Star.
London, England, 1830-10-07 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY.

At a public meeting held some short time ago, in the theatre Leices-
ter-place, on this important subject, and 'of which we were able to
give at the time, but an imperfect notice, Mr. Owzx began by making
some introductory remarks on the uses and abuses of machinery in
general ; he designated the introduction of mechanical and other scien-
tific power, in the form of labour, as one of the greatest blessings
that men have yet discovered, or the most extended and powerful
instrument of oppression to the working classes that has ever yet been
introduced into the world. But so long as its Increasing and unlimi-
table powers shall be misunderstood and misdirected, it could not
fail to prove the greatest curse of the human race. It would become, in
the hands of the few enormously wealthy, an engine of oppression,
most injurious to the population of all countries. Mr. Owen then
briefly stated the uses of machinery. These were to diminish
the necessity for unhealthy and disagreeable manual labour. To
produce with economy and foresight, and with the least inconvenience
to the population, the greatest amount of wealth, of the most intrinsic
value. To diffuse this wealth the most equally that is practicable
among all ranks, and throughout all nations. And lastly, its use was
to supply the means, when they shall be tightly directed, to remove
poverty, or the fear of it by ignorance, or the possibility of its return,
from among all people. While, on the contrary, its abuse is to create a
greater necessity, through the poverty which it occasions among the
working classes, for an increase of unhealthy and disagreeable labour, on
the part of those who previously had too much of it. To apply this
power without economy or foresight, to create a large amount of useless
productions, miscalled wealth, and chiefly to feed the senseless vanity of
the few. To apply it as it is now directed, under a system of indivi-
dual competition, to reduce the faculties of the working elaases, the pro.
ducers of all wealth, to the lowest point of value that will support ex.
istence In the most wretched form. To support the existing system by
continually increasing the advantages of the few, at the expense of the
comfort and happiness of the many. Mr. Owen then glanced at the
various speculations and theories on these points which bad been enter-
tained from time to time, observing that modern political economists
were led astray by superficial appearances. The Lecturer then observed
that the mama' progress of mechanical inventions is to increase in a '
continually increasing ratio, one invention suggesting and becoming a
steppingstone to another; therefore, long before the first batch of work-
men thrown into idleness by one invention has obtained employment, or'
died off, another set, by a new invention, has been forced upon the
market of labour, still further to reduce its value and overstock the
supply; and to this progress there is no cessation—but, on the con-
trary, the number of inventions, and consequently of the unemployed,
are continually upon the increase. To attempt to snake this state
of matters permanent, to establish it as a regular system to which the
population will consent to submit, is as vain as to attempt to war against
the elements--nature forbids it, and nature must be obeyed.—. The pro-
gress of machinery renders an entire new order of society unavoidable.
All Europe and America cry aloud for change. They ask for the use
and not the abuse of machinery in every country, and there will be
a continual shaking of the nations until the request of the people shall
bc fairly met and granted by the governing powers ; adding, that It was
for these weighty considerations and many more which might be added,
that he had recommended an address to his Majesty, and petitions to
both Houses of Parliament. The whole of Europe (observed Mr.
Owen) and America, from the new state of society, demanded a change;
the request of the people must be complied with—ova-production was
the cause of the present distresses of the people After proceeding at
great length, Mr. Owen concluded by moving a series of resolutions,
grounded on his address, which were proposed and carried, after several
persons had addressed the meeting.