The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-29 00:00:00

Obitning e*PAtAI:

LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1849,

The National Freehold Land Society has become
"a great fact." It is no longer limited in its opera-
tions to any district or locality, but embraces the
entire kingdom within its sphere of action. It pro-
poses to effect a great political object by strictly legal
and constitutional means, and at the same time to

improve the social position of its members, by no
only giving them a stake in the country, and a voice
in the national councils, but at the same time teaching
them to practice a spirit of "economy, industry, and
self- denial," and also to foster a spirit of " self-
reliance, self-dependence, and, consequently, of self-
respect." These are, indeed, important and valuable
lessons, and if the industrious claFaes should prove
apt scholars, and duly avail themselves of the means
now placed within the reach of every energetic and
frugal man, a new era will dawn upon the land of
their birth. Not only will the extension of the
franchise, and the various political and economical
reforms that are so urgently required be conceded,
but the very persons who are now contumaciously
excluded beyond the pale of the Constitution, who
are denied the ordinary privileges of free-born men,
who are taxed without being represented, will in the
struggle have qualified themselves for the proper dis-
charge of the important' trust to be confided to their
charge. The very difficulties that must be surmounted
before the great desideratum is attained will teach
them its true value and operate as a solemn and em-
phatic warning against any misapplication or abuse in
the exercise of the much-coveted privelege.
The magnificent meeting held on Monday evening,
at the London Tavern, in furtherance of the objects of
the society, must gladden the heart of every true
reformer throughout the kingdom. It was an earnest
of the fixed and unalterable determination of the
people to carry out their objects by peaceful and con-
stitutional, and at the same time by practicable means,
the simplicity of which affords the strongest
guarantee for their perfect feasibility. It remicded
us forcibly of the best days of the " League," when
the method was suggested by which the " monster
monopoly " was to be conquered, and which proved
the lever by which it was ultimately uprooted from
its very foundations. It was strictly a business pro-
ceeding, and there Mr. COBDEN was completely at
home. IL was not babbling to a peace
congress about the happy times when " the
sword should be converted into the plough.
share" when there should be a universal
disarmament—when the naval and military establish-
ments of every country should be broken up—when
the principle of equity and justice should be univer-
sally recognized—when every international dispute
would be submitted to arbitration—when " the lamb
and the lion would lie down side by side in perfect
peace and harmony;" his mind was not occupied by
such impracticable and Utopian visions; he was
teaching a people how they should recover their
riets, and achieve a complete and triumphant victory
with the weapons which the law and the Constitution
placed within their reach—" RICHAZD was himself
again."
The objects of the association were clearly and
distinctly explained. There was nothing withheld
or concealed from public view. It was intended "to
enable individuals, by means of a small monthly
subscription, to accumulate a fund by which they
should be enabled in the best and cheapest way to
possess themselves of the county franchise."
It is in fact a " building society" of the very best
description, where the members may be enabled to
acquire property through their own savings, that pro-
perty being of a nature to carry with it the "elective
franchise," and where the necessary expenses will be
reduced within the narrowest limits. The society
will " purchase large estates, and divide them among
its members at cost price." There will be no distri-
bution by lot, no chance of failure; every subscriber
will receive the full value of his payments, and when
the price is made up, will have its full equivalent
transferred to him. The habits of saving and self-
denial thus engendered will not be forgotten when the
object is attained, and the member entitled to vote
for the election of a representative. The sweets of
acquiring property by such means will by that time
mceenweieldl, bLc oonrtdi ne
ru e
be fully understood, the prcaocintid
and what was originally
to
place the subscriber on the freeholders' roll,
will be persevered in for other purposes.
The periodical dram will not be resumed;
tl:e money previously spent in gin will not again be
squandered or misapplied in a similar manner. The
party who has acquired the esteem and respect of his
fellow-men, and what is better, the approbation of his
own conscience, will not easily be inclined to relapse
into bad habits, or to forfeit the position he has ob-
tained. The results will be too satisfactory to be
readily reYinquished.
roe nssociation is indeed strictly and literally a
" building society," although it offers advantages to
its members which no other society was ever enabled
to announce. It is founded on the Building So-
ciety's Act, enrolled under its provisions, and duly
certified by Mr. TWD FAIT; the revising barrister.