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THE STIR OF FREEDOM.
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gro ©omsgonUettte.
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LETTERS FOB WORKING MEN . No . IX . —Free Trade asd the Middle Class . TO THE EDITOK OF THE STAR OP FREEDOM . kiBr-l hear some asking , after my last week ' s mslaugW , against the ' Free' Traders— 'Are we hen , never to ally with them ? Is not this pursuing he old Chartist folly of antagonism ? And , as the freat bulk of the middle class is in some sort at least the active political portion of it , free trading , is not this a most inexplicable opposition to that class ?' rhe questions are worth putting , and I will be as JspLcit as possible in my reply . And first let
me iefine what I mean by Free TradTrZ ^ n I ^ 1 f V p ? t I I Pposed t 0 the F ° P - L too . * a Free Trader ; but not such an oSe as requires a monopoly of Fceft Trade for hia o * n advance . Free irade as I understand it , sWldbe equal opportunity -to the waakest as well as to the strongest-to the poorest as well as to the wealtbiest-to the labourer as well as to the capitalist—in order to obtain a fair price for his merchandise , be it labour , money , or goods , and to purchase what he needs without let of despotism or other dishonesty . Real Free Trade is trade set free from all artificial hindrances : it is , in
consequence , the protection of the trader—including 1 in that came the labourer , who has only his li mbs to traffic with—from all artifice . This is " Free Trade and in the justice and desirability of this I fullv be lieve . But this is not the 'Free' Trade of those whom I call sham Free Traders , who are pretty fairlr known as the Manchester School , and whom it seems to me my duty to ^ oppose to the utmost . Their Free Trade means onl y a transfer of monopoly from the landlords to the money lords . Instead of the land , lords having a monopoly of corn-growing , ther , the traders , are to have a monopoly of traffic . * It is l
simpy a farther carrying out of the law of the strongest—a legalised anarch y . Their freedom never goes down so low as the labourer . He may , indeed have freedom of purchase , when out of the range of tally-shops and the truck system ; but freedom to dispogsof las o « n labour is utterly denied to him Me is the siave of a combination of capitalists and this monopoly is what passes now-a-days current as Free Trade . It is in this sense that I S ^? 1 ^ 11 1 * 11 the pe ° Ple tbat Lord D « by and iuord | Derby s opponents may well be left to fight that matter out without our interference . And in aymg this I do not lose steht of even this Rham
JJree Trade having , to a certain extent , benefited the people . Their bread is cheaper , aud as yet there are not statistics of the lowering of wages . But the poor house system remains to help that issue . I do not deny , either , that the corn monopoly was a tremendous wrong ( though 1 think a great deal of rubbish has been taLced about taxing the people ' s food , as if every tax did not resolve itself into that : call the tax what you will , it lessens the number of the poor man s loaves ); that the overthrow of that monopol
y was inevitable ; that the landlords msst never have it back again ^ there is no fear of it )'; and that this phase of half Free Trade is a necessary step in our progress . But I see , also , that the men who have earned this measure do not mean us to have the complementary half—that , in fact . they are the strongesfc opponents to the carrying out of the only sound principles of that 'Free Trade' which they make their watchword ; but which they would restrict and protect ( there is no such staunch Protectionist as
; our prontmonger ) , and ' preserve , ' and monopolise for then- own exclusive benefit . I speak of the mass , very gladly acknowledging many exceptions to the rule . Well , however much the interesls , the immediate interests of this party may be opposed to those of toe landlord party , still that does not identify them with" us . It is not for us to help the one o pnll down the other , at the price of the victor oerag then empowered to hare bis will of us The two parties are alike our enemies , and both to be so treated . Here is the answer to the question—Are we never to ally with them ? As to the old Chartist oily , that was shown much more in thainanrier than the matter . I always held that it was a wise policy not to help the Anti-Corn LawLeague , except at price of the su&age . But the opposition eot rioW
ana then were afraid to oppose for fear of be ' in * thought rioters . It was the rioting that was folly " not the opposition . Had we held out firmly against the League , they would , they must , have sought allU ance with us on our own terms . Let us ally wi th them now ; but only on our own terms . All y with them just as you would with any other enemy , when you can do > t honestly and to your own advantage ; but never trust in them , nor cherish in any fond conceit of their
victory being necessarily your gain . Your best gain would be for the two parties to fi ght Kilkenny-catfashwn . Bnt the triumph of the one , leaves that one free to turn on you . Let them alone ; or , when your way lies together , make the most certain terms : and keep your eyes open while yon help . It h , after alL only a question of time . Theend is plain enough to be seen . Many years cannot pass , whatever course the masses may take , before the firm of old landed geutlemen-the country party as it is called—the last remains of feudalism , having done its woric / iri the ¦ wo rld ( let us frankl y own that it was often good work ) must im out , and leave its broad acres and its sceptre to the present heir-presuroptiv < £ -th 53 . fibam ^ Free S fLl whom . ™ « ave been speaking . ; Mt : tfie
