HISTORY AND POLITICS. RADICAL PRINCIPLES AND PROSPECTS. TRULY the outward and visible things upon our earth's surface, in this year of human redemption, 1839, are but poor signs of the world's spirit. The philanthropist liveth yet on hope, more than on reality.-America, the great Republic, loudly has declared herself the protectress of slavery. Albeit the republic has proclaimed universal political rights, universal religious freedom, yet Intolerance and the Despotism of wealth have found a home in the hearts, and rule the conduct of her citizens.-The best blood of France, the blood of the martyrs for Liberty, has been poured out in vain: Louis Philippe is king of the French. The press is shackled; and soon the sons of regenerated France may not pass from town to town on their native soil, without a written character approved by their master. Where are the Men of July? Why, look ye to Louis Buonaparte? Is it sufficient qualification for your confidence that he is hated by the Citizen Czar, the hypocrite who would do honour to the bones of Napoleon? Oh, put not your trust in princes, whatever name they may wear upon their hearts' covering!-Vine-clad Spain is overrun with banditti; her finest provinces are in a state of siege. Land of Columbus, of Cervantes, of Riego] why art thou the scourged slave of hereditary right? What matters it, whether thou art desolated in the name of Carlos or Isabella? Will thy degradation, thy misery be less certain ?-Has not Italy sufficiently suffered?-Far-minded Germany is trampled under foot.-Poland writhes beneath the heel of barbarian Russia: sacrificed by the meanness or treachery of a British Liberal Government, by the men who now ask the confidence of British Serfs-the Unenfranchised-in order that they may betray and sacrifice them. And "merrie England"-Who now calleth her so, save in mockery or bitterness? Thanks to our "glorious" constitution and yet more glorious victories, a robber government and domineering and rapacious church, the mirth is changed to wailing, the merriment is hollow-cheeked and feeble."We are a great nation!" At home, the millions are enslaved and in penury; abroad, we are despised or hated. Russia clutches at our Indian possessions; and in truth, our Indian fellow-subjects can scarcely meet with worse treatment at the rude hands of the savage Cossack, than they have hereto received from the Christianity of Leadenhall Street. Canada yearns impatiently to follow the noble example of the United States, tired of the misgovernment of Whig Officials who see no harm in injustice so long as it supplies them with place and pension. But "it was only the French inhabitants" (the majority by the way) "who were discontented." What then? What right have we to rule French Canadians? Would it be tolerated that France should tyrannize over British Canada? But "it is a conquered country." The pickpocket might as well plead possession. If the Canadians no longer desire our protection, we have no longer a right of government-if the government means their good; but if they are governed for the benefit of the governing few, (honestly confess the truth!) why then, the sooner they gain strength to throw off the yoke, the better it will be for them. Honour to Clarkson! honour and rejoicing! Negro slavery no longer stains the law of Britain. Garrison! thou awaitest the same exultation: the curse which England entailed upon her American colonies may not long profane the land of Independence. But dishonour and lasting shame to those "liberals" who, while freeing the Negro, were selling, even (by their own acknowledgment) to a worse slavery, the Hill Coolie; who, declaiming against the suffering of the Black, would perpetuate the slavery of the White: ay, the slavery:-Gentlemen Abolitionists! are there none of the sons of labour, in this land of freedom, in a far more wretched condition that the West Indian? He, at least, was sure of food and lodging; but here, men starve in our streets, and that so commonly, that it is deemed a natural death: and prisons are built for those who presume to seek rest after a half-century of incessant toil; and church-rates and tithes and government-taxes keep up the game of feudal robbery; and Industry is manacled with corn-laws and traderestrictions; and we have game-laws, and gentlemen-magistrates, and aristocratic law-makers; and the unrepresented Many are the property of the Few, who do what they like with their own: and "Britons never will be slaves!" is sung in our theatres; and thanksgivings are weekly chaunted in our churches, as the Act directs :"-and we confess we are unsatisfied. Zealous Missionaries!-who for the love of God expatriate yourselves, who make long voyages, and undergo privations and difficulties and dangers, "for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts"—is there no work for you at home? Might not your charity be useful here? Or, deem ye that we have an all-sufficient church-establishment, and as efficient Independent shepherding; and churches and chapels enow, and fines and imprisonment for honest and religious men who refuse to attend the "divine service" of pluralist grave-robbers, and liberal distributions of Bibles and pious, but impracticable, tracts? Ye have some reason to think your home labour might be spared. But do not deceive yourselves! We need, even in this highly-favoured and Protestant country, the preaching of Christ's doctrine. When exclusive laws have robbed the nation, when the Many are poor and destitute, it is not enough for justice that their plunderers dole out the scanty workhouse bread, or that they more plentifully dispense Religious Tract Societies' Bibles. Ye, "who compass sea and land to make one proselyte," are there none unchristian nearer home? Go! preach to the noble landlord: "Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field! Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth unto the Lord!" Say unto the capitalist, "Lay not up for thyself treasures upon earth! Sell that thou hast, and give unto the poor! Convert our bishops to Christianity; read the Scriptures to our clergy : "Woe unto you, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and omit the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith!" Teach our rulers to be true and honest! Denounce the profligacy of the Court, the corruption of the Law! Raise your voices against unchristian War! Seek ye converts among these! But, ye will do none of these things: What then is your religion? Ye will hardly better the New-Zealanders! Let us search deeper! There are pleasanter things than these, though less obtrusively apparent. Owenites and Socialists are our home Apostles, in the best meaning of the appellation. Professional teachers of the faith of Love! the amateurs will out-bid you, for they dare to practise what they preach. We trust there will be no schism in their ranks; that they will heartily renounce competition: there should be no rivalry even in beneficence. We trust, also, that they will bear in mind that there are higher things than even pounds, shillings, and pence. We know that it is a great step to improve Man's physical condition; but we must not stop here: we hope their principles have farther-looking tendencies, and that Socialism may be embraced as much for Love's sake, as for personal gain. Better still, inasmuch as it promises more immediate general good, and moreover, as it will remove those obstacles which would most certainly bar the extensive progression of any great and universally-applicable principle, is the continued agitation of the Working Classes for political freedom. It is the event which shall render this age memorable. Nearly three millions of signatures have been appended to the National Petition. Working Men's Associations for the attainment of the People's Charter, and nothing lessare fast increasing. Let them increase! Let them be established in all large towns, with Branch Associations in the surrounding villages: let them correspond together, that the whole may act in unison! The "Commons' House" may reject our Petition. Perhaps they may offer us some half-measure, such as Household Suffrage. Do not forget the "Reform" Bill. They, who obtained the franchise through that unprincipled measure, are now among our opponents. Let them not divide us! To accept anything less than Universal Suffrage would be a sacrifice of principle: it is as a right we claim it, not as a favour; and if we exclude any, we give up our only ground of right. We will not palter with principle: we will not be bribed to act unjustly. Restore to the community the universal right of humanity! Parliament may reject our petition: LET THE PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT BE PREPARED FOR THIS!!! Universal Suffrage will be the key to the prison-house of national good. By united and zealous exertion we must obtain this; and, thereby strengthened, we shall have the means of peaceably removing our many grievances: corn-laws, church-laws, and poor-laws. Men shall no more starve to keep up the rents of idle landlords; We will have no compulsory church-rates; the religion of Love needs not the support of tithes: the religionist will pay for the spiritual service he may want; and the irreligious will hardly be converted by any amount of taxation:-Poverty shall no longer be considered the crime of the individual, but of the legislature that took no care to prevent it. National Education will be an effectual means of removing the causes of national suffering-Ignorance and Cupidity; and we shall fearlessly entrust its superintendence to that government which is really chosen by and responsible to the People.-Timid and shortsighted men! why do ye tremble for the downfall of Monarchy? What is there in that word, Commonwealth, to terrify you? We blink not the question: that we desire, as the most reasonable and least obnoxious form of government; to that we must come not by violence, in imitation of tyranny-that can only retard good, but by the gradual and continual improvement of Mind, beneath the influence of which all useless, as well as injurious, offices shall sink into disuse as the old crazy watchmen were superseded by the able-bodied Police. We can superannuate our old servants. A passing word to our friends, the Police. You are of us, the People, and identified with us. Be not again made the tools of despotism, as in that dark and disgraceful day, at Calthorpe Street, which we recall to mind in kindly warning, not in wrath, albeit in sorrow and indignation-sorrow for the slavish executioner and his victim, indignation against the authority that dared command the outrage. Fellow-citizens of the army! What more or less can we say to you! You are the guards of the People, your brethren, among whom are your families. Is not, then, your interest identical with theirs? Will you be flogged into a forgetfulness of your duties as citizens, as men; will you be bribed by stripes to make the honourable name of soldier (the defender of his country) but another word for murderer? It cannot be: you are men, not beasts of prey.You too are of the Unrepresented, the men without political existence, the puppets and property of the monopolizers of the franchise. We seek your liberty, as well as our own.