New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-04
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
state Of Eurcpe-The Bread QuestiOR-Chris-
tian Socialism-ProfessOr Maurice-SOcial-
Ism In BeIgium-French POIitics-Exercise
Of the Suffrage-Germany.

state OF EurGpe-Ine BFeRo GuesuOH-O hEis-
tian Socialism-Pr0fessOr Maurice-SOclal-
Ism In BeIgium-French POlitics-Exerclse
Of the SufIrage-Germany.
London Correspondence Of The Tribune.
LONDON. Friday. Dec IS, 1850.
Mes-s Greeley + McElra2:
GENTLEMEN must again apologize for not
being so regular in my correspondence as formerly
Ihave been removed from the sphere of the poll
tics Of the surface, if / may so express it, by my
cares in the politics Of the foundation Nothing
will be changed in Europe, and at the same time,
nothing will be stable, so long as the question Of
daily bread in exchange for daily labor shall re-
main unsolved. This solution of the bread ques-
ton cannot be obtained so long as the depression
in the price of bread for any other food shall pro
duce & proportional depression in the rate of
wages, so long as the diminution Of wages shall
cause an increased activity in the enterprises OF
manufacturing industry, and at the same time,
diminution in the means Of consumption On the
other hand the reorgsniz alton Of industry on the
principle of rational equilibrium between supply
and demand cannot be made pYlO'1 it can only
be brought about gradually like the cells of a
honey.comb" to use the fine expression of
Fourier Therefore, as the loglcians say, the most
important thing in European politics relates to
the accomplishment Of the prayer, which Christian
Humanity and the Universal Church have ad-
dressed to the Deity for eighteen centuries, Give
us this day our daily bread" The efforts which
the Christian Socialists of Isn5l~aS are now u1ah-
ing do not say by their writings and their words
alone but also by their practical labors, appear to
me more particularly to demand attention. The
experiment of the London Cooperative Store is
prosperous This establishment is soon 10 be
greatly enlarged. The Society for Promoting
Workngmen's Associations" is now preparing
anew organization with the aggregate of the
small Associations which were first formed. Pro-
fessor Maurice opened a course of lectures last
Friday. The following sketch is from the London
Morning Adretiser;
Last night, Professor Maurice, of Kings Col
lege delivered the first OF series OF lectures In
tended TO be given by the Society for Promoting
Workingmen's Associations, at their Office 10
Charlotte-street. The audience, which had been
called together by private invitation, was prnci-
pal.y composed Of ladies and gentlemen belong
ing to the Weather classes, including several
clergymen. The reverend gentleman commenced
by referring to the extent with which asssocia.
tions of working-men had been mixed up with
the French Revolution Of 1915 and the Preva-
t
organization of society. From the testimony of
persons on whom he could depend, he was con-
WINGED that the ablest books upon the subject had
been written by Frenchmen and it was equally
certain that more trades had formed themselves
into associations in Paris than IN any other city IN
Europe. a list of them, though not complete,
was upon the wall Of the room, and hereafter he
hoped that persons competent to the task would
explain the French systems and the actual con-
dition OF these associations He, however, put
himself forward on this occasion because he knew
nothing Of the French associations, and looked at
the subject purely from al English point OF view.
He was attracted TO the subject by the condition Of
the English wOrkIngman, not by any love for any
learned scheme Of Incorporation. The principle COM
mended itself to the promoters not rs a new one,
but as one Of the oldest in the world lfthey had
learned il anywhere but in the Bible, it was In Eng
hsh history and the English Constitution. Ii they
valued 1t Tor any other cause than that Of carrying
out what seemed TO them the only law of fellow
ship among men, II was as ameans of averting an
English revolution. After adverting 70 the sym
patty shown fer prisoners in the present day the
Professor proceeded 10 argue that the sympathy
would be more eiiectuAl if shown previous 10 the
commission OF crime, and if the workingman was
enabled 10 maintain himself by honest labor, IN
tempted by the evil influences which arose from
low wages and slack work. he described the al
most universally dishonest spirit which pervsded
trading transactions; year by year II had become
stronger. until st length the slop shops gave the
rule 80 trade. The letters ." On Labor and the
Poor, in the Mo,niHe Chronicle, had thrown much
light on the physical and moral results on the con
dition Of the working clssses. How many Of
them, IN buying goods Ia Regent ST. or Oxford st.
ever thought that human hands had been employ
ed In making them mp, and Of how many bitter
tears hsd been shed over them. The slop system
and middle men made a mans own wife ard chill
dren his most dangerous rivals and destroyers Of
the fruits Of his industry sbd II the system was
allowed to grow anti il persisted Of its own rot
tenness, the whole country might perish with IT,
For these and other reasons, the promoters
resolved % begin work on very small scale last
Winter They felt that they coold do next 70
nothing IN the way Of advancing capital bat
might set an example that would Tin succeeded.
be followed IN due time. Associations had been
formed Of sbOemskers. bakers. printers, builders
and needle-women. A Central Board was formed
Of members from these associations. which meets
every Monday, 10 delbersts on the state Of exist
ing associations snd the means Of forming new
ones. The promoters formed themselves iato
council for the purpose Of providing funds, diffus
ing information, and giving direction 20 the
movement They had established conferences Of
the workingmen, which were held once month.
~ winch Az questions respecting associations
were very Freely discussed The lecturer then
Pfo'e 70 examine the objections usually urged