moLp , Muon 01 mat new royalty wUraepafffMnia-f " what upon the people . If , as the y . fe ^ fe eertain tendencies of doing , the people bac ^ W -irafle in this last fight , without pretty slfonqtMa ' es :. - 'wigont , infleea , the price down ( and 'tSaffe shouldbe nothing short of Manhood Sd&agf iUbW tered b y radical mauajurres ) they will find on ? ta& morrow that they have only been ridding ffie FreU -irader of an encumbrance , and setting him "free tox rule as Ms lusts may order . "Woe to England / woe ' especially to the English workmen , if CoWti and Co . can belordsof Britain , and the Suffrage not ours , and no people ' s party prepared to maintain an
ottooation to the new and vigorous despotism of trade . Bitterly shall we rue the help we give to hasten the advent of the Sho pkeepers ' Cabinet , Were we prepared , it would be another-matter . Had wea strong iJemocracy , a Republican party , intelligent , organiBea , and energetic , wo might dare to say—' The sooner we begin the sooner we shall end ; since the worst must come , let it come soon , and soon pass , bince the world must undergo its dirtiest phase , and luitory write itsdarkest chapter , let it be brief . Hasten wo the crisis . ' Are we prepared for this ?—and if not , what madness is it to lend the little Strength we have to those against whom there is so mochueed to husband it . No , these ' Free ' Traders are worse enemies than the landlords . Let
ua not join the old tyrants ; let us not join the new ones . To do either seems to me equally unprincipled . Iberemay be policy in a bargain , if we can make it . lhat is doubtful . But let it be no bargain short of one to whiclnsre can better , honestly , and wisely set our hands—the recognition of our right to freedom as Juigltshmsn . Answer no catch question of Free Trade " ? " * Z * 7 ' m '& Radical , of Derby or Cobden , ~ but ask onl y , will you acknowledge oar right to the sunrage . If «« we care not of what
faction you may be : one is at least as trust-worthy as tne other . If no , then you are against us , and there ' s an end . Our time for governing is yet afar . If , therefore , they would have our aid-either faction to take toe nans till men time as we are strong enough to contend it with them , let them make these terms with w for our aid . Wo stand b y the supporters of tho People s nghtto the Buffrage . That is the sole poUt tor which we should move , or care to lend a hand in
the faction-fi ght before us . And who says that this is opposition to the middle class ? Are there not Tories among tfee middle class , and some Free Trad ers , who are not shams , and many others perhaps ready to do us justice , in spite of mistaken political views , which have led them into bad ways without ill intent ? To them we are not opposed . Their ^ P we ask . By them we would stand . By all of iuo middle class which will acknowledge us asbrewren , as countrymen , as brother freemen . We do
nos oppose the middle class ; but we oppose that porfaon of the middle class which would ride rough-S 2 L ? OT US ' ~~ the 8 ham F «» Trader . * . We oppose nolSSE * v " ° new »<« ne-this new sohool of mo-™« notl ^ a ^ ver cla 8 S tne 7 belong . And we m «! e cwT ^ % to a fight between the ' Protectionists'ri f adera au ^ the Higher-class tannt us with an W 3- 1 ***" there are some who class . We Would ^^ le opposition to the middle m « on ofa pMp C ^ . to classes by the recogmembered peopie ^ Ialfl 1101 ? ^ PK-aot adit " all themeJ ^ f hl £ ?* $£ M ***¦ . This . the JaiddJe cI-sm . ^^ Our opP ° « tiou to ¦ Vv Spabxacus .
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TO THE INDEPENDENT E L ECTOR S OF THE BOROUGH OF NOTTINGHAM . AENTLEMEN , —la soliciting the honour of your Y * Votes at the next Election , I am bound to Rive an explicit de . watation of my political opinions ; and , in bo doing I shall endeavour to avoid that disgraceful quibbling and vague generalities so frequently resorted to in Election Addresses . Such , for example , As I am for a liberal extension , &c ., » without saying how liberal or ho-. vfar ; 'lam for the gradual reform of abuses in Church and State , without aaywg how grauua \; or -where the abuses are ; ' A menu to a sound and religious Education , ' meaning nothing and appiy-ng whatever you please to imagine . Uut with rejard to myself , I frankly , and undfeguisedly declare that I amfer Manhood Suffrage , considering the man even as a nitre animal more worthy to be represented than t ^ eu the Ten-pound House or the Forty-shilling Freehold . . I am for the Ballot , as an expedient to preserve Electors from the intimidation or undue influence of Landlords , Cotton-lords , and Money . monsers .
I am for the Abolition of all Property Qualifications , both in the Elertor and the Elected—the former for the grounds already stated , the latter to permit Electors to return whom they please as their ltepresentative . _ I am for the Payment of Members , so as to rescue the representation from the hands of the wealthy and privileged Order , aud to afford the opportunity for Labour to bo represented by honest and intelligent men belonging to its own Order . I am for the immediate repeal of the Whig Septennial Act , and an advocate for the Annual Election of the Peoples' Kepresentatives , as the only ine . ins of enabling constituents to exercise a legitimate controul over the conduct of their Representatives . I am for Toleration in the most extensive acceptation of the term . I am foi" Free Trade in all its ramifications ; and in the most comprehensive sense—not a bastard and one-sided Free Trade—but the universal application of the principle , so as to ensure the greatest happiness of the greatest number . : 1 am for tho Heform of nil abuses in Church and State , and a general Sysiem of State Education , secular , and to a certain extent compulsory .
These ave my views , which I submit to the members of a free and enlightened Constituency , who , I trust , are anxious with me for the reformation of the manifold abases of our political and social systems , the destruction of class privileges , and the establishment of tUe national happiness and prosperity upon a solid foundation . I remain , Gentlemen , your ftituful servant , Cradles Si-uegeos , Barrhtcr-at-Law . 18 , Abingdon street , ¦ Westminster .
