Star.
London, England, 1831-07-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

MR. owEN's SYSTEM.

SlR—Agreeing with you that to investigate the
cause of, and the remedy for, the evils which, if
not speedily remedied, threaten to overtake the
civilized world, is the business of the profound po-
litician, and ought now to engage the best faculties
of every statesman who has the public interest at
heart, I thank you for drawing my attention to the
very well written and imagined letter of your Cor-
respondent, signed "AN ENQUIRER," in your
paper of the 4th instant, which has just been put
into my hands, and for offering room for a reply,
of which I readily avail myself.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
R. 0.
TO AN ENQUIRER.
M Y DEAR have read your communica-
tion addressed to me in the STAR of the lst of
July, with the deep attention which it deserves ;
and I at once admit that tI e conclusions to which
you have come, relative to my proceedings, are
those which now pervade nine out of ten of all
those who reflect upon the subjects touched upon
in your letter. Under the circumstances in which
almost all individuals are now placed, these con-
clusions are most natural. My experience, how-
ever, compels me to feel other impressions; all I
have seen, and all I know, have formed a convic-
tion in my mind, that a mighty change in the des-
tiny of the human race is near at hand ; that all
things portend it ; that necessity is about now to
accomplish it; and that the powers of the earth
cannot much longer retard it. They may indeed de-
sire this change to be at an immeasurable distance ;
but the signs of the times give evidence that the
world is approaching it at an incalculable speed—
even with the velocity. of the steam-carriage upon
the rail-road.

Do you ask me why I think we are so rapidly
advancing to this glorious period for the emancipa-
tion of man from ignorance, from poverty, and
divided feelings ? I reply, because ALL the ma-
terials for the change are before us, ready for our
use, and because it is the desired interest of every
individual of the human race that the change
should now be effected. Are not these reasons
decisive of the question ? YES, you will say, if
you can show us these materials, and make the in-
terest palpable to those who now influence the
world. 1 will endeavour to do both. The mate-
rials required are those which, when properly used,
will enable the population of all countries to pro-
duce the most valuable wealth abundantly—to dis-
tribute it advantageously—to form the best charac-
ter for every one—and to govern themselves with-
out difficulty, beneficially and satisfactorily to all.
The materials to effect these objects abound in all
countries, and the sciences of mechanism and
chemistry offer their unlimited power, to combine
and mix these materials to any extent required.
Mechanism and chemistry, united, may now be
made to create, with ease, as much new scientific
power, annually, as the whole manual power now
employed to produce wealth in all parts of the world.
It is the folly of ignorance alone that renders it
necessary now to set value upon individual posses-
sions of wealth ; for national wealth may be mul-
tiplied annually, as much beyond our wants as
water is now supplied to the whole inhabitants of
the country. But no experienced person can doubt
the power of society to call into existence ten-fold
more riches for the use and enjoyment of mankind,
than the population of the world, trained to be ra-
tional, would desire to consume, or could advan-
tageously consume. The power to create wealth
is unlimited, and whenever the governments of the
civilized world shall consent to admit of these
powers being applied in the best manner for the
real benefit of all classes, poverty, or the fear of it,
will cease to be known as one of the evils of society.
Under the present ruinously wasteful application
of human and scientific power and of capital, all
may perceive that a few men employed in agri-
culture, in manufactures, in building, or in any
thing else that is useful, will produce a superfluity
for many ; but if such abundance of productions
can be brought forth under such a wretched system
of production as the one in practise, what could
not be effected under a properly-arranged scientific
system of production ? Men are at present, how-
ever, greatly too ignorant and inexperienced to
form any thing like correct notions upon the sub-
ject. Whenever the time shall arrive when their
minds can be expanded, to comprehend the prin-
ciple and practise of creating a superfluity of wealth
for all, they will be much surprised that they had
so long consented to live amidst all the evils of
poverty, and to subject themselres to the dominion
of ignorance and violence. I have said it is not
the interest of a single individual of any class,
that the existing sytem of error, in principle and
practice should, be continued for one day longer.
Are the sovereigns of the world benetitted by its
continuance? Look at the sovereign families of
the civilized world—examine their position—their
education—their associates—their temptations to
act in opposition to their nature—their daily and
hourly disappointments—the hypocrisy which sur-
rounds them on all sides, and the constant dangers
to which they are liable—no one who has powers
of mind steadily to look through the outward show
of royalty, to the men and women who are bur-
dened with its trappings, would envy their feel-
ings or their condition in society. How many of the
best of them sigh in secret for the more quiet hap-
piness of a private life ?—how many, if they had
been trained to have resources of happiness within
themselves, would willingly exchange the pomp
and power of state for a rational mode of existence,
in conformity with their natural feelings ? But
surely it will be said the aristocracy of England,
who have all things at their command, could not
be bene6tted by the change to another system.
Yes, I contend the aristocracy of England has a
' direct and extended interest in bringing about the
change from the existing irrational to a rational
state of society. Who is there from his birth so
liable to be injured as a human being, as a young
duke, marquis, earl, or lord ? Flattery is his food,
effeminacy his constant habit, and the ignorance of
a very limited circle the only knowledge he is ge-
nerally permitted to acquire. He is taught directly
and indirectly that the world is made for hint— he
has nothing to do but to pluck and eat, to live and
to enjoy—he knows not how any thing is provided
for him—who provides it—or what are now the
wretched conditions by which this superfluity soli-
cits his waste of it. He does not know what an
unnatural being he has been made to become—how
little he knows of himself or of human nature—and
what artificial and deteriorated beings all around
hin► have been trained to become. He is altogether

