 3 S author to publish in a collected form liis Poems - T 3 ttoav » appeared in the Northern Star , he begs to an . £ 49 ncethat a revised and corrected selection under the * bore title is now on sale -Asentsarerequested to send their crders to the author tcJIr . "Wheeler , at the office of the U . C . A ., 83 , Dean Street , Soho , London , or to 31 'Gowan . & Co ., Printers , ' . IS , Great Windmill Street , Haymarket , London , where opies msj be procured . TO TAILORS . IOXDON and PAHIS FASHIONS FOR AUTUMN AND WINTER , 1846-47 . By READ and Co ., 12 , Hart- ? treet , Bloomsbury square , London ; - ] And G . Beiger , Soljrwell-street , Strand ; 1 Maj be liad . of all booksellers , wheresoever residing . j !! OW BEAST , By approbation of her Majesty Queen Victoria , and ' liis Koyal Uishntss Prince Albert , a splendid print < richly coloured and exquisitely executed Tiew of Hyd ] Park QaMens , as seen from Hvde Park , London . With this beautiful PKut ivill be seat Dress , Frock , and " Riding Coat Patterns , the n west style Chesterfield , and l the New Fashionable Double-breasted Waistcoat , with ] Skirts . The method of reducing and increasing them for all sizes , explained in tbe most simple manner , with I jur extra Piates , aud can be easily performed by any 1 per .-on . Manner of inakinjr u ;> , aud u full description ot , the Uniforms , as noiv to he worn in the Royal Uavy , and Other information . —Price 10 s . , or p . st-fred Us . Head and Cs's new indubitable System of Cutting , in < three parts—first part , Coats , price 10 s . ; second , Habits ] Dr-jS 5 es , &c 10 s . ; thirii , Box ana Driving Coats , Wnistcoats , Ireeehes , and Trousers , 10 s . ; or the wao : e , 25 s ., iHCluiinjj the system of cutting Chesterfield and other I fancy coats , understo' -d at sijht . Any person having one , part , may have the two others for 15 s . A Method of Cutiiu ? Gaiter Trousers , with 12 plutos . including 5 full sir . e bottom parts , price , post free , Us . Gd . i Patent measures , Eight Shillings , the set ; the greatest improvement ever iutroduced to the Trade . Patterns to measure , of every description , ¦ post free to any part England . Ireland . Scotland , aud Wales , at Is . each . ; The amount inny be sent by cash , post-office order , or , ost stamps . Busts for littinj ; Coatson . Boys' figures . ' foremen provided . Instructions in cutting as usnal . ' ^ ' 3 . —The Patent Measures or System of Cuttiug , i . u ] ( like tbe Fashioi : 5 ) n sent post free , by Is . extra ( a u I
Untitled Ad
LITIIOGKAPniC ENGRAVINGS 1 OF THE BUNCOMBE TESTIMONIAL . MA Y still be had at flic Office of Messrs . H'Gowax 5 andCe .,-lG , Great Windmill Street , Ilayinarket , London ; through any respectable bookseller in town or country ; orat any of the agents of the northern Star . The _ engraving is on a large scale , is executed in the ( roost finished style , is finely printed on tinted paper , and gives a minute "description of the Testimonial , and has the Inscription , fcc . & c , angraved upon it . PRICE FOURPENCE .
Untitled Ad
IMPORTANT TO PHOTOGRAPHISTS . AN application was made on the 32 nd September , to the Tiee-Chaneellor of England , by Mr . Beard { who , acting wider a most extraordiuy delusion , considers himseif the sole j-ateutec of ths Photographic process U to restrain MR . ESERTOX , of 1 , Temple-street , and 143 , Fleet-street , rom taking Photographic Portraits , which he does hy a process entirel y different from and very superior to Mr . Beard's , and at one-half the charge . His Honour refused the application in toto . ? Jo license required fc > practice this process , which is taught by 3 Ir . Egerton in a f- » v lessons at aniuderate Charge . . All theApppratns , Chemicals , « sc ., tohe had as usual at his Depot , 1 , Temple-street , Wiiitefriars . i
Untitled Article
Famse is Ireland . —A numerous meeting of the working classes was held at the Guy Sari of Warwick , Gray ' s Inn Lane Mr . D . Brick in the chair , to devise some means , according to their power , fur die alleviation of the existing distress in Ireland . Several addresses were made , and a collection was made in the room , the meeting having pledged itself to . small weekly contributions during tha continuation of the dearth . The _ Peace Socieix . —The second of a series of lectures , in the course of delivery under the auspices of the Society for promoting Peace , and for the Abolition of War , was delivered on 'f cesday evening , hs the Uaii of Commerce , Threadneedle-street , by Mr . Henry Clapp , jua ., who was announced as the ediior
of the Lynn Mower , published at Lynn , Massacbuseta , in the United States . Mr . CJapp after describing the anxiety felt by a vast-body of his fellow c-juntr rnien , not merely for tbe maintenance of pacific relations between the two nation * , but for the establishment of ft i-iiniplc-te brotliori : oi ; d and unity of feeling between lhe sons of Oid and New England , proceeed to argue that the spirit of war , based as it "was upiin retaliation and revenue , was at variance with Christianity , and that the institutions which encouraged those passions , en ^ erdered every species of moral corruption , ami therefore onght to be abandoned , lie trusted the day was not distant when the eagle , which formed the heraldic bearing of America , wou d beexchan ^ sd for foe dove , and that the lion ,
which was appeiuk-d as a supporter to the arms of Great Britain , -would give place to the lamb , lie con-* tsnded that as the passions of retaliation and revenue would be checked hi individuals , so it also ought t <> Jbe curbed in nations , ami that the principles which governed the domestic hearth , ought to dictate t » nations their true course of duty . It was to give effect to these principles , that he and many of his countrymen desin d to see a league formed , to abulish and exercise the spirit of war . " Mr . Ciapp introduced several interesting narratives in the course of his address in illustration of his arguments , and concluded a Jecture , whiqh occupied upwards ' of two hours in the delivery , aniidr f , -eneral-plaudits . Tim hall was fully attended , especially by the members ot the Socitty of . Friends .