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TO THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK . Q . ENTLEMEN , —As a Reformer and one of ** yourselves , sympathising with the interest and progress of the Industrial CLvses , scfely engaged in Manufactures and Commerce , and for many years resident in the Borough of Southwark , I beg respectfully to acquaint you that , in compliance with a nutr . erousl v signed Requisition , I am induced to soiicit the honour of yonr Euffrago at the ensuing General Election . FREE TRADE-CHEAP BREAD . Extension of the Suffrage . Equitable Arrangement of Electoral Districts . The . traasfer . of the right of returning Members of Parliament from decayed or corrupt boroughs to populous constituencies . The Ballot ana Short Parliament ?}
2 » o Property Qualification . Freedom of the Press ; Cheap law , and Spedy Justice . Probate- ' andiegacy Doty to be charged upoa Lauded as well as other Property ;;; - ^ - ; . . - ^ ,, ' , ^> , r ¦• . . ¦ _ Iscome Tax to . be ; ducontinu . ed , or ; revi ^ d-, charging an equivalent in Annuityjvalue , aedqriiing to . the uuiiiut ' r of years purchase of Profession , Trad ? , orfiiedincome . * " - ' - ' ' Customs Heform . UilitiaBiH Resc ' mdment . . - Free action fcr Absolute religious . Liberty , neither preference or aisabjlitj _ on the Ground of Beh " gipn ,. that Churchmen , Romaa Catholics , and . Dissenters , of aUdehomihatJgns may enjoy perfect constitutional equality , so that law ; which should be for the protection of A Ljj , may not beiiised ^ for the " persesution or intuit of ANY . I therefore staa ' dpledsed tevote for the ^ abolition of Maynoath , and aH other grants for religious purposes ; as well as for the extinctign of CaaQaLaw : a , nd . Ecclesiagt ' ical Courts . So further extended of further Ccntralisatiouj but anrm maiutenance and expansion of Parochial and Municipal privaeees . ' ¦ Colonial Self eoTernment . ' &c . ^ : . ; - ' - ¦ ¦ - . - , ^ olit " ? iof : BxciseDuty on Paper and Soap , and the removal of all iaxatiQti pressing npon Knowledge and . Ini » ustry . ..- ¦ .
.. , . -GeneralReduction upon all National Expenditure , especially for irensions and Tfar purposes .... " ' ' " ¦¦ ¦ * ¦¦* These are | Reforms I have . long advocated , ana > hall continue to agttate wjen mtable occasions riiay . be preseiitea / cbhsideriii ! : Lft £ rt npon . great principles of : Civil and Bellgious Southwark has . long conrribnted ' to insrease . largely the revenue of the Ci ^ ofL ondon b y a ; tax upon the . immense consumption of Coals of her HoasehoWers and Manufacturers , without recoiviuf ? a fair return from the City ; iunds , for the construction of Sevv Koads or Streets , nor for Sanatory Improvement ' , - nor for the introduction into the Borough of Southwai-li , 'of independent municipal rights of seli-govemment , to acquire -which the untiring and energetic zeal of yonr Kepresentattves may be required in theSe \ r
In the event of my beuig elected an exponent of the Liberal opuuons of the Inhabitants and Electors of Soutbwark , havin- dow leisure for the execution of so responsible and sacred a trust , vea may rest atsured that neither zeal , in egrity , nor energy shall bo wanting to merit your approbation . Beiusr so intimately acquainted with jour Local interests , and the Public opinion of the ftsroueh , and beliernnf : it to be the desire of the iKsjority of the Elector * to K « t n P r ^ 1 ? Res y t nt . 5 aI Candidates , I respectfully solicit the distinguished honour of being returned one of the Reprcsenta-S ™ inf S » mraoii » House of Parliament for the Ancient aud Independent Buvough of Soutk-wark . I have the honour to remain , your most obedient Servant , Holland-street , Southwark , May 2 O . h . 1852 . Vtt-hm '
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T 1 TERARY INSTITUTION , JOHN STREET , ti . r .- ^ * FITZROT SQUARE , that a S al > 0 Ve institution » ara tespectfaUy informed
_ „ _ RURAL EXCURSION TO EPfLVG FOREST By the Eastern Counties Uailway , will take place on { SONDAT , Jcse 27 th , 1852 , ^ ajiof the Fund now rai sing for the BmiR and decobatiov of thb OTtooh . Mr . Robinson , landlord of the 'Earfe and Child . ' rwv ®** { tes ^ rt to mM * for a TEA PARTY ON THE T-tv f' ? i u * ? omnTOdati 6 n « f Dinner and Pic-nic Parties . Twlfefs for | the ExcurHon ; ttieTe ^ and back , including Tea l " Cd . . yutig . Childrcnhetweea ^ e aV es of Three and Ten , Is . e ^ h . DShe Eseursiott Train : waWeaygsfte-Bishopsgate Station at a quarter past , ten preci £ «] y ., but . tliB * friends art ^ vfJ ^ tJ . o ^
