The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-10 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

phluts, and the B litor of the Manchester Chronicle ad-
vised the parochial authorities to open Sunday schools,
and evening s.clieols;-and day schools, and to establish
libraries—ay, and to add to that which had greatly ad-
vanced cur cause, namely, a little music and dancing.
—(Laughter and cheers.) Well, these were the small
guns. Tnen the larger ones began to be fired off, and
gentlemen went lecturing against us, but wherever they
went they found that we increased. Then they wanted
State persecution, but the State would take no notice
of them. At last the Bishop of Exeter stepped forth
very valiantly, and, I doubt nut, very sincerely; and he
made a very fine speech, which had the effect that all
the other fine speeches against •us had of causing
our doctrines to be everywhere more known
and talked about. Every body inquired what
is this new-fangled doctrine? and thus by the Bishop's
speech Socialism spread over the kingdom, and in
Glasgow alone, where there were only seven members,
the week after the Bishop's speech there were
twenty-nine.—(lmmense cheering.) And when they
found they could not succeed, and that the Church
could not put us down, they wanted the Government
to do that be force which they could not do by reason.
They put Cleave in prison, and they tried to do the
same thing with Heywood in Manchester, but we deter-
mined to meet them on their own ground, for though
we arc harmless as doves, we are wise as serpents.—
( Laughter, and hear, hear.) We knew that the
Church booksellers sold a little blasphemy now and
then, only that was respectable blasphemy—ten shil-
lings a volume blasphemy—blasphemy for the Bishop
of Exeter to enjoy in private without public scandal.
—( Laughter.) So some of our friends got out Shel-
ley's works from the Church bookseller in Manchester,
and the Methodist bookseller, and the Jury returned
true bills against them.—(Great laughter and cheers.) So
here we had them in a nice hobble—( Renewed laughter)
—we were determined, if Heywood went to prison
among felons, and put on felon's garb, so should these
saints' booksellers—(Continued laughter)—so they sent
word to Heywcod that if he would plead guilty he
should be let off. He, like a good general, agreed to
that, and so escaped, as the Church and Methodist book-
sellers will, I dare say. So you see our cause cannot
be staid by these proceedings. Hee truth ever been
staid by such base opposition ? No. Why did Luther
succeed ? Why did Christ succeed ? Why did Fox
succeed ? Why did Robert Owen succeed ? Because
truth was, to a certain degree, mixed up with each of
their creeds ; and feeling the value of truth, and t!..e
power of truth, they were determined to diffuse it,
whatever the consequence. And why were they re-
spected ? For their disinterested love of truth. Truth
has become stronger since those days, and falsehood
weaker. We have truth on our side. A multitude that
would appal an archbishop—(A laugh)—met last Sun-
day at Manchester to hear Socialism expounded,
and by mere shillings at the doors, 641. was received.—
(Cheers.) A few years ago one or two of us had to
oppose a world almost combined against Socialism.
Now we are increasing by hundreds and thousands :
and what is there in the existing order of things to
attach the people to it ? is it founded on their reasoa ?
No. Or on their affections ? No ! It is based only on
their fears. We are determined such a system of go-
vernment shall continue no longer—(Cheers)—that we
will resist ail such attempts to impose upon the people,
we will resist them by peaceable measures—none others
should be used to effect them. We must diffuse the
principles of the society, referred to in the toast to
which I respond.—(Cheers). The public press are
beginning to mention us—they find articles about So-
cialism read,—and sober men discriminate through
their mighty agency. Socialist principles are so easily
understood, and their advantages so easily perceived,
that our cause must triumph.—(Cheers.)
Mr. nRABY, Vice-President, then gave the " Health
of the Lecturers of both sexes attached to the Univer-
sal Community Society of Rational Religionists," which
having been drunk, in responding to it.
