On this page
- Departments (4)
-
Text (14)
-
Untitled Article
-
THE NORTHERN STAE SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1841.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
2To d&tstotx& anfr ComapontwttjS
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. Tuesday Evening, July 6th.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
GUttitn P*to0
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
CONCLUSION OF MR . O'BRIEN'S LETTER TO MIL O'CONNOR . ( Continuedfrom our last . ) I e&uld point crat a variety of ways in which you pro-Tory policy would , if acted upon , vitilly * damage j our ante , but , for the present , I contest myself with j adverting to & few of tke more prominent and fatal j mischiefs it is pregnant with . ¦ { 1 st It was calculated to destroy our chances of j turning the elections te good account , » nd , to my { certain knowledge , has materially injtwed us I in a few places , where it was partially acted ] ¦ upon . Foi what was its tendeD sj > Its tendency > " was to breed uncertainty and divi son in the Chartist Tanks , and thereby to render almost impracticable o « r
two grand and leading objects , vix . the practical assertion of "Dniverssl Suffrage by the sfeow « f hands , « d the getting CbartUt candidates returned to the Hoase of Commons fey coalitions with » ne -er other of the adverse factiees . I have already -shown how it taaded to mar the fetter object , by indisposing feoth Whig and Tory candicl&tes froa . splitting their voles with as . " Let me now , therefore , show haw it tailed to 'frustrate our otter -otgecfc—the etecSon of & national representation . To thaw this , I have but to ask * simple question . Hew -could you expect the people tepnt themselTes to all fke inconvenience and trouble * ' creating a National ( Representatios—to say nothing of future trouble and -expense—if you pre-Tioosif lead them to losfc for £ fceir salvation to qaite aaotbs and different sort of agency , vte . —the . state
of parties in the House of ^ onsnons ? « aaer words , wbar is the good of yowr reeosimending the people to return candidates of tbeir own by show of tands , if , in tfca same breath , yo « tell them that their best and cnlf road to success Ik * in ^ producing a Tory Govem-JB 9 B » , with a Whig opposttaen to combat it in the dm Beuse of Commons ? < Jnoe persuade "the people thit tfesy hare only to drive "tie Whigs "from office , asd place t h e m " on the bla <* side -of ibe Treasury *! to aaie " rampant detaocrats" of them , Onee persuade the people of this , and what motive or inducement will tfcey then have for electing a National Representation ? ¦ I- say , they will bare sone . Universal Suffrage could do no more for them thaa fill the House of Commons
* rith democrats ; b * t if you -can persuade them that ¦ fee Whigs , when ia # pposition , will become demo-¦ crats , and throw thenaselves once more on the peop le for support , in order to get back to the Treasury benches—if , 1 say , you can make tha people believe "that , —then it is idle to talk of electing a national ¦ representation by shew of hands 4 but that is the very thing you have beea -driving at for the last "five or six weeks . In all yoar recent letters , you have laboured to make the people believe that we have enly to eject the Whigs from effice to tarn them into " rampant demo-• crats" and " physicai-foroe Chartists , " and upon this speculation is founded your recommendation to vote everywhere for Tories , and keep out the Whigs at all
Xow , you either believed in the virtoe of this new policy , or you did not . If ys > a did not , you ought not to have leeommanded ii ; if j-oa did—and if you expected to make the people also believe in it—then what business had you to recommend the practical assertion of "Universal Suffrage by the show of hnods , tc . < fcc ? Assuredly a national representation by a show of hands could do no more for the people than ¦ would a thundering Whig-demosratic opposition in the House of Commons , yearning and panting for oSce , invoking once more the " pressure frt > in without , " in order to get there , and iif we are to believe you ) ready to go the ¦ whole of the Charter , " bristles and all , " rather than forgego the sweets of Downing-street With such a conviction ; with such wondrous faith in the virtues of a Whi g opposi ti on , how conJd yon think
of a show of hands representation ? I could not If I held your creed on that point ; if I believed with you , that the Whigs , i n oppositio n , would go any lengths , even the length cf the Charter , to get back to office , I should never think of a show of hands representation , nor of any other mode of carrying the Charter , than simply expelling the Whigs from office . All my efforts would be directed to that single point , and I should consider myself a -wretch and a public naisance , if I BOUghl to distract public attention from it by any other plans 01 projects whatever , —and more especially by recommending a show of hands representationwhich was to come into existence simultaneously with a strong Tory Government , the very first act of which wtuld be to put down the said representation by brute force . For , " lay not the flattering unction U your
soul , " ay dear Feargus , that & strong Tory Government would not try to put us down—and by b-ute force , too . I tell you , they would ; and I will be * you what you like , that the Tory Government we are about to have will , if it be strong enough , make the attempt Give them only a good working majority in the Commons—just such a majority as you have been yearning for for the last six weeks—I say , just give the Tories such majority , and I will bet you what yon like , thai they -will put dosm , by brute fere ; , any popular representation inlConvention which may be then in existence , and that so far frem the new Whig opposition playing into our hands as 5 on expect , —they will either openly , or covertly , iaecording to the character of their constituencies , and the temper of the people } abet the Tory despots in their every
Hberticidal act . Talk ef the Whigs becoming democrats , In opposition I—and making common cause with the Chartists too ! By all that is sane , you are not Bound in mind , my dear Feargus , if you imagine it Do not be angry with me for this . I would tell my own father he was mnd , if he tried to persuade me that the present race of Whigs will ever be democrats , or ever make eommon cause with the Chartists , o r ever stand as a barrier between us and Tory despotism , —until we are able to make them "jump Jim Crow , " by letting both factions see that we have a greater physical force at our disposal Hi » n they have . Then , but not till then , will your grand political " auction" take place—then will the two factions bid and outbid one another for our support Bnt not one moment sooner—I cape not what private information you may have to the contrary ,
I eare not what this interloper 01 that interloper may bave been whispering into your " eaged'' ear—I will take up the history of the world , the living character of man , and the experience of all ages and countries , against the state " secrets of your prison house , " and then stake my life against yours that a strong Tory Government will try to put down Chartism , and that we ahull gain no more by having the Whigs in opposition than we did by having them in offije , un less we can bring to bear upon them a power greater , than that of both factions combined ! That power too , must be of our own exclusive making , for one particle of aid in its formation , we shall never have from either Whig or Tory . With this conviction , I hold in sovereign contempt the puny drivellers who say— "We are not stronr enough to put down both