pj ^ di ye by . ten - aj ^ MeXf . andalsothattheT ^ ^ M ^^^^ M ^ M ^ June 25 th , to afford time for ^^ wSjessary arrangementr .. ^ P ^ - •• flffi ?* ' ^^* ^ and Heefcstnet , and Uagr ^ Street and Holtorn , leave'Griffin ' s Green Man and Still , Orf ^ seseti-and the Cpnveyanre ; Company ' s OESce , Paddinctan , ^ pSP ^ fff ^ te dipartoe of the train , calling at the Gloucester SS&KyfSffi ^ P poarand Castle , O xfo rd-street ; Georg e and Blue S ^ w ^^ QStW ^? 10 Sce ani . Bul 1 and Mo ' . ^ Kent-circus ; u « . d {« Xr < K | ,-. ^^ g . croS 3 . Omnibuses alto run from Paddingtan * p ™ Se «^ Sea 3 slinj ; top , and City-road , one hour before the deosrtfflS . wthffitistD , and HVeviise meet tha return train . HAM
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f ^ 0 (^ M LETS ELECTION . K' PUBLIC MEETING of the Electors and J 3 . ; J » OT , Elestor 3 tf . the Tower llamleis will take place on Monday June 21 st , on ibaner ' s Fields , when Sir . V . Xen-. on will attend and address the meeting . Chair to be tatav at Si * o'Clock . By order of the Committee , Wm . Davis , Chairman ,
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TowKHAMiErs EtEcnox ^ -We are informed that a Kreat public meeting , insujpwt of Mr . V 7 m . Newton , the Woiilng Hen ' . Candidate for the representation of this borough , will be held in Mr . Newton will attend and address the assembl y . Democrats and working men , rally in your etrength , ana testify by your nrnnbew , your union , and your suffrages , that Newton is the man of your choice , and must , and shall , be elected for the Tower Hamlets * FiHSBms ELMTios-Prom an advertifement which appears in our columns , it Will be seen , that a meeting of the electors and non-electors of this hwongh will be held on Clerkenwell K on Moniay n « t at six o ' clock to
precisely , promote here olecl tion of Thomas Shngsby Duucombe . DemoV . rate and ^ Vorki . fg Men of Pinshurj ! Mr . Dttncomba ' s long triedfidelitv tothe cau i of Just . ce and K < ght , po : itical ana social , c ' . a-ms for bim ^ our hearty support . -He- is threatenei with the opposition of shams anddwy-hoys . Gather to his support Rally . Yally , ialh « The METBoroi . rrASEtECTmsg . -An article on the several candidates for the representation of the metropolis , we arf oomnelM to postpone tai next week . In ttfe meanTimi we s"feiS ma 1 io respecting the new candidates ( we know the old < ne ™ . Mr Harvey , Lambeth ( of whom we have already iome interestlie ? . ot \ 9 ; w m 2 ? r B n di ° bave some more > J Aldenn :. n CbaU Mb , Mr . Wyld and Mr .. Gardiner , Finsbury ; Ayrfm and Butler Tower Hamlets ; Pellatt , Southwark ; Shelly and Maidstone Westminster .
$ ST The following articles and communications are unavoidably postponed tdl next week : — 'United Trade ' s Report '— ' Letter of Cit izen Nadaud '— Miner ' s Meeting at Seaton Delaval — 'i Pearcy ' sLetter '— 'George White ' s Let'er on Free Trade '— ' j Tav ' lor , Birkenhead '— 'Yarmouth Democrats '— ' Lancaster Address ' _ A Carlisle Chartist ' - -A . Dalstonian , Cumberland . ' The case of the Fellowship Porters will ba * e our attenticn K . S . VELOS—^ We nill communicate with the refugees . *„ R 0 BB . SON , Wilsden . —Many thanks . We will write . C . SEACHAVEi Faraham—We will comraunjer . te with Mr . Rvder MosiEsroB , THERacoEEs .-G . Vf . M . Reynolds , Esq ., £ 1 ig _ J Smith , ^ . techurch lS -Mr IJarham , per B . RevnolusTEsq , Is ( jgp AllAgenbwilhngtoejhsl . it Bills of Contents , will please to seud tharaduressts to tae'Swr of Freedom' Office , 183 Fleetstreet , Lonn on . ' ' $ T Sums under Si . may be s * nt in postaee stamp * . Money orders must Be made payable to John Bezer , Money Order Office
The Stir Of Freedom.
THE STIR OF FREEDOM .
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OURSELVES ALONE . God helps those who help themselves , ' ia a suWime old trmam , and if the working classes of this country had banded themselves together to help each other , instead of trusting to the leadership of aristocracies of Land and Money , they might , ere this , have been the masters of their own Labour and Productions , aud England have been happy and free . Trust jourseWea ! If the heart of the people did but respond to that noble , resolve , how soou wo might work out the emancipation of Labour from the thousand tyrannies . that surround it , and end at ouce and for ever its long and murderous martyrdom . How much more suffering and tribulation—how many
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more terriblo lessons will he necessary to ripen the masses into the knowledge that their deliverance resta absolutely with themselves , and that it is themselves alone who can achieve their triumph ? Its of no use looking any longer for assistance at the hands of such , a miserable mockery of a Government as ours , those who preach any such means of redemption , do but deal in delusion . It is impossible that i our Government should assist the Working Classes . It is composed of men who live by the present ( system , and who exist by the facilities which this system affords them for plundering the poor ; to destroy this system , then , would be their own self-annihilation . A .