unconscious of the unspeakable delight he would
experience from being in the midst of a population,
all of whose powers and faculties, physical, mental,
and moral, were fully cultivated, well displayed,
brought into full action, without being bowed by an.
perstition or the fear of any human being. When
the expression of every eye will be full of intelli-
gence, experience, and good feeling ; when every
movement of the external frame would be unavoid-
ably an action of grace and dignity,expressive of the
inward feelings, uncontaminated by effeminacy or
hypocricy, and when, consequently, the pleasure of
society would be increased immensely Can the
aristocracy enjoy much inward satisfaction while 1
they know they are unjustly living upon the labours
of the miserably poor : while they are conscious that
the producing classes are opening their eyes, and are
inquiring who creates this wealth and luxury, and
why do we continue to create it ? The aristocracy
must be now alive to the real position of their con-
dition, and the prospects of their posterity ; and when
they become truly wise, they will discover that their
safety and their happiness, and more especially the
happiness of their children, will depend upon the
speedy introduction of the rational system of society.
But, it will be said, that the members of the pro-
fessions can have no interest in this projected
change of system. Yes, every member of every
profession will, by the change. effect a most im-
portant step towards his own happiness. All the
professions have been founded upon fallacies; all of
them require great injustice to support them ; all
live by the evils of life ; all are opposed to the well-
doing and well-being of the industrious producing
classes. All of them will cease when mystery
and hypocricy shall terminate. Practical mea-
sures will be adopted to prevent the existence
of the evils which the professions are alone eaten-
Wed to create and perpetuate. Instead of these
systems of secrecy, hypocricy or oppression, which
alone are sufficient to destroy the happiness of
every sensitive mind, plans will be arranged to
enable all to act an honest and a useful part, and
in the daily execution of which, mind will meet
mind without disguise, and each will be the open
and sincere friend of all.

The existing system of commerce is the worst
that can be devised for the happiness of the human
race. While the individual shall be carefully
trained to believe that he is doing very right by
endeavouring to buy cheap and to sell dear, and it
shall continually appear to be his interest to do so,
what can be expected but a character formed of
every kind of baseness and deception. No mind•of
a superior order can be formed under a system so
opposed to all the higher qualities of mind, and to
the cultivation of the best feelings of our nature.
Tie le and commerce, as now carried on individually
and irrationally,is directly calculated to call forth all
the inferior faculties and feelings that can be
cultivated in man, and this spirit has been long
since diffused through all ranks ; it is now as pro-
minent in the pulpit, at the bar, in the senate,
and among country gentlemen, as among the
merchants, traders, and bankers. The British
mind, through this mistaken notion of acquiring
wealth, is formed to be the mind of a pedlar,
putting on the appearance of religion, to enable ,
him the more readily to sell his wares and
deceive his customer. Who gains by this I
covert system of deception but of real hostility,
among those who ought to be friends, and the more
deeply interested in each others well-doing ? Not
one single individual in any class of life; for it is
a system for carrying on the business of life by
which the least valuable articles of wealth are pro-
duced, and which the least in amount is created,—
by which that which is so created is distributed in
the worst possible manner,—by which the most in-
ferior character is formed for every class, from the
Sovereign to the pauper,—by which the world is
kept in a state of perpetual infancy, and by which
the human race is prevented from attaining a
knowledge of its highest interest, or of the means
for securing its permanent happiness. No! the
existing system of the world cannot be supported
much longer, because it not only is, but because it
must now soon appear to be, for the interest of,
every individual, that it should be changed for the
better.