Lord Mayor ' s Day . —On Monday the usnal procession and formalities attendant on the sweating in Of Sir George Carroll to the office of Lord Mayor , took place . In the evening the customary Banquet was given at the GuililimiJ . It appeals from the accounts in the daily papers to have been unusually sumptaoas and splendid . The Ambassadors , Cabinet Ministers . Judges , < fce ., were present ; there was , hovreTer , nothing in the speeches worthy of note . Privates AIatih . wso . v axd Cook of the Sevsktii Hussahs . —On Tuesday evening , a meeting of the gentlemen who have formed themselves into a
cummittee for " purchasing the discharge of privates Mathewson and Cook , witnesses at the late coroner ' s inquest at Uounsluw , frOm the 7 th Hussars , " took place at the Biuc Posts Tavern . Shoe Lane , Fleet Street , for the purpose of receiving the report of the treasurer and secretary , and to detcrmina on the most efficient me isares lor carr ? ing out the humane « bje ; -t of the committee . Subscriptions execedim ; £ 39 in amount were announced . Tlie requisite sum is £ 50 , being ± ' 30 forMaihewson . ashe has only b-en in the regiment a few months , and £ 20 for ' Cook , who has been ten years in the service .
The Poor is St . Paxcras WonsuansR . —Oa Tuesday a fully attended meeting of the board of directors of the poor of St . Pancras took plsce in the buanl room of the workhouse , Kings Road , for the purple of considering their reply to the recent report of the Poor La * . ? Csianiissioner in reference to the Jats inquest on the pauper , Mary Anne Jane ? , and the general treatment and manigemeat of the poor in St . Paucras workhouse . . Mr . Church nardeii Howarth occupied the chair , and read the late communication of the Poor Law Commissioners , and in defence of the Board of Guardians . The main points were , that the dietary was established many years Ago , under the sauction of eminent medical authorities , and that the dietary of the inmates of the akamward was also fixed by them . As to the man " ?* t—it 13 alleged that the employment in which he ; va « engaged was as nestfj ^ possible at aa end , '
Untitled Article
when he was dismissed fron it ; the Guardians regret the master should lmve deprived him of any privilege on account of tke evidence he gave , but refuse any compensation . As to remedies , the Directors nave ordered that al ! punishments are to be recorded , and copies sent to the Commissioners . 'lheabJe-iodn-d poor are to be allowed to leave the workhouse , but shall not ba rc-admitted without au order from the Board on Tuesday or Friday . The dampness of the
shed has been part ' ally removed , and the directory of the oakum room improved , as well as its inmate ? limited to the number required by Dr . Fane . The resolutions ef the ve s try , laudatory of the workhouse authorities , and by implication of the Buanl , having been appended to the reply , Mr , Douglas objected to them as a part of the reply ; they wire withdrawi > , and en the motion of that gentleman , ( lie answer , as amended , was adopted tinaniipoiibl y , and ordered t » be sent forthwith » a the Poor Law Conimissioisers . The Board then broke up .
Tbetotal Demonstration . —On Monday night a v <* ry crowded iueeti : ig « f teetotallers was helil in Exeter Hal ! , Dr . Oxley in the chair , when , . \ icr upwards of twenty working men had addressed the assembly , a memorial to Lord Johu Russell was adopted , i rlying his Lordship to prevent tlie consumption of grain in brewing or distilling , am ! to preserve it for the use of those who wire urithinunder the ( fleets of famine . They inarched to aiitl departed from Exeter II all in loges , f receded by bands of in :, sie . It was computed that the > e were 4 . 000 present , each of whom | iaid an admission feeol fourpence .