Government properly constituted , would be tne head of the State , as tho father is of the family . And as tho father has a special regard to the protection and well-being of the weakest and tenderest member , so would the State fling its arm of safety around the Labour interest , if crushed and oppressed . by the tyranny of other interests . But our Government is not thas happily constituted . It is a cruel and heartless step-mother to tho children of Labour , and wastes their hard earnings , tho prico of their sweat and groans , toil and travail and tears , in debauched
dalliance with the progeny of Capital , whom it nurtures to rank luxuriance in princely pakces , and fattens their rotten carcases upon the fruits of the world , whilst it drives the poor creators of all this plenty from tho feast of their own creation , and sends them empty a ^ 7 ay from the bounteous banquet of life . There is no help to be derived from such a government ; we must win our freedom by Ourselves Alone . If any one needed to be convinced of this , let him turn to the debate on Mr . Slaney ' S motion , for a commission to consider ,, suggest , and report measures to benefit the social condition of the
Working Classes , on Friday , Juno Iltb , let them consider its reception in that denofthieveB , aud-the arguments and replies that were given to Mr . Slavey . He was met with continual cries of ' Divide ; ' and the man whohas pleaded the causeof Labour the mosfcgallantly , and with the brave 6 t persistence , could scarcely obtain a heariug fr . m the miserable crew of Shams , and Rogues , and Misrepresentatives , who were eager to shut their eare to the voice of Tmth , and hurry off to glut their gluttony , and consume at a meal more
than they earn in a lifetime , or to melt down tho marrow of what manhood is left to them , and squander tho plunder of the poor , vith their pimps and parasites , and courtezans , behind the curtains of their grand brothels , saloons , and hells . Well may Mr . Sianey wish to retire from such a scene ; the thanks and blessings of the workers be with him for what he has done . And God forgive—for we never will—the ribald wretches who hounded him down and mocked and spurned your dearest interests , Sir . Walpole in reply , stated that —•
If there- w . is one thing which had strutk him Bince he had bad the honour ofa seat in parliament , it vras the fact that the condition of the working clauses and their improvement by means of education or othei legislative measures for their benefit , met with more serious attention in the house , than any measures proposed tor the interest of those who were represented in the house . Is not that sublime ? Worthy of the hypoorite whose name he bears . This is equal in audacity to the assertion of Lord John Russell , who affirmed that the aristocracy was beloved by the people , and had a firm hold upon their affections . A hbm hold quotha ? ^ Aye , my lord , for their teeth are in our hearts with the grip of bloodhounds . A 'serious
attention ' Mr . "Walpole ? You are right , they hare had a grim serious attention . No means have been neglected to work their injury , no one tbing has been done for their benefit . Let our friends , tho Co-operators , lay these things to heart , and not waste precious time and energies in a futile hoping against hope , for they will get nothing from the hands of these men , therefore , lot them not put their trust in them . Ourselves Alonk , let this be our motto , and if we were but united , and comprehended Our vital intereets , we are stron g enough to carry our own against all other interests , —aye , against all the world ! The power to win our freedom , and
establish our own supremacy , is"in our own hands ; but , then it lies on the combined exertions of the whole of the masses—working all for each , and each for jjll . No isolated endeavour , no fragmentary action , cau ever accomplish this change—it is tho might of numbers that we need to work tbo necessary political change . And the working classes have many a stern admonition of the immediate necessity of this unity and combination , if they will but read the significant signs of the times . Day by day is tyranny of one kind or other encroaching upon them and destroying , one b y one , the last strongholds of Labour ' s liberties . Strike after strike of
trade upon trade , is rendered abortive , and leaves the men in deeper degradation and misery , Darkness and despair loom up around us , blotting out all hope from the sky of our future . Decay , Starvation , and Ruin , encircle us round nearer and nearer . We are like that criminal who was shut up in a dungeon the walls of which became every day narrower aud narrower , till they at last crushed him , —or like the companions of Ulysses in the cave of Poliphemous , it is only a scramble with us for the chance of being devoured last . Friends and brothers
fall at our side to-day , and our turn comes to-morrow . Our poorest brethren , and the poorest trades , fall first ; the better-paid follow after—their destruction is none the less certain because they have a little longer grace . The hungry monster Is only whetting its appetite with the tortures of ita victims previous to eating them up . And it is only by a grand united struggle of the whole people that we can burst the tyranny of this murderous' system , and break from these surrounding evil circumstances , which has to be accomplished for , and by , Ourselves Alone .
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EUROPE AND ASIA THE COSSACKS PREY . . AMERICA TO THE RESCUE !
Europe is already almost entirely Cossack , and will soon be wholly so , if the friends of freedom throughout the world do not unite and give battle to the tyrants . Bound and powerless , trampled beneath the iron hoof of military despotigm , the nations of the European continent are impotent , and have no means of uniting—no means of renewing the struggle for Republican freedom . The noblest
and last of their patriot * have perished on the scaffold , or have lieen slayshteved iu their dungeons . They who possess the confidence of the peoples , and who might be capable of leading them in a new struggle for liberty , are in prison or in exile . Europe is at the feet of Russia ; yet , however necessary to Russia may be the enslavement of the peoples of the west , even that is but a means to the great end she has in view , Tbat end is the possession of Asia .
We cannot but desire to see the east inundated by a fresh stream of vigorous life from the west . We cannot but desire to see Asia , the birth-phice of civilization and mental greatness , again peopled with vigorous and progressing men , instead of the emasculated races who have possession of it now , who have no real life , and who have long ceased to labour in the cause of human progress . The Russians are a fresh and undeveloped people
they are barbarous and possessed of a great amount of physical strength—qualities which fit them above all others for the work of destruction and conquest . It is not surprising , therefore , that the man who can wield this mighty human power , should entertain the hopes of seizing upon the sunny lands of Asia , and labour incessantly to prepare the way for the time when he may launch his Cossack hordes upon the long-coveted east .
But is it the interest of humanity that Asia be re-invigorated by the barbarous serfs ef the Czar ? It is true such a result would in time destroy the imperial despotism . The empire would then be too vast , however barbarous its inhabitants might be , to remain long subject to the will of one man ; while , on the other hand , the possession of the rich territones of the East would soften the harshness of their nature , and develope their intellectual powers . But until the awakening would be a long night of barbarism for humanity , as dark and degrading as tbat which followed the fall of Rome .
Such need not be . The East may be again civilised and invigorated b y others than the Muscovites-by nations that would carry there new life and soul , without ignorance and slavery ; That might be the work of the great American , Republic , and of our own nation , which alone in Europe has the power to do bo if she will . The only meauB by which Europe and Asia can be made free is by tho destruction of the Russian power , which is the incarnation , of the despotism of the
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world . All circumstances combine to poinfc out America as the natural lead cr of Republicanism and freedom , and consequently the natuiralVenemy of Russia . Between these principles of absolutism and liberty there will be a continued Btmggle , until one of them be universally triumphant . America must then intervene in Europe in favour of the principles she represents , or she -, vill have at last to combat her deadiy enemy ^ upon her own so l ^
She must speedily choose , or the last sparks of liberty will be trampled out ia Europe . But the has already chosen . The cheers with which Kossutii is greeted sound the knell of European tyranny . It is tho mission of Kossuth to remind the American people of tUeir duties towards Humunityduties so long forgotten , or neglected , or wrapped up in an obsolete policy , suitable for America in her infancy , but not for the giant Republic of our own days .