factions at once , but we can make a tool of one to put down tfce other , and so everlastingly put down both . " . ' * Tis all moonshine . We cannot reach either faction without coming into contact with both . We einnot pet dotra enter of them by any process which will not put down the other at the same time- We may ; drive one faction out of office , and the ether in , but 1 that is not putting either down . It is only making J them change places for a season , until another ¦ paroxysm of public exasperation comes and compels i them to see-saw it again , and so on to the end of the j chapter .: that is , un til we get Radic al R efor m , or revo-: luidon . We may help the Tories this year to put out ! the Whigs , and next year we may help the Whigs to ! put out the Tories again , but there will end our ;
triumph , for to th 3 t extent , and no more , we have the balance of power . But as te extinguishing either the Whigs « c the Tories as a party , by any process which ' would not extinguish both together , I hold the thing to be quite impossible : and as to the idea of our usin £ ~ one faction as the tool wherewith to destroy the other , ' , it never entered any man ' s head , who was not himself either A . tool , or a tool-maker , to one or both of the factions . The Chartist elector who votes for a Tory merely to tnra out a Whig , is , pro Uotio , a tool of the ; Tories . The Chartist elector who rota far a Whig ' merely to keep ont a Tory , is , pro tost * , a tool of the ' ' ¦ Whigs . The Chartist who induces others to act in < this way is , prc tardo , a tool-maker to the faction be ; helps to power ; and , if he acts from conscientious ! motive * , that is , . with the view of indirectly benefitting
our cause , he is -then ( though nneonseioosiyj both a tool aod a tool-maker to the faction he imagtnss he is making a tool « f , for the people . In this tight , I consider you asd H'Don&U , and all the other : leaders who bave ^ concurred in recommending your pro-Tory policy te . the Ckartist constituences of the kingdom . I believe jfou all to have acted from the beet and purest motive *; but I also believe that every ' mother's son of you ' a-ttark staring mad upon that one particular p * int- You may call me mad for thiny-ing bo , if yon like . I will not be angry with you . So pray don't be angry with me . ilr . M'Douall , I know , will sot , for he weuld deem it ia honour even to go mad in such company . Small blame to him for it ; he knows ' that with all your faults , 50 a . are worth a £ bip-loa . d of the very best of u * . if we eouAd © nly keep you within ;
bounds . To do that , we must tie you down rigidly to ' principle . We mast show you , that while we honour j you as our undoubted chief and champion , we are ready to throw trxM you overboard , the moment you attempt : to substitute expediency for principle . This brings me to my second grand objection to your new Tory policy . 2 nd . Tour advice to rote for Twries was a palpable : abandonment of principle tor expediency . It was ask-. ing men to do wrong that geod might come of it It was asking men to outrage their natural feelings , and to ; rebel against the dictate * of conscience in the vain hope j that good would come out of eviL This objection ' alone , I hold to be fatal to your policy ,- for , if you recommend men to do what their feelings '
and consciences naturally revolt against , y « u cannot expect your advise to be generally followed , and , therefore , yon only breed discontent , division , and weakness , where unity and hearty coopeeation abould prevail And that such has been tile e&et of your advice , wherever it was pariiaUy acted upon < and nowhere did the Chartists generally adopt it ) I have evidence upon evidence to prove . I have this moment a mass of correspondence before me from all parta of the country , which would convince even yourself that your pro-Tory policy was not relished by the jnsjoritr of Chartist electors , and that whatever progress it roads amongst the non-electors was solely owing to the great respect and deference which your name cairifcj with it > and ever will carry with it , for the in-
Untitled Article
calculable services you hav « rendered to the cause of democracy . . Some of this correspoadence is 2 rom personal friends of yonr own—nearly all of it , from men who are amongst your wannest admirew , and who , like myself , know well how to appreciate your services , and as it was all or neatly all , spontaneous , i . e , % rt elicHed by any previous correspondence of mitte . 1 infer from it , that you and the Editor « f the S t ar have decidedly mistaken tht public opinion of the Chartist body on the subject
Is this very town of "Lancaster not a single Chartist efcetor voted for the Tories , ( Greea and Morton , ) except a few w&o had to do eo und « the paim . of losing their employment , and seeing tfaeic families reduced te beggary ; wfcereas , every Chartist elector wb « had a will of his ow » , « id not a few too , in despite of intimidation manfully Tecorded their votes for Armstrong , who , though w > t a professing Chartist , was , awl is believed t o be , a < J ) iartist in fasirf , having always proved himself tire people ' s friead , as ia as he ceuid safely dare to do ** .
I -esuld adduce many -sinLIar proofs , but they are unjwBessaij to my purpose . My opposition to your pro-Tory policy would be equally ardent whether I had the fpublic opinion with me or nst ; fcr though I shall always submit to the will of the majority , I shall never s « srender my convictions to it , much less renounce my right of endeavoarmg to influence it in the course of its formation * 3 rd . My third and strongest objection to your policy A 3 that it opens a door to infinite duplicity , corruption , ^ nd partisanship in our ranks , and ten ^ s , by it stultifying and demoralizing character , to the eventual dissolution of our body , It etart-i a precedent , which , if once allowed a footing amongst us , mu st sooner o r later put an tnd to all possibility of keeping the Chartists an integral and independent body . To make this clear to you , I beg to put the following qnestion : —
What better right have yen to ask Chartists to vote for Tories , merely " to turn out the Whigs ?" then Xtouglas , Edmonds , Salt , and the other ragmoney radicals of Birmingham , have to ask us te vote for Whigs , merely to " keep oat the Tories , " or than Lovett , Hetherington , and the rest of the London knowledge-mongers have to ask us to vote for Hume , Leader , or the like sham-liberal humbugs ! You have none . There cannot be two distinct moral rules for you and them . If you have a right to sacrifice principle to expediency , so have they ; if you have a right to advise evil that good may come of it , bo have they . If you have a right to take « p the old plea , that " the end justifies tho mcins , " so bave they . And if you call the rag-money radicals hypocrites and traitors , for trying
to enlist the Chartist electors of Birmingbom on the side of the Whig Ministry , and if you denounce the " knowledge-mongers" for their covert alliance with the sham Liberal party , fcow will you meet their replications , when they charge you with betraying the Chartist cause to the Tories ? You cannot . I defy you to justify your policy by any course of argument which will not equally justify them . All you can say for yourself iB , that you deem it expedient for the Chartist interest to b » Te the Whigs in opposition , instead of in cjke ; to -which they win reply—that it is much more expedient for us to "keep the Tories out at all hazan ' e . " and to get shams and Hume-ites into the House , wherever " we are net strong enough to get in Chartists . "
Thus it becomes a battle of expediency against expediency ; one portion of the Chartist body adopting your ideas of expediency , while tbe other portion adopts theirs ; and thus between you , the Chartist body is divided against itself , and instead of actiug the independent part which becomes a great and injured people , th » y are degraded into mere appendages , make-weights , and cats ' -paws fer other people ' s use , —and instead of careering onwards to liberty , in tbe strength ef unity and wisdom , they are ignominiously yoked to the chariot wheels of their oppressors , to swell their triumph , and to bear witness to their own impotence and humiliation .
