The southern press., 1851-05-14
Threatened ChartIst Demonstration in Eng.
Eronn ths London Tines, .apriI 81.

Threatened CndrtlGt REORGANIZATION III Ing
land.
From the London Times, .apriI p.
After collapse of three years, the Chartist
NATIONAL Convention begins to pluck up its
spirits, and, as if not ing daunted, has chosen
the 10th of April as the date of comprehen-
sve programme. Such Of the continental agi-
tators as condescended TO visit this reactionary
metropolis at the approaching Exhibition, have
thus an opportunity of seeing that ii we de-
cned to join the dance of revolution, it was not
for want Of an opportunity ut home. The
charter, as interpreted in this document goes ut
once to the root of all our social disorders.-
While the legislature has been feeb,y nibbling
at this or that nuisance for these hundreds Of
years, and have oaly strengthened the prescrlp
ton of wrong, Mr. Reynolds and his friends are
prepared to make u clean sweep without more
ado On the important subjects Of the land, the
church, education, labor, poverty, taxes the debt,
the currency, the army, the navy, the militia, and
the press, these gentlemen speak with fulness
and decision which assure US they would have
| no difficulty in forming chartist cabinet pre-
pared to undertake all these departments.
The six points Of the charter have hitherto
failed 10 satisfy prudent politicians, in conse-
Eqnence OF certain vague approximations as to the
working Of legislature formed on this plan
/ The convention has now removed the unpleas-
ant doubt that hung over their intentions. They
tell US, without any reserve, what they expect
| from parliament Of their own choice, and, in
fact, instead of the charter being itself The end
Of peoples aspirations, we are now presented
with further I" ultinaatum," to which the char
ter, we are assured, will Immediately conduct US.
There is rising school, which, to certain ex-
tent, occupies the same ground as Chartism it
is fed by the same instincts, seizes the same
class of u inds, and every now and then i, seen
to divide the interests of the same political cri.
sis. From February Is to June Is, I848, two
powers divided the government Of France-po.
litica democracy and industrial socialism the
former power, how ever, after desperate effort,
was then fairly crushed, and has not vet as
sumed political rank at Paris.
The six points of the charter are pure democ
racy; the programme before Us attempts to re-
concile it with socialism, far more genial sys
TEN than the other, and far more adapted to cap
tivate ardent and affectionate, but undisciplined
minds. Such mind finds itself annhilated as
the unit Of democracy, possessing one vote
out of 10000, for one member out Of 500, for
one estate out of three. 1t finds itself annhi
lated before the tempests of passion that occa.
sonally sway all democraces the way Of terri
torial cupidity or national Jealousy. II en-
braces far more gladly the idea of great in
dustria compact which is to give every man
a due reward for his work, without the suicidal
competition, the fragrant inequalities, the soul
destroying drudgery, The terrible risks, of COM
mon manufacture and commerce This is the
main idea of socialism, and il is utterly incom-
patible with political freedom unden any name
whatever The chartists, however, do not wish
to quarrel either with socialism or with the So
cialsts and, like Ledru Rollin and his friends.
in the late revolutionary government. they would
fat Boo fha lam fh.,xa L
captivating principle, and SO formidable rival
With Some slight reverses, the socialist system
is engrafted into the present manifesto in the
shape of a labor law, proposing TO abrogate the
relation Of master an man, to rescue the "crea-
tor" from his subsection to the creature" to
conduct industrial works by CO operative ssoci-
alton, connected in a national union, and assisted
wi h grants from credit fund opened by the
State. This, of course, is the very thing we
used to read of three years ago in the proceed
incs at the Luxembourg. Oddly enough, inst
before the socialist article Of this programme,
come few words at the tail Of the article on
education, which, If carried into effect, would
strike at the verv root of socialism. After pro-
vidng that every body shall be taught whatever
he wishes to learn, at the expense of the State.
the article further ordans, "That industrial
schools be established, in whih the young NAV
be Taught the various trades and professions,
thus gradually snperseding the system of APP
premiership" How is this compatible with the
principle of co operative associations
The views OF the chartists on the subject of
taxation acquire some importance from the fact
that they do not seem 10 contemplate any i'm
mediate reduction of the nat onal expenditure,
but rather the contrary. They propose to 90
on paying the interest Of the national debt, hut
reckoning that interest as an instalment of the
capital their object. of course, being not 10
spare themselves but the next generation. In
like manner, the standing armyis TO be main
tained until suitable changes in onr colonies and
at home shall have dispensed with its aid and,
meanwhile, certain reforms in enlistment, period
Of service, soldiers board and lodging, terms of
promotion, and so forth, would be found rather
costly. The programme is as liberal on the
subject of the navy. II proposes also militia
that should give every male over fifteen the op-
portunity of military training. On the whole,
then, II is evident that the chartist budget
would for the next twenty years, be at least as
serious an affair as the present annual statement
so caled-uay, more so, for besides nearly all
the existing expenses the programme pr poses
that the State shall maintain all the poor wher-
ever they please, and that IL shall employ all the
unemployed from the national revenue IL pro-
poses that every citizen shall be offered the
highest education for his children, at schools.
colleges, aad universities maintained by the
State; il proposes the purchase of the whole
soil N these islands by the State I. it proposes a
credit fund to be opened for the assistance of
every association of work people that asks
assistance. Perhaps we would not be far wrong
If We put Mr.. +. UConnor's total expenditure
for 1882 ut hundred millions, instead of half
that sum.