Untitled Article
THE TEN HOURS' BILL . There is no better system of warfare than the undermining process , especially if the enemy ' s camp is otherwise impregnable . Many a battle lias been lost by ill advised and hasty operations , which might have been won by patience and perseverance . We tolerated I'Vee Trade more for the power of which it stripped the old feudal aristocracy , than for any immediate i eiieiit it was likely to confer upon the popular army . Every feather plucked from the high flying wing of rampant authority brings it within nearer reach ol ° that arm which has been so long but so hopelessly uplifted in suppliant imploring for justice or even mercy . Upon the same principle we now hail the renewed agitation ] 1
for a TEN HOURS' BILL , though with the great improvement of machinery , increasing population and diminished custom , we would much prefer au Eig ht Hours' Bill . However , we do hail the resuscitation of the question , provided it is not once more to be made a stalking horse for some aspiring leader , or the sympathetic plaything of a goodnatured aisd pliant lord . In short , if the battle is to be really fought , we shall cheerfully enlist in the volunteer ranks , but we will not " inarch through Coventry" with the feather bed commanders and officers , commissioned and non-coinmissioncd , who have hitherto marshalled , disciplined , encouraged and led on , damped and halted , the Short Time armv . "Wi th the noble lord who surrendered his j < ] " l ] ! 1 , ] : I
commission when his forces were r ' pe for action , and with the Short Time committee who treacherously offered to compromise the question without the consent of the forces , we . will neither consult , consort or fight . If , upon the other hand , we arc summoned !> y our old anil faithful General , who bus never deceived or deserted us , and under whose bold command we have so often checked the enemy's march , we arc ready for the struggle . If Duncombe takes the lead , we will follow , and we tell those most favourable to -Hie measure , that unless those for whose benefit it is sought are thus assured at least of honesty , that they will not exert themselves as thev otherwise would . , i ; , ' ' ] 1 5
"We contend for the Ten Hours Bill for the same reasons that we tolerated Free Trade , namely , because it would pluck the master . quill from oppression ' s other wing , and lower the proud crest of the pompous high flying cotton lord . Indeed we lia \ e always assigned to this measure the very highest importance , as well for its undermining effect as for the great and immediate benefit that it would inevitably confer upon society at large , but more especially upon the industrious classes . There can be little doubt that a Chartist parliament would consider the regulation of labour a question of the very first importance , and consequently it must he treated essentially as a Chartist measure . Indeed we know of no change which would inevitably give a greater impulse to the Chartist cause . ! !
Firstly—It would lessen the hostility of-those who now fatten upou the slave toil of the overworked operative , and Secondly—It would tend to convince the enemies of Chartism , the proclaimers of the people ' s ignorance , that that ignorance was rather a consequence of Free Traders monopoly of the poor man ' s . time , than of his disinclination to instruct ai \ d improve himself aud his famiiy ; as we feel assured that the lime saved from slave labour would be devoted to mental improvement , as well as to the discovery of the value of free labour . And here we fear is the rub . These two
circumstances weigh heavily with the monopolists of the poor man ' s time . Nothing is more damaging to unjust authority than the education of the people upon the one hand , while , upon the other , nothing is more dangerous to monopoly in the slave mart , than the slave ' s knowledge of the value of his own labour . For all these reasons , and others which we shall presently assigu , we rejoice to learn that the good old King of the Factory Children , Richard Oastler , lias once more opened the campaign of the Ten Hours '
Bill . There is a great charm in humanity and vanity . Humanity we have ever considered as the main spring of justice—and honest vanity as the greatest impulse to useful action . In fact , without those two attributes , humanity and vanity , the popular leader would be but a cypher . Oastler undertook the cause of the Factory operative from humanity , while we feel assured that his honest vanity in being one day tke successful actor in so noble a cause , makes him above purchase and above suspicion . Upon previous occa . sions we have given it as our candid opinion , that Richard Oastler would very much prefer ( l ying upon the floor of the House of Commons , proclaiming
labour ' s triumph and infancy ' s release , with his la » t breath , to having the Crown of England placed on his head , as the reward of his treason to his helpless clients . Now this is a large character , a great qualification , and one which should insure for the apostle on his mission that respect due to so much virtue . The Chartists , who will constitute Mr , Oastler ' s audience wherever he speaks , for the working classes are now Chartists to a man , should bear in mind that the TEN HOURS BILL has been adopted as one of thosa immediate changes sought for b y tbe struggling Chartists ; that it is one of the things prayed for in our national petition ; and , above all , that Oastler is its sincere advocate—and therefore are the
Chartists hound to give to the missionary of this branch of their creed , all . the assistance in their
power . We shall now proceed to show the immediate and valuable advantages to be gained even by a " TEN I 1 OUI 1 S' BILL . " Firstl y , it goes far to realize the principle of equitable distribution , it equalizes the labour market and deprives the master of a large idle reserve . It realizes equitable distribution to a certain extent , hecsuse , inasmuch as 6 , 000 persons are to 5 , 000 what twelve hours are to ten , it would
change the 1 , 000 additional hands required by short time from a competitive reserve into a necessary supply . Secondly , if the hours of labour were regulated by law , as much wages would be given for the working day of ten hours , as is now given for ihc working day of twelve hours , whereas any diminution in the time of the longest working day is called short time , and is followed by a relative reduction . i »' - wages . That is , if the working day is ten
Untitled Article
hours , a day ' s wage is paid for ten hours' work , but if the working day is twelve hours , a sixth is deducted from the wages if hands are only ALLOWED to work ten hours . It would lead to a more equitable distribution , because the manufacturers would be compelled to give to their hands one-sixth more of the profits than they now give ; the one thousand in every six thousand being brought from the reserve into the ranks of necessity , and the certainty of wages remaining as hig h , and , in our
opinion , very much higher , inasmuch as a profitable disposal of the surplus hands is the one thing for which labour lias most energetically struggled . So , then , tlie employment of an additional sixth not only benefits those who work at that branch of business , but it makes them better customers with all other branches . They wear more hats , and shoes , and clothes , eat more , and require more furniture , and thus is the Ten Hours' Bill , in point of sound fact , a win t , "ntire , and complete labour-question . Again , as v I kive more than once observed , our confidence
that the hours spared from slave labour would be lies ' owed upon mental culture and the discovery of the value of free labour ; rather than wasted at the GIN PALACE and BEER SHOP , gives to the Ten Hour ' s Bill an additional charm—as we believe in some of the sayings of political economists , and e pecially in that which declares that where there is a demand there will be a supply , we would hail the Ten Hours' Bill as a great auxiliary in clearing the unhealthy towns of their squalid population , and by these means , because we rejoice in believing that the LAND QUESTION is ' now the all-absorbing thought
of the working classes , and that consequently tho time spared from slave labour would be applied to free labour upon the Laud , and which , of necessity , would lead to t ! ie establishment of cheap trains to such distances as those districts to which the town population would scamper after a day ' s slave toil ; not trains travelling twelve or fourteen miles an hour , but special labour trains , travelling at thB rate , of thirty miles an hour , or ten miles in twenty minutes . Let us illustrate the position , —it is worth it . Suppose factories to work in summer time from six to four ; at twenty minutes past four ,
the hands would arrive in jog trot at their respective stations , and ten miles from smoke at forty minutes past four , and would be ready for free labour from five till eight , nine , or ten , if they pleased , when they could regale themselves with a good supper of their own producing , fresh , for the most part , from their own stores . Each might have his bit of land , or six , ten , or twelve , might have a plot in common ; these would constitute great and powerful Normal agricultural schools , while attachment to the science , and the discovery of the value of free labour , would progressively remove tlie faetorv weed to the free soil .
