The Sun. — 1839-05-11 (London, England)

THE WORKING CLASSES OF NEWTOWN.  FELLOW TOWNSMEN,—WiII you permit one, who actuated by a very strong feeling for your peace,your safety, and your commerce, and who feels deeply interested in your general welfare, to offer you at this most momentous period the most disinterested advice. I have no claims to your confidence other than that of an honest member of society, anxious for 'the prosperity of our townouuLthemelfaro ef.itainhalgtants, but the time is renaerocismitical !pry, theaggressiva acts of Iriolonoaconimitted in a neiglabouribg town.  You say that you have wrongs that require redress, which I admit ; but you have unhappily been taught that the medium of redress lies only in your being armed and prepared to use them. Abandon, I conjure you, my fellow townsmen, the idea of such a source, which can only lead to ill consequences to yourselves individually, and even if suc2essful (of which there can be no hope), it would end in the worst tyranny of Government. History and experience prove the enormous mischiefs which have ever resulted from tumultuous and sanguinary changes in political and social strife. Of the men who have for months endeavoured to teach you the doctrine of arms I will say nothing. They may, or they may not, be honest. That you believe in their integrity to a certain extent is evident, and that you indulged in the hope of their success by supporting one for months in luxury far superior to that which greets your own table, is equally well known. You have a perfect right to dispose of the proceeds of your industry in any way consistent with your interest, or congenial with your feelings, without effecting thereby any injury to your fellow-citizens, but it is a matter of consideration whether your families have not stronger claims upon you than these men have. Man by nature is dependent upon his fellow-man ; in our social state we are dependent upon each other : the operative and his family are dependent for the food and wages of his industry rendered to his employer. Consider then for amoment if you were all out of work for two weeks, the manufactories shut, wages neither paid nor earned,how could your wives and families subsist ? You may live (but God forbid you should entertain the thought) on the plunder of your wealthier neighbours, who would then be reduced to the same state of misery as yourselves. Subsistence would be cut off—famine would stare us on every side—and countless numbers of us would inevitably perish the victims of the criminal excitement of men who ought to have known better. No pen can describe, no tongue can tell, the results—the tremendous results—that would be realized. No siege, however bloody and desolating—no war however wild and ferocious, has shown a parallel for the misery that would instantly descend upon society. I pray of you, my fellow townsmen, that the idea of arming, training, and parading, be entirely abolished. Let your voices be loud against intimidation, violence, and incitement to arms for the destruction of life and property, and although unorganized bodies may commit murder and outrage, against the disciplined forces of the state—aided as that force will be by the moral power of wise and good men—resistance would be scattered to the winds.  By every power that I can imagine I implore you to obliterate the idea of any proceeding which may injure yourselves, or tarnish the credit and repute of your town.  Trade is greatly injured by this excitement ; and let me remind you, with the best possible feeling, " That resistance to the civil force with arms is treason, and punishable with death." I remain, my fellow townsmen, AN