But. Sir, you seem to think that the elements for
this change do not yet exist. I must presume
that you are a novice in the great transactions of
the world ;—that you have not travelled much ;
that you have not confidentially communicated
with the leading minds of the various classes, or
you would come, 1 think, to a very different con-
clusion. To me it appears that the elements of
change upon the most gigantic scale superabounds
eery where. Let us begin with the Holy Alli-
ance, the last card that Sovereigns had to play for
their *Lori existence as a despotic power over the
people of Europe. This alliance is rapidly decaying
by its own oppressions. Look now to the union of
the industrious classes, of the real producers of
ealth—see them acquiring a knowledge of their
importance in society ; see them proceeding step
by step, even unknown to the great majority of
themselves, to that point where they will be enabled
to say and will be justified in saving, " Gentlemen
and ladies of the nun-producing classes, we have'
now discovered how to pioduce and how to con-
sume beneficially for ourselves. We request you
to make the same discovery (Jr yourselves, and to
act accordingly. We will assist you, as friends,
to acquire thit now must necessary knowledge fur
you. but we will no longer be either your slaves or
your servants."
Look to the progress of scientific power con-
cerning manual labour, of little, and in many in •
stances, of no value. Look at the daily increasing
luxury of the few, and tl.e hourly incrtasing mi-
sery of the many, iu consequence of this progress in
mechanism and chemistry. Then turn your atten-
tion to the advance of real practical useful know-
ledge among the mechanics and others of the in-
dustrious classed, and contrast this progress with
the useless learning with which the upper ranks
are overwhelmed from infancy, and what truly
helpless beings they appear to be when called upon
by circumstances to introduce any practical mea-
sure for the well-ordering a good government of
the population. If they exact any laws, or dire: t
any measures for practice, they are almost sure to
be inefficacious or injurious until thos ewbo feel the
effects of their inexperienced interfering, call out,
" Let us alone, fur bad as our own ignorant mea-
sures are, your's are much worse." An universal
dissatisfaction therefore, prevails against all go-
vernments upon the present erinciples of govern-
ing, and surely nothing can be worse, fur with the
most ample means at their disposal to pro-
duce a superduity of wealth—to create a very

superior character—to make the moat useful know-
ledge to pervade the world, and to unite all people
and all governments; they increase individual po-
verty—they permit, without interfering, a most
pernicious and inferior character to be generally
formed for the people. They direct the public
mind to the acquisition of the least instead of the
most useful knowledge, and they are actively en-'
gaged only in measures to divide the people of
most countries. and to oppose government to go-1
vernment. With these proceedings all the reflect-
ing and well-disposed part of every population is
dissatisfied; the element for the change, then, every
where exists in the greatest abundance
Admitting with you, that " to-day is the child
of yesterd,iy, and the parent of to-morrow," I
believe that the offspring of to-day will be the ra-
tional system of society to-morrow, and that to-
morrow will arrive much sooner than vou and
many deem so great a change practicable. My
reasons for coming to this conclusion are two-fold ;
first, moral ; and second, commercial and political.
Ist. There is now a moral contest in full activity
between the supporters of the notion that every
individual, somehow or other, forms himself to be
what he is,and consequently that he is a being to be
best governed by a system of individual rewards
and punishments here and hereafter, and resting
for support on some one or other of the va-
rious religions ; each individual claiming supe-
riority for the one in which he has been
taught, and another party who advocates prin-
ciples directly opposite to these, that is, that the
character of every man is formed for him, that with
the know!edge now acquired it may be well formed
for every one; that individual rewards and punish.
ments, although they have been made to have
some influence in restraining, in some cases, and
in some degree, the wretched propensities and ha-
bits which so pernicious a system of error almost
universally generates, yet that their beneficial re-
sults bear no comparison with the permanent good
effects that a positive system for well forming the
character of every child from birth, would have
upon the whole society. All the opposing religions
now producing every where persecution, hatred,
and anger, would cease to torment the human race,
and to render them irrational animals, instead of
rational beings ;...would cease to form them into
talking existences about non-essences, which they
can never comprehend ; but, on the contrary, the
rational system of society, would train them to un-
derstand all the practical arrangements necessary
to insure the best original constitution, and the
best matured character for each ; and to adopt de-
cisive measures to remove ignorance and poverty,
and crime and misery, for ever from the earth.
Now between these two opposite parties in mo-
rals there are no intermediate steps : for it is evi-
dent the character of every individual is either
formed by himself, as all religions presuppose, or it
is formed for the individual, as the party opposed
to the former notion assert,—and one or other
of these conclusions must be true : the world
will decide by the examination of facts ; and as
all facts demonstrate that the human character,
whether affected by internal or external influences
is, in every single instance, formed for the indi-
vidual, and as this knowledge will point out the
means by which every human being may have a
virtuous and happy character formed for him, and
most beneficially for himself, as well as for all his
fellows—no one can doubt the speedy conclusion
that the world will come to upon this most impor-
tant moral question that has ever engaged the at-
tention of mankind.

