Dr. William King AN!) THK ,Cp-operator i828^i83o I Edited by T. W. MERCER, Hfornia onal ity nn-: CO-OPERATIVE UNWN Liv MO!,VOAKE HOCSI', HANOV«R STRLl.T Dr. WILLIAM KING AND THE CO-OPERATOR 1828-1830 Dk. William King. From a Photoiiraph by his friend, Mons. L. Leuliette, i Frontispiece, Dr. WILLIAM KING AND THE CO-OPERATOR 1828-1830 With Introduction and Xotes by T. W. MERCER MANCHESTER: The Co-operative Union Limitku, Holvoake House. Hanover Street. 1922. "Co-operation is a voluntar}' act, and all the power in the world cannot make it compulsory ; nor is it desir- able that it should depend upon any power but its own." —The Co-operator, 1829. C7S PREFATORY NOTE. \Y/HEN it was agreed that the Fifty-Fourth Annual Co-operative Congress should be held at Brighton in June, 1922, the General Publications Committee of the Co-operative Union decided that the time was opportune to . reprint " The Co-operator," a small co-operative periodical, first published in Brighton by Dr. William King nearly a century ago. In consequence of that decision, the present volume has been prepared. It includes a faithful reprint of the twenty-eight numbers of " The Co-operator " ; a sketch of Dr. King's Ufe and teaching, containing information not previously published ; and a few notes contributed by the present writer. Several letters written by Dr. King to other early co-operators are also here reprinted. In "The Co-operator" both spelling and punctuation have been left as they are in the original edition, but a few obvious printer's errors have been corrected. Hitherto, few students have had an opportunity of reading " The Co-operator," which was undoubtedly the most important of the early magazines devoted to the advocacy of Co-operation. It is believed, therefore, that this volume will be of service to teachers, students, and others interested in the history of Co-operation, and it is hoped that as a result of its publication Dr. King will be restored to his rightful place as a pioneer and father of the co-operative movement in Great Britain, Ji26 1 1 2 For valuable information, now printed for the first time, and the portraits of Dr. and Mrs. King, I am indebted to Major G. Lionel King, of Brighton. I have also to acknowledge the assistance kindly given me by Mr. H. D. Roberts, director of the Public Library, Museums, and Fine Art Galleries, Brighton, and Mr. R. W. Elliston, assistant secretary, Royal Sussex County Hospital, without whose aid I should not have obtained access to original soilrces of information. T. W. MERCER. Holyoake House, Manchester, May, 1922. CONTENTS. The Life and Teaching of Dr. William King ... xi. "The Co-operator." 1 828- 1830 1 Letters of Dr. King on Co-operation 115 Notes 135 Bibliography 143 ILLUSTRATIONS. Portrait of Dr. William King Frontispiece. From a photograph ijj his friend Mons. L. LeulietU. Dr. William King Facing page I From a photograph taken in 1861. Mrs. King Facine page 1 From a photograph taken in 1861. Dr. William King Facing page 1 1 5 From the Bust in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF Dr. WILLIAM KING. THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF Dr. WILLIAM KING. WILLIAM KING, whose right to be regarded as a father of the modem co-operative move- ment is indisputable, was bom at Ipswich, on April 17th, 1786. His father, the Rev. John King, who could trace his descent through a line of sturdy Yorkshiremen, had removed to Ipswich from Richmond, w^here other members of the family then dwelt. At the time of William King's birth his father was Master of the Ipswich Grammar School, a famous institution established at a very early period. The Great Court Book of the local Corpora- tion proves that this school existed prior to 1477, for an order was then issued "that all scholars in the liberties of the borough should be under the government of the master of the Grammar School,"* whose salary was fixed by the Bishop of Norwich. The Rev. John King had several children. One of his sons, John, was the author of an important legal work, recognised as a standard work in the early part of the last century. Another son, Richard, who entered the Navy, was in the celebrated fight betw^een the "Chesapeake" and the "Shannon," and afterwards became an admiral. William King, author of The Co-operator, the subject of the present sketch, although he eventually became a physician, was originally intended for the church, and, accord- *Glyde, Moral j Social, and Religious Condition of Ifswich, page 113. ing to Lady Noel Byron, began life 'by the most painful conflict between filial duty and conscience — a large provision in the church secured for him by his father; but he could not sign.''* While William King was quite a child his father became incumbent of Whittenshame Church, near Ipswich. Alluding to this period of his life in a lecture given before the Brighton Medical Society in 1849, he remarked that : "In early life it was my privilege to lay the foundation of a healthy constitu- tion in one of the rich grazing villages of Suffolk ; there I drank deeply not only of the best streams of family affection, but of the philosophy of truth and nature ; in the quiet meditations of those years, I acquired, under sound parental judgment, those principles which have guided me through life, and which I trust will not desert me at its close. There also 1 became acquainted with those broad facts in nature v/hich I have since found it w^as the business of science to classify and explain. And if I have done any little good in my generation . it is because I have dipped my cup in early life in the pure streams of natural truth ; because I have been an early worshipper in the temple of nature ; and because I have been a partaker of the dioini gloria runs."t I. King's more formal studies, which he commenced at Ipswich Grammar School, were continued at Westminster School, w^here he w^as sent at the age of fifteen. At this famous school his first experiences were the reverse of pleasant, and he was much surprised to discover that he could only obtain a ^ Lady Byron Vindicated, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, page 46c). \ Medical Essays, by W. King, page 180. separate bedroom by paying a servant a sovereign for so great a privilege. Towards the end of his life King started to write an account of his career. Unfortunately, he dis- continued writing after a short time, having dealt only with his life at Ipswich and Westminster. These reminiscences may some daj' be published, if only for the purpose of enabling co-operators to know how King enlarged his knowledge as a student at Westminster School. While there he had many friends among youths who afterwards made a mark in the world. One of his chief associates at this time was Lord Raglan — the youngest son of the Duke of Beaufort — who once acted as military secretary to the Duke of Wellington, and, later, commanded the British Forces in the Crimean War. Leaving Westminster in due course, King went to Oxford. There he stayed only a very short time before removing to the sister university at Cambridge. At Cambridge, he gave special attention to the subjects of political economy, moral philosophy, and modern history. As a student of these subjects he attended lectures given by Dr. Smyth, whose reputa- tion was then almost at its zenith. King often stated that he derived great benefit from Dr. Smyth's lectures, which undoubtedly stimulated his interest in questions of social philosophy and national government. He also paid great attention to mathematics, a subject which he afterwards regarded as "the key to all knowledge."* In 1809 King secured his B.A. degree, being twelfth Wrangler in that year. Three years later he took his Master's degree and became a Fellow of Peterhouse College. Soon after he removed ro London, where he "walked" St. Bartholomew's Hospital and studied medicine, being taught by * Pitman's ''Co-operator,'" March, 1864. Drs. Abernethy, Cooper, Home, and other equally famous lecturers. With Abernethy,* then surgeon of St. Bartholomew's, King conversed frequently on the connection between physiology and medicine, and said later that his teacher often declared that ' ' a bright day was about to dawn upon medicine in connection with physiology"! — a prophecy verified within a very few years. In 1814, he spent the winter at Montpellier, where he attended the lectures on surgery given by M. Delpeche. At a later period he visited Paris, there attending lectures at the hospital of La Charite. While in London, King was for a time private tutor to the children of Mr. George Smith, the well-known banker. J This diligence in study brought due reward. After being licensed by the University on June 11th, 1817, King became fully qualified as M.D. (Cantab) in 1819. In the following year he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and, as such, delivered the Harveian oration twenty-three years later. King always set a high value on academic distinctions, and w^as ever justly proud of his con- nection with Cambridge University. As a writer in the Brighton Gazette remarked at the time of his death, "he was w^hat may be called a thorough- bred ' physician, having obtained his degree (not in the of late common fashion of purchasing it in Scotland but) through a University education ; and *john Abernethy (1764-1831) was surgeon of St. Bartholomew's Hospital from 181 5 to 1827, and lecturer on anatomy at the College of Surgeons from 1814 to 182Q. His teaching deeply influenced English medical practice with regard to the treatment of disorders of the digestive system. t Medical Essays^ by W. King, page xxi. + According to the Dictionary of National Biography, one of King's pupils at this time was the future Baron Overstone, the great authority on finance, who was largely responsible for the Bank Charter Act of 1844, by which the constitution of the Bank of England was determined. He was raised to the peerage in 1850. XV. if he had any pride in this Kfe, it was the pardon- able one, when signing his name, of always append- ing the 'M.D.. Cantab.'"* II. Dr. King remained at St. Bartholomew's Hospital until 1821, when he married Miss Mary Hooker, a daughter of Dr. Hooker, vicar of Rottingdean, a village near Brighton. Dr. Hooker had a well- known school, often referred to by contemporary writers, who found pleasure in mentioning that among his boys were a nephew of Wellington and also one of Napoleon. f Shortly after his marriage Dr. King settled at Brighton, to be near his wife's relatives, and soon began to take a prominent part in local affairs. Early in 1823 he was instrumental in establishing a school for infants, one of the first opened in England. This school was for a time conducted by a brother-in-law of Samuel Wilderspin, the early advocate of infant schools, who has an honourable place in the history of education. This man. although an excellent master, w^as soon dismissed by the school committee, who found that he was a local preacher among the Wesleyan Methodists, and feared that members of the Anglican Church would in consequence be prejudiced and cease to support the school. J * Brighton Gazette, October 26th, 1865. t It is often stated that Wellington and Napoleon them- selves attended Dr. Hooker's School. This statement i> inaccurate ; their ages alone make it wrong. Dr. Hooker was taken over Waterloo by one of his old boys, and on his return made two paintings of the field of battle, which are now at the Pavilion, with the relics of the Brighton Volunteer- Rifle Corps. (Extracts from a letter written by Major G. Lionel King.) XSee\^ . K.'s letter to Henry Pitman, printed on i)agc 12S. Shortly after this school had been established Dr. King became acquainted with EHzabeth Fry, whose activities were then creating widespread interest, not only in the question of prison reform, but in the condition of the people generally. The great philanthropist frequently visited Brighton, usually to address meetings of members of the Society of Friends. Early in 1824, while staying in the town, she was greatly ' ' distressed by the multitude of applicants for relief. "* Dr. Chalmers, the celebrated Scottish divine and economist, had previously con- vinced her that such applicants could be best assisted by provident societies, through which they could be encouraged to make small deposits. A provident society of this type had already been formed in Brighton, w^here "there was no lack of benevolent feeling." Elizabeth Fry considered, however, that this society needed to be supple- mented by a District Visiting Society, and "after some delays, and much discouragement, the Brighton District Society was established." The objects of this new society -were: "The encouragement of industry and frugality among the poor, by visits at their own habitations ; the relief of real distress, whether arising from sickness or other causes ; and the prevention of mendacity and imposture. . . ."* Mrs. Fry's chief helper in the work of forming this society w^as Dr. King, who was already known as "the poor man's doctor. "f She herself told Lady Noel Byron, who became acquainted with him in 1826, that she could not have succeeded without the aid of Dr. King, whose "organising head had formed the first district society in England." "^"Memoir of the Life of Elizabeth Fry, by Two of her Daughters. Vol I., page 452. t Memoirs of Henry Crabh Robinson, by T. Sadler, Vol. III., page 424. In the work of the society Dr. King took a promi- nent part, and it was largely owing to his exertions that it in one year "induced the poor to lay by amongst them about £1,000.' At the time when this society w^as established Elizabeth Fry was working in close association with William Allen, the wealthy Quaker, w^ho was then one of Robert Ow^en's partners at New Lanark. Allen also some- times visited Brighton, and as he attended more than one meeting of the District Society, it is likely that Dr. King met him on several occasions. III. Larger and more important schemes for social improvement soon attracted Dr. King's attention. Early in 1823 efforts were made in various parts of the country to establish mechanics* institutions, the first in England, promoted by Dr. George Birkbeck.* being formed in London in November of that year. After this institution was firmly established similar societies were formed in many towns. Early in 1825 steps were taken to establish a local institution ia Brighton. At a meeting held on June 24th, it was decided to form the Brighton Mechanics' Institution. As then defined, the objects of this institution were : "To afford to the members the means of obtaining instruction and information in Mechanics, and in such other branches of Science as are immediately connected therewith."! and it was announced that these objects w^ere to be attained by the establish- ment of a suitable library, the delivery of lectures, and the formation of a museum. * Dr. George Birkbeck (i 776-1 841) was the true foundor of Mechanics' Institutions. A good account of his work is given in the Life of Dr. Birkbeck, by J. G. Godard, London, 1884. t Rules and Bje-laws, Brighton Mechanics' Institution. 1825. Public Library, Brighton. Dr. King, who was the chief promoter of the institution, was one of its vice-presidents, and also a trustee. Largely because of his zealous propa- ganda, great interest was excited, especially among the working classes. The committee declared, in their first report, that "when the project of such an institution in the town became first the subject of conversation of the hopes and fears expressed by its friends the fear of not meeting with encourage- ment predominated. . . . From the moment an institution was seriously announced, so much interest was excited in the Brighton public, that the hour of striking a decisive blow was evidently arrived. . . . At our first meeting at the Old Ship, the spacious room would scarcely contain the number who were anxious to witness the proceedings. That stain on the character of Brighton, which has been sometimes imputed to her, that she w^as wholly immersed in the pursuit of gain, and indifferent to higher and more generous pursuits, was washed away it is hoped for ever. . . ."* Within a few weeks after its formation a house, 31 West Street, was taken by the institution, which thus secured accommodation for a reading-room, a library (of 400 volumes), a large lecture room, and several class rooms. With this accommodation its owners were well pleased ; the committee proudly boasting : ' ' We resemble more a little university of studies and lectures than a confined and limited provincial institution." At the formal opening of the institution, on August 20th, 1825, addresses were given by Dr. Birkbeck and Dr. King. Dr. Birkbeck, of whose address a "'*■ " A gentleman was represented as arriving at one of the inns for the purpose of meeting a literary friend ; and, in the course of conversation with the waiter, he inquires : "John.? " " Sir." " Pray, John, is this a literary place? " "No, sir," replies John, "it is only a watering place." (Thus a speaker at the formal opening of the Institution.) XIX. local journalist remarked that it was "a speech, which for soundness of principles, for aptness, and propriety of illustration, and general impressiveness and effect we have seldom known equalled,"* argued that "the influence of such institutions would be beneficially experienced in settling those import- ant discussions now in agitation between the employers and the employed." Dr. King was no less eloquent. He, said the reporter, 'detailed the plan and proceedings of the institution at a length which we regret that our limits preclude us from entering into. We are the more pained at this circumstance," he added, "because while on the one hand the copiousness and extent of the speech prevent our giving it as a whole ; on the other, w^e are convinced that to compress or to shorten it wrould be only to render it injustice. Suffice it to state, so complete were its details that there was scarcely any part of the proceedings of the institution, whether regarding its past, its present, or its future circumstances, which were left unnoticed or unexplained. . . ." The institution, so auspiciously started, made an excellent beginning. Two hundred subscriptions were collected, and nearly three hundred members were enrolled in a very short time. During its first winter session lectures were given on Botany and the Origin and Progress of Knowledge, in addition to an inaugural lecture on "The General Principles of Natural Philosophy, and the Construction and Use of the Air Pump," delivered by Dr. King, who also conducted one class in Mathematics and another in Natural Philosophy. But the rather extravagant expectations of those who formed the institution were quickly disappointed. Enthusiasm soon flagged, interest in its work waned, and at the end of 1828 the first Mechanics' Institution formed in Brighton died because it lacked members. * Brighton Herald^ August 17th, 1825. IV. Possibly less interest was taken in the work of the Mechanics' Institution because the thoughts of its most intelligent members were turning towards "mutual co-operation." Mechanics' Institutions w^ere everyw^here the nursing-mothers of co-operative trading associations ; and that in Brighton w^as no exception to the general rule. Early in 1827 the editor of the Co-operative Magazine reported that w^hen he visited Brighton "a very intelligent, and also very industrious and hard-w^orking mechanic observed to us, that the working classes ought to form themselves into associations . . . and send their choice person ... to the community as soon as it commenced,"* and in a letter, dated April 12th, 1827, sent from 31 West Street, Brighton, f W. Bryan announced that " a society is formed in this town, called the Brighton Co-operative Benevolent Fund Association. The objects of this association are : first, to raise by a small weekly contribution a fund for the purpose of enabling proper persons (who have not themselves the means) to join Co-operative Communities, J by giving the whole or part of the capital, as the circumstances of the individual may require ; and, secondly, to spread a knowledge of the co-operative system. "§ The leading spirits in the new association were men who attended classes taught by Dr. King, v/ho certainly encouraged them in their co-operative enterprise. He himself claimed that as a result of his teaching "their minds were no doubt prepared there for this society. "|| Probably he also encouraged * Co-operative Magasinej April, 1827. t The headquarters of the Mechanics' Institution. See above, page xviii. XSee pages 3 and 135. § Co-oferative Magazine, May, 1827. \\See W. K.'s letter to Henry Brougham, M.P., printed on page i ig. his students to take a further step in co-operation and to form the Co-operative Trading Association established in July, 1827, as an adjunct to the parent body. This new association, started by a few mem- bers immediately their united capital amounted to £.5, soon had forty shareholders, in the first week after trading was commenced only half-a-crown was received for goods sold to members, but in a few wrecks the society was transacting "a respectable trade," and in about a year its sales amounted to £38 weekly. William Bryan, secretary to the Co-operative Benevolent Fund Association, clearly realised the economic advantage of collective purchasing. In a letter published in the Co-operative Magazine * he pointed out "that if fifty or even thirty heads of families of these classes, w^ho receive for their labour on an average £50 per annum each, were to co-operate in spending their money, they might on the lowest calculation by purchasing their articles in large quantities, save two shillings in the pound, which would be, if fifty families joined, £260 per annum." Bryan was sufficiently optimistic to believe that "if each person still continued to pay the retail price for the article, that sum. would in less than five years enable the persons to form a community of co-operation and community of property," notwith- standing that " this plan would not subject the parties to any privation in securing sufficient capital." The chief merit of the new plan, in his opinion, was that it enabled working-class co-operators to act indepen- dently of well-disposed capitalists, such as Robert Owen, and to understand that "whenever the labouring classes come to the resolve that ' we shall do for ourselves,' the thing is done, however slowly, "t * Co-operative Mngasine, May, 1827. i See Note VI.— .A^mount of C"apital Required, papo 136. Encouraged by these hopes and promises many persons hastened to join the association, beUeving it "not unhkely " that a community would "be formed of its members in the course of a year or two."* Among those who joined were agricultural labourers, house-carpenters, bricklayers, painters, cabinetmakers, turners, printers, gardeners, dress- makers, bakers, tailors, tinmen, coppersmiths, shoe- makers, bookbinders, and grocers, in short, workers who by their united labour ' ' could perform all the various trades required in a community, with the exception of fabricating linen, worsted, &c." The hopes of the members of the association were shared by Dr. King, who respected their ambitions, and praised their efforts. Recognising that ignorance was the chief obstacle in their way, he, on May 1st, 1828, commenced to issue The Co-operator, a small monthly magazine, in the pages of which he endeavoured to make the principles of co-operation "intelligible" to the working classes. It was quite time that someone made such an attempt. Those w^ho had written on the subject prior to the publica- tion of The Co-operator had somehow so contrived to hide the principles of voluntary association in metaphysical fogs and foolish speculations that plain men could hardly understand what was meant by "mutual co-operation, united labour, and equality of enjoyments." Owen, Thompson, Minter Morgan, and the members of the London Co-operative Society were inspired by a genuine desire to help the work- ing classes ; but very few manual workers were at first able to understand how their fine philosophical principles could be reduced to daily practice. Dr. King, however, in the very first number of his magazine, addressed the workers in language that all could understand. He revealed the causes from * Co-operative Magazine, September, 1827. which their miseries arose ; showed how the workers could improve their conditions by working together ; demonstrated how even the poorest could amass capital by co-operative shopkeeping ; and foretold how voluntary co-operation, practised at first ;n connection with simple, everyday actions, such as buying and consuming, would lead to ownership and associated industry, and eventually carry the workers forward to a new society, in which there would be "a perpetual progress" of mankind "towards an endless perfection of character and happiness." V. Nor was Dr. King content merely to instruct the poor in the principles of co-operation ; he also advised them how to conduct their business and manage their affairs in a businesslike way, emphasising the importance of co-operative educa- tion for members and their children, good manage- ment, cash trading, accurate book-keeping, publicity, and democratic administration ; at the same time showing the responsibility resting upon each to promote the welfare of all. Moreover, realising how often the funds of co-operative societies were jeopardised in the absence of legal protection, he urged Henry Brougham, M.P., then the foremost champion of popular rights, to consider the advisa- bility of promoting legislation favourable to the growth of co-operative associations.* Aided thus by Dr. King, and stimulated to greater exertions by his teaching and encouragement, the local co-operators redoubled their exertions. The members of the original Brighton Society soon leased a plot of land, on which some of their number were employed, and upon which others hoped eventually * See W. K.'s letter to Henry Brougham, M.P., printed on page i iq. to engage in co-operative industry. As Jonathan Wood, the society's second storekeeper, told Holy- oake in 1872, "they did wonders enough to prove what might have been done had the people been honest enough to do it."* Other societies w^ere also established in Brighton and the surrounding neighbourhood as men studied The Co-operator and better understood the plan of action proposed by its author. Within a few months four societies had been established in Brighton, two in the adjoining town of Worthing, and others at Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, and Greenwich in Kent, in addition to many formed in different parts of England. In every place where men read The Co-operator and talked of the success of the Brighton Society, attempts 'were made to establish societies on the plan recommended by Dr. King. The Birmingham Society, formed in !828, was started by William Pare, who corresponded regularly with Dr. King and did much to circulate copies of The Co-operator in the Midlands and North of England. One such copy, which found its way to Halifax, was the cause of the formation of a society in that townf ; another led to the formation of a society at Chester. When in August, 1830, Dr. King decided not to publish any more numbers of his paper, he was able to state that three hundred societies had been started as a direct result of his teaching. By that time he was acknowledged as a leader by co-operators in all parts of England. "To the benevolent author of The Co-operator/' said the editor of the Co-operative Magazine, "the working classes are under lasting obligation, as from his pen they have received much "^History of Co-operation (igo6), by G. J. Holyoake, Vol. II., page 481. ^History of Co-operation (iqo6), by G. J. Holyoake, Vol. II., page 402. XXV. valuable instruction ; indeed, his publication has become a sort of text-book to co-operators."* Another writer remarked that, "Next in importance to the great work of planting the first societies, we may rank the intellectual labour to promulgate the true principles, with a knowledge of the practice, of co-operation. V/e avail ourselves eagerly of this opportunity to record our grateful testimony to the pre-eminence of the Brighton Co-operator in this respect. . . . The immense majority of the Co- operative Trading Associations formed since 1828 . . . have been nourished on the sound doctrine of The Co-operator."^ VI. Dr. King decided to cease publishing The Co- operator for several reasons. Although his teaching had created a v/orkers' co-operative movement, he had not succeeded in pleasing every co-operator. William Lovett, who afterwards became prominent as a Chartist leader, complained that he had " in a measure, apologised for the competitive system, "t w^hile the insertion in The Co-operator of a letter written by " a gentleman . . . holding a high and important office in the State, "§ who advised the workers to bespeak "the goodwill and countenance of some patron," caused the Co-operative Magazine to sound "the tocsin of alarm" and the British Association for Promoting Co-operative Knowledge to declare that "these dangerous propositions must be blotted out" from the pages of his publication. Robert Owen's injudicious attacks on existing * Co-opertitive Magazine^ March, 1S30. \ Co-operative Magaz!7iej February, 1830. tSee page 78, also Note XVII., page 130. % See page 85, also Note XIX., page 140. religious organisations were at the same time causing the clergy and ministers of all denominations to preach against co-operation, and, as a consequence. Dr. King was openly accused of infidelity and sedition. The Rev. W. L. Pope, of Tunbridge Wells, asserted that his motives were "wicked, that his principles were "horrid," and that he him- self was " an infidel."