Now , what is the obvious way to prevent all this mischief and degradation ? It is simply to adhere to principle . If yon , and tbe rag-money Radicals , and the " knowledge-mongers , " would all adhere to the strict letter of our principles , there would be no di rislon in our ranks . This I do not expect from the ragmoney Radicals , or the "knowledge-mongers , " but I do expect it from you , who , I know , or at least believe , would rather perish on the scaffold to-morrow , than betray the people in tbe most trifling detail , or surrender one iota of the Charter .
Yours , Faithfnlly and affectionately , James Beoxterre O'Briex
The Northern Stae Saturday, July 10, 1841.
THE NORTHERN STAE SATURDAY , JULY 10 , 1841 .
Untitled Article
THE QUEEN— HE B . MINISTERS : THE USURPERS—THEIB PARLIAMENT THE PEOPLE—THEIR POSITION . The elections are no w over , so far as centralised poverty and wretchedness can make exhibition before pampered wealth and usurpation . With the county elections the people can have but little to do j while we unhesitatingly declare that , as far as the boroughs have gone , the whole triumph has been upon their side , however force and arms may , for yet a little , balk them of the fruits of conquest . The Queen has her convivial Ministers ; the" monopolists" ( and we use the word in its political , not in its commercial signification ) have their Parliament ; but yet the people have no representatives .
Apart , however , from so desirable an object , the exhibition has had a stunning effect , and must prodoc-e a startling reaction in the maid o £ many a false calculator who fondly relied upon prerogative for the protection of power , monopoly , and distinction . The sealed and jaundiced eye which has long looked without compassion and with contempt upon system-made wretchedness , must have cowered before the appalling sight of wholesale destitution , squalid misery and naked pauperism standing in
the midst of warehouses full of the produce of their own hands . The ear , heretofore deaf to the humble petition , the supplicatingprayer , and justcomplaintof the destitute and the poor , must have been penetrated by the wild shout of vengeance which burst from the suffering millions ; and , however they may have previously pleaded ignorance of general want and of the justice of universal complaint , they are now warned and forewarned : they are purchasers of power with full notice of the dangerous tendency of its abuse .
Yes , every borongh nomination may be consi-Eidered as a court of u oyer and terminer , " where majesty made proclamation , and invited all to come forward wh « had any charge to prefer against the system of class legislation . Many and heavy have been the charges ; and well and ably have they been sustained , in every single instance , by the real representatives of the people : and the judges having heard , it now lests with them as to how they shall determine . Wisely , —and they will find the people a noble people ; foolishly , —and they will find the people a tcise people .
The great triumph to the popular cause may be briefly stated , as contained in the following passage of Mr . O'Connor's letter to the men of Sheffield , published in September , 1939 , and re-printed in the Star of the 26 th of June last . He says" Men of Sheffield , —The press , which has deluded our opponents by laughing at our weakness—by denying onr uaion and our strength ; the press , which is the index and the horn-book of all the factions—will not be able to blindfold tfce several candidates , who themselves shall be made witness of their own defeat . No act would so far tend to give the enemy ocular demonstration of our power , of their weakness , and newspaper deceit "
To add one word to tbe above prophetic passage would be useless , further than to observe , that the recommendation has been nobly acteJ upon , and that the desired result has been achieved . "What was the position of tbe respective parties upon this glorious , this unparalleled , thi 3 gigantic struggle ! Upon one side stood the adroi ^ ates of constitutional prerogative ; upon the other stc x > d the surveyors and the balancersof " finality /' respec . y ^ ely
backed by the Beveral shades of monopolists ; no distinction observable in their resolve to plunder ; &e only difference being thea mode ef its acoomplisiV ment ; while between the two thieres stood the advocate of the crucified pauper , cheered and supported by the slaves , —no , no ; no longer slaves . '—by the freemen who , despite the withering scowl of the tyrant employer , held up their blistered hands , and raised their sweet voices for liberty and j labour .
Ws appeal to our greatest enemy , and to the greatest enemy of the people , whether or not any political party , in any age , or any country , ever maintained so proud a position as tbe people occupied and preserved , against all the power of gold , intimidation , and threatened vengeance , throughout the past struggle . We answer , never I History has no record : tradition has no note of union so general
Untitled Article
and unbroken , determination M brave , or triumph so perfect . The reward of one who u adertakes to school the public mind is seldom gr eat , while his trials are various and without num ' oer ; yet have we reaped from the harvest , whereof . ' wehave scattered some of the seeds , a crop more titan abundantly remunerative of all our labour ., our toil , our anxiety , and hope . Yes , in truth , the result has far exceeded our most saagwoe expectations .