2nd. As to the commercial and political reason
for the sudden and extensive change in the con-
dition of the human race.

During the past ages of man's existence, his
productive powers were unequal to the full supply
of the wants of his nature, especially in the state
of division in which he was retained under the be-
lief that he was an independent agent, forming by
his own will his feelings and convictions. Thus
the fear of want, and the impossibility of uniting
men for any length of time, in any general measure,
for their benefit, created, and until now main-
I tattled, the individual system for creating and con-
suming wealth, and thus, in a great measure,
' raising every man's hand against his brother, en-
gendering civil warfare throughout the world, in
addition to public and national wars. This divi-
sion of individual interests hasbeen increasing as the
' new powers of producing wealth have increased,until
the f ower of production has, under this system, be-
! come a much greater evil in practice than was the
want of these extraordinary scientific powers before
they were introduced within the last century. They
I are now employed in direct opposition to all the
f best interests of society. They press with an overI
opyression upon all the productive chai-
r sea ; they have reduced the value of labour, the
only thing the producer possesses of value, under
the existing system, below the means of comforta-
ble subsistence. These new powers hate eugen-
' tiered a deadly hatred between the producers and
! the non-producers ; they have altered all the for-
titer relations between master and servant; they
have destroyed the amenities of life, and instigate
all to scianible for what they can get. Honesty
and fair dealing have no chance for success in this
new order of things ; the lucky few attain all, and
the remainder are in a fair way of Lecoming theii
ighorant, vicious, and afject slaves ; and their
slaves they ever would be, wcre it n it that the
knowledge of the new morai kad the
, opulatiun of the would to me,ther and a ino:e
I happy result, will shew them the p, Mei* of union
and its value, and the practicability of turning thit
enormous destructive power of competition with
their labour into another channel; into a Hew course,
in which it shall aid their labour, and for ever here-
after shall add to its vali,e—shall give tit m the
fulness of happinesi in exchange fur the dregs 4.1
misery to which they are naw coin relied to
submit. And here again, my wo: thy friend,
there is no half-way proceeding • ; no •' bi,
by bit" advance —nu i rise distant e" between
the present misery and future happiness. Machinery
and chemistry, and the arts general,y, most work
against or fur the producing classes. If the rulers
of the world, contrary to their in.iividual and ge-
neral interests, shall exert their influence to keep
this power in opposition to the web-doing and
will-being of the productive classes, all the hor-
rors of a forced revolution will eventually billow,
and the change will be thus made. Or it' these
powers acquire wisdom from passing events, and
give their aid and influence to effect a change in
the direction of these new scientific creators of
wealth, in conjunction with the change of the great
moral principle of society, then will the world, in-

deed, attain to that state of happiness, of whic
the wise and good of all past ages have had some
presentiment.

Then, with ease, might all lands be made " to
flow with milk and honey," and each individual be
so trained and placed, that he should " sit under
his own vine and fig-tree ; there shall be none to
make him afraid," and there is no human power
that can now stay till:: course of events. All na -
tions and all people, unknown to themselves, are
now busily occupied in creating the excitement
which will render this great change for good inevi-
table.

I cannot now entor upon that part of the sub-
ject relative to pulling Gown and building up—all
reformers are engaged in pulling down old insti-
tutions, but not one tlvit I know of under-
stands any thing of building up new ones—
' and without a knowledge of the latter, the
former can only continue to keep the world it.
the midst of violence nod confusion, of crime and
misery. lam engaged in preparing for the latter.
For these reasons, and innumerable others, if
space and time would admit, I reply to your con-
cluding question that, most conscientiously, I
believe, I am, ho my present proceedings, doing
the greatest possible quantity of good in the Lealt
possible time.

1 am, my dear Sir, your sincere friend,
ROBCRT OWEN.
49, Bedford Square, 7th Julr, 1831.
TUE lIE i( E.% 1) /1011 a .t I' TAr LOR.

TO THE RIGHT HON LORD VISCOUNT MELBOURNE.
HIS MAJESTY'S SECRETARY or STATE FOR THE

MOMS DEPARTMENT.