-True, we would destroy your trade, we would no longer allow a sanguinary idiot to command the butchery of unoffending thousands; but, in exchange for the lash, the battle-field, the hospital, we would give you the happy home of unrestricted and productive labour; and, instead of a prison or poor-house, an old age of honoured rest. The time is fast coming wherein the Many shall cease to be the victims of the Few. Monarchs and Priests! who have so long misruled mankind: we have no revengeful thoughts. Not with the people, calm in the consciousness of strength, will violent measures arise. But, mistake not our quiet determination! royal heads have lain upon the block, priestcraft has been trampled under foot, when the People had not the strength they now have. Be ye warned, and wise in time! And you, Men of the Nation let not the guile of tyranny deceive you! Act with coolness, with forethought, with precision, but especially with union! Let not any intrigues seduce a portion of you to precipitancy or violent conduct: this is the game of our enemies. The Cause of Justice chooses not the offensive argument of Force. United, ye are invincible: hold together, lest ye should be severally crushed by your oppressors! Yet, more than all, let all things be done in the spirit of brotherly love! It is a fine thing when trampled men turn upon their tramplers, though it be but the transient wrath of suffering, and after long endurance wrest immediate relief from the reluctant ruffian: It is a grander thing when, sacrificing the present self-interest, they vindicate great principles, and in the power of a far-looking wisdom achieve a lasting political redemption: but, oh! how much nobler than all else is that devoted Spirit of Love, which, amid all difficulties and distress and disadvantage, ever and earnestly striveth for the overthrow of Evil,-not so much impelled by the present suffering; not only because all suffering is unjust and unnecessary; but because it perceiveth the beauty of Truth, because it feeleth the practicability of Happiness, because it recognizeth benevolence as a desire rather than as a necessity, because it rejoiceth in well-doing as a pleasure more than as a duty. Love is the perfection of Law. COLONIAL JUSTICE. A crew of pirates are driven by a storm they know not whither; at length a boy discovers land from the top-mast, they go on shore to rob and plunder; they see an harmless people, are entertained with kindness, they give the country a new name, they take formal possession of it for their king, they set up a rotten plank or a stone for a memorial, murder two or three dozen of the natives, bring away a couple more by force for sample, return home, and get their pardon. Here commences a new dominion acquired with a title by divine right. Ships are sent with the first opportunity, the natives driven out or destroyed, their princes tortured to discover their gold, a free licence given to all acts of inhumanity and lust, the earth reeking with the blood of its inhabitants: and this execrable crew of butchers employed in so pious an expedition, is a modern colony sent to convert and civilize an idolatrous and barbarous people. But this description, I confess, doth by no means affect the British nation, who may be an example to the whole world for their wisdom, care, and justice in planting colonies; their liberal endowments for the advancement of religion and learning; their choice of devout and able pastors to propagate Christianity; their caution in stocking their provinces with people of sober lives and conversations from the mother kingdom; their strict regard to the distribution of justice, in supplying the civil administration through all their colonies, with officers of the greatest abilities, utter strangers to corruption; and to crown all, by sending the most vigilant and virtuous governors, who have no other views than the happiness of the people over whom they preside, and the honour of the king their master. Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Revolt is a scandal to any government; for the endurance of a people is so notorious, as to be one of the causes why they are made to endure so much; and it is as great a disgrace to the wisdom and humanity of rulers to suffer provocation to exhaust it, as it would be to fathers of families to have their children rise up against them for the sake of the house. If a government cannot prevent revolt, it has no right to attempt to govern the revolters; for it has not succeeded in attaining the only just end of government, namely, the comfort of the governed. Leigh Hunt, on the Canadian Insurrection. HYMNS FOR THE UNENFRANCHISED, No. I. Who is the Patriot, who is he, When slaves are struggling to be free, He who joineth hands with Power, He who claimeth kin with Right Who "for Truth's sake" would embrace He who through distress and scorn No. II. Hurrah, hurrah for the Duty on Corn! Britain's Coercion Billl-What do we care? Hurrah, hurrah for the Duty on Corn! When bread is dear, will the serfs rebel? Hurrah for the Duty on Corn! Hurrah, hurrah for the Duty on Corn! The outraged Nation hath burst its chain: The serfs are enfranchised; the Free have sworn, Death to the Tax upon Corn! Spartacus. |