Let « s , for a moment , enter upon the grounds of Whig appeal to popular support . We take , for example , ths speech of Mr . Leader , who , instead of relying upon , or eren citing one single positive act ef good done by the Whigs , contents himself with asking : " What have you to expect from the Tories 1 " Rubbish ! Just what we got from the Whigs : ! with this single difference , that we have a right to expect it from the Tories , but we had a right to expect something better from the Whigs . In fact , tbe reasoning of the Hon . Member for Westminster , and his justification of Wbiggery , may be best explained thus : Suppose A and B , two
robbers , meet two travellers whom they attack ; separately , with intent to rob ; and supposethe victim of A makes some resistance and is shot , but that the victim of B surrenders his purse without resistance , and thereby saves his life . We ask the sapient advocate of the Whig 3 , whether he , as a juror , would deem a plea by B to an indictment for robbery good , in which B merely set forth his comparative forbearance , alleging that be only robbed , and did not as A had done , take away life ? What , in such case , would be the answer of the j'idge , if he condescended to notice the folly ! Would he not say : " A ' s greater crime by no means justifies your great crime . "
For four yeaiB we have been noticing and exposing this system of relying for popular support upon Tory atrocity , instead of upon Whig performance . Our leaders would hold further repetition to be an insult to their understandings . Another fallacy which we propose to notice , a detail fallacy , is that contained in the answer of Mr . Henry Aglioxby to the good men of Cockermouth , who , upon being asked , " Will you vote for Universal Suffrage J" answered , " No , because it has no meaning according to the Chartists . Universal Suffrage , " said he , " means the enfranchisement of women and children . "
Now this legal quibble is worthy of notice , and the more so , as some of our ignorant neighbours of the Fox and Goose Club have attempted to strut upon the same stilts . First , then , let us ask if the objection of Mr . Aglionby is not in direct opposition to the memorable doctrine laid down by Reformers , and repeated to surfeiting : " O , surety if we cannot go the whole road together , ice may journey on in company as far as we can agree . "
That point Mr . O'Connok Tery significantly ascribed to be always at" Whig cross , " when the Whig Baid to his Radical companion : " Now , my friend , I have arrived at my destiaation ; yours is further ox , but lam at home ; so good night" If we would adopt the expediency fallacy of our fellow travellers , we may now retort , and say : " Well Mr . Agliosby , if you are for advancing to the cradle , and driving women from privacy , to take
part in the busy bustle of politics and strife ; and if we have too much good sense to appeal to the infant , or unformed mind , and too much good taste to undo what the law , which you practise , has wisely done , by making the interest of man and his wife one and inseparable ; yet , surely , as we are going on the same road , you can have no objection to journey with us to the 21 male stone . "
Now , this would be in perfect accordance with Whig recommendation and invitation ; but , inasmuch as we never find anything in Whig precedent very worthy of being followed , and as it is necessary to expose , and at once cut the leg from under hobbling folly and stalking ignorance , —here goes . To Mr . Aglio . vbt , then , we say , " onward onward ! onward ! you cannot go too far for us ; and if the establishment of a folly is necessary for the correction of an evil , we will be parties to your folly , which the good sense of the working classes would very speedily destroy . And , inasmuch as the union of the righteous is more perfect than
the harmony or agreement of the ungodly , democracy would much benefit by the new version , —for this reason ; the family of a working man would be one , while the family of the oppressor would be divided into contending parties . Therefore drive the inmates of the mansion , the nursery , and the cradle ; the brothel , the gaol , and the madhouse , if jou will , to the hustings ; and , as we have more than once asserted , a vicious majority will cower and crouch before a virtuous minority ; but yet , with all the rotten links which the new version could add to the chain , would the popular ranks remain the great majority , defying all opposition , from whithersoever mustered . "
Our readers may possiblj ask , why waste time in argument about what every working man fully understands ? To such an observation we would reply , that the practice of the Star ever has been , and we trust ever will be , to meet fallacy in the outset ; to cut every leg from under every pretence for withholding from the people their just rights . And our friends are now beginning to feel the good effects of our policy and perseverance . A few years since seme clap-trap or nonsense was a strosg
rallying point for the friends of despotism ; now , however , folly is crushed in its infancy : and let the people be assured that it is much more easy to remove a mole-hill of sew folly , than to remove a mountain of old absurdity . Every act of tyranny commences in a mild form , and gains a giant'b strength by passive obedience and non-resistance . Our duty as journalists is not only to disseminate knowledge , but to remove prejudice and beat down opposition .
Untitled Article
THE LEEDS FOX AND GOOSE CLUB v . THE "SIX COMPREHENSIBLE OMNIBUSES " FULL . Leeds ! Leeds ! alas ! poor Leeds ! It is not many months since we were assured that the new " menagerie ' incorporated within itself all that was politically valuable or effective within the borough minus about six comprehensible omnibuses full . Well , " The tree shall be known by its fruit "; and , we presume , bo shall the bird be known by its eggj and we may now judge ot the nature of the
" Goosey" by the genus which it has hatched and produced . We early foresaw , and at once predicted , that the malicious ingenuity of tbe half-fledged tribe would pluck Leeds of the master quills of Reform and replace them with the pin-feathers of a cackling brood . Molesworth was not sufficiently Radical ; and as for old Bai . nes , the glory of his day had passed away ; his sun had set in the north to rise no more . The very mention of his name would destroy all the prospects of his party ' s success . Onward , we must be ehoved , " part passu , " with the march of intellect and to the " overture of Mother Goose . "
The whole management was taken out of thehanda of the " pilot that weathered the storm" and more than once brought the bark of Whiggery through shoals and quicksands . Baiaes , ( for whose political character we have the most thorough contempt , but of whose efficiency int . aU the tactics of party Equabble , we have the very highest opinion , ) was thrown overboard , to bTeak the fall of Sir William Molesworth , and
to pr ^ pare » way for , at least , one out and outer ; and , in' trnih , an out" and " outer" he has proved to be ! Now , had the arrangements been left in the hands of t ^ e Leeds Mercury , we have no hesitation , not the slightest , in asserting that at the present moment Leeds' w « uld have been represented by two pure Whigs ; thai is , two anti-Tory Members , instead of being reduced to the humiliating condition of having a pwe Tory and a Tory-Whig—a fixed Conservative , « » sliding barrister . " 0 ,
Untitled Article
how have th « mighty fallen ! " and what just cause the supporters of Whiggery have to exolaim , M Save ub from our friends !" For oar own part , we hare every reason to be most satisfied with the result of the dog-fight , which , ere long , is sure to drive the routed Whigs for shelter to the Chartist tree . Leeds , of all places in the world , to return a Tory , and no Whig ! Leeds ! of all places in the world ! the great capital of the great county of the great manufacturers , upon the great question of the GREAT COMMERCIAL REFORMS , printed in GREAT letters by all the GREAT guns of Whiecery J
Well ; after all , speaking commercially upon the great commercial question , we have no hesitation in saying , that bo long as the people are excluded , Leeds and Wakefiold are now the most characteristically and properly represented towns in Yorkshire—the one by a business Whig , and the other by a business Tory . In conclusion , we have now some right , to crow over the produce of all but the " six comprehensible
omnibuses full , " when we see the fruit of this mountain in labour , in the unpolitical and unchristian condition of wailing for a name , which , contrary to all the raleB of baptism , he hctst vote to himself . Aye positively , even among the godfathers aud godmothers of Mr . Aldam , there is some strong misgivings as to his creed . They have now discovered that he is a barrister ; and that ho claims the right of defending his clients according to his own judgement .
