The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-15
From the London Times.


L.
a statesman, and, being induced by somewhat pc
culitr circumstances TO reflect upon the condition.
of t.s country, he was, he tells US, driven 10 the
conc usion that declining people, des-
tined n no short period TO exhibit mankind
ieariu spectacle of misery and rum Some per-
SONS have thought that the many manifestations OF
material wealth and power which must have pre-
sented themselves 10 the eyes and mind OF M
Ledru Ron even On the most casual observation,
should have induced him. in his character oi philo-
sopher, to hesitate in deciding 50 hastily, and with
such emphasis, that our destruction Is imminent .
But in opinion there are events OF every day
occurrence connected with our social habits and
customs-events which from their frequency cease
To excite our attentlon-Wmch should DC deemed
still more important and significant, and which to
one really deserving the name of a philosopher
would appear powerful guarantees Tor Inc iu-
ture happiness Of people among whom they &C.
cur, than any afforded by mere proofs OF great
wealth. power, or skill. II ID much the fashion
with those who delight 10 deal in doeiul vaticina
tons 10 the future destiny OF England, to dwell
with great emphasis upon the amazing diversity OF
conditions To be seen hereto cxaggerate the SUI
ierng of the millions of poor and to place them
i'll sort of rhetorical contrast with the extrava-
CANT wealth OF favored lew. But there ID sun
something in the mutual relations Of all classes OF
society in this country that proves healthy con-
dtion to exist in our body polite, that shows we
really brethren, and that whether interest or
kind sympathes govern Us, we are one people
with great differences OF opinion among us indeed
openly expressed by all, but still, with feeling
prevalent in all classes OF the community that we
{ form people, and that we are, from the most
DO werful to the weak, bound together by ties
Of great regard as well national brotherhood.
q These thoughts have been suggested by the meet
ing held by the society for improving the condition
of the aboring classes Thursday last. over that
& meeting the Prime Minister OF the country pre-
sided-men of very different and opposing schools
Of politics. united, supported him, and persons OF
all ranks combined their efforts for the purpose OF
contributing TO the physical being Of the poor
Il est classes among In such proceeding there
II could be admixture Of mere political feeling
lay n IL,
y let ask, has history told us OF people thus
z united going violently to destruction Was such
state Of things this the condition that was the
precursor OF the great revolution oil lio9 ms Is
q the diieante profession Of regard for the poor
that is confined TO drawing room or the compos-
ing of philosophical thesis Of an affecting nov
ell. Here is sober practical application OF lntel-
gence and of wealth to well defined and beneii-
& cial purpose. No mere Utopia is attempted; no
unsubstantia theory is talked of and not acted
a The whole scheme Is one OF apparently very com
mon place benevolcnce, III which the cooperation
OF all the persons interested is required, and even
fair profit is proposed for the capital which ID APP
~ piled 10 the purpose in view And let no one with
e Idle iancies OF romance in his head express con
a tempt for this last provision. Any plan which dc
g ponds upon mere enthusiasm is doomed to disap
8 pointment. Any thing that requires constant Ell
Is fort, either of the Imagination the feeling of
q benevolence must at length yield TO the silent bu
{ effective pressure OF those common, but ever
3 sting, ever active influences which belong to hu
81 man nature and incite To Incidence and case.
4 To combine the wishes of an enlightened bencvo-
s. lence with the common ordinary ma bits and ends
a life is the object of really wise philosophy; and
s. human nature Is better provided for, the happiness
rs of the millions better promoted, by seeing calm,
81 apathetc minister like Lord John Russell presiding
81 a meeting whose humble object Is to provide
II comfortable dwellings for the poor, than by having
81 congress of monarchs meeting, surrounded by
Al the mighty powers Of the earth, and swaying the
g multltudes that surround them TO the attainment
"a of schemes OF conquest in the name Of some
~ fancieG principle of order and subordnaton. We
believe "A U
n of Is peculiar TO this age and this country In no
" other nation of the world do the rich the noble,
n and the powerful bear that relation the poor
81 which would permit them 10 perform such ser
~ vice for the humble and the weak and If II yet Is
a. question for the phosophc statesman TO determine
q whether there has been devised system which
calls into action go benehciay all those
q retinements and requirements that wealth alone
"a enables men 10 adopt, we would advise him To look
a to such assemblies as these for evidence to guide
a his determination.
81 And yet some may think this language inflated
Il when We consider tho apparently humble purpose
for which these men, powerful among their people,
"a assembled. Civilization, as Lord John Russell
truly said, brings with it evils well benefits
OF the evils, of the most alarming, because most
* a6ght with misery TO millions, Is the crowding to-
4 gether Of human beings IN the large cities which
n civilization always produces and without which II
& cannot exist But hitherto this congregation OF
T. men has led to misery almost nspeakable-squalid
b miscry-hlth, disease, and suffering worse than
dcath-and death also, which has been in such IN
r stances a relief The enlightened bcncvolencc Of
b the rich and the powerful among US, simply for
81 benehcent purpose. has cndcavorod 10 discover a
means by which this mischicyo tendency oi civil
zation might be prevented. The rich and the pow
U crful have 10 this end employed their own nteli
gvnce and that Of others willing 20 aid in this great
t. work, 10 discover the means VI counteracting the
mschievous effects of civilization, whether IN the
crowded town the secluded and thinly peOpled
agricultural district, in both of which the same mis-
chiefs result from causes apparently directly differ
ent. But extremes meet; no place Is 80 dcsoatc as
E the full and overlooking city TO those who have no
+ means of attracting associates and In the distant
and thinly peopled hamlets Of the country the same
q effect follows In the city you have crowds without
neighborhood-in the country you have scattered
q and therefore i'll provided community. To the
n end. then, Of obyiang the mischies arising from
causes apparently different, this society has sepa-
ratey directed its attention 60 the two classes of
evils and taken means for the attainment OF their
ends, differing az the cXigencies OF the case were
a diercntl
In the town II was necessary 10 get rid Of the old
lodging housc-to introduce habits Of cleanliness,
comfort, modCsty, and comparative scclusion,
thereby to produce the sClfrespcct and honorable
pride that are always connected with the virtuous
privacy Of a family. And this has been attained 10y
the system Of dwellings which the society has been
cndoayoring TO introduce. lftbs object were TO be
obtained by any mode which required for its sup
port constant application 10 the benevolent cnthu-
siasm Of the rich, should despair Of its useful
Such is not the principle upon which the plan
Of the society il founded The whole rests upon a
scheme Of employing capital in a manner really
which 10 sentimental people may for the moment
initiate against this scheme, IL the most certain
element Of its success The benefit TO the capitalist
fortunately dcprivcs this application Of his money
ofall appearance Of simple charity. There 10 here
offensive supcriority-no airs can be assumed OF
overboaring, protecting, patronising insolence;
common sense and mere motives Of prudence will
Justify this application Of the society's funds, and
what they may lose in mere enthusiasm they will
doubly supply by the honely influences Of com
mon sense and an honest profit.
As regards the agricultural laborcr VIC are glad
TO equally rational system adopted. Lord
narrowly spoke of the allotment system a
means Of rendering great advantages TO the labor
ing classes, but he carefully drew the right die
tinction by not confounding the small garden plot
with the system Of small holdings. Nothing could
equal in mischief any plan which should convert
our farm laborcrs into small farmers. The great
difficulties Of Ireland at this moment spring from
this Her agricultural poor are not laborers
living by wages but small tenants, depending
upon prccarious crops for their subsistence. The
great end Of the enlightened and benevolent land