For these reasons , added to the fact that we have now opened a safe market for the expenditure of spare time , and one which would seduce factory slaves from dissipation aud idleness , aud believing the people themselves see this-additional value given to the measure , we call upon all good Chartists to rally around Richard Oastler , to rid themselves of their false leaders anil inefficient committee-men , to elect their own officers , to do their own work , aud prepare for a short struggle and decisive victory , under Duiicombe and Fielden , that is , provided the operatives are themselves in earnest .
The Ten Hours Bill is too large a subject to be trifled with , and we have too sincere an interest in its success to recommend a struggle which may be defeated by the pliancy of generals , or the inadequacy of machinery . Machinery is the monsterdevil , man ' s greatest enemy , and man must beat it , or it will beat him . Man must make it his holiday , instead of his curse ; he must subdue it to his necessities and wants , instead of allowing it to subdue him to its owner ' s convenience and caprice .
Untitled Article
the subject . All that you published before was quite true , and your refusal to publish more has only led to more disasters , Honoured Sir , by union we bad becomv powerful , and by ft coutinuunce of our union we might have become rich , but it appears that there is always something to mar the suceess of the poor . As jour time is prrcious , I shall at onee proceed with what I have to say . I am a Cliartist collier , and therefore have a proper respect for Universal Suffrage , and indeed it was by innkingjour delegates the organs of our will , instead of their own sentiments , that wn became powerful , but now , air , will you believe that some of eur lecturers and other offiuers are endeavourinc to overcome the popular voice
by thu nost disgraceful tricks and insinuations . Perhaps , somo of them may find it hard to get supported by those who work , unless they have a grievance to complain of , and now that , throughout Lancashire , and I believe Eng-Imi-i , there is not a single miner in prison , and that our union has struck terror into those who used to usa the law as a means of reducing wages , and seeing that wo have no grievance on that head , some of our lecturers aiM working heaven and earth to get rid of Mr . Roberis , i ; n I we , wlio have benefited by his victories , and still benefit by ills presence , ate of opinion that these Judascs are in the pay of the masteis , and , sir , they never Jail to bestow some portion of their spleen upon
tho AortAern Star . Now , Sir , it would be curious to make a calculation of the amount that Mi' . Rohuru has suvod tho miners in wages , and indeed it irouM bit hnrd to calculate it , except by guessing at tins tenderness of tho musters , as but for him wo ilou ' t know vrhat it would now be , or how many families of victims would be now depending upon our subscriptions . Honoured sir , if those men succeed in breaking up our union by taking awiiy the only scourge wo have over the masters , them is no doubt but we shall be handed over to tlie tender mercies of other lawyers , who will all lire upon us and sell us , while the Judnses will be rewarded for their
good work . Is it too much then , sir , to appeal to you in order tlmt , through you , the eyis of tbe miners may be oprni'd , ami that our next Conference may speak the solid opinion of those who work mid pay , instead of the mind of those whowoik not and are paid for destroying us . I trust , sir , that you will uotduny us this boon , out afford us the opportunity of speaking * o each other through your organ . It is our opinion that Mr . Roberts ' triumphs would noon render lecture ™ unnecessary , and therefore they hcj > e to encumber us with grievances by getting rid of him , and handinir ur over to the tools of the masters . I hear , sir , that Mr . Roberts has already mentioned his intention of vesijjninir , but I hope and
trust you will condescend to ask him to reconsider his resolution , until the miners themselves hayu an unbiassed opportunity of speaking out , as * ueh a step is the very one to which our leaders hope to drive him , and , sir , although Mr . Huberts appears to hnvo more business than he can well manage , I hope he will i » ' > t be induced to desert us before lie gives us an opor ( unity to speak out for ourselves . I remain , dear and honoured sir , One who spe . ika the sentiments of a lnrge number of our body , Your most obedient and humble servant , A Chartist Gollieb .