Poor , poor Mother Goose ! Well may sho cackle , and cackle away ! She looks as odd and foolish , aud is as busy as a hen with one chicken !
Untitled Article
THE KILL- » £ M-AND-EAT- 'EM WHIGS . We have told our readers again and again , that the bloodiest of all " rampant patriots" were tbe Whigs—out of office;—that the physicalforce doctrine of the most excited hunger-and-dppression-bitten Chartist was the very " milk of human kindness" compared with the displays of ferocious wildne § s with which the strong-languageprosecuting WhigSiVvould favour as as soon as they had a glimpse of the wronggsido of the Treasury . They are even forestalling our expectations . They don't wait to be decently outside the House before they "let light through the
windows . " The progress of the elections has already maddened them—and in no instance so much as in that of the rejection of Mr . Brown Bread Joseph Hume , for Leeds . What say our readers to the following specimen of " liberal " feeling from the Sun—the most liberal of all the " liberal" Whig papers ! We had purposed comment , but abstain . We leave it to tell its own story ; and here it is . The ruffian who writes it had learned that Dr . Hook and his Lady had manifested some interest in the LeedB Election , and on the wrong side . Hear him : —
" We have observed that the Vicar of Leeds , Dr . Hook , took an active part in the contest . He hastened home from the foot of the Alps , he said the instant he heard of the dissolutiee ; and he hastened to Leeds , to tnrow the whole weight of his influence into the Tory scale . We do not object to clergymen mingling in polities . On the contrary , we think it their duty to interfere with men in all their relations , so far as advising and counselling them goes ; but it is indispenaible that they take the moral and the just side . " * * * "When the clebgy take part in politics , phey ought to take the right side . " * *
" If any ladies , led by a mistaken party seal , side , like Dr . Hook and others of the dergp , with the oppressors of t he people , they must not be surprised should even their claim to universal homage fail , in a time of excitement , to disarm the hatred of savage hunger . " , "It has Happened that ladies' beads bave bave been carried about tbe sireeta on poles , or trailed in the dirt ; and it has happened , sufficiently within recollection to serve both for a warning and an example , that a priesthood has been compelled to find safety in flight and those who braved the popular indignation forfeited their lives to their temerity . " * ?
" When ladies and clergymen take the same side , and cheer on tho unhallowed bread-taxers in their guilty career , the moral world seems to us turned upside down , and we dread lest it can only be righted by some terrible convulsion . " Now ; gentle Reader ! what think you of the mealy-mouthed representative of middle-class moneymongering Whiggery ? After that piece of cannibalism , shall we again here of the intemperate
Radicals and L the physical-force Chartists ! The " bloody old Times" may now shut up ahop . His 41 occupation ' s gone . " He of " the Railway" has left all his coadjutors in "bloodiness" far in the field We only beg all our Chartist friends , who have again and again written to chide us for the use of "low language" in calling the Whiga " Bloodies . " Just to read this sample of moral feeling and politeness , and say whether any other name could be used for them without a perfect outrage upon language .
2to D&Tstotx& Anfr Comapontwttjs
2 To d&tstotx& anfr ComapontwttjS
Ma . O'Connor has received a post-office order for 15 s ., for Peter Hoey , from the Chartists of Honwood , near Paisley . Their letters shall appear next week . Mb . O'Connob begs to know why he has not received any answer from Sinclair ^ Gateshead ^ to his letter of Saturday , the 3 rd . Mr . O'Connor has made arrangements for contesting the seats for Edinburgh , Norwich , Newcastle , and Sunderland ; but it would be imprudent to publish notice of the intended course , as the enemy generally succeed by secresy and stratagem : however , Mr . O'Connor says that he has not a shadow of doubt upon his mind as to the illegality 0 / the return in each of the above
places . John Robinson . —Thanks for his extract from Dugdale ' s New British Traveller . TPe have not room for it this week , but shall certainly make use of it . Mr . George Julian Harney . —The Stockton Radicals wish a lecture from him at his first convenience . If he can oblige them , he will be good enough to write Mr . Charles Winspear , Brunswick-street , Stockton-on-Tees . John M'Faklin has received for the Chartists of Merthyr Tydvil , per David John , ten shillings , towards the expencts of Dr . M'Douall ' s election
committee , at Northampton . Northampton Chartists are a week too late with their report of the nomination of candidates . We have not room for the printed addresses . Samuel Jones . —His letter is not distinctive enough in its details for publication . W . Elliott . —His letter was received , and a notice to that effect was written fet the usual notices to correspondents , but omitted by mistake . Geokge Brown Abbott , Richmond . —^ will send to Mr . Hill the particulars of his address , se that a note may reach him by post , Mr . H . will communicate with him .