MT Loan—Your Lordship is doubtless fully acquainted
with the call- of the R, v •rend Hobert Tajlor, now a prisoner
in Ilorsernonger.lene Geo'. The governor of that prism:
acknowledges, thst Mr. Taylor is treated " as a felon, with
the exception, that a felon can see friends only once a week,
whereto,* Mr. Taylor may see friends six days in the
week." Your Lordship is respectfully informed, that
Mr. Taylor is, by birth and education, a gentleman ; and
his friends are afraid Ciat, being a man of acutely
sensible feelings, he will be attacked by some
sort of nervous fever if he be ninny days detained with.
out books,—without any food but gaol allowance,—and
without any of toe conco is to which he has been accus-
tomed. Your Lordship is well aware, that 31r. Taylor has
not offended against moralty, nor against any law of pro-
perty, yet he is confined in a yard, with the most wretched
of human beings; and he cannot speak to his friends.
except throagh a double row of iron bars, at a distance of
about nine feet, so that (otter prisoners speaking at
the same time) it is difficult for his friends even
to hear his voice. It is to be hoped that, coc-
sidering Mr. Taylor was prosecuted by a Society arrogatirg
to Itself powers which ought only to belong to his Ma-
jesty's Attorney-General, considering also the ex-
cessive severity of the sentence infiicted,—and considering
also the injury which Christianity will receive from this vus.
lation of the doctrine of toleration,—that, considering these
things, your Lordship will shortly recommend to his Ma-
jesty to grant Mr. Taylor his Majesty's gracious pardon.
In the mean time, the least that your Lordship (as a
humane man) can do, is to order immedimely,—first, that
Mr. Taylor be allowed to see his friends four hours in the
day, and In a place where he can shake hands with
them : secondly, that Mr. Taylor be allowed to send at d
receive letters, without their being opened, and that he be
also allowed to receive hooks and newspapers, and to have a
writing desk with a lock and key ; and thirdly, that he be
slowed to purchase tta and coffee, and other artit les of food
and also sheets and a pillow. Surely your Lsttlibip will no -
refuse these very harmless requests.
Your Lordship's obedient humble servant,
JULIAN H I BBERT.

17, Duke-street, Foley-place,
Tuesday Evening, July A, 1831.
Ma. COBBETT'S TRIAL.—WO learn this day.
that a detailed account of this gentleman's trial is
about to be published in a cheap form, with a pre-
face, explanatory notes, and an appendix, for ex-
tensive circulation. This is the consequence of au
unnecessary prosecution, and will doubtless have
an effect on the public mind directly contrary to
that which was contemplated by the Attorney-
General.

In the present House of Commons, Mr. O'Con-
nell has, beyond question, the most powerful mind.
His moral influence, arising from his admitted sin-
gleness of purpose, is very considerable; and
his varied intelligence and erudition confer ou
him comparative sups iority. Then be is a
mau of business, and of a grate and impres-
sive exte• for ; while, as au argumentative speak-
er, he resembles Fox ; and, in tone and easi-
ness of manner, Sheridan. If he allowed his bene-
volent principles and feelin:'s to expand to other
countries, besides his pet chi!d, Ireland—if he
would plead for the Poles, the Italians, and other
oppressed people, he would be a perfect British
senator. Nothing, in tine, but his own exclusitil
nationality, prevents his being the most useful
public min of his age, and the real leader of the
House of Commons.

In figure, M Hume is twin-brother to Mr.
O'Connell, with a mind equally capacious, anu
comprehending the true interests of humanity.
Through different sources and channels they have
arrived at the same ends, and are led to pursue the
same philanthropic objects. The one is a political
ecaino,i,ist, and depends un the determinations of his
head, depending on his unwearied industry ; w bile
the other derives his principles from phbosophy
and his determinations from the dictates of his
heart, depending on his natural eloquence, Both,
leuwiver, by a wise direction of their powers, ar-
riie at similar results, and always appear foiemost
as chanqiuns of joatice and liberty. Together they
make up a perfect mind—fact and tentiment—
head and heart, and while united in votes and
objects, no two men are more calculated to give
sound direction to the British Government, and
inspire more confidence in the people,
We used to have an annual motion in Parliament
on the State of the Nation, and it always elicited
Jetue useful views. But good customs are neglected
by the ii.arch of intellect, and uniortunatelv nu-
thing better substituted. There never was a pe-
riod when such a motion would be more acceptable
to an anxious and disappointed people.
Those Tory Members aho retired wilt one of
the apposite part• during the late division, are sai,i
by •' the wags"—not to have paired off, but to
nave Peel'd off.

lISS LINN °OD'S EXIIIIIITION.—On Tuesday
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge,
toe young Prince George, mid a huge party of
fashiunables, visited the above grand exhibizion in
Leicebter-square, and after reatakiog more than
All hour, tle?arted highly delighted with the new
~Icture of " Cain's Judgment."