* Other critics were almost equally abusive. Attacks of this character, although wholly unjusti- fiable, were not only an annoyance to Dr. King, they v>^ere very injurious to his prospects as a physician. He had a growing family to support, and his advocacy of co-operation had already cost him much. By that time, too, the original Brighton Society w^as breaking upf and other local societies had disappeared. Early in 1830, William Bryan, first secretary of the Co-operative Benevolent Association, left Brighton suddenly for some unexplained reason, and was next heard of in New York, while a number of its members, preferring private enterprise to com- munal ownership, "departed with their share of the capital and . . . built themselves a fishing-boat at a cost of £140, out of which venture they realised a w^eekly profit of £4. "J The society had travelled far since it was first established and directed by Dr. King's pupils, and it is likely that his interest in its affairs was in consequence less keen than formerly. Moreover, he had already accomplished the task which he essayed when he published the first of his *A Letter to the Rev. W. L. Pope, Tunbridge Wells (i82q). See also Note XX., page 141. t [The Brighton Society] "has entirely failed, owing to its violation of some of the fundamental principles of co-operation." Thus Lady Noel Byron, in a letter written to Thomas Hirst, on October 13th, 1832. This letter was first printed in the Co-oferative News, January Qth, 1802. ZThe Co-o-perative Movement (i8qq), by Beatrice Potter (Mrs. Sidney Webb), page 45. monthly numbers. As he said in the last Co-operator published: "The object for which they were com- menced has been attained. The principles of Co-operation have been disseminated among the working classes, and made intelligible to them. The certainty of success, if those principles be acted upon, has been, we believe we may say. demon- strated, and three hundred societies have started up to put those principles to the test." Active co-operators, almost all of whom were his own disciples, regi-etted his decision, and urged Dr. King to publisli a new edition of The Co-operator. Mr. Thomas Hirst, of Huddersfield, who presided over the Fourth Co-operative Congress held at Liver- pool in 1832, said "it would be a lasting disgrace to co-operators to suffer that work to sink into oblivion," for "it had converted hundreds, if not thousands, to the cause,"* and the Congress by resolution requested its "philanthropic and talented author ' to republish the v/ork. This he was un- willing to do ; hence The Co-operator is now reprinted for the first time. A little later, in 1833, Lady Noel Byron, whose friend and adviser he had by that time become, proposed that he should visit Huddersfield to aid co-operation there, but "his professional objects" prevented him from going, and he had no further active connection with the early co-operative movement. VII. Other interests were already engaging his attention. Several years before he had begun to " obsei-ve and study" the medical value of the artificial mineral waters then being prepared at Brighton, becoming convinced as a result of his inquiries that Dr. Strove. * Report of the Fourth Co-oferative Con caress , Liverfool , 1832, page zz. of Dresden, had "introduced among us one of the greatest blessings which this country has known in the present day. "* He soon became a firm beHever in the new method of treating certain diseases, finding ere long that ' ' I had a new remedy in my hands, with which I could relieve patients whom 1 was formerly obliged to dismiss as incurable." As a consequence his services were much in demand by the "class of amateur patients," and from that time onward he had "a class of cases to attend whom, even in the way of business, the ordinary busy practitioner is apt to consider a * bore ' — those not unfrequent sufferers know^n as ' confirmed invalids, 'hopeless incurables,' &c."t Still keenly interested in education, he joined the Central Society of Education, J a pioneer body led by Lord Brougham and Thomas Wyse, M.P., and contributed a paper to its second publication in which he urged that instruction in hygiene and physiology should be given in the schools. A few years later, in 1847, he was instrumental in forming the Brighton Medical Society. Of this body, which in time had ninety members, he was the first presi- dent, and at its meetings delivered many lectures on medical subjects. In these lectures, afterwards ■^' Observations on the Artificial Mineral Waters of Dr. Strove, of Dresden (1826), by W. King, page 27. + Brighton Gazette ^ October 26th, 1865. t " The Central Society of Education was formed under the presidency of Lord Denman, the Chief Justice of the King"? Bench, with Sir Thomas Wyse, M.P., another active labourer in the good cause, for its chairman. Its objects were to collect, classify, and diffuse information concerning the education of all classes, in every department, and . . . to publish articles on the systems already established, either in England or abroad, to discuss the value of various branches and means of acquiring knowledge. . Volumes of interesting essays were published from time to time." — George Birkbeck : The Pioneer of Popular Educa- tion (1884), ^y J- f^- Godard, page 143. published in a volume entitled Medical Essays, Dr. King mixed homely wit and proverbial wisdom with scientific instruction, and delighted to interlard his teaching with quotations drawn from the most diverse sources.* In 1842, Dr. King was appointed consulting physician to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, a post which he filled to the satisfaction of. all con- nected with that institution, until 1861, when he resigned owing to his advancing years. While at the hospital he displayed an almost paternal interest in the welfare df the younger medical students, never hesitating to admonish in oracular fashion any who strayed from the narrow paths of personal virtue and professional decorum. During these years, too, Dr. King was for a short time one of the Commissioners — appointed under an Act of Parliament, passed in 1826, which made pro- vision for the " better regulating, paving, and managing the town and the poor thereof" — who administered the affairs of Brighton previous to its incorporation in 1854. Perhaps the most hotly debated question with which he had to deal as a member of the local governing body was the purchase of the Royal Pavilion. To the purchase of this building — offered to the town by the Com- missioners of Woods and Forests for the sum of £53,000 — there was strong opposition. Dr. King ardently supported the purchase, and took a prominent part in promoting the Bill enabling the Commissioners to raise the necessary money. As might be expected, he also keenly interested himself * For example, in an essay on A/ilk- aud the Natural History of the Cow, read in 184Q, he quoted Homer, Herodotus, Hippocrates, Aristotle, Kant, Pliny, Cowper, Horace, Byron, Wordsworth, and many other authors, both sacred and profane, in a few pages. XXX. in all questions relating to public health and sanitation.* VIII. Towards the close of his life Dr. King was again in touch with prominent workers in the co-operative movement, although for a short time only. During the thirty years that had elapsed since the last number of The Co-operator appeared great changes had taken place, both in the form of co-operative societies and in the aims of co-operators. Almost all of the three hundred societies at work in August, 1830, had disappeared, the great majority leaving scarcely any trace of their transitory existence. Owenite Socialism, which once made a great noise in the world, had come to an ignoble end in 1843 with the total collapse of the Queenwood com- munity ; almost all of the earlier leaders were either dead or in retirement ; the remaining co-operators were no longer eager to depart from the "old immoral world " or to taste the inexhaustible delights of "mutual co-operation" in a small community. The seat of authority in the co-operative movement had been removed from Brighton to Rochdale, where men of sturdy character had re-discovered the principles of co-operation and adapted Dr. King's teaching to the needs of a new time. Incorporating *0n January igth, 1850, as Dr. King was going to the hospital, he met a prominent citizen of Brighton, who " made some rude observations about the drainage of the town, wishing that those who dabbled between cesspools were obliged to live in one." To these remarks Dr. King made no reply, but went home and wrote the offender a letter, in which he stated that, "if each person is not to enjoy his own opinion there's an end to discussion. Wc must proceed to elect a despotic king of Brighton, and let all others hold their tongue, and not even think ! . . . Nor do I think it right, just, tolerable, or supportable, that the whole town should be forced to make good the grave defects of individual houses and proprietors. Those who have built bad houses should be compelled to make them good." (MS. Book in Brighton Public Library.) in their system the essential parts of the Brighton form of organisation, they had succeeded in making consumers' co-operation popular by rewarding con- sumers in proportion to their loyalty as purchasers and multipliable by making membership in their society open to all who wished to join it.* In less than twenty years after the Rochdale Pioneers opened their first store nearly three hundred and fifty societies were established. f The activities of these societies were recorded in a new Co-operaf or, which Henry Pitman commenced to publish in June, 1860. He apparently knew very little of the earlier movement, and was unaware that Dr. King had published a similar publication thirty years previously. Few copies of that old Co-operator had been saved from the wreck of the first societies, but in December, 1862, Mr. Matthew Davenport Hill gave Pitman eight numbers of Dr. King's journal. J Fourteen months later Mr. Hill reported that he had communicated with Dr. King, who had lent him a complete set of The Co-operator, and he advised Pitman to introduce his new journal to the editor of the old one. Acting upon this advice, Henry Pitman wrote to Dr. King, from whom he received several interesting *The aims of Rochdale Pioneers were hardly distinguish- able from those of their predecessors, the methods which they adopted were ditl'erent. Whereas the early co-opera- tors restricted membership in their societies to a small number of persons who were agreed in principle, the Rochdale Pioneers invited all to join their society. They also divided periodically almost the whole of the money saved by joint purchasing among members who traded at their store, whereas the first co-operative advocates held that all sum? so saved should be added to the collectively- owned indivisible capital of the society. The Rochdale system eliminated profit, but perpetuated interest— albeit at a fixed and moderate rate. Dr. King and his disciple.- proposed to abolish both. \ Thirty-three Years of Co-operation in Rochdale (1882) by G. J. Holyoake, page vi. Pitman's Co-oferator , February 1864. letters during the next eighteen months.* These prove that Dr. King was still a co-operative advocate who firmly believed in "the good time coming." He rejoiced because the co-operative movement was spreading so rapidly, and while he was not enamoured by the Rochdale system he recognised that dividends would attract many whom argument could never reach. The really satisfactory thing, in his opinion, was that the co-operative system, having "taken firm root" and been found practicable, had become one of the institutions of the country. Unfortunately, this friendship between King and Pitman only continued long enough to reveal the true relation of the earlier and later movements. Dr. King died at his residence in Brighton on Thursday, October 1 9th, 1865, and his body was interred in the burial ground attached to Hove Parish Church on the following Wednesday — long before the new genera- tion of co-operators knew how deeply they were indebted to the teaching and pioneer work of "The Patriarch of Co-operation." IX. A man of fine presence. Dr. King was one whose striking personality and intellectual gifts fitted him to take the lead in any enterprise vsath which he was connected. " In stature, features, expression of countenance, and intellectual ability, he exceeded the average of men," less "favoured by nature. "f A remarkable conversationalist, he was ever ready to discuss almost everything "in the heavens above, or the earth below, or the waters beneath," adding to the discussion on any subject much curious information collected from out-of-the-way sources. * See pages 127-132. ■\ Brighton Gazette ^ October 26th, 1865. Although he refused to take Holy Orders* he was deeply interested in theology, and philosophy, and metaphysics. Crabb Robinson, who first met him in February, 1851, described him as "a sort of philosophical enthusiast. " "Dr. King," he wrote, " is a free-thinker in the best sense of the word, but a conformist. He is a constant attendant and a great admirer of Robertson,! and calls himself a church- man ; yet to-day he spoke of the English clergy as men who had five millions per annum given them to misrepresent Christianity. "J Lady Noel Byron, whose friend and adviser Dr. King was for nearly thirty years, found in him ' at once the curious combination of the Christian and the cynic — of reverence for MAN and contempt for MEN. . . . The example of Christ, imperfectly as it may be understood by him, has been ever before his eyes ; he woke to the thought of following it, and he went to rest consoled or rebuked by it."§ * See above page xii. + " Dr. K was expressing surprise at the thoughtful- ness and freshness of last Sunday's sermon . . . and telling me of the slow and silent results of my teaching in revolutionising long habits of thought, life, &c. I remarked, that what suri)rised me most was, that I had been left so long unmolested, in spite of great grumbling, dissatisfaction, and almost personal hatred. He said : ' 1 can tell you the reason. You preach positively instead of negatively ; you state truths which they cannot deny ; they can only talk of tendencies, consequences, &c. ; they can only say it is dangerous, they dare not say it is false; if you were once to preach defensively or controversially it would be all over with you, and it would do your heart and mind harm besides ; but every one sees that you have a message and a truth to establish : you set up your truth, and they are dismayed to find, if that be true, their view is knocked down; but you did not knock it down.' These were not his words, but the substance of what he said, ami I think, on the whole, that it is not untrue." — Life and Letters of the Rev. F. W. Robertson (1865), by Stopford A. Brooke. Vol. I., page 302. + Memoirs of Henry Crahh Robinson, by T. Sadler. Vol. III., page 303- § Memoirs of Henry Crabb Robijison, by T. Sadler. Vol. III., page 423. A philanthropist in the true meaning of that much- abused word, Dr. King never established an extensive practice among the rich, although he numbered among his friends many people prominent in his day. He aspired to be "the poor man's doctor;" his consulting room was always open to the poor ; and his services as a physician were given most willingly to those who could offer him no remuneration.* Yet, since no one perceived more clearly than he did that ' ' charity creates a multitude of sins,"t his chief desire was to help the poor to help each other to master "pauperism, misery, and crime" by forming co-operative associations. X. For many years after his death British co-operators seemed to have entirely forgotten Dr. King ; and authors of works on Co-operation, believing that the co-operative movement sprang from the loins of Robert Owen, traced its history from his communities to Rochdale, and taught that the Rochdale Pioneers derived their knowledge and inspiration directly from Owen's teaching. Even when reference was made to the first Co-operative Trading Fund Associa- * " The editor happened to know an aged lady at Brighton, who for many years was bedridden, and whose declining life was cheered by the unfailing Sunday after- noon visits of Dr. King. His long friendly talks were looked forward to as the event of the week." — Memoirs of Henry Crabb Robinson, by T. Sadler. Vol. III., page 424. + " This passed in 1848 between him and Robertson. Robertson said to me, ' I want to know something about ragged schools.' I replied, ' You had better ask Dr. King ; he knows more about them.' ' I ? ' said Dr. King. ' I take care to know nothing of ragged schools, lest they should make vie ragged.' Robertson did not see through it. Perhaps I had been taught to understand such suicidal speeches by mv cousin. Lord Melbourne." — Thus Lady Noel Byron to Crabb Rohxnson.— Memoirs of Henry Crabb Robinson, by T. Sadler. Vol. III., page 423. tion Dr. King's name was mentioned only to be dismissed in a line, it now appears that he exerted a deep and abiding influence on co-operative thought and policy in Great Britain. It is at least arguable that the co-operative movement would have developed along different lines if men who formed the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers* Society in 1844 had not read The Co-operator and profited by the teaching of Dr. King. The men who founded the famous co-operative provision store in Toad Lane were familiar with the history of co-operation in Brighton. James Smithies — almost the first co-operator to look forward to v\rholesale trading and shipowning — at one time possessed a bound volume of The Co-operator, afterwards placed in the Pioneers' Library, which was read by Samuel Ashworth (their first shopman) and others of the Pioneers. Doubtless many tributaries contributed to swell the main stream of consumers' co-operation, but that which had its rise in Brighton was not least among them. Co-operators in other countries, viewing the co- operative movement in Great Britain from a greater distance, and seeing it in different perspective, see clearly how great a contribution Dr. King made to the theory and practice of consumers' co-opera- tion. Sixty years ago, Victor Huber,* the great German co-operator, remarked that "as regards acute perception and clearness of thought . . . and also complete mastery of the situation, the Brighton Co-operator is one of the most remarkable produc- * Victor Aime Huber, "the father of Co-operation in Germany." visited England several times between 1824 and 1852. In 1854 he made a special inquiry into the history and work of the co-operative movement in Great Britain, and on his return to Germany, in 1855, published a rather large work embodying the results of his inquiries. This work contains much valuable information not other- wise obtainable. XXXVl. tions in British literature." Dr. Hans Miiller,* who contributed a summary of The Co-operator's teaching to the second Year BooJ^ of International Co-opera- tion, described Dr. King as "a very important co-operative theorist, a thinker, who even in our time and with regard to our contemporary movement has much to say." More recent writers, especially in America, bear similar testimony. Mr. Albert Sonnichsen calls Dr. King the "first prophet" of modern co-operation, whose "vision penetrated clearly into the distant future;"! Mr. John Graham Brooks refers to him as ' ' one of the intellectual pioneers of English co-operation [who] avoided most of the mistakes about competition into which later writers fell ;"J and eulogistic accounts of him are included in several co-operative text-books published in Germany, Finland, Russia, and other European countries. § British co-operators also, who have hitherto known little of Dr. King, and who have in consequence failed to give him his rightful place in the history of co-operation, will in future regard him differently. They will see in him an original man, a revolutionary *Dr. Hans Miiller, born at Rostock in 1867, was appointed secretary of the Swiss Co-operative Union in 1896, and of the International Co-operative Alliance in igoS, continuing to hold the latter office until 1Q14. In iqoo he visited Great Britain for the purpose of studying British co-operative institutions. The author of the standard history of co-operation in Switzerland, he has also published many books and pamphlets on the economic theory of co-operation. In 1Q05 he delivered the Inaugural Address at the Paisley Congress, being the first foreign co-operator to enjoy that distinction. ■\ Consumers' Co-oferation (igig), by Albert Sonnichsen, pages 15-21. X Labor's Challenge to the Social Order (1920), by J. G. Brooks, page ago. § As the present volume is being prepared the post brings the first number of a new Polish co-operative paper, which contains an article on ^' Doktor Wiljam King." thinker, a Christian Socialist who anticipated the teaching of Maurice and his school. And when, as time passes, and the history of the co-operative movement lengthens, the greater makers of Co-opera- tive Democracy begin to stand out like mountain peaks against a background of forgotten Time, it will appear that William King was perhaps the chief of these. T. W. MERCER. f NOTE. Dr. WILLIAM KING'S WRITINGS. The writings of Dr. King, who was an energetic pamphleteer, include the following works : — " A Letter on the subject of Mechanics* Institutions '* (extracted from the Brighton Herald). Brighton, 1825. " Observations on the Artificial Mineral Waters of Dr. Strove, of Dresden, prepared at Brighton ; with Cases." Brighton, 1826. The Co-operator. Brighton, 1828-30. " The Institutions of De Fellenberg." London, 1842. " Medical Essays read before the Brighton and Sussex Medico" Chirurgical Society." Brighton, 1850. " Cemeteries : Two Lectures delivered before the Members of the Brighton Medico-Chirurgical Society." Brighton, 1853. "Thoughts and Suggestions on the Teaching of Christ." (Post- humous). London, 1872.* * This work was published in 1872. after its author's death, at the request of Lady Byron. " who left him, in her will, a sum of money, hoping, as she said, that it might be in part dedicated to the promulgation of those ideas which had given her so much pleasure and consolation." This volume was dedicated to Dr. King's widow, "who was (to use his own words) the greatest blessing that God ever bestowed upon a man. PORTRAITS OF Dr. KING. The following is a list of portraits of Dr. King at present in existence : — Painting by , in possession of Gratwicke Boxall ; this has been photographed and engraved small. Large Chalk Drawing, now in the possession of Major G. Lionel King. Picture by Paul Mulready, in hands of C. Stewart-King. Picture by Masquerier, now in the possession of Major G. Lionel King. Photo by L. Lieuliette, reproduced as frontispiece to this volume. Photo by Merrick, Brighton, reproduced and included in this volume. Bust at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. THE CO-OPERATOR. Dk. King. From a Plioto^iraph, i:nh,-rfs. r.niilil.i r^lKs. King. I-'ioiii a Fhotoj^raph taken in lb6I. THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 1. MAY 1, 1828. Id. A Co-operative Society, like all other Societies, such as benefit Clubs, Trade Societies, Savings' Banks, is for the purpose of avoiding some evils, which men are exposed to when they act singly, and of obtaining some advantages which they must otherwise be deprived of. The evils which co-operation is intended to combat, are some of the greatest to which men are liable, viz. the great and increasing difficulties of providing for our families, and the proportionate danger of our falling into pauperism and crime. Let us consider these more at length. The rate of wages has been gradually diminishing for some hundred years, so that now it is not above one-third of what it used to be — but this is not all, for the same causes continuing to act, the wages must go on diminishing till a workman will not be able to maintain a family; and by the same rule, he will at last not be able to maintain himself. This conclusion it is frightful to think of, but whether we think of it or not, it will march on in its own silent way, till it unexpectedly overwhelms us like a flood. But are we certain that this is true? — are we really approaching any thing like starvation, in spite of any labor and industry we may exert? I am afraid that this is certainly true; and I will give you other reasons for thinking so. PAUPERISM. Why do people become paupers? — because they must either go to the parish, or starve. And this necessity has operated so widely, that the independent day laborer has almost ceased to exist. The country laborer who can, in many respects, live cheaper than we can in a town ; who can have his garden, and raise his own potatoes, &c. can now very seldom live without the parish aid : and it is a common rule to make an allowance for each child, above a certain number. The same situation has begun to besot the mechanic. He is frequently obliged to go without work a day or two in the week, or to have his wages lowered. If this goes on, he must also come to the parish. ( 2) But parish relief does not cure the evil — for uiany have too much principle or pride to apply; and many are deterred, sometimes by living at a distance, and sometimes by the opposition and frowns they meet with : so that there are many families after all, who, though they do not starve, yet live constantly upon short allowance, and many days do not put victuals into their mouths. But farther — it might seem very strange to talk of pauperism and starvation at this rate, if it were for the first time; but I am only repeating what has been said by every body and every newspaper. We know that not long ago, hundreds and thousands of mechanics in the manufacturing counties, would have died of starvation, if the hand of charity had not helped them, and that many did, never- theless, die of fevers and diseases, brought on by famine : and we all know by the newspapers, that no subject is more hackneyed in parliament, than the state of the poor, and none has engaged the attention of government more anxiously : and it appears, by the Report of the Committee of the House of Commons, lately published, that there are large classes of people in Scotland, whose wages just enable them to exist, and no m^re. CRIME. I will now pass on to the great and serious evil connected with low wages and pauperism, which is also as plainly acknowledged as the other, which is the increase of crime. When men cannot live upon their own wages, they will look to other means, and necessity will drive them upon crimes they would never, otherwise, have thought of. The great increase in crime, of late years, is men- tioned by the Judges with the deepest regret. It is said to be three time greater than it was twenty years ago, in proportion to the population. It is not so much for great crimes, like murder and forgery, but for others, connected with low wages and difficulty of living, that men are now brought to justice. What one man will do from necessity, another will — and all will be gradually brought, to make up by dishonesty and crime, for the defect of their wages. If these things are not enough to frighten us, I don't know what is — PAUPERISM and crime a,re the greatest evils in existence. But in fact they do frighten us, and alarm every body who thinks; and they make many begin to think who never thought before. But you will say, why state these things so strongly? — why aggravate evils which are bad enough of themselves? Our situation is hard, but it cannot be helped; and what can't be cured must be endured. We are now come to the very point at issue; the pith of the question. These evils may be cured; and the remedy is in our own hands. The remedy is Co-operation, and I shall now explain its principles and advantages. Co-operation means, literally, " working together." Union is strength in all cases, and without exception. Many hands make short work. What one man cannot do, two may. What is impossible for a few, is easy for many. But before many can work, they must join hand in hand; they must know their object, and feel a common interest and a common tie. At present we work one against another, — when one of us gets work, another loses it; and we seem natural enemies to each other. The plain reason of this is, because we work for others, not for ourselves. Let us therefore begin to work for ourselves, and not entirely for others. Again — at present, in working for others, we get for ourselves only a small part, some say, one-eighth, some, one-fourth of the produce of our work. If, in any way, we could work for ourselves, we should get the whole. How is this to be done? As we have no capital, we are obliged to find a master to give us employment, and we must work for common wages. ( 3 ) This is ti'ue — it is CAPITAL we want : and now let us consider how this capital is to be raised. We shall find that it is by no means an impossibility. Union and saving will accumulate it. Many of us belong to Friendly Societies, which have accumulated a large capital, by small weekly deposits; many of us have saved sums of money in the Savings' Banks; the thing, therefore, is very possible, for it has already been done in one way, and may there- fore bo done in another. We must form ourselves into a Society for this especial purpose ; we