David Crokett . —The instance he gives us of middleclass jugglery is but one among thousands . Total Abstinence . —Mary Smith , wife of Mr . T . B , Smith , a teetotaller of four years standing , wishes her name added to the glorious band who have signed the Chartist Total Abstinence Declaration . [ We wish every teetotaller ' s wife would go and do likewise . ]
Untitled Article
To Agents . —All those Agents who heve received their accounts are requested to settle them immediately , otherwise their papers will be stopped . Thomas Milne , blacksmith , Dundee . —If the money has not been noticed in the Star , it has never been received at this office . Mr . Williams . —We received IDs . 3 d . for defences , some lime ago—what particular funds is the amount for ? ( William Cbossley , Sowerby . —A newspaper can be sent to Ireland if above seven days old ; but to be sent free to Halifax
, N . S . North America , it must be posted within seven days of its publication : this week ' s paper must be posted before Saturday next , July 17 th . Wm . M \ Leod and J . Davidson . —Send 3 s . 9 s . for ten— two of each of those named . * B . W . Marshall—One quarter of Wheat contains eight bushels , averaging 60 lbs . the bushel , and weighs 4 &Q lbs . Very good Wheat will perhaps weigh 63 lbs- —very bad 56 Ibt . C Bolwell—Fivepence each . C . Cbawfobd , Hull— We have not one left .
FOR THE EXECUTIVE . 1 jfi . d . From tke Chartists of Camberwell ... ... 1 e 0
Untitled Article
FOR A PRESS FOB . J . B . O ' BRIEN . From W . E ., Hoxton , London .. ... 0 1 $ 0 POLITICAL PRISONERS' AND CHARTER CONVENTIOH FOND . From Mr . Russell , of Southampton ... ... 0 . 9 9 EXPENCES OF THE 1 EEDS CHARTISTS ELECTION . From a Teetotaller , Egremont .................. 0 5 0 „ a few Chartists at Long Preston , per J . Brown , Settle ........................ 0 3 6 FOR MRS . FROST . From a female at ^ Ragland , Monmouthshire 9 5 3 « , Hooper ana others , per J . Cleave ... t 2 0
Untitled Article
HUDDERSFIELD RADICALS AND THE NOBTHEKN STAB Reporter . — . 4 letter has been handed to us signed Edward Clayton , complaining very bitterly and we think very justly , that no report of the murderous Whig attack on the peop le o Huddersfield in front of the hustings on the 22 nd ult . appeared in the Northern Star , We can assure our Huddersfield friends that the fault is not here . We never received any report of the matter ; if we had , we should certainly have
publisJiedit . The only information that reached us in reference to the matter was the letter of Mr . Pitkethly which vie received by Thursday ' s afternoon post immediately before going to press ; and which we published . We wrote immediately to Mr . Pitkethly requesting a more detailed account for our second edition : but received no answer . We have since that seen Mr . Pitkethly and he stated that he would have replied had he not known that h . % could not have it herein time . Indeed we believe he did write to Mr . Hobson
but his letter was not received Ml Saturday morning . Once for all , let us assure our Huddersfield friends that there is n » other pfaee in the queendom about which we feel so anxious , or which we have striven so much to oblige fin the matter of inserting whatever might be sent to us as Huddersfield . If therefore , Huddersfield be as they say and as we incline to believe , '' the worst reported place in the queendom " it is not our fault . We have again and again and again wished for a more efficient correspondent ; but the friends have neglected to look out for one . We now request the Huddersfield Chartists to recommend to us a man upon whom they can rely for punctuality and talent . Neither ef
which requisites have we yet found in our Huddersfield reporter . Let us have no more blame in the matter ; but let a correspondent be looked out for ; who will send such news as may be looked for by the people , and who is able to send it in a respectable sort of composition that shall not give us the trouble of re-writing it . If the Huddersfield people will do this , they will have no more cause of such complaint as this ; but roe cannot ins 6 rt news that we do not get . nor can we always find time to write over again long paragraphs received by the last post and worded in so slovenly a manner as to be utterly unfit to appear in print . During the whole of the election proceedings we have not received a line from the Huddersfield correspondent .
Philo . — We do not see enough of interest in his . letter to publish it ; it is a mere local matter . J . Carey . — We have no room . Bradford . —Mr . Stallwood ' s address next week ; this week we are crammed . A Working Man , Huddersfield . We shall write something on the subject of his letter ourselves . James Welsh . — We refer him to the Northern Star of the week following the " Butchery , " where he will find our reply to the letter to which we suppose him to allude .
George Fitton . —His hint about the fustian " shall be sent to Mr . O'Connor . Thanks for the information contained in the other part of his letter ^ 0 # a subject on which we are always happy to hear . The Wakefield Nomination . A Wakefield correspondent writes us ,- — " / am informed that the great West Riding Meeting is to be held in the Corn Market , at Wakefield , instead of the open fields . No doubt this is a trick of the two factions to keep out the poor Chartists from making a
fair show of their numbers . I therefore take this opportunity to warn the Chartists to be in time at the Corn Exchange , top of Westgate , Wakefield . Be in by eight o ' clock in the morning , and let every working man from every corner of the West Riding , be at his post to support their own friends , the Chartist candidates , agreeable to dear father 0 Connor ' s advice in the last week ' s Star . " Manchester Demonstration Comm ^ tee . —We toil publish their address next week—this week it would be useless , half tfie papers having been printed before we got it .
From Our London Correspondent. Tuesday Evening, July 6th.
FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT . Tuesday Evening , July 6 th .
The bustle and confusion attendant upon the general election here , as regards London , has passed over , save some talk on the part of the Conservatives to petition against Lord John ; but this ia mere vapour , for both parties appear to have had quite enough for the present . The agitation in behalf of tbe Charter was recommenced after the temporary suspension in consequence of the elections . Saint Pancras . —The members living here met at their room , the Feathers , Warren-street , on Monday last Mr . Barret was called to the chair . The balance sheet of the quarter was laid on the table for the members' inspection .
Marylebone Election Committee . —This body met on Monday eveniDg last , Mr . H . B . Marley in the chair . A long discussion , in which Messrs . Wall , Mortlock , and others took part , ensued , as to the best mode of obtaining claims to be rated before the 20 th of July . Afterwards claims from different members-were handed in , and the meeting separated . Wednesday , July 7 th . The following is from Mr . Patrick O'Higgins , and addressed to Mr . Cleave : — " Please to send me 1060 copies of < What is a Chartist V and copies of the ' People ' s Charter . ' They are to be given to the industrious classes of this city ( Dublin ) , amongst whom lam happy to say the principles are taking deep root , and spreading rapidly . " Dated Dublin , 30 th of 6 th Month , 1841 .