Woll has Kossoth fulfilled his mission , and nobly have the American people responded to his appeal . They have recognised in the large-bearted and eloquent Hungarian exile the representative of the suffering nations of Europe , whose freedom it is both the duty and the interest of America to protect . Let us prepare to unite with our American brethren to do battle for the cause oi Freedom , and for the overthrow of that abominable system of despotism , which is torturing and debusing the European people . '
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THB VOICE OP THE WEST RIDING . It had not boea our intention to expend more words upon the promoters cf the Manchester abortion , as we have alread y with sufficient clearness , stated the real facts of tho case . However , we have been induced to depart from our determination in order to draw public attention to the Delegate meeting of the West Riding of Yorkshire , at Bradford , on Sunday last . We cannot but consider as very important the judgment of the Chartists of tho West Ridinglu
, no other place in . Great Britain , have there been so many steadfast and unvarying labourers for the Democratic cause as there . On the present occasion there was an unusuall y large attendance of Delegates , showing the unalterable determination of the men of Yorkshire to preserve the reputation they luivo acquired of having been from the commencement of the Chartist agitation the steadfast adherents-of princi ple , and the determined enemies of usurpation ; and to vindicate the principles of Democracy , against those who would set up a . dictatorship iu its name .
Unlike tho ' Delegates' who have been sen t to Metropolitan Delegate Councils—mushroom localities—some them or four men , already belonging to a locality constituting themselves a new one , and deputing two of three as their « Delegates '— the printers and ' printer ' s devils' of certain parties , converted into Chartists for a week and represented b y their master—localities which we know , from good authority , to have been dissolved before a week ' B vxistence—those of the WeBt Riding really represent old localities of thinking and earnest Chartists .
The Delegates found that the men against whose unwarrantable conduct they had assembled to protest were every way deserving of their scorn and indignation . Those men , calling themselves Democrats , while they bring shiime upon the causelthey profess to advocate , had the sublime impudence to denounce Socialists , Republicans , and Free-thinkers , and , indeed , every man who was not content to shout in the train of the would-be dictator .
Such presumptuous intolerance render natural enough , much of their further conduct which would otherwise be almost incredible . Some of the party in favour of the Manchester farce , actually brought to the meeting a band of bullies and ruffians , for the purpose of coercing the meeting into supporting their factious chief and his lawless proceedings , Some of them even boasted of their brutality , sayfng that they had brought a force to put down their
opponents . Failing in obtaining their object by threats of personal violence , they next tried to prevent the progress of the proceedings , and attempted to have the meeting adjourned for a week , so that they might be able get up a number of mushroom localities like those above mentioned , and thereb y swamp the real representatives of the Chartists . In this they also failed . * The prime orginator of all this mischief was present nominall y in the character of a reporter , but in reality , in order , if possible , to deceive and lead away , by hissophistry and clap-trap , those who were not deep-sighted enough to perceive his real character Enraged at being taunted with taking a reoorfc onlv
ot the things said ia favour of the course he has pursued , and not of anything against that course , he said he would take reports to suit himself , a confession which is not likely to add to his admirers as a journalist or a politician . The proceedings at Bradford on Sunday are siguincantof the ultimate fate of all who have recourse to treachery and deceit . No where throughout tho whole country was the person we allude to more popular sometime since than there . Yet all the tactics of himself and accompanying gang of bravoeB could not prevent the delegate meeting putting their seal of condemnation upon the anti-Democratic proceedings of the factious clique . Although prevented passing a resolution in due form , the delegates did not separate without putting their names , and the names of the places they represented , to a resolution repudiating in toto the Manchester ' Conference' as a vile attempt to establish a dictatorshi p in the name of Democracy , For their noble vindication of Democratic principles the thanks of every Chartist , and every lover of honour and honesty , are due to tho meu of the West Riding , and to their Chairman , whose talented advocacy of Chartism , and unweuring exertions in the People s Cause , have gained for him the respect of the working men of Leeds and of the whole country
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ARE snsoisr ^ T ^^ 'SETTLED ? ' UB OmT smim multitude wore of a pSe ' lv « LV ^ istak <* o't P » ntaal port , of niau ' B n « f f ? .. . ^ rial 2
p- of discuss , Md «™ 7 e , gS "V been ff spssgss SSSSr-sSS ti interc £ joftir : £ : ; : t ^ v ^ 5 : labour , "loredircctly ana ™ ' -nim P / 'rt - is C of au ^ other class . ' llie i £ M ^ 'S ? * 1 ^ " 18 «» o industriousl y circuit / ™ % . ! hlch " * £ pngatad assertion , that ' the IuX ^ JPbJ settled ; ' and that , too , on a A ^ £ f ^ ask for the proof ia support rf suclis ££ ,, " " V -e are answered , < That to buv iu tho 2 * > % uud soUin - the ^ i-est ^ X ^ rK ^ ' ^ merco : and flmf- ?>¦„ .. „ :.. . ? * . 1 < lA ot \ . * J