Mr. SOUTHWELL said—l appear before von as the
substitute of Frederick Hollick, one of your Social mis-
sionaries, as I am ; I trust you will accept me in that ca-
pacity. You have heard of Mad Socialism ; you have
listened this day to specimens of it. It's a methodical
madness, is it not?—(Laughter and cheers.) It is
said we arc " dangerous." Dangerous ! why, as Shak-
speare says, " 'tis dangerous to take a cold—to sleep, to
drink ; but I tell you, out of this nettle, danger, we
pluck this flower, safety."—(Cheers.) We have been
a well abused people.—(Laughter.) You have heard
of the Greeks—a noble people. You remember The-
mistocles, when threatened by his General (to
whom he was representing something) with a
blow.—" Striker said Themistocles, " strike, but
hear !" So say we. Imprison us in cha'ns, if
you will ; but hear, and hear you shallet(Loud
cheering.) What !in the nineteenth century, and we
not to speak ?—(Ghee-s.) If that had been adhered
to by Luther, and Erasmus, and Melanethon,. what
would have become of our Reformation ? Snit as it
was, we have our missionaries to diffuse its principles—
lam proud to be one of them. We have our course
to run, and our prize in view ; but, as Plutarch finely
said, the young men arc crowned not when they enter
the lists, but when they have run the course. Our
prize is the only one worth having—the immortality
which results from the good opinion of our fellow-
creatures.—(Cheers.) We have our Congress too;
they are the architects—the missionaries collect the
material ; all are necessary to the great social fabric :
our material is the people. History, said Cicero, is a
Divine instructor. She is! And what teaches she us?
That you, the people, the working millions, have for
ages laboured, dug, wove, spun, but never reaped
aught from your toil. Scheme after scheme is brought.
forward to beguile you. The editors of the press abuse
us—poor creatures! they cannot help it—they are paid
for it ; but it was amusing to find them pre-
dieting that Socialism would be anniho
eated
when here we arc, stronger
—(Cheers.) Never was an assembly
a never,
intellectuality, in true respectability
abounding
, than. this.—(Cheors in
Let them come from their m...saedjbatteries then—let them
not fight where nobpdv
nobody can bit ttem.....—(
can see them, or, at least, where
Cheers and laughter.) There is
which for fifteen centuries from the blood
their Churet,,
and bones of millions has received 5,000,000/. per annum,
and cannot now put down a few individuals they affect to
despise,--( Cheers.) Let us not, however—l would advise
my friends—exhaust ourselves too soon—a vice I'm prone
to, though.—( Laughter. The Speaker was much excited.)
You remember the poet's words—
" Shallow streams maintain their current,
But the roaring river breaks its banks,
And leaves its channels empty."
Your lecturers, I hope. will mingle the cunning of the fox
with the courage of the lion.—( Cheers.) Of the clergy
I would say," Look how these Christians love one another."
To them, as Butler says, is given the peculiar grace,
" Never to be content en this side heaven.
From power to power they rise, until at length
They reach what last they seek—the skies."
Their object is in the corn, the tithes, the land. But
men will not submit longer to this system. The question
is a simple one—the A. B. C. of Politics—what advan-
tage is `..'dithis to the people ? Of what benefit is it to
ti'.?.m that the old song goes
" Britons never shall be slaves,"

—that they glory in the name of Englishmen ? Of what
benefit to them is it to be told, " You live in a land where.
every thing is cheap." Yes cheap—to the rich—but to
the poor unattainable! And what is the remedy our rulers
find ? Oh the same as you apply to rats—stop up the
granaries—keep out the corn—starve them by painless
extinction—the rats will diminis's.—( Hear, hear.) So
with the poor. We have " asuperabundant population,"
they say. And what is their relief from this " painless
extinction" remedy ? Why emigration. Yes—emi-
gration. " Go about your business. At Nature's
table there is not room for you." " Don't tell us it is
our native land—go to foreign climes and seek bread you
cannot here obtain." Yes, but if some must go, who should
it be, the poor or the rich, the industrious or the lazy and
unproductive ? But the Aristocracy say if the Corn-laws
are repealed they will—go away actually and leave us to
ourselves I Yes, as a witty Anti- Corn-law writer says, we
must choose between corn and Abcrcorn, Buckingham and
buck-wheat.—(Laughter.) I think you would be able to
do without them, however—(Hear)—the sun .would still
shine, tho heavens. be propitious, the earth fruitful,—
( Cheers.) We have a good deal of Providence. Napo-
leon said Providence is always on the sido of great armies.
(Loud laughter and cheers.) Recollect that your fate is
in your own hands. You will have all things if you have
money, and the way to get money is to get good sense, and
to resolve no more to be the miserable degraded slaves you
are now. Boldness has been the cause of every great re-
formation—remember, self-preservation is nature's great
law. Come at last we must to the great principle,--" The
few must yield to the interests of the many."—(Cheers.)
