Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-01
FOR IG N.
FROM OUR LONDON EspoNDENr.
LONDON, MAY Is, 1850.

SOCIALISM, so far as its legal principle, cs-oper-
alton, is antagonstic to the an,i-socia principle,
competition, is undoubtedly the order of the day in
this great metropolis at present; for we have CO.
operative societies of all kinds rapidly rising into
existence. During the last few days we have had
addresses emanating from the /" Working Tailors,
the g London Needle Women's," the "Working
Shoemaker's," and the Working Cooperative
Printers" associations. But all these societies.
and SO were the celebrated French National Hork-
shops of ls4s, are, in spite of their cooperative or
social principle, dependant, after all, upon the oper
atien of competition. They all anxious for
tom, all desrous of displaying their wares to the
best advantage, and Of competing for employment
at low prices The tailors and needle women. hope
they shall be enabled TO compete with "fhe stop
sellers" The shoemakers hope to prove the su-
periorify of the work of cooperative labor over
that of starved con,petitive labor. The co-opera-
tive "prners' are, to the exclusion Of all compe-
titue printers employed to print the circulars Of
all the other cooperative societies. They boast of
the goodness of their work, and the speed with
which they execute orders. In fact, they are in
earnest competition with all other printers. All
these societies cooperative for themselves, but
competitive, or even anagonstic against all others
They differ from the great individual compet-
tive system of society al large merely in the fact
that they unions Of individuals associating upon
themselves, but in direct competition with every
body else and this competitive system must exist
in society until every individual operative and cap
talist in each line of business and employment is
banded together in one mammoth cooperative So
ciety for SO long as any one is not included in
such society, there would be competition between
him and all the rest Of the same business. That
society could not exist in such an artificial state is
evident, and therefore the very foundation of social
ism is impracicable.
The Protectionist party in the House of Com
mons have taken up new subject to display their
skill upon-the bill for extending the elective fran
chse In Ireland. At present, population OF eight
millions people there represented by not more
Than fifty thousand electors, whilst in the counties
the electors are not more than two per cent of the
male adult population. Two provisions to remove
this evil excite the ire and fierce opposition of the
Proectonists. One is, to allow all persons to vote
who occupy lands or tenements rated at the annual
value of eight pounds or upwards. The other of
these provisions is, to allow joint tenants to vote,
who for their joint occupancy shall each be rated
at eight pounds and upwards. A struggle took
place upon these two points,, and the House deter
mined to retain them, and therefore the Protection
lists anxious to throw the bill out altogether and
they Significantly appeal 10 the House Of Lords to
accomplish for them what the House of Commons
has refused to do Lord CAsTLEREAaH, true to the
instincts and the habits of his family, says: I"
wish for twelve pounds franchise, but have not
been able to persuade the House that am right;
will not therefore, throw away all the benefits
of the bill, but will vote for it, trusting that its OBJ
'jectionable features will be amended elsewhere,
and that the bill, amended, will, on its return
BE accepted by the House. On this suggestion
the Protectionist party seems determined to act
hoping that differences may be created between the
two houses, which may either defeat the bill alto
gether, render it less powerful to work them mis-
chief by an increase of the number of voters in the
Irish counties. At present these counties are re-
presented by twenty-six Proectionists, and thirty
Wings and Conservatives of the Peel party; but
the contemplated change would. probably, prevent
the former party from returning more than half a
dozen representatives, and throw the remaining
twenty into the ranks of the free-traders. Thus is
the power of the Protectionst party exered to de-
feat measure, calculated above all Others to give
peace and stability to Ireland by enabling the great
body Of the people to participate in the government
Of the country. ..~" ~.
deputaton from the Crown and Anchor meet
ing waited upon Lord JOHN RUSSELL on Saturday,
to present the address agreed to at the meeting,
urging return to a protective duty on imported
grain The address respectful in its and temper
although spoke Of consequences disastrous the public
welfare, endangeng the public peace and the maintenance
ofpubc credit and placing in peril the safety of the State
The Parliament is charged with 'a want Of sympathy with
the surngs Of the people, csusng feeling Of disappont
ment discomfort, and dsust" "We soemrly adjue your
Lodshp that discomfort unattended may pen disaf
fc,ion &C. Notwithstanding all these representations and
afuraons and the warning that all these terrible
qoences would the responsibility Of the Minister and
his colleagues, Lord JoHN very respectfully but decidedly
told the delegates that Ministers readily took upon themselves
all the responsibility which flowed from the policy they
pursong that he had arrived directly opposite conclusions
with respect the tendency Of that policy and that Of
he could not hold out any promise that, long be
Minister, he should recommend any departure from nor
did he think il necessary desirable dissolve Parliament
in order the Of the country upon the sub
jet Mr.. You've, the chairman Of the meeting, and Mr.
NEwpIoArE, NJ p. for North Warwickshe the prin
cpal speakers behalf of the delegates and both
mended Lord JoHs to dismiss from his mind "Ie rather
strong erpresstoas made Of the meeting The Duke
OF RIcHsosD took chill" at the Crown and Anchor,
and could not join the depu,aon with the address,
any OF the rampant orators present the with the
prime Minister Lord JoHS concluded his reply by telling
the dePued delegates II you had taken my advice 10 $40
you mget have had at this what you are now asking
for" This is " all the depuaton got out Of him. and as
far as we can the Times al that they are likely
to get deputaton also waited upon Lord STANLEY,
who advised them to "cary the system of agitation
meeting, 10 conformity with this advice to be held at
Liverpool early possible The agia,ing principle is
also continued in Parliament. Mr. GRAsrLEr BrnxE1Er |
NJ p. for Goucesesbire and hitherto supposed TO be good