ii i . 7 . t """"" « contained t -p « . i < UU < ttameatof Labour and its Rights , JZj'W daties , commerce in all its relations , tS T ' ^ ; Buy , the cheapest market , and sell in ZV as < is an interpretation of a pronoaition . ai X ' Smith ' s Wealth of ^ onl 7 Tt ^ j » tion is explicit and full , and contains tl e \ vl !? P si noimcal doctrine of lumez faire laism ^) ** k * oall things alone , ' aud a 8 on it is based £ ^ economical practices of the age we will d ? ra full . MyoaiaiofNations , vro ; kLt ;{ SV tiD 'Every individual is continually exerting £ -h find out the most advantageous employ ^ E * ever Capita he can command , It is \ lls ^ "Jj tage , indeed , and not that of the society ho £ view but the study of his own advantage n tufn " or rather , necessarily , leads him to prefer tin '' ployment which is most advantageous to the sJLT If that proposition were indeed ' true , | lc . . J " , the whole question of ' Labour aud its IU i ald
perty and duties , commerce iu all its relation . ' U ' settled . ' That is the onl y proposition on which Z Manchester Economists' rest their usBovtiou of Z question being settled . ' We will try the m £ tionfirBt as regards land . The landownersfof h ' laud employed ' whatever Capital' they could com m 1 0 ™ y theil \ iutere directed thev
J ^ ; turned their tenantry adrift , < ejectments' being com mon ; they spent the rentals of their estates not in ' but out of Ireland , 'Absenteeism' being common they avoided a direct aud unbroken connexion be ' Ween themselves and their tenantry , ' Middleraauism ' being common . In all this they acted as they sap . posed for their < own advantage . ' Had Adam Smith ' s
proposition been by nature and necessity invuuMj true , the Irish landowners , in exerting themselves to find out what in their judgment was for their' own advantage , ' would have pursued the course that was most advantageous to the society of which they were members ; their Capital was in Ireland , tho fruits of their acts are also in Ireland ; and where is the man that , judging the tree b y its fruits , will , with Ireland staring him m the face , assert that Adam Smith ' s proposition , quoted above , is without quaUficationanything else than a mere assumption ?
We will try Adam Smith ' s proposition as regardi tho employment of Capital in manufactures . The millowners of England used whatever Capital they could command in the way which , to them , appeared to be most advantageous iu so doing ; they scorned all restraint , enjoyed the freest use of their Capital , ran their factories sixteen or twenty hours out of the twenty-four , increased their own gains , aud increaied the deaths amoug their hands , ' sunk an unlettered , but not vicious , population , to the lowest depths of
physical , moral , and social degradation , iu the pursuit of their ' own advantage ; ' they enriched themselves , and impoverished ' the society * of which they were tho heads . Who , with the reports of the factory commissioners before him , would assert that Ada © Smith ' proposition , as stated by its author , and re < duced to practice by his disciples , is not a mistake ? Yet , on tho assumption of Adam Smith , did the
owners of factories oppose all factory legislation ; their leading representatives , Mr . Cocdou aud Mr . Bright , consistently opposing legislative interference to the last . When the London bakers , two years ago , asked for the abolition of night work in the bakehouses of the metropolis , Mr . Bright , taking Mb stand on the proposition quoted from the ' Wealth of Nations , ' mocked their complaints , aud approving commoners sneered at the motion of Lord Itobert
Grosvenor , made on behalf of the poor bakers out oi doors . We will now examine Adam Smith ' s proposition as regards labour—tho property of the working man . Every observing working man knows that much of his time is occupied in" preventing the less thoug htful of his fellow men from using tbeir Cap ital—Labourin the way which to them seems' most advantageous . ' Why so many complaints against ' overtime '««« ' piecework ? ' If every working man , in following the course palpably marked out to him by self-interest , also follows the course which to all his fello w men ?
is most advantageous , ' such working men as complain of ' overtime ' and piecework , ' are guilty « a fatal error . All Trade Unions' and ' Amalgamated Societies' are evils , and ought to be dispensed with . Every working man knows that ' p iecewor k is a serious and growing evil , in so far as it induces tjjfl workman to overreach his natural aud ovdiniuy hab" * of work ; the unjust employer profiting therefrom . JJ making the earnings of the most expert workman tn standard by which to measure the earnings ot »« If Adata Smith ' s proposition were true no aucUw could exist ; each would work as ho p leased , anil a would profit thereb y . , . understana
That the disciples of Adam Smith so his proposition no one can doubt ; they ' ^ ffj . cry down Trades Unions as ' evils , ' Boards of W as ' unjustifiuble interferences with the employ ™ of Capital , ' oppose by every means in their power movements of the working men in defenco ot w ^ earnings , say « each should be free to make v bargaiu he pleases ; ' and during the recent mo «» of the Amalgamated Engineers , ' *««« » columns of the press the disciples of Smith used » B j ments built upon Smith ' s proposition , w » M » ^ effect , against the associated workmen . « ' t tho Free Trade economists ara conaistent , tbey » t 0 a doctrine , and desire to rigorously reduce
practice . jjea If we inquire into the practices of trade , *<> s of ttdulterationss and frauds , each Bhop keep e ^ * whatever Capital he can command for hi * ° * a d 9 vantage ; ' but who , with the exposures teSfi : ' 0 in the pages of the « Lancet , of the fraudu lent , honest , and dangerous practices of the m ^ ° J in shopkeepers , would affirm that each » h ° P L ' the looking to his own advantage , ' also cares ' advantage' of his customer . fioab " A capitalist owns a factory ; he emp loys . ^\ Bg dred perBons ; he establishes a provision m"' ^ mart ; pays his workpeople in flour , sugar . . candles , flannels , &c , &o .: the goods hejww" a iw