Glee—" Hail, smiling morn."
Mr. RIGBY, Social Missionary from Birmingham, then
came forward to propose the next toast—" Prosperity to
communities of united interest, without distinction of class,
sect, party, country, or colour."
The worthy Gentleman, who was most enthusiastically
cheered, said, that Mr. Jones had told those present that
they had travelled hundreds of miles, and had come to
London, where all the wealth, and talent, and glory of
the land resided, broken up in body and mind, in order to
show them the talent of the country. He never felt more
unpleasantly than be did at present, not because of the
audience he was addressing, but on his own account. He
had no doubt that they all came there in expectation of
hearingmen of talent. Now they came forward not as
men of talent, but, as persona who had a great stake in the
holy cause.—(Cheers.) They came forward to better the
condition of the country.—( Cheers.) Although there
was more than enough for all in the country—although
there were more riches in the country than it was known
how to distribute, yet from some arrangement or other
theso
distributedfood
as e lottobinzakwellic h w
the
people They came forward as the friend of humanity, and to show
as soba plentifulppy.—( was not Cheer s )
the people that they were going astray from the path
which would lead to universal happiness, and that it was
necessary that a new combination and arrangement of so-
ciety should be effected. There was doubtless some present
who sympathised with the condition of the people, and who
would say if there was a popular movement, they would
assist it if it was likely to better the condition of the pen.
plc ; if there were such persons present,
he would address a
few words to them. They lived in a city in which every
pleasure and luxury was to be obtailed, but he bad come
from a town, a manufacturing town, where he knew, at the
present moment, there were 100,000 individuals starving
for want of food.—( Cheers.) Those individuals were
; desirous of work, but could not get it. Those individuals

had walked through the streets of the town before the
authorities, stating that if something was not done
fer them, they must get money as they could.--
(Cheers.) Now what had those authorities dune ?
They had collected money, given out soup and bread.
but not to those unfortunate individuals. Such was their
condition that the hopl:cepers had thrown out loaves to
them, and they broke it up and devoured it with the

greatest eagerness. In Leicester and Leeds 0 e labourers
were in the same condition, and the manufacturers and

merehanta ware not look into futurity, and dreaded every
turn in the market, afraid it should cause their bank-

ruptcy. Such was also the state of religion ;it was founded
upon anger and ill-will instead of universal love and hap.
Phress.—( Cheers.) It was clear, therefore, that some
great change roust take place.—( Cheers ) The people
of the North had toiled long and bard at the raills, but
could not gain sufficient to keep life and scul together.
Panic had succeeded panic, and reduced the labourers of
the country to the lowest possible condition, and the
worst result was to be expected if something was not done,
and that speedily. He did not blame the Government or
the people fur tats ; it all arose from man's ignorance of bit
own nature, and the manner of epelying those benefits which
the Almighty had given them. Now, Socialism asked what
was the stste of the country, and how it had been brought
about; and the answer was this, that within the last 100
years a new chemical, scientific, and mechanical power bad
arisen in the country that enab ed individuals to produce
wealth in abundance, and in the same proportion poverty
had increased. How did this happen? Why, because
every one scrambled to get wealth. All were trying to
get as much as they could, and give back as little as pos-
siole.--( Cheers.) The clergymen at the Church had
told them to do to others as they would have others do to
them ; but they were inverting the proposition, for they
were doing to others what they would not have done to
themselves.—( Laughter.) A few bad got hold of the
wealth of the country by these means ; but what had be.
come of those who had produced that wealth. Ask the
old man woo had lived in the country, and he would tell
tell them that all his children had been led by machinery to
the manufacturing towns, where they had been ruined, and
the eld inan himself brought to the workhouse. He would
now tell them what Secialism was and what it was not. It
was not what the parties who persecuted them stated it
to be. There were a class of persons who, when be told
them what Socialism was, would say it* was no such
thing. Socialism arranged society on a new principle,
by which all the chemical, mechanical, and scientific power
which had been brought into action should ha combined
for the public good, and produce happicess to all. It was
a Society that clothed and fed every child that was born
within its influence.--( Cheers.) It protected the young,
and secured every advantage for those who were in yeses.