The above letter requires but little comment . It is precisely similar in cbaractor to many that we have recently received . As far as we are concerned , we hurl defiance at the lecturers and leaders , and , as far as Mr . Roberts is concerned , we have but little sympathy for him , because it was he who requested of us not to publish some letters which he feared might tend to damage the character of parties in whom he professed entire confidence . We cannot , however , entirely acquiesce in the desire of our friend , to use our influence with Mr . Roberts ; he is thebestjudge of his own affairs ; be is upon the spot—we before attempted to open his eyes , but be rejected our interference , and therefore he must now deal with tlie monster created Iiy his own good nature . "We quite
agree with the Chartist Collier , that it would be utterly impossible to estimate Mr . Roberts' services , as long as Mr . J { . remains in his present position . And , perhaps , Mr . K . ' s resolution to tesign has been formed with the view of allowing the miners the means of judg ing of his value ; which will he speedily discovered , in an abundant crop of victims , full Jails , reduced wages , increased grievances , and consequently an increased demand for lecturers . Whatever Mr . Roberts ' s resolution may be , we think he should abide the judgment of that tribunal to which the working miners appear anxious to appeal . For our part , we wou'd recommend the labouring portion to deal with their priests as bishops usually deal with thcir ' s when refractory , by suspending them till thev come to their senses . But at all
events , if there is to be another conference , we would caution the constituencies against being led blindfold by those " artful dodgers . " Of course we do not apply the term , or our strictures , to all ; but let it be borne in mind " that one scabby sheep infects the whole flock , " and , that " what * s done cannot be undone . " The Chartists , we are happy to say , have more gratitude than the miners , for they feel gratitude to their legal adviser who saved fifty-nine of them , two , three , and four years ' , imprisonment . But , like all other parties , even the Chartists look slightly upon their triumph , because it was so easily achieved .
It is a pity , nay a sin , that any disunion should occur in the miners' ranks just now , the viry period at which the masters would hail a breech . From now till the period of contract should be spent in wholesome and friendly consultation , instead of being frittered away in useless and unprofitable wrangles ; and let the staff rest assured , that , however they may repudiate our interference , we will , nevertheless , hold the scourge over the refractory ,
and teach the miners that they can devote the parings from their hard-earned pence to a better purpose than paying their betrayers . The very thing that the masters pant for is , the breaking up of the union ; and therefore our counsel and advice to those who have paid for its preservation , and who have derived benefit from its existence , is to put the check at once upon the unbridled tongue of slander , by teaching tbeir lecturers that " union is strength , " and " dissension is weakness . "
Untitled Article
B y the proceedings at a meeting of the Spitalfieldi Weavers , last Saturday , it appears that the anticipations of that body , as to the injurious effects of the late tariff upon their occupation , have been fully realized . Under the tariff of 1842 , which altogether abolished , or materially reduced , the duty on imported raw material , and maintained a moderate discriminating duty on imported manufactured goods , the trade of this district was in a more prosperous state than it has been known for many years . The change has been most disastrous for them . The
French manufacturer has beaten the British out of the home market , in all the finer description of fabrics ; and the consequence is , that for the present at least , that branch is at a complete stand still . Those employed and heretofore receiving good wages , are necessarily thrown back upon the inferior and lower paid work , and there being too many for that description of \ vork , the two fold consequence of low wages and insufficient ; employment is produced . This is a ' sorrv state of things , and unfortunately
Sp italfields is not the only district in which it exists —tho weavers of Leigh , Middleton , Macclesficld , and Manchester , join in the same complaint , and endure ihc same suffering . It is time that some bold and systematic measures were adopted , by which trade might be placed on a sound foundation , conducted upon rational principles , and conduce to beneficial results . At present it is a chaos . Machinery , competition , and selfishness , are its ruling elements , and these effects are such as might " make angels weep . "
The accounts from Ireland are of a more agreeable character titan heretofore ! The i mprovement noted last week has continued . Outrages and other indications of suffering and excitement are diminishing . The works for the relief of the unemployed and starving peasantry arc-coming into general operation , and at the same time the unexpected improvement of at least some parts of the abandoned potatoe crop . and vhe
importation of large quantities of foreign provisions , have brought down prices . In the lull which is approaching , we trust that statesmen and legislators , will not see any cause for apathy—but rather , looking back with thankfulness at the imminent dangers they have escaped for the moment , betake themselves in all earnestness to the preparation of measures b y which the recurrence of such a season may be in future prevented .
The Gazette of Tuesday contained the long promised Brevet . Promotion has been g iven to a large number of officers in all branches of the service . Three of the oldest Generals have been made Field Marshals . One of those upon whom this empty honour has beeen conferred ( General Nagent ) is , we believe , 97 years of age ! Of course the public must pay the piper for all this promotion , which is merely another genteel mode by which the
aristocracy dip their hands into the public purse , and abstractfrom thence support for those branches of their family quartered upon the taxes . The fi ghting privates , the men upon whom the hardships of their profession most heavily fall—for them nobievet is ever gazetted . They live and die under the cold shade of the aristocracy , by whom they are tyrannized over and -jurdered by the lash , under the authority of a barbarous and stern military code .