sell are of inferior" quality ; he charges jD 1 . high price ; he is enriched thereby HlIef ! Jjtbal morally , and unjustly enriched ; but enncnei i ^ in strict keeping with the proposition of Aaawi ft quoted in this letter , and which ia said to c o » flf final « uettlement' of the claims and conaw Labour , Capital , and Exchangee . « i , e # The popular doctrine of ' buy in tbe , f" > market , and sell in the dearest , ' ia fo or K 7 or king the very worst doctrines ever inculcated , a ^ $ man must always do a day ' s work before ne b j ( day ' s wages ; he sells his labour to hia a ^ JJLfli H he sells it cheap , he must be poor ; except u " bo Ur , cheap , his employer cannot buy it cheap . J" er a 3 an active power , is the foundation of an J ' . v rand , therefore , of all traffic ; and , as the actoi . , ing precedes the products of labour , the ^" ^ i the first seller , and no one says that to w » exc 6 p i cheap is advantageous to the laDOUr f , . . ! C anii o 1 the labourer sells cheap , tbe buyer of law ;
buy cheap . What are the facts ? -they ««< icte t —ia every branch of industry in which un « ^ competition is carried to a great extent- ( . ° clio cheapest market is most comp lete ; in b « c " c 0 D 8 e of industry wages are lowest , and the la » ° f , ftboa rerf qaently the poorest . The difference to all i »«
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[ FINSBURI ELECTION . A GREAT PUBLIC MEETING OF THE Electors and Non-EIectors of the Borough will be held on CLERKENWELL-GREEN , ON MONDAY EVENING , JUNE 21 st , To promote the re-elettion of THOMAS BLKGSBY DTJXCOMBE , T 7 ho will attend and address the meeting . Chair to he taken at Sis o'Clock precisely . Men of Finsbnry attend and support your old aud ire ! l-tried representative . Bj order of the Committee meeting at the Finsbmy Literary Institution , E . W . Lasgshatt , Chairman . Thomas Mautis Wiiieler , Secretary .
Gro ©Omsgonuettte.
gro © omsgonUettte .
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On W « rlnfl ( , ^ ° ^ GHAM ELECTION . ExohanlSfKl ^?*** ™} f * f *" Mr flhwl . r « ,. P " rposo of hearing an address from SmfKLfW ' " the Democratic candidate" for Leetin ? ffcrnnfiM e eLe , otorB - Mr - Sturgeon addressed the AfflwtL « nH ? . er K fi th - newaB much applauded . fJSiSS "ndidate had been put through a gooVdeal of ? nZi ^' , « re 80 l V ti 0 D ' Wng the Latin * to use its SnCS T , election ™ carried vita onlyfour IffhSStJ ^ - th 0 PWP ° 'ition was being carried , then SeJb * cbairman had declared it to be adopted , nlafLT Tv v P ress ««> from the back to the front of the ? h « 11 i * eu ^ aused ' lt t 0 wriggle forward and drop to tne level of tne floor gradually with a tremendous craah . tw ^ im B bodyofthehall eawit coming , and remfl * , . - f ly as P ° » Wo out of Us reach , wbilo those upon it fell witli the wreck , and wera for some time
struffff i -, eaA bsfore a 11 were extricated . Profound silence prevailed for two or three minutes , until the fright naturally occasioned had passed away , and the delris being examined nobody was found crushed underneath ; then , no particular damage being incurred by any one , the meeting raised a loud cheer , aud shortly afterwards separated-just at ten o clock .
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¦ ¦ " _ "SgBCSgBS CME SUPPRESSION OF PUBLIC LIBERTY . On Monday , tho 14 th inst ., a publio meeting was called in Bonncr . Fields , Victoria Park , to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Home Secretary to obtain the cancelling of the police order , forbidding public lectures , sermons , and discussions in tbe fields ou Sundays . In spite of the rain , which fell heavily , a hundred or bo of persons were on the ground , evincing a determination to maintain their rights , which is not often displayed at the sacrifice of so mucliW TOiml comfort . These adjourned to the Literary Institution . Morpoth-street , where Mr . Frank Cnnzoartook the chair , who , in an excellent address , gave the audience credit for being there , in spite of tho unpropitioua weather .
. « r 'W ™ moved- ' -That the public meeting be adjourned , and that it be left to the Committee to determine when it should be held . " Mr . S . apoke in support of the motion , and raad a petition that he intended to present to the House of Commons . . e m i ? l F ; F W ? J n < ^ motion . During his re-K « sfon " hSriZ ^ ^ ei v told bythe p ° lica ' htit the inSSZl ^ i rr e ° ? e (! auBe they disturbed ^ mt ffiff'jnX . noin « S « j » etiiTy , in reply to questions put to h m in tho house , had said— ' it waa because of tbe ? ffi ^^ S ^^* ^ KhftS / " * £ a . saia— lhat if you interrogate two roo ^ s » h had linno
reSKid ° LZ f I 0 teM « P « : toipetktft tr ^ dUtart falsehoodS hl ? h ! V " ^ would be ^ re to expose the affjfr and if S ' f v . the bla 8 Phei"y , that was another dred'Cm WJ ^ W emen looked back a few nun-SandfdntefW ^ blaspheming against the now IffilaiH e ^ eathen ' wh ' ct they «** credit arbllaphemy . ' ? en bufc ea ™ st convictions of opponents JiS » ft ! l nlil 1 1 a . Mp - Binn T also addressed $% ? $ ' . $£ ? " J ° urned ' *<™ subscribing for JtW ° TuMio oM afterwar ^ detw * ined *• cal 1 o ' clock ^ ft . ™ ]?* that da y fortnight , at Bvo mS d ' toatend ^^ "" TofferBa"letS wiU be
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. 4 . THE STAR OF FREED OM . \ \
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 19, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1683/page/4/
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