—( Cheers.) It struck at the root of every eail—(Ciejers)
—.it united the interests of all men ; it did to others as et
would others should do to it.—(Cheers.) Socialism
called upon them to provide associations for the purpose
of doing good to every individual upon the face of the
globe..—(Loud cheers.) The man whese birth-day
they had met to celebrate, who had invented the
plan, and was the founder of rue system, bed,
Ispent thousands upon thousands, and a long life, in lay:.ng
the foundation of that system which was to better the con-
dition o f his fellow-men. A few years ago be Opposed
Socialism, because he thought those who advocated it
were madmen and fools. After hearing disoussions, how-
ever, and lectures, he was convinced of the benefits to be
derived from Socialism. He felt that if they had sufficient
wealth in the country to feed and clothe 600 naillioes,
and had only twenty-five millions to provide for, that there
was something wrong in the system that then existed, and
which required alteration.—( Cheers.) When be found
this to be the case. he felt it to he his duty, bumble as,
was, to step forward, though an unlearned man, as is see
vocate —( Cheering.) Though he bad not lenrnin, on
his side ho had truth, which was far more valualle.—
(Cheers.) Such was the extent to which Socialism was
increasing in tho country, that he could go over the length
and breadth of the land, and everywhere find the people as-
sembled by hundreds and thousands, especially among the
middle classes in support of the cause of Socialism. Tha
cause of Socialism had the strongest organization in the
land, and its advocates were prepared to discuss ite
rrin-
elples with its most talented opponents according to
the laws and principles of truth and justice —(l,-ebeers.))
The Worthy Gentleman concluded by proposi%, the toast.
Mr. Aeneas, from the community at Tythreetv, in Hamp-
shire—lie appeared before them as the 'asst individual
who had been selected for the workirezg out of the prac-
tical social life. lie rote to sees',, to the toast of Pros.
,
perity to communities of uneteu interest without distinction
of class, sect, party, Country, or colour," and although he
had never had any practice as a public speaker, it was.
enough to make any man eloquent. He spoke to the sen-
timent with the utmost sincerity of heart. He did not irr-
tend to occupy their time for any lengthened period, but
ashen ho saw before him 700 Socialists he found himself
called upon to say more than perhaps might be considered.
in good taste.—(Cries of "Go on.") He watt
Socialist because be found that, with increased
means of production, the people were in a state
of starvation—that was a system which could trot long be
tolerated. Lately, he had passed through senile of the
large towns, and he saw the poor starved people passing
the shops where the provisions they could not purchase
were rotting ; and all this arose from n vicious state of
society. Their principles were founded upon truth, and,
with such a foundation it was mortally impossible that they
should not succeed. He had not been accustomed to ad-
dress others than the peasants of Hampshire, he was,
therefore, in an awkward position ; but he would not de-
tain them longer than by assuring them he was devoted to,
the interests of the community, and would pay all
lion to the commands of the constituted authorities the
Society._ _ _

Mr. HODSON, from Cambridge, next aDressed the as-
sembly. He was placed in a situation of considerable
d ffieulty, for he was not accustomed to address public
meetings ; however, it he could not speaks ' tie was very
willing to show himself; if it could tit) buy thing for the
cause of Socialism. It was only
4 "lion time since that a
friend told him that he was dcp,' ;
him that lie was alive, uti he, however, assured
e mbled Socialists -h.o Could only assure the as-
s 13)" i'ae was alive and at their service
(Laughter)-351 he were dead, his ghost was very
hl
in t.l"te cause. The Socialists were surrounded
his ?eifilculties—in his own instance the friends of
eancy had separated themselves from him—his own
connections had deserted him—but he had sacrificed every
thing to the furthering of the emancipation of his fellow-
creatures.—(Cheers.) Having been a sailor for six years
of his life, he begged to assure the meeting that he had
joined the Society, in order to assist those helpless beings
who wanted to be wafted across the stream ; he could r-
inse them that he was anxious to assist all in his power to
steer the vessel in the cooperative ocean.—(Cheers.) He
had safared severely for his opinions, he had to suffer the
anger of a dying father, and only a few days ago he had
received a letter from his mother, whom he loved
most affectionately, containing a 20/. note, upon condition
that be would read a tract it contained. It was to put an
end to Socialism ; but he had withstood all natural feel-
ings, because of the intense desire he had for the eman-
cipation of his fellow-men.—( Cheers.) In his own parish
of Menea lately, they had had a vestry for the imposition
of a Police-rate. lie attended, and contended that if
they had a police they bad no need for a parson, or if they
had a parson they had no need for a police—(Cheers and
laughter)—and lie carried his plan against the parson. In
his parish, also, they had abolished Church-rates—
(Cheers) —because the clergyman, having 5,0001. a year,
they thought he ought to maintain the Church. When he
came to London and ssw in its back streets the poverty
there exhibited—when he saw the mother hastening to the
gin-shop to drown her misery—when be saw them creep-
ing into the shop of the pawnbroker, he thought there
was something wrong in the state of society, notwith-
standing the great number of paid clergy. Prince Albert
had lately presided at a meeting for the emancipation cf
the slaves ; but why should they not first extend emanci-
pation to the slaves in England? Women were slaves in
England, and he ardently desired to see them fully
emancipated.