must form a fund by weekly deposits ; as soon as it is large enough, we must laj- it out in various commodities, which we must place in a common store, from which all members must purchase their common necessaries, and the profit will form a common capital to bo again laid out in the commodities most wanted. Thus we shall have two sources of accumulation — the weekly subscription, and the profit on articles sold. Suppose 200 persons thus unite, and subscribe each, a shilling a week, and by purchasing at their own store, produce a profit of £20. a week, they will accumulate at the rate of £30. a week, or £1560. a year. This capital, by being judiciously turned over, will accumulate even faster than at the rate here mentioned, and may be employed in any. way the Society may think most advisable. The Society will be able now to find work for some of its own members, the whole produce of whose lahoi- will lie common property, instead of that small part of which we spoke. As the capital accumulates still farther, it will employ all the members, and then the advantages will be considerable indeed. Every member of the society will work, there will be no idlers. All the property will be common property, there will be no Pauperism or Crime. When any of the members are ill, they will live and have medical attendance at the common expense. When the capital has accumulated sufficiently, the Society may purchase land, live upon it, cultivate it Ihomselves, and produce any manufactures they please, and so provide for all their wants of food, clothing, and houses. The Society will then be called a Community. When the members are too old to work, they will still live com- fortably among their friends, and end their days in peace and plenty, instead of a workhouse. When a man dies, the Community will receive his widow and children into their bosom; she will not know the pangs of desertion, nor be obliged to send her children to the parish. The children will be fed, clothed and educated at the common expense, and when grown up may become iiioiiibers of the Com- munity, or go into the world properly prepared to earn their own li\nng. But if the members choose to remain in a town, instead of going into a community, they may derive all the advantages from the Society, which I have stated. We must go to a shop every day to buy food and necessaries — why then should we not go to our own shop? We viu.tt send our children to school — why should we not have a school of our own, where we could bring up our children to useful trades, and make them good workmen and sober lads? We might also bring up our girls to learn all the useful work of women, and such manufactures as might be beneficial to the Society. If wo continue to go on as we do at present, every year makes our situation more distressing, and brings us and our children nearer to Pauperism and Crime. If we unite, as I have shewn we may do, either in a Society or a Community, in a few years we shall have capital, comfort and independence. If the evils of our present state are so grievous, and the advan- tages of Co-operation promise to be so great, you may ask, why ( 4 ) has this not been seen before? I answer in one word, Ignorance. We are born ignorant— brought up ignorant— we live and die IGNORANT. We are like men groping in thick darkness. We might walk over a precipice as easily as not. W^e are totally blind. Having ears we hear not : having eyes we see not. The first step, therefore towards Co-operation, and the first and last step to make it successful, is to remove this ignorance by every means in our power. We must take this thick veil from our eyes, and behold, learn and study, the glorious creation of God. The knowledge of this creation is abundantly scattered about us — we have only to pick it up. Ignorance, Pauperism and Crime, are three inseparable companions. Boforo I conclude, I must add a few words respecting the moral and religious principles of such a Community. Little, however, need be said, because it is self-evident that the fundamental basis of such a Society, is to "love your neighbour as yourself." This is the great social Commandment of our Saviour, and it is equally the great main spring of the actions of such a Community. No man but a real christian is fit for such a Community. In common life, it is impossible to act upon this principle. We must love ourselves first — our neighbour second. But in a Community our own interest is much better secured in that of the Community, than we could possibly secure to ourselves; therefore interest and duty would go hand in hand. Let us now take a short view of the whole question. THINGS AS THEY ARE. THINGS AS THEY MAY BE. Ignorance, Useful Knoirledge, Pauperism, Moral and Religious Principles, Crime, Independence, Envy, Provision for Sickness, Old Age, Hatred, TVidovrs, Orphans. Malice, Common Lahoitr, All Vncharitahle.ness. Common Property. Societies upon this principle, riz. that of (tcciimnlating a common Capital, and investing it in Trade, and so making ten per cent, of it, instead of investing it in the funds, at only four or four and a half, with the intention of ultimately purchasing land, and living in COMMUNITY, have been established at the folloiring places: — 36, Red Lion Square, London; .37, West Street, Brighton: 10, Queen's Place, Brighton; 20, Marine Place, Worthing : Where Works on the subject of Co-operation may be had. N.B.—The 2nd Number of the "CO-OPFRATOR " vill be published on June 1, 1828. Sickelmore, Printers, Brighton. THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS I HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 2. JUNE 1, 1828. Id. STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES. The following extracts are taken from a private letter, written by a man of business, living at the potteries, in Staffordshire. In consequence of the abundance of fine clay, which is found in that part of England, manulactories have long been established, for making all kinds of Porcelain, China, and Pottery ware, but more particularly the fine sorts. The demand for them has been so great, among the rich, that immense fortunes have been made by many of the masters engaged in the trade. Immense sums of money must therefore have been spent, among the "working classes, who produced these valuable articles. Yet the portion, which fell to the share of the workmen has been extremely small, and appears, by this letter, to be still diminishing. It is for this reason, that the " EXTRACTS " are laid before the friends of Co-operation, in order to establish one grand fundamental truth, viz. " Tliat wages have diminished, are diminishing, and must continue to diminish, as long as the WORKING classes work for others : and that when they begin to work for themselves, they will begin to accumulate that capital, and those comforts, which are now possessed only by the masters, and what are called the upper classes." EXTRACTS. " No accurate statement of wages can be obtained from the masters, because it would expose to public view, the internal state of the business, and the iiuijrecented state of low wages, which every manufacturer feels to be somewhat disgraceful from whatever cause it may proceed." " The master would always wish to have it thought by the public, that he gives more for the manufacturing his goods, than he really does." " It is admitted, by every person, resident in this country, that there is a great mass of suffering in the Staffordshire Potteries, owing to the low state of wages — the want of employment — and the high price of the necessaries of life." (2) " That there is a great deal of suffering, may be also inferred from a well known fact, viz. the extreme difficulty of collecting the Poor Kates : many who are chargeable with them, are found on being visited, actually to stand in need of their aid. They are more fit to receive charity, than to pay taxes. Hundreds of workmes are hovering round the Parish Vestry, for relief. Many of these, a few years ago, were in comfortable circumstances, and would have revolted at the idea of applying for parochial relief. This Parish is more than ten thousand pounds in debt." "At some manufactories; married men, having families, are working six full days, and four nights, till nine and ten o'clock, for SEVEN, EIGHT, and eleven shillings a week. The very highest wages, of the swiftest men at such manufactories, are never more than THIRTEEN shillings a-week, for fifteen or sixteen hours a day, of intense labor." " Lads, from sixteen to twenty years of age, are working fifteen hours a-day, for two shillings, half a crown, and three shillings a-week. Females from sixteen to twenty years of age, are earning two shillings, three shillings, and three shillings and six-pence a-week ; the hours of labor being from twelve to fifteen hours a-day." " Men, having large families of six, seven, or eight children, and earning eight or ten shillings a-week, are more distressed than any other persons in the community, because, either they can get no employment for their children, or if employed, the earnings are not more than one shilling a-week for a boy or girl of fourteen or fifteen years of age." " Workmen, who are earning eight shillings a-week, have, in many cases, fii'c shillings' worth of truck, i. e. goods in kind, at thirty or fifti/ per cent, dcnrer than the market price." "Many prices for manufacturing common icare, are three and four times lower than they were twenty years ago, when the price of agricultural produce was only one-third or one-half of the present price." " Many branches of the Pottery business, are exceedingly unhealthy. The smoke, sulphur, and pei-nicious gasses, which the workmen constantly inhale, bring on disease and a lingering state of suffering, which is much increased and aggravated, for want of the comforts and conveniences of life. The unhealthiness of this kind of labour has been much increased, of late years, by the greater and closer confinement of the workmen. The Potter, having less wages for his labor, is obliged to labor more hours. Formerly, he used to take a certain cjuantity of exercise in the day — in the field, or in his garden, but now he is obliged to be in the manu- factory constantly, almost day and night." " This is no high colored, or exaggerated account, but is founded in truth; and might be proved to be correct, by hundreds of eye-witnesses, before the House of Commons, or any tribunal in the kingdom. Bills of wages might be obtained, to confirm the statement, which would be so many facts, which could not be contradicted." " This is the state of the working classes in general, throughout the Potteries. A few individuals are more fortunate. In certain situations and departments, in which more genius, skill, and clever- ness are required, some workmen are doing well, and earning what may be called liberal wages, i. e. thirty shillings a-week. But the number of these bears no more proportion to the great mass of the workmen, than the officei's of a regiment do to the mass of privates of which it is composed." " In most manufactories, there are from seven to ten weeks' play or holiday, in the course of a year." " Those who keep holiday, not more than four or five weeks in the year, are considered fortunate. One large manufactory has kept 6 (3) holiday ten weeks, since Christmas. All these holidays tend greatly to add to the distress of the workman, as he is unable to lay by any thing beforoliaiid, out of his small earnings, to meet the holiday, and nine times out of ten, the master refuses to lend any thing." REMARKS. 1. These " extracts " prove that there is a great deal of distress among the workmen of the Potteries. They work long days, and sometimes during part of the night. They work beyond their own strength. They bring upon themselves diseases, and a weak state of health, by their exertions. They have no time for amusement or relaxation. The women work, as well as the men. As soon as the children are old enough, they begin their labor. Having once begun, they go on, day after day, and year after year, till their bodies are worn out — a premature old age comes on — they have laid by no provision for themselves; they must, therefore, die in a workhouse. 2. All this labor produces a proportionable quantity of China and Pottery. It is no benefit to the workmen, as they do not use it. It goes to supply the wants of the public. But china is a durable article, if taken care of. The public get supplied. More china is made than is actually wanted. The same number of work- men is no longer required. Some of them, therefore, are either turned off, or their wages lowered. This consequence is inevitable : it actually happens. The abundance of the produce makes it of less value — and makes the workmen of less value. The more the workman toils, tlio harder he works, the nioie time he labois, the greater is the quantity of work done, the less its value, and the less the value of the workman. Therefore, his wages and comforts are diminishing every day. 3. This is the first time we have heard of the distress of the Potters. The men have never made any disturbance, and are unknown to the public. We have heard of distress in other manufactories, but not in these. The letter, from which we have made these extracts, is a private one, and fell into our way, accidentally. 4. The conclusion which seems most fair to be drawn, from these circumstances, is, that the distress of the working classes is universal. Wherever you go, you hear of hard work, low wages, and pauperism. This distress is the inevitable consequence of working for others, instead of working for themselves. Hard work, over production, low wages, follow each other in a natural and necessary order. 5. The state of things is not the fault of the masters, nor of the inhumanity, nor of the contrivances of any person, or set of persons. We know a master manufacturer, in the Potteries, who is extremely humane to all his servants and workmen, and gives handsome salaries to those immediately about him. To do so to every work- man, would be impossible. It would drive him out of the market, and ruin his manufactory. The general rate of wages depends entirely upon the rlemand for, and supply of labor. As long as the produce of the workman does not belong to himself, the very work which he does, will tend to diminish the demand for it, and, there- fore, to lower his wages. But if, by any means, the working classes could contiive to work for themselves, all the evil of over production would immediately vanish, and the workmen would be surrounded by plenty, instead of distress. As long as workmen act singly, they cannot work for themselves; for to do that, they want a capital: but if a number of workmen would join together, in Co-operation, they might then save a capital, which, in time, would enable them to work for themselves, upon that capital, as easily as (4) they now work for a master, upon the capital possessed by the master. This we believe to be self-evident ; — if a master has capital enough to employ an hundred men, and those men, by their work, return that capital with profit — if those men had that capital, as a common property, they certainly could support themselves upon it, as before, till their work was brought to market, and the capital returned with a profit. Co-operation is a subject entirely for the workiiuj classes. The rich have nothing to do with it. A large class of mankind, are born to hihor, and expect to labor all their lives. They do not repine at this; they know it is the wi!l of Proridence, whose ways, although they are dark and unsearchable, are full of mrrcy and wisdom. But it is natural for the workman to wish for comforts after his work is done. When he has worked hard for ten or sixteen hours during the day, he ought to have comfortable food, clothing and lodging. We believe this, also, to be the will of <^od, and that He, in due time, will bring it to pass. Let the working rlci.t.ies, therefore, consider these things, and lay them to heart. Let those, who cannot see any farther, look to Co-operation as a provision for themselves and their families. Let those, who look upon this life in a religious point of view, as a scene that is passing away, and as a passage to another and a better world, carry their religion into Co-operation, as a society of fellow workmen and fellow christians, among whom all the kindly virtues of a christian may be exercised with infinitely more effect than can be under present circumstances. Let them carry the idea of their Heavenly Father's presence and care into such a society, and pray for His Blessing upon its exertions and conduct, as earnestly as they now do, for such direction and protection over their own families. " // this work be of men, it will come to nought; but, if it be of God, it will prosper, and cannot be over-turned." Co-operative Societies have been established at 36, Red Lion Square, London ; 37, West Street, Brighton; 10, Queen's Place, Brighton; 20, Marine Place, Worthing : Where Works on the subject of Co-operation may be had. (To be continued.) SICKELMORE, BRIGHTON. THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 3. JULY 1, 1828. Id. THE VALUE OF LABOUR. The WORKING CLASSES have no idea of the real value of their own LABOUR. When a man has done a week's work, and received his wages for it, he thinks he has received the whole value of his work : but this is by no means the case. He has not received above one- fourth part of the real value. He has made a bargain with his master, that he will give a week's work for a certain sum of money. Whether this be much or little, it is called, vulgarly, the value of work. But this is merely a common phrase. It is a very indefinite one, and from long habit, has become confounded in the minds 10 of the WORKING CLASSES, with the whole value of the work done. If wages were the whole value of the work, how could the master take the work to market, sell it for more money than he gave for it, and grow rich upon tlie profit, while the workman grows poor upon the wages? This would be impossible. Therefore it is evident that the workman does not got the whole value of his work; and it is also evident that if he did he would grow rich, just as the master does. In the days in which we live, many persons have amused them- selves with making calculations, about the share which the 20 WORKMAN gets of the produce of his labour. These calculations are very laborious and troublesome to make, and are liable to a great deal of uncertainty and inaccuracy. But they all prove one thing very clearly, viz. that the wagks which a workmiai receives, are only a very moderate portion of the value of the work done by him. We believe that this idea is cjuite new to the working classes. They think that their wages are the whole value of the work which is done by them. This is their great mistake : and it arises from their ignorance, of which it is the natural consequence. They 30 know nothing, and learn nothing, but how to work hard, and how to spend their wages, in what they call self-enjoyment. 9 ( 2 ) What becomes of the work thoy have done, the corn they have grown, the manufactures they have made, the houses they have built, they never think about. When they walk about the streets, they never reflect that they built all the houses, all the carriages and waggons, that they see ; and made all the clothes and fine dresses that people wear. They imagine, somehow, that the masters who employed them, and paid their wages, made all these things, and that the wages paid to them, were a sort of act of kind- 40 ness, and liberal generosity : the wages are paid to workmen just as parish allowance is paid to paupers, not because they have a right to them, but because the masters are kind enough to do it, upon some good or religious principle. All this arises from their ignorance, or want of reflection : from their not asking themselves how it is, that they who do not work grow rich, while those who do work grow poor. If they would only ask themselves this one very simple question, and search about till they find an answer to it, they would discover the secret, and learn how to grow rich, or at least independent, like many of their 50 masters, and like all those who are called the upper classes. It must be so, and could not be otherwise : for all the wealth of the world, that ever did exist, or ever will exist, must necessarily be produced by the working classes, and by them alone. Wealth consists of FOOD, clothes, and houses principally. These, and every thing else, must be made by the workman. They are the works of some individual men. They are not made by masters, nor by men of capital, but by those, and those only, who labour. It often happens, that a piece of work, for which the workman receives but a few shillings, will last for many years — or if 60 taken care of, for ages. It will be extremely useful to the possessor : it may be absolutely necessary to him, for his pursuits and studies : it may be a means of gaining him a livelihood : it may be a constant source of amusement and happiness to him : and yet the workman who made it, converts the few shillings he received for it, into food, which he consumes in a few hours; and there ends the value and enjoyment of his work. Thus the work- man exchanges the happiness of a few hours for the happiness of many years. Can any thing be more absurd than this? Would a workman do this if he were aware of it, if he did not think 70 himself under an absolute necessity of doing it? in short, would he do it, if he did not think, in a very strange way, somehow or other, that he would be really reduced to starvation, unless he exchanged his labour according to this plan? You say if the workman did not do this he would starve ! Who is to starve the workman? The workman is the only person who grows all the food. Cannot he eat the food which he has himself grown? yes, you will say, if his master will let him. But if the workman does not grow the food, will the master grow it. Certainly not : he does not work. If the workman does not grow the food, 80 nobody else will ; and all the world must starve — not the work- man only, but every body else. How is it then, that when the workman has grown the food, or made a valuable piece of goods, he can scarcely get enough food to support life, or a tolerable stock of domestic comforts? Every body else has plenty. But the man who grew the food, or makes the cloth, or builds the houses, can scarcely get any food, or clothing, or a house to live in ! This is certainly a most extraordinary fact. People in the present day, are fond of talking about facts of all kinds. They hunt about for such as are new or extraordinary, but we may well defy 90 them to find one which is more extraordinary than this — " the distrei^s of the working classe.t." If they were to speak of the distress of the non-working classes, we should not be surprised : 10 ( 3 ) but it certainly /■■< surprising to hear, tliat the only people who aro in distress, are those, and those only, who produce all the food, clothes, and houses, of the world. Yes, this is a very extraordinary fact. All the non-workino classes have plenty : all the working classes are in distress. You will say. if this bo true, it must be the consequence of some great system of injustice in the world. The rich must have tyrannised 100 over the workmen, and reduced them to want, and distress. We answer, no such thing. How can the rich, who are few in number, tyrannise over the workmen, who are many tinips more numerous than themselves.^ This is impossible; that the few should be stronger than the many. The cause of all this must there- fore be sought in something else. As it is at present, the workman makes his bargain with his master, and every man, however stupid, knows that "« bargain in n barrjdiv." Yes, this is a vciy extraordinary fact. All the non-working DO NOT W'ORK FOR THEMSELVES. The workman sells his time, 110 strength, skill, and labour, all his ingenuitj', all his cleverness, all his industry, all his health, to his master. If he performed a thousand times as much work as he does, ho would be no better off. His master would be the only person benefitted. The greater the quantity of work done, the richer would be the masters and upper classes become; but not a jot richer would the workman be. Indeed the very contrary is proved to be the fact. For the working classes have now, by the aid of machinerj', which they have themselves invented, produced such an abundance of food, and all kinds of necessaries, that their labour is no longer wanted. 120 " The market, say the wise ones, is over-stocked with work- " men : there are too many poor : too many of the lower " orders : too much population. The workmen must be sent out of " the kingdom — they are the greatest evil we have to contend " against. If we could but get rid of the working classes, we " should do very well." Such are the reflections, which are every day made, upon the piesent state of things. Which prove completely, that if the workmen were to produce a thousand times as much as they do, they would be no better off : or rather, that the more food, 130 clothes, and houses they produce, the fewer necessaries, comforts and enjoyments they must themselves necessarily possess. But would this be the case if the working classes worked for THEMSELVES, and not for others? Most certainly not. They already produce enough for themselves, and all the world besides. Therefore if they worked for themselves alone, they would be supplied most abundantly — not only with the necessaries of life, but with all its luxuries into the bargain. It is difBcult no doubt, to believe that this would be tho 140 case: and, supposing that we could convince ourselves that plenty of food and comforts would flow in upon the working classes, if they were to contrive to work for themselves, instead of others: yet, that if is so great an if, that it may seem at first sight, ridiculous to expect it, or to indulge the slightest hope that it can ever come to pass. The workman of the present day, unlike the " bold and virtuous peasantry " of old — " their country's pride," do not "Jocund drive their team a-field; " nor when 150 " The ciirff ir tolls the knell of parting day," do they return to a peaceful cottage, a plentiful table, and an affectionate family of children, who, in grateful return for a 11 (4 ) careful education, will support with filial piety the steps of their aged parents; and with the toil of their own liands supply every wish, and satisfy every want : and at last, with decent obsequies, deposit their remains in the silent tomb, purcliascd and adorned by the fruits of their own honest independence. On the contrary, the child of modern distress, utters his first cry in the borrowed robes of charity : is indebted perhaps, to a 160 stranger, for that food which ought to make him still longer a part of his mother : then, as soon as he has found his feet, runs the round of courts and alleys : picks up the vice and filth of a crowded city : learns to lie, and tell a hardened tale at the Over- seers' Board : forced in due time to earn a part of his pittance, in the close, unhealthy, crowded manufactory, Vjegging the other part weekly, as a charitable boon, or demanding it sulkily, as a legal right : till open, or legal vice makes him in turn a parent, " like father, like son," to transmit his depravity and misery to posterity ; a noble theme for the wits of legislators ! 170 Such is too often the picture of modern workmen. Such, in our last number, we shewed was the history of many a family, who were once worthy and knew better days. Their best days have been given to enrich their masters : their worst days remain as a portion for themselves. Nevertheless, let them not despair. Having sought for independence in one direction, and found it not, let them look for it in another. As their masters cannot make them independent, let them look to one another. Let them consult together. Let them improve their minds. Let them examine the principles of Co-operation. Let them learn to look upon each 180 other as friends — not as foes : as friends, working for one another, and enjoying the whole produce of their labour; not as foes, working against each other, and so giving' tlie greater part of the produce of their labour to their masters. Our motto is "knowledge and union are power; " that is, that the working classes by uniting with one another in labour, in cultivating, improving and enlightening their minds and hearts by acquiring useful knowledge, and a disposition of friendship towards each other, would obtain the power of making themselves independent : the power of rising above want : the power of 190 commanding all the comforts of life : the power of spending their old age in peace and plenty : the power of bringing up their children in industry, virtue, and religion : and thus, the power of being happy here in time, and happy hereafter in ETERNITT. Societies upon the principle of Co-operation have been estab- lished at the following places : — 36, Red Lion Square, London : 37, West Street, Brighton : 10, Queen's Place, Brighton : 20, Marine Place, Worthing : Where Works on the subject may be had. To be continued Monthly. SICKELMORE, PRINTERS, BRIGHTON. 12 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION AKE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS: HAPPINESS TS THE END OF CREATION. No. 4. AUGUST 1, 1828. Id. CO-OPERATION CONSIDERED WITH RESPECT TO SUCH CASES AS THAT OF THE KIDDERMINSTER CARPET WEAVERS. 