London has this week been visited by two fires ; one , which broke ont on the premises once held by the notorious White , who was executed for arson some seven years since , and the other , which has occasioned the loss of one human life , in the New Koad .
Untitled Article
Thames Police . —A Mcd Lark . —Katharine Macartby , a very aged Irish woman , who was one mass of mud and filth , was brought before Mr . Broderip , on Tuesday , charged with stealing coals from the craft on the river . The wretched creature , wbo made her appearance for about the fiftieth time at this court , has been known to the river police as a " mud lark" for the last thirty years , and she has been repeatedly fined and imprisoned for plundering the coal-barges , but she no sooner leaves prison , than she is to be seen wading through the mud amongst the coal-barges , picking up stray lumps of coal , and forcing large pieces overboard , which she 1 paints' in a peculiar manner , by first washing the
dust on with water , and afterwards rubbing the mud over them , to give them an appearance of having fallen over by accident . It is this unlawful trade which has so often got Kate Macarthy into trouble . Last winter , during the severe frost , and while the river was covered with ice , and the coal barges were locked in opposite the wharfs by masses of ice , was tbe old woman pursuing her business , alternately wading up to her arm-pits in the mud , and then walking into the river to wash herself , the ice and the coldness of the water seeming to make no impression upon her . She is the dread of the Thames-police , and has often set them at defiance . On many occasions , after wading through the mud-bank , she has embraced the officers like a bear , and , after
halfsmothering them , has left them as muddy as herself . On Monday the prisoner was detected among the coal bargesat the Salisbury-wharf , belonging to Messrs . Pugh and Judkins , in the Strand , and Grimstone , a Thames police inspector , observed her take some large pieces of coal off the barges , throw them into the mud , and paint them all over , and then deposit them in a bag lying open the hard . She was about to leave the place laden with as many painted coals as her strength would sustain , when Grimstone stopped her , and said Bhe must come along with him . She immediately threw down her bag ot coals , and ran back into the mud . A river constable made an attempt to stop her , and she hugged him closely , and dragged him into a mud bank . They rolled over each other , and the old woman appeared to consider it as glorious fun ; but it was nearly death to the man , who came out of tbe mud quite exhausted
, and in the mast pitiable condition that can well be imagined ; Kate Macarthy buried herself in the mud up to her chin , and Grimstone and two other officers , fearing that they should meet the same fate as their companion , whose clothes were completely spoiled , left her there until the tide rising , compelled her to come ashore . She then surrendered to the police , and asked them what they thought of a mud-lark . Grimstone said that the depredations of the old woman were very serious to the coal-merchants , and that Bhe made four or five trips per day and carried off as much as lewt . of coals each time The prisoner , on being called upon for her defence , said she found aU the " coals" in the mud , except one lamp , which a coal-porter whipped out of his sack , and that she was an honest mud-lark . Mr . Broderip sentenced the prisoner to six weeks' imprisonment and hard labour .
RathebHakd Up . —Mr . Scholefield , the "Liberal " Member for Birmingham , is affirmed to have actually voted for himself at the late election for that mTk Jr > e Bhould like t 0 nave seen the Honoura v M . P . returned by a majority of one , and subjeotedtoaBcrutiny . ^
%Txta Ant* ©Fflwral Xvcutliqitnte
% txta ant * © fflwral XvcUTliQitnte
Untitled Article
SUNDE&XiAND . —Odd Fellowship . —On Monday evening , the brethren of the Earl Durham Lod ge of tha Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows celebrated the third anniversary of the Lodge , by a dinner , at Mr . Rodgera ' , Black Swan , Bishopwearmoath . Up wards of 100 , including some friends from Shields , and other country districts , eat down to a splendid dinner , at four o ' clock . Mr . Wm . Raine officiated aa chairman , and Brother James Phillips occupied the yice-chairi Having done justice to the various viands , the cloth was removed , the tables cleared , and the chairman called upon the brethren to prepare a bumper . The following toasts , sentiments , and songs were given in due order , by the chairman and other after
brethren and friends : — " The Queen "—( which the national anthem was sung in beautiful style , ) " Prince Albert and the Princess "—responded to DT three cheers . " Manchester Unit ^ of Odd Fellows / 1 honoured with three real Kentish fires . Song"Down Hill-of ' Life , " by Brother Dryden . "The Grand Master and Board of Directors , " received with musical honours . " Trade and Commerce of the Town and Port of Sunderland . " " The District Officers of the Order , " given with musical honours , and responded to by D . G . M . McDougle . Brother N : G . Reed , of the Albion , favoured the company with & beautiful recitation , delivered ia excellent style . The chairman next gave— " Our worthy hoMi and hostess , may we long live to meet them on such
occasions , and may they long live to enjoy our society "—received with musical honours . Brother Tomlinson then gave-- " John Jones * " a capital comic song . Mr . Applegarth , of South Shields , being invited by the ohairman , rose and delivered a very excellent address on the nature , objects , and advantages of Odd Fellowship , in the course of which ho observed , that although the society was not a political one , yet every member must often feel how its usefulness was cramped and retarded by the present character of our political institutions and laws . The food which they had partaken of was all taxed to support others ; the room which they met in , though a good one , was very inferior to what they desired , and would have , when every town should have its
" People ' s or Odd Fellows' Hall . " He then noticed the Widows and Orphans ' Fund , and concluded an excellent address , b y hoping he should have the pleasure of again meeting them ih increased nnmbera and power at their next anniversary . Mr . Wilson sang , with great effect , " The Bloom is on the Rye . " The vice-chairman gave— ' England the Hope of tha World . " ( Cheers . ) Mr . McCully gave— May Loyalty and Domestic Happiness abound , " and tho chairman called upon Mr . Williams , who had been invited as reporter for the Star , to respond to the sentiment . Mr . W . complied and addressed the brethren assembled upon the nature of loyalty , and the important and comprehensive duties devolving upon all who wished to see domestic happiness , advising them