Mr. BAILEY, Socialist Missionary for London, pro-
posed the toast—" Health and prosperity to our .Con-
tinental Social Brethren, and to the Friends of Co-opera-
tion all over the world."
Mr. TEALDT, an Italian, spoke to the toast as follows :
—Friends, in rising to respond to the benevolent and
truly social wish just expressed by the Chairman, and re-
ceived by you with such warm feelings, I beg to telt you,
my friends, that I do so merely in compliance with the
kind and unexpected request which was made to me by
your committee ; but that I by no means consider myself
equal to the honourable task which has been imposed upon
me. I trust, therefore, that you will exercise your indul-
gence, and kindly receive from me the little I am able to
give you. As a member of your association, and one
of the brethren included in the present toast,
I need hardly tell you that I am actuated
at this moment by those pleasurable inexpressible
sensations which can only be felt by those who have rightly
imbibed the spirit of our truly redeeming. religion—the
religion of universal love, charity, and bappiness. Time
was with me (and I don't doubt the .eame. was with most of
puaisatteagtzse,ma,nadnfdroamt
amooyneaaarltiehset
eypopeut Ineinty-
you) when I derived pride from the deeds achieved by my
cd oe ua
ot ruyrme dent
oopfm
offered I joined heart and soul the patriots of my country
against her despotic rulers, ready to sacrifice my life for
her delivery. But no farther back than a yeae ago I would
still feel offended if an Englishman or a Frenchman abused
that same country, and I could myself speak earnestly and
without any compunction in disparagemeaat of England, or
of France, of Russia, or of Austria; and like Didimus
Clericus, I would have risen from any place where one
the company had professed himself a cosmopolite.
How is it, my friends, that though I still love my
country, as I ever did, I am nevertheless totally
changed in other respects ? That now I hold patrio-
tism an imaginary virtue, and a real social vice.
That I like an Englishman. an Austrian, or an In-
dian, as well as an Italian. That I have no ill feeling
towards him who speaks against my country or myself', or
even towards the unscrupulous lawyer, who, to fill his
pockets,
hte robs me of all the little property ak still re-
mained to me, and deprives thus myself and family of th e
means or subsistence? How is it that now I can applaud
virtue and pity vice wherever I find them, without
that feeling of national pride and humiliation which
used always to mingle in my breast with my admira-
tion or approval ? All of you, I trust, are able
to answer these questions as soon as I inform you that just
a year this very day I entered myself a candidate in your
Society. You now know that from that day, which I es-
teem one of the most fortunate in my life,
I nyast have
studied the science of society as taught by our venerable
father. I now know what influence circumstances have in
the formation of character. I know that r aen cannot act
as they like, and that society can make raf men what she
lines. I
know that if I act well or rseeeee the praise or
blame is not due to me. lam cons,ese
Gently
neither proud
or ashamed of myself, and I only feel .pleasure when I see
virtue, and sorrow when I "cc vice. lam now, in short,
one of you—and you, like myself, are: now no longer more
Englishmen or Italians ; we arc no "saner religious secta-
rians, or political partizans. We are fall of country, of one
family, of one sect, of one party. We arc true Christians.
true Catholics, true lovers of our nci.gbbours-; we have all
one bond of union—universal 'Love, universal charity, uni-