1. We have not yet said enough to explain, clearly, the principles of Co-operation — or to shew in wliat manner the working classes might begin to form Co-operative Societies. Yet the disagreement which has taken place, at Kidderminster, is so important, and is so sure to be followed by other disputes, between the masters and the WORKING CLASSES, that it may be worth while to take a co-operative view of the (|ueslion ; and to shew that if the strike is to be continued — if the men are to liokl out ag;iiust the masters, and to be supported by a subscription from the different trades, the money so raised, might be applied much more effectually than ever it has been before. 2. Co-operation being a subject qiiite new to the working classes, it is natural they should be ignorant of it. If it has ever been heard of, by any of them, it has been in such a way as to make it appear completely visionary. It has always been connected with the idea, that in order to carry it tnto practice, large sums of money are absolutely necessary. The smallest sum ever men- tioned, as .sufficient for the purpose, is £20,000. From this, the advocates of the system have gradually risen to as much as one million. 3. Such representations do not dispose people even to consider the subject : they rather tend to make them incredulous, and to turn away their heads whenever the subject is alluded to. Yet the great beauty of Co-operation is, that it may be begun without any capital at all. A man wants nothing but his wages, and an honest com- panion to begin. If they can find a third to join them, they may say, " a thioe-fold cord is not soon broken." They may subscribe, weekly, towards a common fund, to provide against sickness, or want of woi-k. They may market for each other. They may buy a large quantity of goods at once, and so get an abatement in price —which abatement they may throw into a common stock. If they arc of diffei-ent trades, they may make domestic articles of comfort for each other, and exchange 'them. They may do this at odd times, or after work hours. 4. If a nuniber of workmen were to join together, upon these principles, their capital would be greater, and they might do 13 ( 2 ) greater things. They might have a shop of their own, where they might deal, for every thing they wanted. Their shop would enter into competition with other shops, in serving the public. As the business increased, the profits and the capital would increase. As the capital increased, it would employ the members of the Society, in any way which might be deemed most advantageous. If there was a profitable demand in the public, for any particular com- modity, the members might manufacture it. If the profits of manufactures were not high enough to make it worth producing them, the members might easily raise their own food, by hiring or purchasing land, and becoming, pai't of them, agriculturists, instead of manufacturers. 5. These are the simple principles of Co-operation, concisely stated. It is evident from these, that however valuable capital may be, it is not necessary for beginning Co-operation — but that the basis, and secret of Co-operation, is lahour. Take away from the produce of labour what is necessary for the comfortable support of the workman — the remainder is' profit — which saved, and accumulated, becomes capital; upon which the workman, and therefore the working classes, might set themselves to work, and produce food and manufactures for themselves and the public, just as well as they do at present upon the capital of their masters. 6. Let us now apply these principles to the ease before us — to the Kidderminster Carpet Weavers. They and their masters have quarrelled about the price of wages. Both parties Ijelieve them- selves right. It is impossible for us to decide between them : but this we know, full well, that if the workmen should carry their point at this time, it would not be long before their wages must fall. The wages of labour generally, are falling, and must continue to fall, and nothing can prevent it. Labour is woi'king against machinery. Those that eat, drink, and get families, are working against those that do not eat, drink, or get families. In such a contest, the eater and drinker must be worsted. He cannot be put in a garret, and kept without food, till he is wanted : he cannot be laid up for the winter. The birth of new labourers cannot be deferred, like the production of new machines, till their labour is called for : they cannot be put together one day, and pulled to pieces another day : they come forth with new faces every day, and still there is a greater troop behind. As the waves that break upon the shore never exhaust the great body of the deep, so the womb of futurity contains more myriads of germs than there are drops of water in the mighty fathomless ocean. 7. It is miserable and affecting to see the laborious, the indus- trious, the indefatigable, the never-to-be-tired working classes; the skilful, the ingenious, the intelligent mechanics; the Dollands, the Troughtons — those heaven-born geniuses who enabled us to measure the world, the sun, the planets, &c. as accurately as this piece of paper : it is miserable to see them under such uncontrol- able circumstances — that they have ruined themselves, and their fellow workmen, by their own wonderful inventions. By selling these inventions to their masters, to work against themselves, instead of keeping them in their own hands, to work with themselves, and so diminish their own labour, they have built an inclined plain for themselves — down which, they must infallibly descend, into the abyss of misery and despair. 8. No subscription which the generosity of the Trade Unions can raise, will do more than stop vp a hole. It cannot possibly prevent the final catastrophy of the working classes. It cavnot prevent their nltimate ruin. If it should succeed, supposing that possible, in keeping wages at their present rate, yet this rate is not enough to maintain the workmen in tolerable comfort. The object of the working classes should be, to improve their condition : but so 14 ( 3 ) improbable does that ai)pear, and so great is (ho despair of the people, at the present inomcnt, that probably nothing would bo so great a relief to the minds of all men, as a complete conviction that wages had reached their lowest point. 9. Where subscriptions have been made, among the Trade Unions, to support those who strike for wages, the persons who have received them, have gcnorally lived in idlen(^s. No conditions liave been made by those who gave the subscriptions, and no return has been made by those who received them. The money has been spent in merely supporting the families of the workmen : nothing has been produced to replace it : it has been entirely wasted. 10. If the workmen had received the same money from their masters, the manufactures made by them, would have reproduced the money with a profit. With this profit, it is, that the master grows rich — and that all the luachiuery is made. U woiild be just as easy for the workmen to reproduce this money, by working for themselves, as for the masters. As long as they are supported, no matter by whom, they could make the same carpets, or the same cloth, or the same stockings. Their carpets, cloth, or stockings, could serve the wants of the public, or of their follow workmen — or of both, just as well as if they had passed through the hands of the masters. The masters do nothing in this respect, but distribute the goods to the public in general. It surely requires no great talent to distribute them. They are never distributed till they are wanted — till they are ordered. A family want a carpet; they go to a shop to buy one : the shopman writes to the manufacturer to send him one : he goes to the warehouse, and executes the order. As long as carpets are wanted, they will be sold. If the Carpet Weavers could have a common capital to work with, they could as well make, and preserve, and distribute carpets, when wanted, as the masters can. 11. So it is with the machines, necessary for making carpets, or any other manufactures : they might as well belong to a few individuals, or to a society, as to one master, or to a society of masters — commonly called a partnership, or firm, or company. There is no more reason against a partnership of workmen, than against a partnership of other people, of non-workmen. The son of a master is put into a counting house, and drilled, and broken in, to habits of business, and carefulness, and saving. These habits, from the idleness of his previous education, are often very hard to learn : but by the authority of his parents, and the necessity of the case, he does leara at last, after some years, to bo careful and attentive, and to understand his bTisiness. It would be iust as easy (and indeed more so) to break in the son of a workman to business, as the son of a master, because the former is brought up in habits of work from his infancy. It would be as easy for w'orkmen as for masters to agree together without quarrelling. Such a society or partnership, would have rules and regulations, just as other partnerships or companies have. Troublesome individuals might easily be expelled from such societies, for infringement of rules, without injuring the other members, just as members of a company are liable to expulsion for lireaking the rules. 12. It might be difficult to apply these principles to this particular case of the Kidderminster Carpet Weavers, so as immediately to enable them to work for themselves : but it is evident, that if such societies became common, among the working classes, one might take one manufacture, another might take another — so that they may work into each others' hands. They might supply themselves plentifully with the comforts of life ; and through their different shops, they might supply the public— and so obtain a surplus capital, to purchase from other trades, and other comitries, what they did not produce themselves. 15 (4) 13. The working classes sliould begin by having shops of their own. These shops should belong to a small number, who should form themselves into a society t'n- that purpose. They should pay a weekly subscription, to go to foim a common fund, just as is now done by Friendly Societies. They should deal as much as possible with their own shops — by which, each society would receive the profit upon the run of the shops, which now goes to shops in general ; and by which profit, and by which alone, all the rich shopkeepers in the world grow rich, and make their fortunes. We say it is this profit alone, that maintains the splendour of all the merchants, and companies of the world. The London merchants, the Liverpool merchants, the Bank of England, all make their fortunes out of this profit. 14. Then, if this be so, the working classes have the strongest possible motives for openimj shoys for t/ieniselves. The sum of money, which the working classes spend in the course of a year, is enormous. It amounts to many millions. The profit upon this sum, would of itself be sufficient to establish many manufactories. It is not the want of power, but the want of knowledge, which prevents their setting to work, and making a beginning. Quarrelling with their masters will never give them a capital of their own, upon which alone their independence, or emancipation, or salvation depends : but shopping for themselves, and working for them- selves, will give them profits, and therefore capit.^l, and therefore independence. 15. There are many reasons why we do not expect that the principles of Co-operation can bo applied to the case of the Kidder- minster Weavers. These principles must be learned like those of other subjects. They must be explained, not by theoretical writers, but by men who have tried them, and found them answer. " One example is worth a thousand precepts." The Society in West Street, Brighton, has answered so well, and is prospering so much, that no one can see it without being convinced of its complete success. The accumulation of its little capital, to some hundred pounds, in a few months, and the mental improvement of its members, are the internal proofs of its sound principles. The jealousy which has been expressed against it, by some shopkeepers, is an external proof of the same. Men are only jealous of a rival : and only of that rival when they think he has a good chance of success. (To hr conrlitded in the next). Societies upon the principle of Co-operation, have been established at the following places : — 36, Red Lion Souare, London ; 37, West Street* Brighton; 10, Queen's Place, Brighton ; 20, Marine Place, Worthing; Where Works on the subject may be had. SICKELMORE, PRINTERS, BRIGHTON. 16 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEPOK AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS : HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 6. SEPTEMBEE 1, 1828. Id. THE KIDDERMINSTER CARPET WEAVERS. (Continued from. No. 4.j 1. Since our last number was written, there has been a meeting' in this town for the relief of the Kidderminster Weavers. As we fully believe that Co-operation, in the shape of a Working Union, will infallibly secure the independence ol any fifty or hundred workmen, who arc sufficiently enlightened to form such a society , so we do not believe that any other plan, or system, or relief whatever, will be of the least advantage to them. 2. It gives us great pleasure, however, to see any signs of that sympathy and goodwill towards each other, which ought ever to pervade the working classes, and which will, when properly directed, lead them to independence. We arc only sorry to see their efforts misdirected. The subscription which has already been made, for the Kidderminster Weavers, would have made them an independent body of men, working on their own capital, for themselves exclu- sively, had they united themselves into one body, made use of the subscriptions as common capital, continued their work as usual, lived in the same economical manner, and laid up the profit to increase the common capital. 3. The same plan would have answered equally well with any set of workmen, in any trade. It has sorn(!tiriics happened, that work- men have struck for wages, for several months, during wliicli they have done nothing, either for themselves or others : yet they havie lived all this time upon an allowance made to them by a committee, entrusted with subscriptions for that purpose. It is strange it should never have occurred to such a committee, to employ the workmen, so supported, in manufacturing their usual articles. These articles might have been sold to the public, through the medium of one of the workmen, acting as agent for the rest. The public would have come to this agent to supply themselves, just a.s well as they did before to the master manufacturer. They would never have enquired how the goods were made. They would not have supposed that they were made and sold in this nuumer, in consequence of any quarrel between the men and their masters : and even were such an event known, it would not influence tho public as individuals. The public care for nothing but cheapness. Wherever the Miaik(;t is cheapest, there they will go. They wiW 17 (2) not enquire, when they go to buy, whether the shop is supported by one individual, or a company;" or by a master, or journeyman. 4. If a shop of this kind, belonging to workmen, were established in all the large towns in the kingdom, the manufactures made, by private workmen, on their own account, or by societies of workmen, might be vended to the public, through these shops, and the workman would then get the whole produce of his labour to himself. When disagreements happen, between masters and workmen, and the men are supported for a time, by subscriptions, among their fellow workmen, they might then be manufacturing goods on their own account, and disposing of them through these shops, obtain the whole profit for their own use, and thus be paving the way to their own independence. 5. Unless some plan of this kind be adopted, it does not seem likely that the workmen can ever benefit themselves by disputing with their masters. The causes which determine the rate of wages, are quite beyond the controul of the master, and of the workman. We may hereafter endeavour to explain this, but at present we must take that question for granted. If the rate of wages be independent of both parties, they cannot alter it — and they ought to derive from it, a lesson of practical wisdom ; that of mutual kindness and forbearance. We think we could shew that it is no crime in the master to wish to pay as little as possible for wages, nor for the workman to wish to get as much as possible : but it is criminal in either party to endeavour to obtain their end unjustly — and it is folly to attempt it by means which will only aggravate their own misery. 6. We agree perfectly with the workmen, that they ought to cherish a settled determination to better their own condition. We should look at them with unfeigned satisfaction, if we saw them doing so : but we are convinced they will never do it by endeavouring to force their masters into higher wages, by abstaining from work. During such time they must be suffering great hard- ships themselves : and suppose one or two masters are ruined, this is not the way to provide more work, but rather the contrary, while the probability is more in favor of masters being supplied with workmen from other parts. When new workmen, unknown to the old ones, come to take their places, the situation of the old ones may become very wretched indeed, and no redress can then remain for them. 7. The improvement which has taken place of late years, in the minds of the working classes, by which they have determined on these occasions to abstain from all acts of violence, is most credit- able to their moral character, and gives us good reason for hoping they will continue to improve more and more, and at last discover an infallible method of uniting together to secure their own independence. But this quietness is at the moment rather prejudicial to the success of their cause, because it leaves other workmen at liberty to supply the market. If a few individuals are induced by large families, or by pecuhar attachments to their masters, to work at low wages, or if new workmen come and accept their wages, because they are higher than what they have been accustomed to elsewhere, it is the greatest possible act of injustice to molest them for so doing. In such cases the workmen begin by demanding justice for themselves, and end by refusing it to others. 8. But if the workmen choose to form working societies among each other, something like the present Friendly Societies, and accumulate a common capital by weekly subscriptions, and invest that capital, first in trade, and next in manufacturing on their own account, so as to work upon their own capital, instead of the capital of a master; no objection can fairly be raised against each a mode of withdrawing themselves from the work of a master, in 18 ( 3 ) order to work for themselves : Imt if any persons should object to such societies, it would be altogether in vain— for when the working classes are sufficiently enlightened, to form such societies, no power upon earth can prevent them from doing it. This we shall undertake to prove hereafter, and to shew that all the power of the world depends upon the working classes, and the whole amount of the power of any other class consists in guiding the working classes. When they become sensible and convinced of this, they will no longer be so absurd as to part with that power, and suffer other persons to use it to their own detriment. They will, by uniting together, retain that power in their own hands, and thus secure their independence and happiness. 9. If any one had told us, that when a quarrel for wages was taking place at Kidderminster, or any other place, there were a certain number of workmen in London giving money out of their own pockets, to the men out of employ, and standing to them, in the place of masters, we could never have believed it, had we not received the most public proof of the fact. Nor could we have believed that the same thing was done by workmen in other parts of England : for instance, in Brighton, a place where there are no large manufactories ; and where disputes of this kind are not likely to occur. We should have said, " the thing is not likely ; the workmen are too disunited; they have too little regard for each other ; they are too poor ; they can get nothing by it ; they are too selfish to do any thing without a prospect of gain ; and they have not confidence enough in each other to be trusted with money." 10. Had we reasoned in this way, events shew that we should have been wrong. The working classes, in different parts of England, have a fellow feeling for each other; they have feelings of humanity; they are willing to make sacrifices, in order to relieve each other in distress; however poor they are, they are willing to divide their pittance, even with a stranger, in want of it ; and they are capable of doing this upon a system of uniting and combining for that purpose ; of receiving small subscriptions from a great number of individuals, and transmitting them to the sufferers; and above all, they can do this with honesty and truth. No one can accuse the working classes of abusing the confidence they repose in each other, or of svnndling one another out of money entrusted to them for mutual relief. 11. If then the working classes are capable of doing all these things — of sparing money out of their weekly earnings; of giving it others without anj- hope of reward ; of forming committees of management; and of executing all the duties of trustees with confidence and honor, they possess all the qualities which are necessary for forming Working Unions, and securing their own independence; they possess all the materials but one, which is KNOWLEDGE. As soon as ever they acquire enough knowledge to understand a better system, they will begin to act upon it; and then farewell to poverty and distress : farewell to low wages, and disputes with masters : farewell to all anxiety about work, health, and sickness, wife and children, and even about death itself, so far as it affects the comfort and independence of a family. 12. The management of a common capital, and the kind of labour to be engaged in, might at first present some difficulties, but as the capital would accumulate gradually, the difficulties would come one by one ; and by being entirely of a practical nature, must certainly be best combated by practical men. 13. As Ion or as the working classes are disunited, and act as single individuals, they will continue to go down hill. Thev will continue to grow poorer and poorer, while all the rest of "the world are growing richer and richer. But when they begin to form worktho 19 UNIONS, the tables will be turned. The workers, by having the whole produce of their labour to themselves, will begin to grow richer and richer, whatever becomes of the non-workers. 14. We know that the working classes generally, are not yet ripe for WORKING UNIONS : but wo know, at tlie same time, that there i.s a suflBcient number of ripe ones to make a beginning. Fifty members are quite enough to liegin a Working Union. They should meet one evening in the week for paying subscriptions, and one evening for conversation, and for acquiring information on the subject and principles of such unions. Their meetings should on no account be held at a public house, but in a room, hired for the purpose. As soon as they open shop, they will find that the profits will easily pay the rent of premises, and the salary of an agent, who must be one of their members, a person who understands the piiuciples, is hearty in the cause, and one who has their confidence. A committee of management must superintend, and audit the accounts regularly. This is the whole mechanism required. 15. The only objection we have ever heard against the practical success of working unions is, that fifty workmen could not work together upon a common capital without quarrelling. This is indeed the only danger. But when we see thousands of workmen uniting, and confiding in each other, every day, subscribing and disposing of large sums of money, without fraud or discontent, we may surely believe, that when united by still stronger principles, they will entertain for each other a sincere friendship, and inviolable fidelity. 16. If these working unions are in the nature of things impos- sible, we pity most sincerely, from the very heart, our worthy suffering fellow creatures; partakers of the same passions and talents, the same feelings and sensibilities, the same redemption, the same divine nature, and heirs of the same blessed immortality. To them wo owe every earthly comfort we enjoy : by the sweat of their brow, all is produced and presented to us. No ! our friends ! you shall soon understand these simple principles. You shall soon commence working for yourselves. You shall soon lay the founda- tion stone of your own emancipation : and may God grant you WISDOM in the plan ; fidelity and christian love in the execution ; independence, peace, and happiness in the glorious result ! Societies upon the principle of Co-operation have been established at the fftllowimi places : — 36, Red Lion Square, London : 37, West Street, Brighton : 10, Queen's Place, Brighton : 20, Marine Place, Worthing : 2, Orange Lane, Greenwich : Where Works on the subject tnay be had. Published by Cowie and Straxge, Paternoster Row. Sickelmore, Printers, Brighton. 20 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS: HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 6. OCTOBER 1, 1828. Id. A CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY; OR WORKING UNION. ITS PRINCIPLES, RULES AND MANNER OF FORMATION. 1. The Objects.— The objects of such a Society are, first, tbo mutual i^rotectiou of the meinber.s against poverty : secondly, the attainment of a greater share of the comforts of life : thirdly, the attainment of independence by means of a conunon capital. 2. The Means of obtaining these objects. — These means consist, first in a weekly subscription, of not less than sixpence, to the common capital : and secondly, in employing those subscriptions in a different way from what is usually done — namely, not in investment, but in trade : thirdly, when they have accumulated sufficiently, in manufactiiiiiig for the Society : and lastly, when the capital has still farther accumulated, in the purchase of land and living upon it in community. 3. Unfortunately, in the present state of society, the workman can hardly ever attain an independence. As he began, so he must end : still moving his stiffening limbs, and repeating his powerless blows, to receive at the end of six days' toil an umviUing recom- pense. What he has done througli the course of a long life, of early or late toil, is forgotten. The quantity of surplus produce he has created — the thousands he has fed — the houses he has built, are forgotten. The master's eye only compasses the week's produce with the wages : or, perhaps with the man's own produce, when in his prime; and the former vigour of his manhood becomes a reflection upon his declining years. 4. Yet in England some remedy has been attempted for this lamentable state of things. The public have endeavoured to alleviate the distresses of the aged workmen. If they have failed, it is not that they have intended badly, but attempted it by inade- quate means. In the end and object we all agree. But in the employment of means, each age will use its own : each will contrive according to its degree of knowledge and experience : each will benefit and improve, by extending the wisdom of those that have gone before. Small additions being continually made to the treasures of wisdom, she will at last have sufiicicnt capital for the wants of all her children. 5. Union and disunion are the two pivots upon which turn the happiness and misery of the world. Disunion is the natural fruit of ignorance and barbarism. Ignorance is the condition of incipient existence : it is therefore, also the condition of men in a rude and uncivilized state. In a barbarous state, men only imite for the purpose of religious worship — or for mutual protection against a common enemy threatening them with destruction. As civilization advances, the necessity of national defence becomes more apparent —the power of government, for that purpose, grows daily stronger — and a general imion for this object is forced upon all members of 21 c -^ ) a state. But this is not a rational dolihorate union of individualfl for the mutual comfort and independence of each other. This latter kind of union must be among the last results of civilization, improvement and knowledge : and should it ever be established among the working classes, to whom it is peculiarly adapted, it should carry on its front, in golden letters, let it be perpetual. 6. That thei-e is some natural tendency to this Union among the working classes, the rise and progress of different corporations and companies may lead us to suspect. Perhaps, this is a law of nature : if so, it is as irresistible as that of gravity— and will draw all things to it. 7. The unions of corporations and companies have been formed with a view to the accumulation of profits : but the Unions we contemplate are to extend to production. Thus, if the former unions have been successful, when the parties could literally do nothing without the labourer, we ought to expect much greater results from our working Unions, when the members will be masters not merely of a part, but of the whole of the produce of labour. 