Mr. Owen To The British N...
The Times, 1824-06-17T00:00:00

On 1slonday night I made a last appeal to the British Legislature on the subject of the appointment of a committee to examine the measures which I have beetn for some time preparing to give rclief to the inhabitants of Ireland. The ofter wasrejected; and my Lord Lauderdalc added, that the proposal ought to be treated with contemiipt. Fortunately for those -who are nowr in poverty, in ignorance, and in misery, and no 1eS3 fortunatelyfor his Lordship and hiscompeors, his Lordship's wishes are not likely to be gratified. I have a high and important duty to perform for my fellow-cree. tures, and I deem no efforts which I can make, no cost which I can support. foo great, in obtaining the object before me in the most le- "itimace and best manrier. Thepresent session of Parliament, now 2bout to txpire, has been occupied by me in various attempts to as. certain whether the Executive Government and the Legislature could be induced to eater fairly and honestly on measuree that would give to the people the advantages which the late inaprovements in science, and the rapid advance in general knowledge, ought to afterd the; , and I purposely carried these applications to theutmtat extent that I thought the Cabinet and Parliament would bear, withoutmy being deemed offensivelv rude to both. I have likewise attended the R i- cardo lectures, delivered by M1r. Ill'Cull-ch, with the view f asacer. taning what practical knowledge could be obtained from the theor ies of the modem political economists, which are known to govern the apinions of many who are considered among the most liberal and enlightened of our Iegislaton. And I have also mnixed freely with individuals, who form part of the greatpublic, to leam wheler the governing rowers, or the mass of the people, were themore advanced in the acquirements requisite for the generd improvement of society. These inquiries and proceedings have ld mc to conclude, that no parties are satisfied with what has been done, and is doing; that a strongconviction existcin the mninds of the members of the legisla- ture ad of thepublic, that, with the enormous powers at the com- ynand of this empire, Ireland ought not to be in the coudition it is, nor the mass of the people in this and in other countries in the ig- norance, poverty, and degradation in which they are; that a very general desire petvades all ranks to adopt some measures for the im- provement of Ireand, and of the working casses generaUy; but that, in consequence of the previous education of the world confining the attention ofs each indintdual to his owsn irmmcliate interest, and to his ownlimited rcle, few minds have yet benformed tocon. prebend the general iiterests of mankind, nnd still tewer to acquire the experience by which individual and general interests caa be united in practice for the benefit of alL tJn this account there is a mental and moral dissatisfaction be- tween the governon and the governed, an universal agitation in the minds- of all, and a general expectation that some great change, xome contest between error and truth, between ignorance aud intelli- gence, between despotismand rational liberty, is before us, sad is fast approaching. These are the impressions which, according to mr idz, at pre- aent pervade the civhlzed warld. Whatis thaernow to be done? What measuresean relievofrom this dilemma? Has not the Legislature virtualiy proclaimed its in- )abilitv to adopt any practical proceedings for an immediate effectial xelief? Havenot Alinisters -eiterated, in almost every debate in both houses of Parliament, during this and the last session, that they ardently desire to relieve the inhabitantx of Ireland from their msfferings, but that the causes of the evils are of such long standing, and so decp.rooted, that they know not how to remove them ? The truth is, that the Legislature is so involved in the errors of the system by which all these sufferings have been engendered and perpetuated, that they cannot of themselves eocceed one gtjn further in advance; and it is-through the public voice alone thxt they on be enabled to move forward in a right direction. The practical measures which can alone relieve Ireland from iLS ignorance, its po. v#rey, its ir~tiund5, and its riiseries, are to be found in a well-di- giestedand ,9lplrehensive plan which shall give perpetual advanta- gcnsemlsetap1 nt to her people, secure them, not a nominal, but a subslanttiaj,useful education, aud which shall supersede her pre- ~nt viplent andl uncharitable religions, by one of real ebarity and ;rebuin1ekndtness. YFant of employment, ;want of cdueation, and want of rcligious freedom, are the yalpable causes of the present state of things. For dvernm=ent anylonger to occupy themselves in useleas attempts to ,discover any other caue of Ireland's degradation and of their own dlsgrace, is a waste of time, and a mockery of the public feelings. All perceive the causes of the evils, but they want sufficient moral courage to express what they know; it is a remedy for these evils 'that must be found and applied, before any substantial relief can be effccted for that country or for society. Blt can that relef be looked for from legislators, who have been trained to spehk, but who are too fettered to act; o, if not too fet- tered, are too ineXperienced to know how to act under the new cir- curnstances in whichl society is now placed ? No. The next ad- Tance for the benefit of mankind must be effected by a union of in- teligent, scientific, and prctical men, who, out of the chaos and lashsngrinterests of existtngsociety, shall cooDly and dispassionately select the invaluableaand inexhaustible materials which thearls and sciences can now so richly supply, and form a new arrangernent of those materials,wl-ich shall be purposely devised to create union throughout society, and to secure to each individual the greatest at- tainable advantages, mental and moral. liIy experience leads me to know that this is the course which must be pused; and in consequence, vith the aid'of several be. nevolentindividuals, If have prepared, as a prelimintry measure, a n3ew domestic arrangement for the working classes, affording them a comfortable residence, surroanded by agrecable external circum- stances, regular prooluctive employment, a good education from in- fancy for theirchildrts, the means of forming an agreeable society, and of enpyin good health, and the natural blessings of life; and enab ing them, by degrees, to gain independence for themselves, and to secure it for their offspring, by their oewn labour. I intended to put the publc Xia possession of these arrangements lXefomc the terninatian ot the present month, either through the me- diuj of the Report of & FlialameaWy Committee, or St' public !peetines to b calUed for the pourpose: but I am undet the neee,ity of' hastIly returning to Scotland to direct my own affairs, and to putsh forwrard,-before the.propee season.escapes, thecnew measures wrhich -are the-.e iln progress, to funsih lo the wforld a prac:ical proof of lwhat man is susceptible wheni justice i5 done to him, by piscine hini amidst thoze 'circumstances which shaUl iniluce rationality, in- eiellgence, and virtue. As soon as thesepractical measures shall be advanced to a given points I well kuow the willing change wlich they cannot fail to produce through.ut the world; but I am grieve4 to see the daily waste of capital, the misapplication of time and of aU the human faculties, and much more, the hourly suferings which are, in the mean tilme, experienced from pecuniary and mental distress, the ne- cessary result of the prevalent popular errors. Urged on,Atherefore, as I am by these considerations, I mean to. take the earliest opportunity of explaining openlv to the -public what' the public may immnediately obtain far itself, witkout injitriousl in- terfering with the interests of individuals or of Governments. I wish the public to judge for itseif of a plan which is *ecommended for their adoption by an experienced practical man,.who can have no one view.to priva e isterest in the recommendation. Amplc noticeshaflbcgivcn to-thepublicof the stens which sbaU be taken for this important purpose. - ROBERT OWEN. AMR OW/EN TO TH: BRITISHA NTION.