After all the fuss about the Wellington statue , the expense incurred in raising itto the top of the arch in Piccadilly , and—worst of all—the conversion of the facile Times to the opinion that it ought to stay there , the Queen has expressly ordered it to descend again from its elevation ! Where this effigy of an overpraised soldier and absurdly lauded statesman will ultimately find a resting place , no one can tell . Waterloo place and the Horse Guards are both named . If we might give an opinion in the matter , it would be that it should be sent to the brass founders
to be melted down again , and sold at the fair price of the material , and the proceeds remitted to the Lord Lieutenant to be destributed among ihe Duke ' s countrymen . It would be almost the only good they ever got out of him , and it would confer a benefit on the country by ridding it of a monster in metal . We English are not a lucky people in matters of taste . The artistic sense requires educating in us . Had that faculty been developed nationally , such monstrosities as the fountains , pillar and statue of Trafalgar Square , or that last exposed to the face of day Piccadilly , would never have been perpetrated . It
would be better for us to let such things alone' till we arc able to do better , and not make ourselves the laughing stock of intelligent foreigners . When we have acquired the ability to do this kind of work well , we shall perhaps at the same time have acquired the moral faculty of discerning where honour should be paid . Instead of erecting statues to bloated sensualists , and lucky soldiers , we may find worthier objects in the long roll of philosophers , philanthropists , and political benefactors which distinguished our history . At present the instinct of hero worship works blindly , and expends its force on worthless or vicious idols .
Untitled Article
a deartn ot colonial intelligence this week , affords us the opportunity of offering a few remarks on a subject of great importance to the interests , and honour , of the people of this country . We allude to certain projects of our commercial classes , for extending the colonial territory of this country in the Indian Archipelago , and the opening of a trade with the Japanese Empire .
From Free-Trade platforms , and in the journals of the profitocracy , how often have we heard , and read , of late years , the nauseating and lying cant of " the civilising results of trade , " and " the peaceful influences of commerce ! " This , too , in the teeth of the undeniable facts , that many of" our colonial possessions" have been achieved by violence ; that 11 our Indian Empire " has its foundations laid in the blood of many nations j and that some of the most formidable wars in which this country has been engaged , have had their origin in the
bloody-minded cupidity of our " civilising " traders . Well , the roar of our cannon in the dishonourable " opium war" has ceased but a little time , the last of the plundered Chinese silver has , we may say , but just arrived , Cobden ' s cant of trade-engendered peace is yet sounding in our . ears , when lo , our ever restless profitmongers are already sighing for new worlds to conquer—we beg pardon—for new regions to inoculate with the blessings of English trade aud European civilization .
Respecting the precious project of colonising or " annexing" that huge den of savages , Borneo , we shall say nothing now , for the present we shall confine ourselves to the Japanese question . For some time past several of the public journals in the pay of the mammonocracy , with the Morning Chronicle at their head , have been worrying at the Government to send an embassy to Japan , for
the purpose of inducing the Japanese government to open the ports of Japan for purposes of trade with this country . It is argued by the advocates of this scheme that for more than two centuries Japan lias kept itself secluded from the rest of the nations af the earth , which is very wrong and should not beany longer tolerated ; that Japan has a population of at least thirty-five millions , capable of
supporting a most extensive trade with England . that its foreign trade is restricted to twenty-three vessels annually , of which three alone are European , aud not one of those English ; that the little European trade permitted by the authorities of Japan is monopolised by the Dutch , which is , of course , very unfair to England ; that the necessity exists of seeking everywhere new markets for English goods ; and , finally , to sum xip the catalogue
Untitled Article
of grievances , that while " Young Europe" is anxi u to pay back to " Old Asia" in the shape of an atf . vanced civilization , that dfejbt which the former ow to the latter for having first taught her the alpha , beta of progress , this obstinate Japan stands in the way of carrying out intentions , at once so disinte . rested and philanthropic ! To abolish the evils and achieve the objects above enumerated , it is proposed that the British Govern nient should send an embassy to the Japanese cm . peror . This British ambassador is to be instructed to conduct his negotiations in the most pacific manner , as all idea of war and conquest must be scouted , nevertheless , by way of impressing the
emperor with the fact that we are a great and peace loving people , it is proposed that our ambassador should be escorted by " a first-rate line-of-battle ship , a frigate , and two or three war steamers . " It is thought that the sight of these accompani . ments to the embassy , aided by the remembrance which his Japanese Majesty must entertain of the recent exploits of British-war ships , war-steamers and troops in the neighbouring Chinese seas , will so operate upon his reasoning faculties , that he will be induced to abandon the exclusive regulations which for more than two centuries past have kept English adventurers out of J apan , at least it is expected that the Emperor will be induced to plaee " us" on an equal footing with our Dutch rivals .