8. We say that there seems to be a natural tendency in society, as knowledge advances, for men to form themselves into unions. The spirit of union has descended from the higher classes to the lower. These have had their Trade Unions and their Benefit Unions. The latter have met with universal approbation. At first, many of them failed, from being founded upon erroneous principles. As knowledge increased, those principles have been improved, and seem now to be approaching towards perfection. 9. Benefit Unions or Societies accumulate a common capital, by means of Weekly Subscriptions. This common capital is invested in different securities, which yield a small interest, that is, the common capital is lent to some person who employs workmen with it, the produce of whose labour is sufficient to pay the interest, and yield him an ample profit besides. 10. This mode of investing a common capital is mere ignorance in the working classes. They might as well employ themselves upon this capital as lend it to another to employ them upon it; in the one case they would get the whole of the produce, in the other only that small part which is called interest. 11. Hence a Working Union, having the same object as a Benefit Union — namely, comfort and independence — endeavours to obtain that object by different means. The minds of the members are more enlightened, and therefore their means are more enlightened. Their knowledge is farther advanced, and they accordingly use more intelligent measures : they see that the old methods do not succeed sufficiently — they therefore search for new ones. 12. This is precisely the question. The working classes see that they are wrong ■. they see that they produce all the wealth of the world, and tliey vvonder how it is that it escapes from their hands; they see that Benefit Unions only succeed partially; they see that the capital is badly employed, but they do not see how to employ it better. 13. This secret has at last been discovered. The Society in West Street, Brighton, have made this discovery, and are now reaping the fruits of it ; they began by investing their subscriptions, not in the Funds of Savings' Bank, but in Trade: they purchased those articles which were daily wanted and consumed by the members ; they bought for ready money, and sold for ready money — they therefore ran no risk either way. Whatever the profit be, whether much or little, the Societj' receives it. As often as the capital is turned round, so often the profit returns. What this profit is, has hitherto been a profound secret to the working classes; it is so no longer — they know it and they keep it for themselves. It appears by their books, that the sums of money, which if they had been invested at interest in the usual way, would have yielded a profit of about fnvr pounds, have, by bring invested in trade, vieldad them a profit of about thirty. 22 (3; 14. This is the fust step in a Working Union, and it is the moRt difficult one. Working men have no idea of employing money in trade; they think it is a distinct occupation, which belongs to others : they almo.-;t fancy that they could not exist a day •without a shop to go to, to buy food; though they produce the food, and carry it to the shop, yet they fancy they could not cat it without it went through the shopman's hands — so it is with every other article of production. Workmen have no idea that a certain number joining together with a small capital to begin with, could produce and consume among themselves, independent of the rest of the world. 15. The Union then will begin with a shop; to manage this shop they must have an agent ; this agent must be a member — he will be chosen by the Society — he will keep regular accounts, as is done in all business. Three other members will be appointed as trustees, to receive the weekly subscriptions, to superintend the agent, and to audit his accounts; this will b(> done wookly, that all may know the state of the Society ; and the trustees being changed occasion- ally, all will become acquainted with the mode of transacting business. 16. At first, as the capital of the Society will be small, the shop will not be able to supply the members with all the articles of consumption they may want. As the capital increases this will be done more perfectly. But as the wants of the members are limited, there will be a time when capital will exceed what the shop requires. This will happen in less than one year after the Society is formed, even though the weekly subscriptions should be as low as three- pence. When this period arrives, the Society will ask themselves this question — What shall we do with our surplus capital? The answer will be — employ one of your own members to manufacture shoes, or clothes, &c. &c. for the rest ; pay him the usual wages, and give the profits to the common capital. In this way they will proceed, as the capital increases, to employ one member after another, either to manufacture articles consumed by the members, oi- by the public. Beginning to manufacture for the members, the sale is sure. When the capital is able to produce more goods than the members can consume, they must manufacture those articles which are in demand by the public at large. 17. We need not follow these operations of the Society any farther. It is evident that when the capital has increased thus far, it will continue to increase : that it will, by degrees, employ all the members : that they may then follow those employments which are most lucrative— and be for ever independent of poverty. If any one should think it impossible for such a Societj' to carry on business profitably, they have only to go to West Street and satisfy themselves. If the working classes cannot understand it on paper, let them go there and see it with their eyes. 18. QuALiTiCATioNS OF MEMBERS.— The members of such a Society should be carefully chosen. I. They should be all of the working class. The reason of this rule is — first, that labour is the only source of wealth : and capital is of no use till it is converted, by laliour, into the comforts and luxuries of life. Secondly, in the present state of society, the different classes do not easily amalgamate : they are jealous of each other. The higher person is apt to look down uponthe lower with some degree of contempt, and cannot bear to converse with him as an equal. II. The members should all be good and skilful workmen— able to earn a certain sum per week, to be settled by the rules : tha most useful trades should be chosen; and there should not be too many of the same trade. Hi. They should be persons of good character— industrious, sober, steady and quiet. IV. They should not be ignorant and prejudiced persons, but as well informod as their rank in life admits of, and desirous of adding 23 ( 4) to their knowledge and improving their minds, as far as their circumstances and opportunities allow. V. They should be of good general health; not liable to consti- tutional disorders. VI. They should be of a certain age, perhaps between eighteen and thirty-five. If too old, they may become superannuated, before the Society can receive the fruits of their labour. This is a rule in all Benefit Societies. VII. It is necessary that the wife of a proposed member should approve of the Society, and understand something of its principles, otherwise the husband cannot be hearty in the cause — and he will be liable to interrupt the harmony of the Society. VIII. Persons of too large families should not be admitted, because, in the infancy of the Society, too many unproductive members might become a serious evil. IX. In order to preserve the common capital untouched, and to obtain immediately all the advantages of the common Benefit Societies, whenever a member is disabled from work by sickness, or dies, or loses his wife, a subscription should bo entered into by the members for the sufferer. If a member is thrown out of work, and it appears not to be his own fault, he should be assisted till he finds work, either in the same place or some other. This rule would give the Working Union a decided advantage over the Benefit Union, for in the latter, if a member be out of work, and neglect paying his subscriptions, he is struck ofi^ the list. X. If the premises of the Society do not afford accommodation for the Society to meet, the expenses of a proper room should be paid by a quarterly subscription. XI. The Society should meet in their own room once a-week, for the mutual instruction and improvement of the members in the principles of such Unions. The subject of the evening's conversa- tion should be given out at the preceding meeting. Books on the subject piay ho read, and their arguments considered. One member should preside as chairman, and the office should be filled by rotation. XII. On the other evenings of the week, those members who have leisure, should meet at the room and form themselves into classeit for mutual instruction. As the societies will consider labour to be the source of all wealth, and therefore be called Working Unions, so they will perceive that labour must be directed by knowledge, and therefore they will acquire all the useful knowledge they possibly can. XIII. Agreeably to this principle, they will begin to pay parti- cular attention to the education of their children. They should select the best school the neighbourhood affords ; and agree to send their children to the same, on condition that the members of the society may visit the school and notice the progress of the children. But a still more desirable plan would be, to have a school of their own. and emp'oy a master, at a salary. XIV. This school should combine learning with industry, that the children should not acquire either pride or laziness, but habits of active carefulness. XV. Thus the principles of a Working Union or Co-operative Society, go as far as those of a Benefit Society, by providing for the members in sickness and old age. They go farther, by ensuring to the members constant employment out of their own capital ; and they introduce a new principle among the working classes, that of the improvement of their mental and moral character. XVI. It remains for our readeis to consider, whether such Societies are likely to diminish pauperism and ceime, and to add to the HAPPINESS of mankind. C. & R. Sickelmore, Printer?, Brighton. 24 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION AKE POWER: POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS: HAPPINESS IS TUE END OF CREATION. No. 7. NOVEMBER 1, 1828. Id. THE SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION. "Sirs, yc are Brethren." 1. Of all the relations of life there is none more endearing than that of a brother. In sickness and health ; in joy and sorrow ; in prosperity and adversity, this relationship is a balm for every wound. A family is the place where we are to look for the purest and happiest feelings which man is permitted to enjoy upon earth. A family is a community as far as it goes. All are fed from the same stock. All sit at the same table, and drink of the same cup. All have a common lot, either of prosperity or adversity. All hold the same rank in society. If one should happen to be more fortunate than the rest in the world, and rise to wealth or honour, he imparts a portion of his prosperity to the others. He soothes the old age of his parents : or he makes them happy by his public honours, and by his kind and filial attentions to their wishes. He lends his hand to those who are of his own age, and helps them on their journey : or he superintends, directs, and patronizes those who are younger than himself, in their st-udies, their pursuits, and professions. Thus, by a feeling of grateful and laudable ambition, he becomes the fatlier of his liousehold : and every one, at his approach, " rises up and calls him blessed." 2. This family affection ought to extend itself from private to public life; from the family to the world. It ought to bo the model upon which every one should endeavour to form his own character. The reward of such a character is sweet in the extreme. It exists in the sympathy of evei'y bosom : it makes a family of the world : it sees a brother in every human being, and rejoices in every opportunity of doing him good. 3. Man was evidently intended to be brought to this lovely state by nature and by providence — and in our apprehension those terms are synonymous. Man was never intended to live by the misery or ruin of his neighbour — but by liis prosperity and happiness. That portion of evil which unavoidably i)efalls some people in the present state of the world, was intended to be mitigated, if not obviated by the general prosperity and happiness. As one indivi- dual bears but a trifling proportion to the whole race, so the misfortunes or unhappiness of one may be abundantly compensated by the overwhelming prosperity of the great mass of mankind. 4. " There is a friend," says the wise man, " that sticketh faster than a brother ! " However strong the affection and interest of a family may be, man is so formed as to contract indissoluble attach- ments to some one or more of his fellow creatures. Two minds may have the same pursuits and studies — the same views and objects--they may delight in the same species of knowledge — and may join together in the same career of improvement and science. The common object may be sufficient to bind them together in friendship, and they may follow the common pursuit with double ardour and double relish. 25 (2) 5. r>ut the swecle>t of all bonds is tli:it ivbifh is formed not merely by a common science, but by a congenial disposition and heart. It is from the heart that every valuable feeling springs, and every source of pleasure and happiness. No kind of pursuit, or knowledge, becomes a source of happiness to a man, till it takes fast hold of the heart and affections. When we love a science, then we appreciate its value and its beauties. They grow and expand every day, and the more we examine them, the more inexhaustible do we find them. We see that the objects of our love are infinite — our hearts dilate with a feeling of the same infinity — we ourselves experience a kind of growth within us — our very nature seems to change, to enlarge, to purify, to be exalted — and we are led con- tinually to wonder at the vast and improving character of the powers and faculties we possess. 6. This feeling of friendship is so peculiar and delightful, that it has been the subject of some of the most beautiful compositions which have ever been written. This however is not of so much importance in our view, as the fact that friendship of some kind and in some degree, is absolutely necessary to every man's comfort in the common intercourse of life. No man would wish to say, and no man can say, that he has not a friend in the world. It is con- sidered a most forlorn estate for a man not to know to whom to turn for an act of kindness : and when we meet with so extreme a case, we instantly forget all the common forms of society, and of rank ; and by an instinctive impulse, we become that friend our- selves, as if to prevent the world from being loaded with the dis- grace of bearing on its face a friendless man. 7. It is oppressive to contemplate the picture of man, in this state, approaching to friendless destitution. The heart mourns over it, and seeks relief in imagining the possibility of a state of things, in which we may extend the delightful feeling of friendship from one to many — in which we may open our bosom, and receive into our arms, all who wear the fair form and features of man. Such is the state which Co-operation holds out, and Co-operation alone. Co-operation removes the almost insurmountable obstacles to friendship, namely — self-interest, rivalry, jealousy, and envy. When two persons have an inclination to cultivate a friendship for each other, they seldom proceed far without finding their interests clash. The delicate feelings of mutual esteem, which at first is small and weak, and requires time for its growth, and a variety of kind ofiices for its strength, receives a check in its very outset. Mutual suspicions and jealousies arise; and the tender plant is nipped in the bud. Men must have different pursuits, and be wholly independent of each other, in order to stand any chance of a real and sincere friendship. 8. But if persons were so situated, that their interests were, in all respects, the same — if the prosperity of the one ensured the prosperity of the other — and the happiness of the one, the happiness of the other — then, instead of suspicion and jealousy, they could only feel towards each other, love, esteem, and affection. If one were cleverer than another, or more indefatigable — if he had more genius, knowledge, or energy than another — or were more zealous, industrious, and persevering than another, while that other reaped an equal share of all this superiority — surely that other could not hut entertain for his kind friend, a high degree of respect, esteem, and admiration, in proportion to his superior merits. The weak IS now beaten down by the strong— the ignoraiit man by the man of genius : but were they to find in the strength and wisdom of others, their own protection and safeguard, they would feel no longer unhappy and discontented in their own moderate powers, while they would look, with pleasure and approbation, on the greater powers of their neighbour. 9. Such is the state of things, which Co-operation holds out. 26 ( 3 ) Every num. on entering such ;i .Society, immediately becomes surrounded l>y :i host of friends. All the abilities and labour of aJl those friends are pledged to him, to protect him against tho common evils of life, and to ensure to him its comforts and enjoy- ments. While lie presents tho Society with the labour, skill, and knowledge of one single individual, the Society presents liitn with those of many. He gives little : he receives much. In himself, he is subject to all the uncertainties, the ups and downs of life, to anxiety and care, to laborious days, and sleepless nights : but in the Society, he has insured himself against all thes(> things : ho cannot be ruined unless the Society be so too: and the ruin of a Society of labourers is an impossibility. Because, as every labourer produces about four times as much as he consumes, a society of one hundred labourers must produce four hundred times more than they consume — which is amply sufficient to provide against all the chances and accidents of life. 10. Suppose a workman, a niomliei- of such a Society, to form a friendship for another member, how delightful would it be for them to live under the same roof, to work at the same employment, to eat at the same table, to spend the hours of rest and recreation in mutual conversation or improvement. They would never be separated by chaiige of masters, want of work, or sickness, or old age. One would never look down upon the other because he was rising more in the world, nor feel contempt for him as belonging to a different trade. They would continually be striving to oblige each other, by little acts of kindness and attention. They would lighten each other's labour as opporttinity offeied, and they would unite in this labour with the gieatcst cordiality and zeal, in order to insure a common independence. 11. Another pleasing occupation of such friendship would be, to assist in explaining and enforcing the great principles of the Society : to instruct the ignorant : to encourage tho timid : to help the weak : to bo patterns to the other members : to be foremost in exertion, in zeal, in activity : to be always ready to meet difficulties, and to bear the heat and hurthc ; of the day. Sucli objects woulfl be worthy of the warmest friendship, and the highest energies; and would be a fit employment for those exalted faculties which God has given to man. 12. We do not mean to assert that each member of a society or community would possess that high degree of feeling, which is called friendship, towards every other member. We only argue upon the general truth, that friendship, in some degree, is common and necessary to all men — that the circumstances of ordinary life are very unfavourable to it — and that those of a Co-operative com- munity are essentially favourable : and when such friendship does exist, between two or more members, their circumstances will enable them to i"eap from it the highest possible enjoyment. 13. But this friendly feeling, among the membei's generally, must not be left to chance and accident. It must not only be recom- mended as an advantage; it must be enforced as an imperative and paramount duty and obligation. When a man enters a Co-operative Society, he enters upon a new relation with his fellow men ; and that relation immediately becomes the subject of every sanction, both moral and religious. Mutual regard, friendship and affection become then as binding upon a member as tho duties of common honesty and sobriety. Religion will step in here, as into other relations, and will hold forth her promises of future reward and punishment, in proportion as men are good or bad members of the community to which they belong. Zeal, energy, and fidelity, will draw after them tho glorious rewards of a future life : whilst indolence, indifl'erenco, and unfaithfulness, will naturally anticipate the gloomy sentence of disapprobation and punishment. Though the profession of a common creed will not be one of the objects of 27 ( 4) a community, yet every member will be glad to unite in that view of religion which will give additional force and sanction to all their regulations for the common good. 14. However, we cannot withhold our opinion that the delightful feelings of friendship will pervade the whole Society (o a consider- able extent. The common yearnings of our nature, and the common ties of the Society will necessarily open the hearts of the members. No man will be admitted whose general character is not approved of — so that no obstacle will exist to thwart his iiu^lination to con- tract friendships among the members. While nothing opposes them, many things will favour them; and when many rivers run in one direction, without opposing currents, they must at last unite in one common ocean. 15. The common capital is the great bond of union. Each mem- ber is nothing in his individual capacity — but every thing in his social capacity. If he separates himself from the Society and the common capital, he is ruined. While he is united with them his fortime is made. The importance of each member, and the value of his labour, as a single individual, arc nothing : so small is the proportion they bear to the whole Society, and tlie common capital. The older the Society grows, and the larger the capital, ihe more insignificant is each member as an individual. These and similar reflections, must make him look to the Society and its common capital, so as to entertain for them the utmost regard and love. 16. But if a number of persons are continually admiring and loving the same object — if that object possesses many beauties and excellencies — if it be the great and unfailing source of their liappiness, they must necessarily, by continually loving the same interesting object, draw towards each other in i\u- bonds of love. It would be the height of absurdity to suppose that mankind should be prone, even to a fault, to a common sympathy, under the present course of things — and dead to this sympathy, when united in a common society, with a common capital. It is umch more reason- able to suppose and to prophecy, that this sympathy would act in Co-operation, with new energies, and rise occasionally, even to enthusiasm. If men are now to be found, so full of public spirit, as to sacrifice their ease and peace, their prosperity and happiness, and even life itself, for the public good, when the reward is but an empty name, or a monument when they are no longer sensible of the honor, or perhaps the mistaken execration of an ungrateful world — what efforts will they not be capable of, when, to the certainty of posthumotis fame, is added the present prosperity and happiness of all around them ! 17. Yes ! enough has now been done to justify us in anticipating the happiest results : and we are convinced that our motto, " Sirs, ye are brethren," will be the talisman which every Co-operator will wear next his heart. It will be the rosary on which every member will tell his morning and evening aspirations, to the great fountain of all love — to impart the principles more and more widely and deeply to his own breast, and to those of his friends and brethren. The spirit of Co-operation is the spirit of friendship and brotherly love, which, though small at first in the infancy of the Society, will gather strength and stature as it goes — will at length lift its head sublimely to the skies, and enfold i?i its parental and everlasting embrace, all the children of the happy community. Sociefics upon the principle of Co-^penitiyn i,a,(: litcii established at 36, Red Lion Square, London; 37, West Street, Brighton; 10, Queen's Place, Brighton; 20, Marine Place, Worthing; 11, Roiin Street, Greenwich; Watson's Yard, Bclpcr, Derbyshire ; and 105, New Street, Birminrrhfun , irhere Works on the s'lhject may he had. SlCJitL.MOHE, TVr. KRItiHTON. 28 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWEK : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS HAPPINESS IS THE END OK CREATION. No. 8. DECEMBER 1, 1828, Id. THE THREE ESSENTTAT.S OF CO-OPERATION, VIZ., LABOUR, CAPITAL, KNOWLEDGE. LABOUH. 1. In order to shew tliat a Co-oporativo Society nmst necessarily obtain a state of independence for all its members, it is sufficient to shew that it contains within itself the common basis upon which all the independence of the world is founded. This is labour. Labour is the i-oot of the tree whatever size it may ultimately grow to. Labour is in this sense every thing: therefore he who has labour has every thing^. 2 No man will be senseless enough to deny that the working; classes possess this labour within themselves. They are the only people who do po.ssess it. They have the monopoly of this article most completely in their own hands. Nor can any law or force deprive them of it : for all force is a species of labotir, and resides in the working classes, and in them alone : and the power of any person, or class of men, is nothing more than the power of directing the labour or power of the working classes. 3. We wish to direct the attention of the working classes to this point, that they may employ the power they and they alone possess for their own advantage, instead of the advantage of others. Till they do that, the command which individuals now possess of direct- ing labour and living ttpon it, must continue to stand in the place of co-operation. As the working classes are the only persons who labour, they may choose at any time whether they will labour for themselves or for others. 4. Labour is the basis and corner stone of the building — the key stono of the arch — the root of the tree — the perennial spring of tht- mighty river— the heart of the body — the essence of life. If the working classes possess this labour tliey ought to possess the build- ing, the arch, the tree, the river, the body, and the life itself. But they do possess this labour, tiierefore the moment they enter into co-operation they must succeed. CAPIT.M-. 5. The working classes possess labour; no man can deny it; no man does deny it. This seems a most extrn ordinary circumstance 29 ( 2) that a labourer should have no power over his own labour. So it is, and we are free to confess it. Whether it will for ever remain so, remains to be seen. The reason is very simple, plain and obvious. The workman has no Capital. While he is working it is necessary he should eat and drink. He wants food, clothing and lodging, to support himself while he is producing fresh food, clothing and lodging. This may be called in a general sense Capital. This definition of Capital is intelligible enough for our purpose, While a man is working, he wants capital to live upon till his work is done. Whoever possesses this capital will command labour. The workman has not this capital, therefore he must sell his labour to him who has. 6. But though the workman does not possess the capital he might easily do so. All capital is made out of labour. Capital is nothing but the produce of labour saved up : therefore whoever possesses labour might possess capital also if he pleased. He has only to lay by a portion of the produce of his labour till he has enough to live upon of his own, while he is working to make fresh produce : then he would have capital and the command of his own labour. A man who works for another is a servant. If a servant saves up enough capital to support himself while he is at work, he becomes his own master. If he saves up more, so as to be able to command the labour of another, he becomes a master to others. As all capital is made out of labour, so all masters are made, or were once made out of workmen. 7. It is evident that all men cannot be mastei-s : the meaning of which is only this — that the world cannot do without labourers : and the meaning of this is — that capital is of no use without labour. This is a very important consideration that capital is nothing in itself. People talk as if capital were every thing; by which they mean only that the command of labour is evei-y thing. But if there were no labourers, there would be no commanding them, and then the capital would be nothing. So that in this view of the question also, labour and not mere capital is every thing. Labour must be united with capital to make capital productive. 