not to confine their philanthropic exertions to their own society , but to aid aa far as they could , all , who like them , were struggling to increase the amount of human happiness and remove the causes of existing suffering . Brother Anderson gave— " The Good Old English Gentleman ; " the chairman , " the health of Mr ? Crosby . " Mr . Crosby returned thanks and concluded by presenting the society with £ \ . Mr . Middlehurst gave— Friendship , Love , and Truth , " and recited a piece of poetry , appropriate to it . N . G . Reed , being invited by the chairman , then rose and gaye _>« Prosperity to the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows , " and supported the same by an able speech , in the course of which he gave many striking facts , illustrating the rapid spread of Odd Fellowship ( its
increase averaging 100 per day , ) and comprising , at the present time , about one-twenty-fourth of the population of Great Britain , and the clear annual surplus of its fund being upwards of £ 1 , 300 per annum . He concluded by exhorting all to renewed energy . ( Loud cheers . ) Brother McCu'ly gave— " May the Order of Odd Fellowship flourish like the Rose in Spring , and its bright beams illumine every Nation of the Earth . " ( Cheers . ) Brother James Smith rose and said , he had to propose the health of a gentleman then present , who had been invited as a guest , and who would give them the benefit of his services as reporter for that excellent paper , the Northern Star , ( Cheers . ) The gentleman to whom he alluded was Mr . Williams . The cheering with which the toast was received having subsided , Mr . Williams acknowledged the honour , and addressed the company at some length upon the principles , spirit , and conduct which Odd Fellows were bound to support and evince
in their general conduct as citizens of the state . Mr . McCully gave— " The Stewards of the Society , and thanks to them for their exertions . " The stewards acknowledged the honour- Mr . MeCally next gave" The Widows and Orphans' Fund , " which was ably and eloquently responded to by N . G . Reed , who gave numerous facts in support of the utility and admirable workings of that fund . Tbe healths of the chairman and vice-chairman were severally given with the usual honours , and suitably acknowledged by those gentlemen . It having been represented to the members that two of the brethren had been for some time out of employment , a collection in their favour was proposed and carried into effect , producing the sum of £ 1 , which was divided between the two brethren , and acknowledged by them with thanks . The principal portion of the company now retired , after an evening ' B enjoyment of the feast of reason and the flow of soul .
RICHMOND . —At the petty sessions held at Richmond , on Saturday last , for the division of Gilling West , George Chalder , of Arkengarthdale , was charged by the inspector of weights and measuresj with having two deficient weights . The weights forfeited and to pay costs . James Peddv , of Fremington , for having two deficient weights ; fined 10 s . and costs . Richmond Police Office . —Martin Tweddle , of Whashton , was brought before the sitting Magistrates , charged by Mr . J . Whiting , police officer .
with furious driving on his cart , he haying no reins to his horse . Fined 5 s . and costs . Willliam Eden , of Melsonby , for a similar offence , 53 . and costs . Thomas Lendly , of Hunton , was committed to the House of Correction , at Northallerton , for two months to hard labour , as a rogue and vagabond , he having a quantity of skeleton keys , picklock ? , &o . Isaac Finch , of Richmond , charged with assaulting the police officer in the discharge of his duty . Fined 10 s . for the assault , 59 . for being drunk , 2 s . 6 d . for damage done to the lock-up , and costs .
BHUMUNGHAIVI . —Grand Procession of thb Independent Obder of Odd Fellows . —One of th © most numerous and respectable processions ever witnessed in Birmingham took place on Monday last . Upwards of forty lodges of the above numerous and well-conducted Order , attended by several bands of music in military uniform , paraded the town , and produced a pleasing effect , from the number and beauty of their banners and other regalia . In the centre of the throng was a carriage surmounted with evergreens and flowers , in which was placed
the widows of their deceased brethren . The procession was led by marshalmen on horseback , and was attended by a large number of police . After attending at several churches , the members again formed in procession , and proceeded to their respective lodges , where dinners were prepared for their accommodation .. A large number dined at the Town Hall , which was fitted up for the occasion : an excellent band was in attendance , and all passed off in the most orderly and satisfactory manner .
LEEDS . —Regina on thb Prosecution op James-Wauis versus James Peacock and George Sayner , . fob a Misdemeanour . —At the Leeds Borough Sessions , Mr . Wafiney , as counsel for the prosecution , applied to the Court to have the recognizances of prosecutor and his witness discharged , and the prosecution abandoned as he ( Mr , Wasney , along with Mr . Hail ) did not think tho case would come within the statute . The Court granted the motion . This was a case in which the defendant was charged with obtaining goods under false pretences , but in which the prosecution broke completely down .
O'Brien Tribute Fund . —The Committee have received from Mr . J . Fright , of Sittingbourne ^ 5 s . ; from Mr . William Brook , 3 s . 2 d . ; from a few friends at Lincoln , per Mr . William Harriss . 10 s . 6 d .
Guttitn P*To0
GUttitn P * to 0
Untitled Article
Paisley . —The Paisley nomination came off on Wednesday , on hustings erected in front of the county buildings . At about half-past twelve o ' clock , Sheriff Danlop appeared with a considerable number of electors , and took his station in front , with Mr William Thomason , our Chartist candidate , on his left hand , and Mr . Hastie , the late Member , on his right . After the usual forms had been observed , the Sheriff put the usual question , if any one had a candidate to propose . Provost Bissett then stepped forward and proposed Archibald Hastie , Esq . Mr . Brown , of Egypt Park , seconded the nomination of Mr . Hastie . On the question having been put by the Sheriff , if there were any others to be proposed , Mr . William Campbell said—yes , my Lord , there is another ; I nave to propose my friend , Mr . William Thomason ,
as a fit and proper person to represent this town in Parliament . He would just advert to what had been said by the mover o ! Mr . Hastie . He ( the Provost ) did all that he could to prevent the return of Mr . Hastie at the last election ; and the reasons given now for changing his opinions are , that Mr . Hastie has shown himself an honest and consistent Reformer . Let-as Bee what he has done to deserve this to be said of him . Look to his conduct with regard to the factory question ! Did he not vote that the poor children should remain slaves , and for ever , for aught he cared ! And when a motion was brought before the House for the liberation of the Chartist prisoners , where was ho then ! Why . skulking behind backs , and not daring to shew his real sentiments openly . After showing up in a very effective manner the mockery of the Ministerial measure ? , Mr . Campbell concluded , amidst loud cheer *
Untitled Article
A . Tttfc TCOTITW 1 CPLN STAR .
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), July 10, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct714/page/4/
-