This is hoped for , nevertheless success is doubtful . No matter , "Peaceably if we may , but forcibly if we must , " is the motto of our peace-loving free-trade civilizers ; therefore , they are determined by some means or Other to accomplish their ends . "England , " says the Morning Chronicle , "has never yet imitated the Knight of La Mancha , by compassing sea ana land in quest of enemies ; . but in the peaceful pursuits of trade there is no limits winch it is not ready to pass , and , we may add , no danger which it is not willing to brave . " This is pretty significant . But again , says the Chronicle , " The
necessity of seeking everywhere new markets for our goods , will henceforth lead us perpetually into the neighbourhood of Japan , to traverse its seas , to circumnavigate its coasts , and to encounter its native traders ; even on their own thresholds . Lack , moreover , of provisions , or stress of weather , will from time to time force us into its ports ; so that our mariners , in that pugnacious temper of mind pro duced by expected ill-usnge , will be brought ¦ violently into contact with the Japanese provincial authorities , in which quarrels may be expected to ensue , whose consequences it would be difficult to foresee . " It is not at all difficult to see what is meant by these surmises . If the " soft-sawdor" of
our Ambassador , aided by the " war steamers , " &c , fail in effecting the desired results , then the mask will be threwn away . English ships well manned and armed will attempt to carry on a contraband trade , in defiance of the Japanese governments ; they will rather pick a quarrel than seek to avoid one ; in all likelihood force will be had reeourse to by thi Japanese authorities to expel the intruders from , their harbours , the employment of this force will be denounced by the English as an outrage against the law of natiions ; " then will come an imitation of the Chiuese war , with the usual results . Such we may safely shadow forth as the " peace programme " of the free trade civilizers .
Here we must pause ; we shall , however , return to the subject , and in a future article will endeavour to inform our readers something of the people of Japan , and the reasons of their government for e xcluding the abomination of European trade . For the present we conclude by denouncing this Japan project as a scheme fraught with mischief to the true interests of the people of this country , and with dishonour to our national character .
It will by seen by our " Foreign Intelligence , ' that simultaneously with the revival of the Chartist agitation in this country there has commenced an Electoral Reform Movement in France . We have one fault to find with the French Petition , it asks for nothing definite . It demands a reform of the present infamous system of representation , but does not specify what sort of reform . This word reform may mean anything , from universal suffrage to the veriest fraud which would find favour in the eyes of a rascal like Thiers , or a humbug like Barrot . A . national agitation which resulted , for instance , in
the clearing out of the Government officials from the Chamber of Deputies , would be called a " reform , " but such a " reform" would make no sensible difference to the people if the suffrage was confined , as at present , to some two thousand o f the haute bourgeoisie . In fact there is no reform of the representation short of Universal Suffrage which would be worth the while of the people of France struggling for ; and we venture to predict that anything short of that will fail to rouse the enthusiasm of the French people . No doubt there are plenty of good-meaning temporisers who
fear to excite the prejudices of the middle class by hoisting the flag of Universal Suffrage—but we tell such that the middle class are too cowardly and too selfish to effect any change for the better . As for the working men , they would befools indeed to give their support to any movement that had not for its object their direct emancipation . The national sovereignty is proclaimed in the French Petition , but that there maybe no illusion , no mistake , let that phrase be defined ; let the French people be made to understand , that the national sovereignty means the investing of every male adult with all the rights of man and of the citizen .
We take the following from the lieforme of the 10 th : — It was several days ago rumoured that endeavours were being made to throw on the soil of Algeria numbers of those noble exiles whom Poland has confided to our keeping until her final deliverance . A general , him self a Pole , has , it is said , undertaken to march them into Africa , where they might take a part in those unfortunate campaigns , the wretched wastes of our squandered glory .
Is Ui « re not some wily combination hidden under this design ! Caa it bo the mere result of despair in a great misfortune ! Or , may it not rather arise from the wish of our government to render themselves agreeable to Bussis , by diminishing by these means the number of the adrersaries whom toe Czar may on some future daj en * counter again on the field of battle ! We will not inquire further into the depths of this mystery . We hope to see the Poles escape from this nevr snare . Common sense and the instinct of their duty towards their fatherland ought to guard them sgainst this nevr danger .
If some of them are likely to allow themselves to be mislead , we would call out to them : Think first of all of Poland , and of Poland alone . You are no vulgar soldiers , who might indulge all the fancies of your warlike propensities . Your handi and your swords do not belong to you alone ; you have other barbarians to struggle against than those of Africa . Preserve your strength for your own country j your live * are of a greater value than those of others , because you carry in your veins the blood of a whole people , and in your souls tha life of an empire .
To the above noble exhortations of our Trench contemporary , we can add from our own information that these endeavours of General Bern and of tbe French government , are not the first of the kind . Twelve years ago this same line of policy was pursued against the Polish soldiers at Woolwich and Portsmouth by the agents of the Literary Association , headed by Prince Czartoryski , under the name of Lord Dudley Stuart . Better informed of the interests of Poland than we then were , the French democrats at that time appreciated , as now we the value of that Czartoryski policy . That the democrats of Poland concur with them on this subject , but are more severe in their condemnation , is a fact we can aud ought to fully certifv .
Some painfully interesting information concerning unhappy Poland will be found in our seventh page-Just before going to press , we have received some further revelations of the present state of things in that bleeding land , which it is impossible to find room for this week , but YvbicU sUali iwt be Igat sigW
$U?Jltr Mzttintp.
$ u ? jltr Mzttintp .
The Ivorthekn Star. Saturday, November U . 1846.
THE ivORTHEKN STAR . SATURDAY , NOVEMBER U . 1846 .