8. They say, " all men cannot be masters," which is vei'y true, if by a master is meant a man who does not work : but if by a master were meant a man working on his own capital, then all men might be masters if they pleased, without any injury to the world, and even with great advantage. All a man wants is capital, to support himself while he is at work. It matters not whether the capital belongs to himself or another, as far as that support goes. While he is consuming his capital, he is, by his labour, continually reproducing it. By the same process of saving, by which he accumulated a capital, he can be constantly enlarging it : so that he might have his choice, either to enlarge his capital or diminish his labour. 9. The importance of not separating capital from labour is very great, though hitherto they have been considered as distinct things : and so far has this distinction been carried, that labour and capital are thought to be incompatible, than which a more absurd pro- position cannot be entertained. If capital is made out of labour, as every body allows, so far from there being any opposition between them, there ought to be a natural alliance : and so there is, but the working classes are too ignorant to perceive it. 10. We say it is important not to separate labour from capital : the reason is, that the labourer is immediately degraded in body and mind. He loses caiite : he loses his character and respectability. He is branded as one of the sirlnish multitude: the dregs of the people — the ■populace: the scum of the earth. All the insulting epithets of a language are heaped upon the poor workman. This all arises from separating labour from capital. The long catalogue 30 ( 3 ) of public crimes is mostly committed by persons of the labouriuj; class— that is, the reward of labour becoming necessarily less a«ituation we liavfi dcsciil)ed. of rcceiviiiK a small interest, for Lis money, wliich is utterly inadequate ever to secure his independence : ill the latter case he docs indeed insure himself some relief in sick- ness, and since Benefit Societies have been improved, he may also obtain an allowance in old age ; but this is so extremely small, and placed at such a distance from the present moment, that it requires much more frugality and peiseverance to accomplish, than would be sufiicient to secure an ample independence in co-operation in a few years. 15. On the contrary, the independence offered by co-operation is near at hand. As soon as twenty pounds are accumulated, the independence of one workman and his family is secured. For every additional twenty pounds, anothei- workman may bo made independent, and so on till all are provided for. If any of tlie members are ali'eady in good employment, they may remain in it, while the surplus capital is invested in machinery or other desirable improvements, by which capital is made more productive. Or it may be invested in a srhool for the education of their children, which is equally necessary for all, whether in co-operation or out of it. This indeed is one of the greatest advantages which the system will afford. It will secure a good education, combining industry and knowledge, for all the children of the members. Of this, we shall speak more at lai'ge hereafter : at present, we think it sufficient to have proved, that in co-operation, "Capital is Income," and that independoice is within the grasp of a few short years. SocTETiES Formed. — lirighton, 4; London, 2; Manchester, 2; Worthinij ; Findon, liranch of Worthing : Grcenviich; Kiny- stanley; Congleton; High Iloyd; Belper; Duffleld; Birmingham; Loughborough; Cantcrhtiry ; Derby; Worcester; Uley; Almond- bury; Preston; Nottingham.; Tunbridge Wells; Kidderminster; Bethnal Green; Stepney; Bristol. Societies Forming. — Leeds; Kirk Heuton; Hainpstcad; White Chapel; Hhadwell; Mary-Ie-hone. SICKELMORE, BRIGHTON. 44 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNO^VLEDGE AND UNION ARK POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS: HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 12. APEIL 1, 1829. Id. BENEFIT SOCIETIES. 1. In rcconimoiiiiing Co-operation to the attention of the woikiug classes, we do not pretend to have made any discoveries, either as to the evils of tlieir pi'osent situation or as to the objects at which they may justly ;),itM, and at which they ought to aim. Wo only declare tacts which nvn well known to every body, and so well known as to be the subject of daily remark and observation. And wo only propo.se objects which are continually laboured after, and not only by the working classes but by their best friends among the higher classes, that is, a greater degree of conifoit and independence. 2. The grand dift'orejice between our little papoi- and the pon- derous volumes whicii have been published on this subject, is, that wo recommend that the objects which all of us have at heart, should be pursued in a dilYcrent manner, and by different methods from those whicli have boon hitherto tried. Our argument is extremely simple. We say, " the trials you have already made have been notoriously unsuccessful : you have made them in every possible manner which your system admitted of; therefore, all further endeavours upon tlio same plan, are perfectly absurd, and must infallibly continue to disappoint you. Theieforc you must do one of two things — you must either give up entirely the pursuit after independence, or you must carry ou the pursuit by a different road and upon a new system."' 3. Every day's experience shews that man will not give up the pursuit after independence, nor is it in his nature to do so. It is as impossible for a man not to wish to be independent of want, as it is not to wish for his dinner; the two wishes lie so close together, th.it the one is inseparaV)le fiom the other. As long as men e.^peri- ence hunger and thirst, they mu.>t wish to set those two enemies at defiance by some well stored magazine. Never therefore will the working classes cease to look about for independence and security. The twelve and sixteen liours which they daily devote to gratify this wish, are so many hours spent in the severe school of this hard taskmaster. Tt will be strange indeed if this crxiol discipline does not at least teach tlicm the A B C of life. ^. Man has been often called a social animal, and we are said to depend one upon another for the greater part of our comforts and enjoyments. But having advanced thus far upon a true principle, we think we can do without its farther company ; and we declare, that when men have once determined to live together, they have immediately determined also that they are natural enemies to each other: instead of helping one another to rise in comfort, they are continually depressing each other, doing and undoing, building up and pulling down. When men unite, they do it with fear and tnjmbling, as if each feared that his confidence would be abused by his neighbour. 5. In the midst of all this folly and madi.ess, it is some satis- faction to the bonevolont mind to observe how infallibly better 45 (2) principles insinuate themselves among men, though their progress is so slow as to be for a long time imperceptible. The power which the human mind possesses of distinguishing pleasure from pain, and of observing the causes of each, after a great deal of exercise and experience, and a great many doubts and difficulties, brings us to the conclusion, that pleasure and pain must be understood in their causes, and are inseparably connected with them : that moral events are as certain and unchangeable, as physical ones, and above all, that man can as ea.ri/i/ conironl the one as the other, when th(.ir: causes are known. 6. It was a conviction of this kind which gave I'ise to Benefit Societies; they form a grand aera in the history of the working classes; they are a proof that the working classes have minds, that they are not brutes, that they can think as well as work, that they are rational beings as well as animals. We assert, that the men who could Co-operate in the humane and prudent views of these Societies, are capable of better things, are capable of reflection and reasoning, are capable of acquiring sound practical and theoretic knowledge, and if they be given time and information, they will then be capable of true Co-operation. 7. We admire the institution of Benefit Societies; we think they have been productive of many blessings to the working classes; they are wise, prudent, and humane in principle; they have saved many an honest family from want and misery, and from the moral degradation of parochial relief. We wish to allow them every merit which belongs to them, because we mean to compare them with Co-operation, in which comparison they will be found to be, not only infinitely inferior, but totally unwoi'thy of notice. They are excellent as far as they go, and still more excellent as introductory to the better .system of Co-operation, but compared with that system, they are good for nothing. 8. It is a fair remark on all occasions, " if you dislike our system, shew us a better." Do not pull down, unless you mean to build up. Now then, that we have got a better system, we may justly point out the evils of others, and we may boldly assert, " the best part of your plan was its being the forerunner of a .superior one." The best feature in Benefit Societies, is the practical proof they exhibit of a regular organisation of workmen, in a peaceable and rational manner, for their mutual protection against the accidents of life. Workmen have laid up weekly a proportion of their earn- ings; they have drawn up rules and regulations; they have adhered to them systematically ; they have accumulated large sums of money; they have reposed confidence in each other; they have managed the funds with fidelity and honor, and they have administered them punctually according to the equal claims of the members. All this is ample proof that workmen are capable of Co-operation, and of that cultivation of mind which is absolutely necessary for its success. 9. The property of a Benefit Society is common property. The fundamental error is the injudicious employment of the capital; in consequence of this, the return is very small, the accumulation exceedingly slow, and an insuperable bar is placed in the way of the real independence of the members. The money is lent to a capitalist, who with it employs the members, it may be, to produce upon their own capital a vast return, out of which he gives to them five per cent, and keeps all the rest, ten, fifteen, or twenty per cent, for himself. If any men can be said to " cut their own throats," it must be a set of workmen, who toil through life, stint themselves of their daily food, and accumulate a capital for the chief benefit of other people. The men of capital are no doubt exceedingly happy to have this extra capital put into their hands, for the pur- pose of making an extra profit, and of giving them an extra power 46 ( 3 ) over the working classes. Whoever gets the raanagoment of this capital, whether a government or private people, they get so much power over the workmen, which no one can controul. Capital is power. Whoever has capital has power. Capital necessarily accumulates even in the hands of a few, by the ordinary trans- actions of society. Men seldom have power without abusing it. All this is plain, straight forward dealing. It falls sooner or later on the workman, who cannot compete with capital. Capital pro- duces machinery, and machinery, working against the labourei'. starves him. All this is hard enough, but last and worst of all comes the workman himself, in the shape of a Benefit Society, accumulates an extra capital by dint of short commons and over- time work, to be invested in machinery, for the sole purpose as it were of reducing his wages down to semi-starvation. 10. The members of Benefit Societies are liable to be thrown out of work, they may be unable to pay their subscription, and may forfeit all claims upon the funds. They are distressed for work, when the funds of the Society would supply them amply, were they properly applied. They have saved a capital, which is applied somewhere in giving people employment; they themselves want employment, other people are employed upon their capital, while they can get no employment at all. This is just the same as if they had earned a dinner and cooked it, and another were to come and eat it; for they have saved a capital, other people are kept at work by it while they are starving : they are actually losing both the interest of the capital and the capital itself. 11. Many Societies possess capital enough to employ all the mem- bers, if employment were the object. Frequently the capital lies dead for want of a good investment; which, if it were employing the members, would yield a weekly return, far superior to what legal investment can ever give. The best investment would be the employment of members. As long as the capital is insufficient to employ all, a good investment can never be wanting. When all the members are employed, it would be time to look for other invest- ments. The ordinary one might then be adopted if agreeable, though a much better one would be the purchase of machinery, to abridge labour and increase production, and so lay the foundation of an indefinite accumulation of capital. The machinery would work for the labourer, instead of against him ; and the whole pro- duce, if worked day and night, would be his, instead of the small portion called wages. For instance, if such a Society had a stock- ing frame, and more stockings were wanted by the members than could be made b}' the usual work of the day ; if the man could work overtime and double his produce, the members would have double the quantity of stockings for their use; but if the man were to do this for a master, by way of doubling his wages, he would only glut the market, and deprive himself of work and wages altogether. 12. We have allowed that Benefit Societies are useful to the members. They might be made far more so if the funds were invested more profitably in the employment of the members. But they are useful to another class of men besides the members — and that is, to all those who contribute to parochial funds. When we consider that capital would be of no use without the workman, and that a very small portion of the produce of labour goes to the labourer, it seems but right that in sickness and old age the labourer should be supported out of that capital which he has been the chief means of accumulating. It would also be right that his children should be educated out of the same capital, since it is impossible, as experience proves, that proper masters can be obtained for the small pittance which the labourer can spare, who shall be capable of forming the minds and habits of the children to industry, religion and virtue. 47 ( 4 ) 13. But by the contiivance of a Benefit Society, the burthen, as it is called," of supporting the labourer in sickness and old age, is thrown back from the capitalist upon the labourer himself. The food and healthy accommodation which is required for supporting the humaTi frame in a state of \ i^orous exertion is diminished, in order to form a fund, which in sickness and old age, when the man is worn out in the service of the capitalist, may save the capitalist from any farther expense; and may enable him to enjoy, without alloy, the great hoardings from the poor man's labour — while that poor man sinks into the grave unheeded, unpitied, " unwept, un- hotiored, and unsung." 14. Therefore Benefit Societies relieve the capitalist even more than they do the workman. They first give him additional capital to make more profit of the labour of the workman : they then save him the trouble and expense of supporting the workman in sickness and old age. All the capital which is saved by a Benefit Society is so much comfort sacrificed by the members, for the benefit of the capitalist : all the profit made out of this capital, by the capitalist, is so much clear money given to him by the Society : all the income paid to members, on account of the Societj', is so much income saved to the capitalist — who otherwise would bo obliged legally to support the same individuals in sickness and old age. On all these accounts a Benefit Society is an ingenious contrivauce on the part of workmen to rob themselves and benefit the upper classes. 15. The argument of this paper may appear at first sight to be inconsistent with itself. Wc first assert that Benefit Societies are good things : and we then appear to assert that they are not : and we seem to conclude that they are more beneficial to the upper classes than to the memberf;. The spirit of independence which they inculcate is invaluable, and worth any price. The allowance from a Benefit Society is received with more pleasure and satis- faction than it would be in any other shape : and the feeling that a man has a right to what he receives is also invaluable. Such an allowance, which is a man's due, avoids all the disputes and bicker- ings of parochial relief, and all the obligation of charity. The benefit which the upper classes receive from such Societies has been entirely overlooked. It is, however, a real and substantial benefit, conferred solely by the labour of the workmen. Many families are enabled to keep carriages, servants, and splendid establishments out of this very benefit — while the men who give it have not common comforts. 16. All these facts proclaim with a loud voice that no society will ever relieve the workman but Co-operation. They will for ever remain an ignorant, degraded, slavisli caste, till they unite to have a common capital, and to employ themselves upon that capital. Then will their fetters fall ofF, as if touched with a talisman : then will they hold up their heads and look around them, with the feel- ings of conscious independence and virtue : then will labour be sweet, and industry a pleasure: the rising sun will be the harbinger of a day of joyful occupation : the setting smi, with the sweet notes of the evening birds, will summon them to a sound repose : " the sun shall not hurt them by day — neither the moon by night " : all creation shall smile upon theni : existence shall become a blessing, and the Author of it the subject of their unfeigned gratitude. Fifty-n'i.!- SocictKS!, upon thr 2)r'inri ph x been increasing, their conduct has been more pacific. They have lost the irritation which was continually galling them, and their minds have partaken of the general improvement of the age. The same progress of knowledge which has enabled the 59 ( 4 ) masters and legislators to acknowledge the rights of the workman, has enabled workmen to respect the rights of masters. When it is asked by sceptics, of what use are education and knowledge to the working classes, one answer is plain—" to open their minds to the commanding voice of right and justice, and to induce them there- by, to respect the property of masters and capitalists, wliatever Vje the extent of their own necessities." Large bodies of workmen have, for some time, been in a state bordering on starvation — so says the public press. In former days, such a state was immediately followed by a riot : but now, passion has given way to reason — ignorance to knowledge — and riot to peace ami patience. 12. The working classes are convinced that violence is no remedy. Suppose that machinery could be destroyed, to a considerable extent — suppose that wages were thereby improved, still machinery would soon recover its former position, and low wages would return with it. Machinery is acknowledged to be in itself a good — a great and inestimable one: but in its immediate operation, it is an injury to the workman. He is imwilling to destroy this good if he can avoid it ; and the great problem which now occupies his thoughts is, how can I convert this great good to my own advantage? He has not yet found out the answer to this pioblem, but he soon will — and it lies in one word. Co-operation : but he is earnestly looking for it, and awaits in patience the result of his enquiry. 13. In the next place, workmen arc convinced, that the causes which regulate wages, lie beyond the masters themselves, and are to be found in the state of the great market of the world, which the master is to supply. As the world is at present governed, the wants of the world regulate commerce : commerce regulates trade : trade regulates wages. The relation between demand and supply, and not the master, is the true cause of the rate of wages. — The p]-ogress of knowledge has enabled the workman to understand this. 14. With this knowledge, the moral and religious character of the working classes has run parallel. They have more correct, we may say more refined notions of right and wrong, and of the responsibilities here and hereafter attached to moral conduct. Practical religion, though still in its infancy, as it ever must be, till Co-operation prevails, has still made progress among the work- ing classes, as we trust it has among all. They therefore act upon these convictions, and they had literally rather starve than plunder. 15. For all these reasons, the working classes ai'e a different race of men from what they were. Thej' possess intelligence, knowledge, and moral and religious principle. — Degraded they may be in the foolish estimate of inconsiderate people : but degraded thery are not, and never can be again, in all that constitutes the real worth of man. They are a different race : they claim a different destiny. — A new career is open to them : it is within their reach : they have only to put forth the hand, and it is their's. 16. Trade imions arc the organs of the working classes. What is true of one is true of the other. What is the power of the body, collectively, may easily be brought about by the unions. They have the power and the will, and we have no doubt of their sincerity. When the novelty of the subject is worn off, and they perceive its practicability, they will communicate such an impxilsc to the whole body, of which they are the head, as must conduct them to a com- plete emancipation. Published bij COWIE und STRANGE, I'aicrnoi^tcr Row. C. AND R. SICKELMORE, PRINTERS, BRIGHTON. 60 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOAVLKUGE AND UNION AKK POWKI! : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS: HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 1(5. AUGUST 1, 18^20. Id. TEADE UNIONS.— PART II. 1. We hav(> explained in our last number the nature of those ruions whifli have taken place among workmen. We shewed how Uiev arose naturally, and were brought about by the change that took place in trade and machinery. We coitipared them with the I'nions which have been es-tablished among capitalists. We proved that the motives, objects and principles of both were fundamentally tlie same; that thev were either intended to guard agar.ist evils which would be unavoidable without them, or to attain objects of great and paramount importance, which though impossible without them, became easy and certain by such simple means. 2. We pronounced tlie Trade Unions of the workmen to be legitimate, just and honorable. We palliated any faults which they nnght have committed, as belongir.g to the application rather than to the principle itself, as necessarily incidental to all human exertions, and as being eclipsed by the greater faults of similar institutions among capitalists. We lamented that the principle had hitherto never been applied in its most proper and forcible direc- tion ; and we concluded by expressing a decided conviction that when so applied, it would be found to triumph Over all other jn-inciples, and would rentier Trade Unions ouuiipotent over the afYairs of men. 3. Trade Unions may speedily as well as easily become omnipo- tent over the affairs of men. Whoever commands labour, com- mands men. Who can so easily conmumd labour as the labourer himself? The capitalist cannot labour; therefore as soon as the lii.bourer becomes his own capitalist, the mere capitalist will dwindle into insignificance, and the joint-labour capitalist will become omnipotent. 4. Trade ITnions have got a machinery. They are regularly organized. They receive weekly subscriptions to an immense amount. This n'light be called a I^nion Eent, applicable to any purposes the linions may dii-ect it to. The world has lately witnessed the magical effects of such a rent. It has wrung the strongest political measure from the strongest government in the world. If Trade Unions can take a hint from this fact, it is as clear as the sun at noon day, that their measures will be invincible. 5. Trade Unions should continue the same system and organiza- tion which tliey possess at present. The weekly subscriptions should go on, and be invested as they arise, as profitably as may be. Tn tlv3 mean time, the first thing to be done, is to shake hands with the present masters, and make with them perpetual peace. They 61 ( 2) should turu their eyes upon a new master, which will be them- selves, their capital, and their producing powers. 6. They should send a circular invitation to every Union in the kingdom, to take into consideration this new subject of Co-opera- tion. What is it? What are its principles? What are its objects? Are they practical or theoretical? Whence did it originate? Among the upper classes, or the working classes? Is it some new scheme for imposing on w^orkmen, and taxing them for the benefit of the capitalist; or is it a scheme, devised, begun and perfected chiefly by the working classes themselves? A thread spun by then- own hands, out of their wool, and strong enough to hold all their interests together ! 7. The effects of such a circular among the Trade Unions, would not be long concealed. The principles are few and easily under- stood, and intelligible to the meanest capacity. If the sentiments of the members were favorable to a full Co-operation, as they imdoubtedly would be, (for these members are already Co-operat- ing to a certain extent) the next question would be respecting the employment of their present funds, and those which are weekly coming in, in the cause of Co-operation. The present form of Union should remain, and the approving members should form themselves into Co-operative Unions, in addition to those they at present belong to. 8. The present Trade Unions should by no means be broken up yet. The time will come when this may be done, but not till after Co-operation has universally succeeded, and swallowed up every other plan of benefitting the workman, and providing for him in want of employment, sickness and old age. The present Unions should be stepping stones, and nursing fathers to Co-operation. As soon as they understand the subject, they may by their own example, encouragement, and assistance of capital, promote materi- ally the spread of the system. Wherever there is a Union, there will be Co-operation. From these centres, Co-operative missionaries will go forth into neighbouring districts, to invite all able-bodied labourers to accept constant, in exchange for precarious, employ- ment ; to live in good houses ; to sit down to a full meal every day ; and to enjoy a snug warm fireside in winter. 9. Does any one say that such missionaries will not make many converts? If men continue to prefer food to hunger, and certainty to uncertainty, the disciples of such missionaries will be more numerous than ever they have been since the days of the Apostles. Each Union starting with a capital, members may be received, and set to profitable employment immediately. Whoever can produce more than he consumes, (provided he be a good character) will be a worthy member. The present facilities in producing clothing being so great, that the world is already over-stocked, and many powerful machines are standing idle ; the production of clothing is reduced to little more than an act of volition; so that, in fact, the mechanical qualification of a member will be brought to the very simple condition of his being able to produce more food than he consumes. 10. We are deceived about the food-producing powers of man, by the intricate windings of the road by which food travels from the producer to the consumer, which are occasioned by the producer's producing for another and not for himself : but when the labourer hj becoming a capitalist, produces for himself alone, and his food merely travels from his own spade to his own barn, and from thence to his own mouth — two steps instead of two hundred, the art of producing will become so simple that every boy may feed himself. 11. Trade Unions, therefore, will continue to collect their weekly rent as usual, but they will no longer invest it in Savings' Banks, 62 ( 3 ) Government Securities, Mortgages, and such like absurdities. They will invest it in Co-operation ; in forming Co-operativo Societies among their own members ; in lending moderate sums of money to other societies; in forming manufactories of their own, for supply- ing Co-operative Societies with tools, instruments and machines of various kinds ; in giving employment in these manufactories to the most skilful hands; and above all in giving useful employment to those hands which are driven out of different manufactories by the want of demand for goods, and the inability of masters to give employment. 12. One of the most obvious and useful employments for the idle capital of the Trade Unions, would be the purchase of land. And here some most important remarks are to be made. The value of land is to be estimated by totally different considerations; whether it is purchased for the individual capitalist or for the Co-operative capitalist. In the former case, the value of the land depends entirely upon its situation with respect to markets, in the latter, not at all. In the former, almost all the produce must be converted into money before it is of any use — in the latter, not so. In the former, the producer often sells his food and sends it to travel, and buys it again at its journey's end — in the latter, not so, but it makes its two steps only to the consumer's mouth. In the former, lands of the most fertile description lie waste, because they are near no markets — in the latter, fertile land, wherever it is, would be valuable and almost equallj-^ so. If the land cannot travel to market to the consumer, the consumer can travel to it. Food is bulky, and a bad traveller, — clothing is easily transported, — machines will live in all climates, — and books, and men of enlightened minds, who are or will be the staple of Co-operation, improve by travelling. 13. Therefore, if Trade Unions were to purchase land at the extremity of the island, they would only have to send their superfluous hands, the discarded weavers, mechanics and agri- cultural labourers, to occupy this land and to work for themselves, and to consume the whole produce themselves. The best way in which these tenants could remunerate the Unions, would be by receiving from time to time, the superfluous hands. As the produce becomes superabundant, they would give information to the Unions. As men were thus drawn from the general market of labour, wages would rise; the remaining workmen would be better off, and the common object would be nioie easily, rapidly and completely attained. 14. These Co-operative colonies of the Trade Unions would multiply ; districts which would not answer to be cultivated by the individual capitalist, would answer for them. A cordon or string of colonies would be formed at the outskirts as it were of lands, cultivated upon the individual principle; but as these colonies would be sure to increase in wealth, they would also be able to enter into competition with the mere capitalist, and gradually supplant him upon his own soil. On no spot would the individual capitalists be able to compete with Co-operative capital once established, because the very sinews of the individual capitalist, ramoly — labour, would undoubtedly pass over to the ranks of Co-operation, as soon as the two systems were fairly in sight of each other. 15. We point out the occupation of land under circumstances of this kind, because the provision of food for hundreds of families who are now in a state bordering upon starvation, is the urgent demand of the moment, and the Trade Unions already possess capital enough to commence such a project the very mornent that they understand it; bat there are many other ways of employing their capital with advantage to themselves, at their own doors, 63 ( 4 ) wliich would suggest themselves, and vary with the local circum- stances of eacli society. 16. One very obvious and necessary object, which would soon suggest itself to Co-operators, is the formation of Schools for their own children, in order to prepare them for communities at an early age. Co-operation gives to education a new character, for it demands it as a necessary qualification ; and it gives a reason for its being carried to the greatest possible extent, wliich no sophistry can evade or quibble about. They measure each other ; they rise and fall together ; the perfection of one, is the perfection of the other : they are inseparable allies — each insures and guarantees the success of the other ; and when both have learned to take the field together, they will prove invincible and omnipotent. 17. Soon will those societies which are established be able to receive the sons of members and of workmen in general, as appren- tices. Trade Unions could not do better than place out the sons of members in such situations, with small premiums. By relieving, in this way, the parents, they would be able to make greater exertions in favor of the grand obiect of Co-operative capital. By placing their children in Co-operation, they would be making the Ijeit investment for themselves against old age and infirmities; for ixtterly incompatible is the Co-operative spirit, witli the want and distress of those to whom we owe all the powers, faculties, and happiness we enjoy. IPi. To conclude then, in the words with which we began, "Hail sacred band ! the workman's friend ! the workman's hope ! " These are the means, the methods, and objects, for you to adopt, and not the eternal bickerings with masters about a paltry rate of wages, when you have the power within yourselves of determining, not wages only, but capital jtself. You are now the head of many thousands of workmen and many thousands of pounds. You have it in your power to be at the head of millions — you may become the arbiters of their fate, and may command them more easily than the greatest conquerors have ever done. Like these conquerors in power, you will not be like them in deeds, for your victories will be bloodless. " No cries and groans, and shrieks that rend the air," will follow in your train; but tears of joy, rivers of happiness, sweet waters to refresh the parched palate, food for the hungry, clothing for the naked ! " The blessings of the widow, the fatherless and " the orphan, and of him that was ready to perish, shall come upon " you, and every one at your approach shall rise up and call you " blessed ! " I'pwards of seventy Co-ojierative Societies are now in existence. An account of some of them may be seen in the Birmingham Co- operative Herald, published monthly, price one penny, by Cowie aiid Strange. T'uhlishpd hi/ COWIE and STRAi\(r/;, I'atrr,ioxtcr How. C. AND R. SICKELMORE, PRINTERS, BRIGHTON. 64 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWKR : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 17. SEPTEMBER 1, 1829. Id. OVER-POPULATION IS OCCASIONED BY OVER- PRODUCTION. 1. This proposition may appear, at first sight, to be a contradic- tion. We shall however, endeavour to shew that what is now called over-population, is merely a misapplication and abuse of words — that there is an excess of population only in a particular mercantile, marketable sense, and not in a plain, straight forward, common sense. Over-population, in the abused sense of the word, must always exist in the common form of society : but a real over- population has never existed, except in famines and in the most barbarous state of society, before the invention of useful arts — and never can exist in the Co-operative form of society. 2. The way in which we hear of over-population is, by pauperism and want of employment for the working classes. AH the evils and complaints of society press upon them. They are made, as it were, responsible for every thing; and bear all the blame whenever any thing goes wrong. When they are wanted, for labour or for fighting, then they are made much of, and praised to the skies. Ab soon as they have made the food, clothing, or houses, or beat the enemy, then they are of no farther use — and the state is over- peopled. 3. If no man, by labour, could produce more than he consumed, all men must be producers; and then we should not hear of over- population. If one man produces for another, who has the power, from particular circumstances, of making the producer what allow- ance he pleases, when he gets his stores well supplied, he may fancy that he can, in future, do without the producer; and then he may cry " over-population." The man who receives the produce, might have enough for himself and a servant ; and by having had his personal wants of dress, attendance, &c., supplied by the labourer,, when the idea of over-population first crosses his mind, he would not think his servant superfluous, but his labourer. 4. So it is with classes of men. The workmen, now, are entirely dependent upon capitalists — who, from peculiar circumstances, may- or may not employ the labourer— just as they please. The capitalists produce nothing themselves : they are fed, clothed, and lodged by the working classes. The workmen also support by their produce, not only the capitalists, but a number of attendants besides. Yet, when the capitalist is so situated, that he finds he has taken charge of too many attendants, and is determined to turn off somebody, instead of turning off a servant, and sending him to feed himself by his own labour, he somehow hits upon thft workman, and thinks he is the person who over-peoples the earth. 5. Thus the question of over-population always turns back upon the poor workman, who produces daily, not only all that he con- sumes, but as much more as supports the capitalist and all his train of non-producing servants and dependents. It is evident then, that the fault of over-poptilation does not lie with the producer, i.e. the workman, but with the consuming non-producer. 65 ( 2) 6. In the present foini of society, the workmen are cntirelj' in the power of the capitalists, who are incessantly playing at what is called qyrofit and loss — and the workmen are the counters, which are pitched backwards and forwards with this unfortunate differ- ence — that the counters do not eat and drink as workmen do, and therefore don't mind being thrown aside at tlie end of the game. The game could not be played without the counters ; and capitalists could not play at profit and loss without the workmen. But the workmen are as much in the power of the capitalists, as the counters are in that of the players ; and if the capitalists do not want them, they must go to the wall. 7. There never was any cry, among workmen, of over-population — and it would be surprising if there were, seeing tliat they produce more than they consume. If one man produces a surplus, ten men would produce ten times that surplus — and a million would produce a million surpluses. Such men could never dream of ovei'-popula- tion. Give a body of workmen a piece of land, of their own, and make it imperative upon all to woi'k, they would, daily, produce a surplus : they could not consume all their produce ; and we should never hear of over-population. That word might then be struck out of the dictionary. 8. The working classes of England, possess, at the present moment, capital enough, in the Benefit Societies and Trade Unions, to purchase land enough to maintain, if not all of them, yet so large a portion as would at once place the subsistence of all, upon a prospei-ous footing : but instead of investing their capital in land, and so producing plenty of necessaries, i.e. food, clothing, and houses, for themselves, and accumulating a common capital at the rapid rate which improved arts and machinery would allow of, they actually put all their capital into the hands of their natural enemies — the capitalists, who, with this capital, immediately cry " over- population." Upon the capitalists hang, not only the servants, clerks, and other members of their establishments, but all the writing trade, as well as the real men of science — all those who think it easier or more honorable to hold a pen than a spade ; and even these people join in the general cry of " over-population," and agree, perhaps, in only that one thing — of laying the blame upon the poor workman. 9. Thus, by the absurd way in which the working classes have hitherto invested their capital, they have not only benefited the capitalists, as was shewn in the reflections under the head of Benefit Societies — they have not only, with the greatest civility, been con- tent with three, four, or five per cent, upon their capital, and made the capitalist a present of the remainder, however great— nay, and worked it out themselves, besides, but they have actually, as it were, purchased wdth it, this cry of " over-population," which, as applicable to the working classes — as being unable to produce what they consume, is one of the most absurd unproveable cries that ever was raised. 10. In a country parish, you may find perhaps all, or a great part of the labourers, receiving part of their support in the shape of poor rates. This is called "over-population" — i.e. say the wise ones, " these labourers consiime more than they produce." Yet, all the land in the parish, is cultivated by these same labourers — and out of this pi'oduce, are supported all the mechanics, and their children — all the farmers, and their children and servants — all the gentlemen with their establishments in town and countrj'', and their children — some, it may be travelling in foreign parts— besides pay- ing all the government taxes. In what sense then, can it be said, that there is an over-population of labourers? Certainly in any sense but that of common sense. It is possible there may be an over-population of servants, managing people, head men, stewards, bailiffs, double and triple establishments — but of producers, of 66 t 3) ■woiking-mon, there taiinot, in the nature of things, bo an over- pojmlation for age?; to come. 11. As there is, perhaps, no parish in England without paupers, and as the wages or parish allowance arc only Kuflicient to feed a man from day to day, so there are labourers so degraded by the circumstances around them, as to have sunk very innocently into a •class called romidsmen. These jioor creatures travel round from door to door, with all the elements of wealth about them — able and willing to produce more than they consume — and pi-obably, having alwaj's done so, only that the produce has run away from them, as already described : bill, instead of hearing woids of mildness and encouragement, they hear no soiuids but that of " over-population." This is the picture of an English country paiish, during many months in the year — particularly in the winter. Then it is that the cry is the loudest : but lo ! and behold I when summer comes, and the produce of these labourers and roundsmen is to be collected, and the yellow harvest to be housed, the cry is suddenlj' changed into that of " uiider-population." Messengers are despatched into the highways and byeways for labourers; servants and bailififs turn out ; even beggars are pressed into the service ; no questions are asked ; even character is put in the backgroinid ; every body is industrious — well fed, and happy; and the only cry is, "the more the merrier." 12. As the substantial (janir of capital is piit imdor cover, this merry cry grows fainter and fainter. Questions begin to be asked, who is who? and what is what? The capitalist has completed his annual bargain with the labourers, roundsmen, and beggars : ho has got possession of all the food : and after a few hearty meals, and the prospect of manj' more, begins his old song of " over-popula- tion." This cry then, is raised by the capitalist, when his barns and warehouses are full. The fuller they are, the less he needs the labourer. He is grieved to see the labourer turned consumer. This is his own trade. " Two of a trade can never agree." He doles out his food with a grudging hand and rueful countenance. He compares his plentiful store with his now useless roundsman, till at last, out it comes — " over-population ! " If this cry is not occasioned by well-filled granaries — by an immense surplus produce, at the command of the capitalist, and which the producer has no light to touch, there is no such thing as cause and effect. 13. This is an important and vital truth for Go-operators. There is no over-population properly so called : there never can be any in a Co-operative comnnniity, once established upon their own capital. The cry is raised by the capitalist and the non-producer, owing to the peculiar way in which the labourer is supported. It varies according to the season of the year — being loudest in winter, when food is most abundant, and weakest in summer, when the old food is almost exhausted and the fresh supply is not quite secured. The producer might well be allowed a larger share during the idle season, as is the custom in some parts of the Netherlands and Italy — where he lives at the farmer's table all the year round. Such also was the custom in England, when agricultural labourers lived, many of them, in the farmer's house, and shared his fare : but customs have changed: "intellect has marched." Cultivators have got into the manufacturing system — of turning the penny, and con- sidering the labourer as a machine, to be valued merely on (lie score of profit and loss, and not as a human being — a moral and intellectual agent — and above all, a religious and responsible creature — nay, even " a child of God " — to use an authorativc and true phrase, who shall, one day, sit before the Almighty's throne, in as good a seat as the richest and proudest capitalist in the world. 14. The cry of over-population therefore, arises out of this simple fact — that the productive powers of labour arc so much increased, that a smaller proportion of workmen than formerly, is suflficient for feeding and clothing the capitalists. The numbeV of workmen 67 ( 4 ) cannot be diminishod. at pleasure, in the same proportion, as the productive power of machinery increases — and therefore the- number, not actuallj- wanted, are thrown upon the capitalist, as a rlrug. The capitalist cannot employ them as servants, for hie income is insufficient : he cannot employ them as workmen, because jirofits have ceased, or nearly so, by over-production. When the wants of the whole world have been supplied, profit must cease. That state, though it has not been quite reached, has been closely approached, by the enormous increase of productive power, sufficient to affect profit, and throw large bodies of men out of employment. Therefore over-population is occasioned by want of employment — want of employment, by want of profit — want of profit, by want of demand — want of demand, by over-production — and therefore over- population, by over-production. 15. This is a singular state of things to look at — that men should be perishing in the midst of abundance, and that mankind should be thought too numerous just when it is proved that their wants may be supplied to an unlimited extent. The situation of society, is such, in productive power, that the workman might well labour a little less, and study a little more — and become a being of a liigher grade : but this view has never been taken, nor is it likely to be taken. The principles of capital and labour, and of masters and servants, are diametrically opposed. The question between capital and labour, is one of profit. Labour must necessarily be bought as cheap as possible; and machinery, as before proved, reduces this price to a minimum. So the question between master and servant is, and must be, in the present form of society, one of " order and obey." A master may treat his servant kindly : but he may treat him as a servant; and keep him in his place. Somr few servants are elevated, and made confidential : but as a class, they must for ever remain badly educated — ignorant — degraded ; and liable to end their days in want and poverty. 16. There was a time, in England, when a decent provision for an old and faithful servant, was a pleasing duty : but that time has also " marched " away. The memory of bye-gone services, is obliterated ; and the wrinkled brow has less charms than the profit- able manliness of youth. The parish door hides all deformities, and satisfies all our ideas of virtuous sympathy. 17. But, inasmuch as all these evils arise from over-production, not over-population — and from the entire dependence of labour upon capital ; and as the capitalist will never give such a share of food and instruction to the workman as to raise his situation — and is moreover ashamed to labour himself, and to turn workman, the remedy must be sought for from its proper source — and the work- man must turn capitalist. Then, all the causes of the present cry of over-population, will be so many reasons for his success. The very causes which have occasioned his present want and misery, will as infallibly ensure his future prosperity and happiness. Facility of production will enable him to improve his mind, as well as to labour. Improved methods of instruction will give him useful knowledge, in a shorter space of time. Property and knowledge will make him respectable and virtuous. Want and crime will flee away together, as the shadow follows its substance. 18. Who, that loves his country and his kind, would not rejoice to see the peasantry of England so redeemed from want, crime, and misery — so raised to manly and virtuous independence? and this change taking place quietly and effectually, and without injustice to any one? In vain then, would thunders, human or divine, roll above our heads — for the former would meet a conducting rod, to- dissipate their baneful effects, and the latter would only burst in fertilizing showers, in proof that such a change was the work of the divine Hand, and sanctioned by the divine Fiat. [SICKELMORE, PRINTERS, BRIQHTOK. 68 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS : HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 18. OCTOBER 1, 1829. Id. THE TWO REMEDIES. 1. We have brought before our readers the subject of over- population, and have taken a view of it, different from that of many of our contemporaries. The broad fact, that many of tlic -working classes are in a state of extreme distress, is admitted by all parties; the precise cause of that distress is disputed, and there- fore the remedy also. 2. Wo have endeavoured to distinguish between the demand ami supply of labour in the market of capital, and the demand and supply of labour when the labourer has a capital of his own to work upon. In the former case, we are ready to admit that there may be, as there is at present, a surplus of labour, which is falsely called over-population. In the latter case, we do not see how there «an be an over-population, that is, too much labour ; that is, too much production; that is, too much food, clothing and houses. 3 There are persons, however, who think thei-e can be no system •but the present system ; that labour, and therefore, the labourer, can never be any thing better than a marketable commodity, to be bought and sold by capitalists, like a log of wood, a hat, or a pig. "When hats and labour are cheap, there is an over-population of hats and workmen- — when they are dear there is an uuder-population. 4. According to this rule, they very naturally infer that hats and workmen should be manufactured upon the same principle. When hats and workmen are plentiful, the manufactories should be closed for a few years or so; when scarce, they should be opened again. They would invent something like a gauge for both these com- modities, in the market price of each. When hats and workmen are below a certain price, they advise that production should cease ; when it rises above this, they advise that production should com- mence. 5. This advice is given in sober seriousness, or sadness, and this is the remedy, and the only remedy, they have to propose. With respect to hats, the advice is sound, and whether given or not the rule will be strictly followed : hats will be made or not, just as the capitalist can get a profit or not; and supposing too many to come from the warehouse, the public will not be oppressed with their -cries. But here, the rule stops, and it is difficult to conceive how any one should seriously apply it to the workman. " The workman has the market of labour entirely in his own hands ; he has only to marry with prudence and foresight, and he may keep the rate of wages at any height which he pleases." 69 ( 2 ) 6. The workman is classed with hats, and then it is demanded of him to liavc prudence and foresight. Wliy not preach prudence to the hat, as well as the workman, if their cases are so much alike? Or, why treat the workman with the same severity as the hat, if their cases are so totally dissimilar? 7. We claim for the workman the rights of a rational and moral agent — a being capable of acquiring knowledge and virtue, if properly educated ; the being whose exertions produce all the wealth of the world — wc claim for him the rights of a man, and deprecate the philosophy which would make him an article of mere merchan- dize, to be bought and sold, multiplied or diminished, by no other rules than those which serve to decide the manufacture of a hat. 8. In laying down rules on practical subjects, there ought to bo something like practical probability in the rule, otherwise, it is in vain to declaim, and people only talk to the winds. " If workmen would marry prudently, (it is said) there would be no over-popula- tion." They might as well say, if workmen were angels there would be no over-population. The one is as likely to happen (in the philosophical sense) as the other. How are workmen to have this ])rudence? It is not innate, or an instinct, for the instinct is just the reverse. Prudence is the virtue of a superior mind, instilled into it and nurtured by a judicious educator, and perfected by experience and habit. But those who recommend this prudence are among the last persons to provide this " judicious educator," and assert rather that the workman should not he educated at all, that is, in plain words, should not be taught this prudence; for educa- tion is, or ought to be, nothing else than the inculcation of valuable- moral habits. 9. But the Ijest education in the world could do nothing in the case. Times are altered — the world is altered — mankind are altered. Instead of a few straggling inhabitants, wandering on the sea-shore to starve on limpets, men are become numerous, luxurious, and wonderfully intelligent ; measuring the heavens by their knowledge. Instead of grovelling before a block of wood, men are become worshippei's of a " living and true god," who has imparted to them a ray of his own intelligence and immortality. Instead of being covered rather than clothed, with the skin of a wild animal, they wear the most ingenious fabrics; and instead of the simple distaff and laborious knitting pin, they have machines of such gigantic power, that they can at any moment over stock the wants of man and produce an over-population. 10. It is this fact, which sets the old theory of population at defiance. "It is asserted that prudent marriages (by which is meant no marriages at all) are necessary, because population increases faster than the means of subsistence," that is, faster than clothes can be made. As well might men look at the sun till blind, and assert that it did not shine. When we see the power of hundreds of horses concentrated in a single machine — when we see thousands of spindles worked by a few individuals — how is it possible to deduce the conclusion, that men increase faster than cloth, hats and stockings? The natives of India can supply their countrymen with clothing. The natives of England can bring cotton from India, make it into cloth, return it to India, and under- sell the inhabitants. " Therefore, (say the theorists) men increase faster than cloth." 11. If any thing is evident from this argument, it is that the evil is not over-population, and want of prudence on the part of the workman : but the power of over-production, on the part of the capitalist, and an ignorance how to apply that power to the improvement of mankind. When it is said, " the workmen have the power of regulating their own numbers," it might be replied^ 70 ( 3) " the capitalists have the power of supplying the wants of those numbers." The capitalists, in their machinery, possess the power of production; and in their education, the power of making proper arrangements. To them wc ought to look for new systems of management, to meet the new system of power. It is in vain to talk to workmen of prudence, if wc may not talk to mastci-s of intelligence and common sense. If much is expected from any man, much should be done for him. If the workman is to be prudent and wise, he nuisl be taught prudence and wisdom. 12. But let us look again at the practical wisdom of this rule of prudence. It is given to the workman as advice ; but, the advice is written in books which the workman never reads, and addressed to multitudes of men who canuot read. The closet philosopher has discovered a golden rule — instead of "be fruitful and multiply," he proclaims, " be prudent and multiply not." He then thunders against the stupidity of workmen who do not follow advice they never hear, nor grow wuse by hooks they never can read. 13. Suppose such an impossible event to happen, as, that work- men, brought up as they are now, in stupid ignorance, should catch some glimpse of this golden rule of prudence, how shall they per- form the uexi impossible part of the advice to agree among them- selves, how and when, and where marriage shall take placer" Shall it be done by a general council of workmen, which, perchance, shall he prosecuted for combination or seditious practices; or, shall it bo done by a general tacit consent of workmen, operating by a blind instinct, but yet safely and surely, as the instinct of other animals? Surely all this is too much for sober reason to expect, and the moral part of this problem is as difficult of solution as the mechanical part. If society is not to be improved till the working classes, falling in with the present system, set about measuring their numbers against machinery, and proportion the supply of men to the demand, we may safely pronounce the moral improve- ment of mankind to be impossible. Then will the world daily present a more and more extraordinary spectacle, that, in pro- portion as the power of increasing the comforts, virtue and happiness of men, increases, these very fruits of power will diminish, and vice and misery will abound. 