Untitled Article
THE COLLIERS AND THEIR STAFF . It is a remarkable fact , that the cause of labour , and the success of those who struggle for its emancipation , is ever marred by those who profit by , and live upon , the grievances and sufferings which they are hired to redress and allay . In a previous article we have shown that our argument applies to those who have hitherto undertaken the guardianship and management of the Ten Hours' Bill . Upon many occasions we have traced the failure of Trades ' Unions to the treachery of idlers , who lived upon
the confidence—and something more—of the hetrayed , while the present position of Ireland furnishes a wholesale illustration of the fact , so convincing and strong that denial or refutation is impossible . Indeed , the Chartist cause has suffered more from the attempt of idlers to eke a comfortable existence out of popular grievances than from any other circumstance . Upou the other hand , we have just cause of complaint against the labouring classes themselves , who are always slow to sgo and confess advantages that arc gained without convulsion , commotion , excitement , and noise .
It is now some time since we published some of the doings of the collier leaders and . lecturers , which were neither to our taste nor calculated to serve the interests of those by whom they are paid , and upon whose confidence and industry they live ; anil we were only checked in the further exposure of much more that came to our knowledge , by what we must characterise as the weakness of Mr . Roberts , who assured us of the devotion and kindliness of those who hoped to smother our voice in the colliery districts . Indeed , we have of late asked ourselves , of what use Mr . Roberts himself is to the colliers ? as we now look in vain for auy of those exciting trials and astounding trium phs which kept his name so prominently before the miners , the legal world , and the judges .
There is not , we believe , one single instance of a collier now being imprisoned for violation of contract ; that underground stream , which threatened to burst its artificial limits , runs ^ smoothly in the legal course wiMiin which the miners' legal adviser has , by unremitting attention and astounding legal knowledge , confined it , and , like all other pent in waters , it seeks an outlet and discharge . The poet says : —
" The course of true love never yet ran smooth "and hence , we presume , it is , that the over-grounders , dissatisfied with the even under-ground current , have become growlers . The case of the colliers and their indomitable union has ever been a subject of great interest to us . We have jealously watched the formation of their society from its infancy to its g iant growth ; from the introduction of the twelve apostles to the clearance of every gaol , we have chronicled their every triumph and exulted in their everv victory .
We have encouraged their leaders as long as we found them honest jam ! persevering , and we have ev ; cn withheld exposure when its publication was calculated to lessen their utility or destroy their efficiency . We are ready to admit that they were many of them efficient , zealous , and powerful , in pourtraying tlie grievances of their class , while we are compelled to say , that they seem to repine at the destruction cf those grievances , as if the " rungs "
were cut from their ladder of promotion . Every sectional triumph gained by labour is a victory to the national cause , whilst , upon the other hand , every sectional defeat sustained is a wound to the national movement . For this reason , then , we feel ourselves compelled to publish the following letter , eloquent , though simple , —convincing , though plain , ¦ written by the hand of a devoted , but untutored miner . It is as follows : —
UoKooitED and Hespeoted Sin , —If you had allowed us to continue the exposure of some of tho tricks that have been practise ] in our vaults for a long time , we might h . ivo spared you the troubhMrf again ) referring to
Untitled Article
WEEKLY REVIEW . The week has been unusually barren of incidents either for record or comment . It ' s most noticeable and most important event , the revival of the association for the Ten Hours' Bill , under the auspices of Oastlers the most popular , most powerful , and most successful advocate of that great measure , has been commented upon at length in another column , and it is , therefore , unnecessary to enter further upon the subject here . We can
only expreas our earnest hope that , under the guidance of honest , uncompromising , and disinterested leaders , like Messrs . Fielden , Oastler , and Ferrand , the factory operatives will speedily achieve that triumph , -which has several times been lost solely through the adoption of a temporizing policy . We have no doubt of the present leaders of the movement ; let the people , therefore , be true to each other , and reject all offers less than their full demand , no matter from what quarter they may emanate and success is certain .
In connexion with this subject may be noted the fact , that the firm of Bri ght and Son were the first to commence running short time in their extensive mills at Bradford . This is a queer fulfilment of the promises , the glowing predictions of plenty , which the twin leader of the league used to indulge in , when describing the results that were to flow from Corn Law Repeal ! Mr . Bright has also , at all times , been the most bitter , the most unscrupulous , and the most personal opponent in Parliament of a Ten Hours' Bill . In resisting it he indulged in prophecies as to the ruin which it would bring upon our manufacturing system , quite as confident , quite as
vivid , as those uttered with respect to the effects of Repeal . Seeing he has so utterly failed in the one case , why should he not be equally mistaken in the other ? We ask him to put this question to himself , for we have no doubt on the subject ; at all events , we hope " ttright John" will abate that swaggering bullying tone , that supercilious air of self-confidence and political superiority to those who differed from him on such topics , which made him notorious in the House of Commons . He can't afford that demeanour any longer . Let him re member that his mills are running four days a week , that the Corn Laws are virtuall y Repealed and " eat humble pie . "
Colonial Antr Jfom'cpt Ftebteiu*
Colonial antr jfom ' cpt ftebteiu *
Untitled Article
4 , ' - .- ¦ THE NORTHERN STAR , * November , 14 ,. i 84 fl .
; Now Reaily, Price Ona Shilling. T11k Second Edition *F Ily Life, Or Our, Social State, Fun I.
; Now reaily , Price Ona Shilling . T 11 K SECOND EDITION * F ilY LIFE , OR OUR , SOCIAL STATE , Fun I .
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 14, 1846, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1392/page/4/
-