14. Impossible, indeed, is such an issue, in the works of an omnipotent power and an infinite wisdom, equal to all emergencies, and baffled by no difficulties. Difficulties, indeed, only prove the breaking up of one system and the commencement of another. Man struggles to relieve himself from the passing load of the day, whatever it may be, and to try new paths to those bright regions of eternal sunshine and perpetual plenty, which we feel a secret conviction are destined to cover the earth, not, perhaps in our age, hut in that of our happier posterity. 15. The path which we at present think to explore, is that of Co-operation. The remedy which we propose for the over-popula- tion difficulty, is Co-operation : not the immediate and general adoption of a new order of things, foreign to the ideas and haliits of a race of beings, the very law of whose existence is habit; but, the slow and gradual formation of small societies of the more intelligent workmen, laying aside their antipathies and animosities, and uniting their labour for a common good, attainable by union alone. These societies may daily acquire experience and know- ledge. They will see and understand the various operations of business, the nature of markets, the relation of supply and demand, the use of capital — its absolute necessity, and the most practical methods of applying it. In this employment they will be elevated from the class of mere workmen to that of masters and capitalists. Siiiall concerns will suit their small experience. As their business 71 (*) increases their experience will follow and enlarge. They will add one article of business to another, and one idea to another, till they may assume a confidence, which will naturally result from their new subjects of mental occupation. 16. Should such societies spread and grow up — should this experi- ment as it may now be called, succeed — we look for checks to an improvident population, which do not and cannot exist at present. It is something wonderful, that, the law which protects the improvident workman should not also protect the innocent ca])italist ; that while it compels the capitalist to maintain a pauper, it does not compel the pauper to conform to some rules foi- the public good. If imprudent marriages are so evil in the eye of the law, some regulations should be laid down for them, and we should not be shocked with the folly of marriages at sixteen and paupers at eighteen. But no such compensation law exists; and while improvident marriages are deemed the curse of society, no regulations have ever been even proposed respecting them. But, if Co-operative Societies should spread among workmen, a higher tone of feeling will spread with them — a higher cultivation of mind, and a, more enlightened moral principle. As these qualities form the true prudential check in the present state of society, so will they form a similar check in the co-operative state. If any difficulty should then arise on the subject of food (which is not likely), then will be reflection at hand, with self-restraint, a higher sense of propriety and other kindred virtues, to assist. Such a society might impose rules upon itself, as has been practically done at Mr. Rapp's Colony, at Harmony, and would altogether present a scene of moral principles, totally different from any which can possibly exist in the present state of society ; where the pauper is born, bred and educated like an animal, and then expected to demean himself like a man. 17. This is the remedy which we propose. A remedy, not in the nature of things, impossible, like the other; but, one, whose elements are to be found among well educated people, under the present system. We would take those elements from the heterogeneous mass by which they are surrounded, and combine them with new forms. They would act with the same certainty then as they do at present, while they would not be counteracted by opposing forces. A public sentiment and public opinion would spring up in those societies as at present, but tenfold more efficient in its influence over the mem- bers; and, human nature would then (if ever) start into true life, and prove itself capable of being governed by rational and virtuous principles. 'fhf number of Co-operative Societies is upwards of Seventy, and continues to increase. Published by Cowie and Strange, PaternoBtei* Row. SICKELMOEB, PRINTERS, BRIGHTON. 72 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS : HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 19. NOVEMBER 1, 1829. Id THE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM. 1 Since the subject of Co-operation has been under discuBsion of late years, with a view to render it one of practical operation, and as the means and the only means of insuring the comfort of the working classes, some term has been found convenient to express that form of society which has hitherto prevailed generally in tho world, which, therefore, it has been agreed to call the Individual System. 2. In the Individual System, each man acts for himself alone. Individual power, wealth, learning, fame, are aspired to by tho mass of mankind, according to their various talents and oppor- tunities; and the means by which these are pursued, are right or wrong, honorable or dishonorable, virtuous or criminal, according to the moral character of each individual. According to this system, there is a strong tendency for power, wealth, and even for learning and science — to accumulate in a few hands, while mankind at large, are weak, poor, ignorant, and in a word, barbarous. ?. This system, is necessarily a mixture of extremes, as to power, wealth, and poverty ; despotism in some, slavery in others, are almost inseparable from it. That learning which exists in such a state of society, is in like manner extremely liable to monopoly. Privilege and caste divide the world into classes : each class is separated from the others by the individual principle, while within each class, the same principle divides the membei-s as much from each other, as if they belonged to a different rank; thus also, a prmciple of competition is established, each man considering his neighbour as a rival, who stands in the way of his own prosperity, and whom he must by every means in his power out-strip or supplant. 4. Excessive competition is so essential to this system, that it i« the grand motive inculcated upon every child from its birth; high or low, rich or poor, all are stimulated from the cradle, in all their childish pastimes, and in all their elementary education, to aim only at one object, which is to get above a neighbour. A compari- son is drawn, not between the pupil and the subject, but between one pupil and another. A boy is not simply to acquire knowledge, but to know more than another; not to select the most useful studies, but to excell in those which are most in vogue; not to hoUi correct opinions, but to defend those that are held ; not to searcli for truth, but to bow to authority. 5. Whatever objections there may be to stich a state of society, theoretically viewed — whatever abuses it may be liable to — what- ever miseries it may be connected with — yet it is a system unavoid- 73 ( 2 ) able in the infaiicv of the woild ; it lias l)ocn invented bj' no set of artful men, but "is the growth of nature herself; the injuries, crimes, and miseries of which it is accused, are the abuses, and not the essence of the system; and though a severe parent, it is still the parent of the most momentous blessings to the world at large. 6. The Individual System, results necessarily and unavoidably among a set of beings, gifted with high and noble faculties, born ill a state of entire ignorance, and compelled to support life by daily labour. Inequality of faculties, character and circumstances, must immediately give rise to inequality of rank and division of labour; and hence, the origin of arts and sciences, and the ultimate regeneration and happiness of the whole race. Had mankind re- mained perfectly equal, they would for ever have remained ignorant and barbarous. Their boasted equality would have been an equality of degradation, of mere animal life, beyond which they never would have advanced. The very mode in which beings are intro- duced into the world, the relation of old and young, of parent and child, at once destroys all trace of equality. The simple, yet important fact, that knowledge is acquired, not innate — that knowledge is the result of experience and time — that it generally grows with our growth — this simple fact proclaims at once two momentous truths, that rank is unequal and that man is progressive. 7. It is true, that the mere labourer is a man of few ideas, of narrow mind, of low desires; but, his incessant labour gives leisure to others, that leisure gives rise to reflexion (properly so called), to knowledge of all kinds, to arts and sciences. The mind of man is enabled to unfold itself; the nature and qualities of its powers are tried and proved; and a new world, totally different from that with which his daily wants are connected, begins to be entered upon. The world of'mind, of intellectual power, of spiritual refine- ment, of moral perfection, would never have been known to man, without inequality of rank and without the Individual System. 8. That principle in man, by which one so readily falls under the influence of another ; by which whole tribes and nations are induced to look up to one individual, a creature in every respect like them- selves, with a degree of awe and veneration, approaching to religious homage, and which makes it even a duty to consider him as the absolute master of their lives and property ; this very principle, acting under different modifications, is also the parent of civilization, and of the progressive improvement of man. 9. In the Individual System, as all power emanates from one to many, so all knowledge follows the same direction. The course, indeed, of knowledge is more especially confined to that one direction. Knowledge being progressive, must necessarily be an object of discovery and invention. Some one individual must first be the happy person to become acquainted with a new fact and a new truth ; from him it must be communicated to others, who become the instruments of handing it on still farther, till it descends to the lowest of mankind. So one country shall attain a superior degree of light and knowledge to other nations, and be the means of "illuminating those that sit in ignorance and darkness. 10. Those who have paid much attention to knowledge, and have self-reflexion enough to watch the progress of their own minds, are best able to judge of the extreme slowness, with which the first steps are made in the cultivation of the faculties, and the first grains picked up upon the golden mountain of knowledge. They also must see the extreme importance of assistance at the outset ; when artificial signs come to be studied instead of things them- selves; and the obscure and often absurd records of men, are to be compared with facts and things, and to be received or rejected, by the principles of eternal truth. 74 ( 3 ) 11. The first steps in knowledge arc indeed cxtronicly difficult and laborious, and require exclusive leisure of time, as well as a mind of a peculiar turn. Thus, in the early period of the world, ages might roll away before the leisure of the division of ranks could give birth to any thing deserving the name of knowledge or science. The wonder is, not that man has not achieved more, but rather that he was able to achieve so much, under such dis- advantages. 12. The Individual System, therefore, seems to have been absolutely necessary for the birth of arts and sciences, because absolutely necessary for the leisure required. Nor when power was thus accunuilated in the hands of a few, arc we to conclude that the few would necessarily misdirect it. History, indeed, teems with the deeds of power, often employed in a questionable shape : but, that the possessors of power entered into a tacit combination against the happinc-;s of (ho world, is not the lesson of history. 13. We should rather say, that the exertions of power have on the whole been eminently beneficial to the race, and that its benefits are still only in their infancy. Arts and sciences were as essential for the purposes of power, as for the common comforts of man. Men of science, knowledge and learning, were the right hand of power; by them only could plans of self-defence or of cnterprize, or of domestic and national grandeur, be conceived and executed. Therefore, schools and colleges, and scientific institutions, were among the early objects of wealthy kings. The necessity of leisure for study, shut out all idea that luiiversal knowledge was a thing practicable or desirable; but, compared with the state of the world, very extensive schools were formed for the dissemination of that knowledge which was known or deemed desirable. We must not judge the measures of olden times by rules derived from a new state of the world : it is sufficient for their credit and glory, that they faithfully served the system to which they belonged, and the only system for which the world was fitted. 14. We have thus shewn the necessity of the Individual System for the well being of mankind in their infancy. But, if any should exaggerate its evils and miseries, by singling out the abuses and not the essence of it, we would farther remark, that if any set of men have a violent protest to enter against it, they have only themselves to blame for any evils they may complain of. Evei-y man, who comes into the world before he has done any thing for society, has had much done for him. He has been fed, clothed, and educated, at the expense of Society — which therefore owes him nothing. The debt is all on his side. He cannot claim a capital he has not pro- duced. When he begins to labour, he must labour some time before he can repay tlio expense of his previous support. If, aftei- this, he complains of the remuneration of labour in the shape of wages, as being only a portion of the produce instead of the whole — in short, if he prefers the Co-operative to the Individual System, he lias full liberty to enter it. There is no hiw, or authoi'ity, against it. As it is optional, so it is free; and wants only the Co-operative spirit to render it successful. 15. In fact, independent of all other considerations, the Indivi- dual System may very well be considered as a system forced on the possessors of power, by the ignorance and consequent perverseness of mankind, and their want of the true co-operative principle of mutual love. Whatevei- may be thought of individual possessors of power, there can be no doubt that the great end of government is the protection of property. If there is none but individual pioperty, • government must protect that. As common property starts up in the shape of partnerships, corporations, companies, benefit societies, government protects that, and co-operative 75 (4) societies will have their property protected in the same manner. 'Co-operation is a vohmtary act, and all the power in the world cannot make it compulsory ; nor is it desirable that it should depend upon any power but its own. For, if Co-operation (as seems likely) be the form which the greater part of the world is destined to assume, the interference of governments would only cramp its energies and misdirect them. 16. We have thus endeavoured to explain the nature and merits of the two systems, and their adaptation to different ages of the world, and different states of knowledge, and of the arts. The Individual System was admirably adapted to the infancy of society; and the high stimulus which it held out to the exertions of indivi- duals in every direction, was so much bounty upon the production of knowledge. Knowledge would have required a much greater length of time for its perfection, had it not been forced forward in this hot-bed of zeal and ambition; if, indeed, it could ever haTe grown at all. 17. But the time has now arrived when the labourer may begin to reap the fruit which has been ripening under the Individual »System. Knowledge, which v/as formerly confined to a few closets, is now in every body's hands. The methods of acquiring that knowledge, which were formerly long, irksome and laborious, are now short, pleasant and easy. Ten years of study are now reduced to one. Even the use of books is now better understood — that they are aids to knowledge, and not substitutes for it. Machinery has reached that state, when it dispenses with a great portion of the labourer's time — and the labourer begins to understand, that what is powerful as an enemy, must be equally powerful as a friend. The workman has also acquired a power of reflexion, and a freedom from passion, which formerly disturbed his movements : in short, he has acquired all the elements of Co-operation, and wants only to be habituated to the practice of it. Time and experience are as necessary for Co-operation as for other institutions : many mis- takes may be expected to be made — some failures may happen, from ignorance and inexperience; but, even these will be productive of good, and great teachers of true principles; till, at last, all rocks ^eing clearly pointed out. Co-operation will hold on its course to the end of time. I'he number of Co-operatice Societies now fornird ix ufjwards of One Hundred and Twenty. PUBLISHED BY COWIE AND STRANGE. SICKELMORE, BRIGHTON. 76 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS: HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 20. DECEMBER 1, 1829. Id. THE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM.— COMPETITION. 1. In pursuing our enquiries on our general subject, we thought proper, in our last number, to take some notice of what has been called the Individual System, as opposed, in a certain sense, to the Co-operative. It is the more necessary to do this, because the subject is liable to be misunderstood both by frieads and foes. The former being enamoured with a prospect which a warm imagination presents, as abounding in peace and plenty, virtue and happiness, hastily concludes, that tho Individual System is a com- bination of those, in whose hands power is at present lodged against this system of fancied perfection. The latter following too closely and servilely, in a beaten track, more fearful of losing present comforts than hopeful of increasing them — too much wrapped up in the idea of self — too little warmed by the glow of a generous philanthrophj- — and too sceptical of the resources and magnificent indications of nature and providence, consider any amelioration, in the state of mankind, as an impossibility — and any attempt at bringing it about, as visionary fanaticism, and dangerous innovation. 2. Both these extremes we would endeavour to avoid. We would not brand the Individual System as such, with abusive and injurious epithets, which serve only to inflame the passions and cloud the reason — under which all improvement is hopeless; far less would we limit and libel the course of nature, by pronouncing her plans as consummated in the triumph of vice and misery — and thus give a sanction to a cold and heartless scepticism in high places, which first pronounces mankind to be incapable of improvement, and then proceeds to prevent it, as if to establish its own consistency. 3. Let us then, in the pursuit of our argument, take some notice- of the principle of Competition, which belongs to the Individual System — which is represented in such dreadful colours by some writers in favour of co-operation, as the fertile cause of the dis- tresses of tho working classes — and as a mark of a malignant character, inherent in those who live by the practice of it. In doing this, we shall have occasion to shew the nature and value of the principle itself — and remove the odium, which, by some, is supposed to be attached to those who have hitherto been influenced by it. 4. We may observe in passing that, there are two kinds of Com- petition : one, the competition of buyers — the other, that of sellers. In the usual state of markets, when tho demand and supply are steadily equal to oanh other, Competition is hardly noticed. It 77 ( 2) begins to 1)0 licaitl of when tlic cquilibiiuni is tlistnrbcd, and the one rises very much above the other. It is said, that after the ravages of the plague of London, the supply of labour was so scanty, and the wages rose so high, that regulations were made to compel the workmen to sell their labour at a lower rate than the market price. There was then a Competition among the capitalists, to see who would buy labour at the highest price. 5. The Competition, liowever, which is so much complained of in the present day, is just the reverse of this. The supply of labour is greater than the demand ; and the labourers compete with each other to vmdersell each other in point of wages. Again, the pro- ductive powers of capital having enormously increased, there is a greater supply of manufactures than the market requires; and the capitalists therefore compete with each other in endeavouring to sell at the lowest rate possible. The capitalists, by competing against each other, do not get a sufficient return to employ their workmen; and the workmen, by competing with each other, lower tiicir wages^and do not get enough to supply the comforts of life. By this double Competition, the price of goods, the profits of trade, and the wages of labour, ai'e all reduced to a minimum. 6. What this minimum is, is not of so miich consequence to the capitalist — because the comforts and enjoyments of life, will still remain to him. But the case is far different to the workman, who has no capital to fall back upon ; and accoi'dingly his state is best described, by the public papers and parliamentary reports, on the increase of pauperism and crime — the awful distress which pervades many parts of the kingdom — and the anxious solicitude of all men, of all parties, to discover some remedy for what may be termed a national calamity. 7. As the low price of manufactures, and the competition among manufacturers is the apparent immediate cause of this misery, it is no wonder that it should have been seized upon by Bome writers, and denomiced with all the severity which the evils complained of. seem to justify. Here, however, they have fixed upon the wrong principle — and are attempting to apply a remedy at a wrong point, where none can be found ; and a little consideration will convince us, that the Competitive principle, which is inseparable from human nature, has been, up to the present moment, one of the greatest benefactors of the world — and even in a Co-operative state of society, must still exist in a modified form, in order that the different societies may avail themselves, fully, of all their resources. 8. The principle of Competition begins to act the moment that two persons exercise the same trade. Each will endeavour to pro- duce as much as possible, in order to increase his property; and should both be offering their produce at the same market, each will endeavour to sell at a lower rate — provided he can still obtain a tolerable profit. This Competition, however, can only be carried to a certain point — because there will arise some understanding between the parties, that they shall not compete to each other's ruin. However, to whatever degree this Competition is carried, though it may lower the profits of the dealers, it is necessarily beneficial to society at large, by increasing their comforts at the same price : so that every improvement in the arts, giving rise to cheaper production, gives rise also to competition among the dealers ; and enables private individuals to purchase a gi'eater number of enjoyments by means of the same income. 9. The beneficial effect of Competition descends even to the work- man. Clothing, more particularly, comes to him cheaper and cheaper, as Competition extends. If his wages were to remain stationary, while arts improved and competition among dealers increased, he would receive nothing but unmingled benefit from the 78 ( 3 ) principle. Then, indoed, his language would bo that of praise and exultation; and ho would view, with delight, the plentiful bales of goods exposed to sale and cheapened from day to day, in order to force them into the market. 10. But there comes a time, in the improvement of machinery, when the quantity of goods, which the market lequires, can be ;nanufactured by machines — which require fewer hands to serve them. Somo workmen are therefore dismissed, and then the choap- ncss of goods ceases to bo a benefit to them — for tliey have no wages to purchase with. Or, if instead of dismissing some men, the master reduces the wages of all, tlie cheapness of goods is then of less value to them. The operation of such causes may be trifling and slow at first, and therefore unnoticed : but should it procoe'ery. As the public arm was lengthened, that of private people was shortened; and the study of personal protec- tion gave way to that of the arts and literature, and the elegancies of life. But should these establishments at all relax in their activity, — should their operations be curtailed upon the plea of sparing the pockets of the taxed, and principally of the rich, — taxes of tenfold weight will be instantly levied upon them by a different band of officers, whose appetite will not be satisfied without the payment of the last farthing. 8. Thus the rich, or upper classes, are now placed, by irresistible laws, in a situation of peril. Crime and pauperism are making upon them on every side. New demands are made upon their purses and their time; while these dem.ands are urged in such a way, as to make a large class of their fellow creatxires appear their natural enemies. These enemies must be fed, clothed, and lodged, at the expense of the rich, who derive from them no return. As enemies, they must be feared and hated ; yet they exist in the very bosom of society, ready to take advantage of any opportunity w-hich a relaxation of vigilance may afford, to sacrifice their victims. 9. Crime on one side and the diminution of profit on tho other, the latter necessarily following the increasing power of machinery, 90 (3) imist gradually pare dowu the inoomo of the ric,l«. Those capitalists who consume without producing, will fool their means of consump- tion lessen. This they already declare to the public, and take care to do it in a public manner. Whether this is wise, is another ([Uestion : that it speaks a momentous fact cannot be disputed : and it is upon such facts that we wish to argue. They proclaim, with a voice not to be mistaken, that tho situation of the upper classes is one of jeopardy. 10. But crime and pauperism do not affect the happiness of the upper classes alone : they do not constitute a question merely between the upper classes and criminals and paupers : they draw into the question, tho happiness and comforts of the middle classes as well. The enormous taxes which are levied, fall upon all classcp as well as tho upper. Evorj' industrious, hard-working, and hard- thinking man, is curtailed in his comforts and enjoyments. Having 110 servants or supernumeraries to turn off, he is obliged to turn off his own desires and wants as they arise, and to banish from himself a. part of his very nature. Every effort of this kind is disagreeable. The repetition of them irritates and sours the temper, which gradu- ally settles down • into habitual discontent. Discontent naturally looks upwards to those who have the comforts and enjoyments we ourselves want. Envy and jealousy are the natural offspring of such a state of mind, and their companion hatred is never far behind them. But the middle classes are the hands of the upper classes, as the working classes are their feet. The middle classes think and plan and execute for the upper classes : they direct the labour, the machinery, and the commerce, by which the riches of every climato are assembled in the saloons of the rich : they build these very saloons for the rich to repose in. 11. If then the upper classes are loaded with taxes, for the support and custody of criminals — if they live in a state of per- petual warfare with them : if the same taxes press heavily upon the middle classes, and drive them into discontent and hatred : can the situation of the upper classes be one of peace and tranquility? Is it desirable? Is it safe? It is in vain for them to imagine that they stand alone. In such a solitude, they have neither hands nor feet : they have no power, alone, to direct or to execute ; for the middle classes do the one, and the working classes the other. Do they wish this state of taxation, crime, enmity, and discontent to continue? Do they wish it to increase? Do they wish it to run on to its natural termination of anarchy and ruin? If not, let them encourage Co-operation. 12. Co-operation aims at giving property and character to the working classes : it aims at transforming them from paupers into self-supporting industrious men — from criminals into men of honesty and integrity. It aims at giving them property, the wor'< of their own hands, and the saving of their own frugality. We roncrive that the possession of property is the basis upon which is built, not only the comfort of the possessor, but the improvement of his moral and intellectual character. To save, to increase, and to employ capital advantageously, require the exorcise of the best qualities of tho mind and heart. They render the cultivation of the mind desirable, and an improved education necessary. A man who has an inde- pendent income may choose whether he will think or not: but a man whose property depends upon thought, must choose between thought and ruin. 13. The possession of property tends, more than any cause, to produce respect for the property of others. The man who p'^ssesses nothing, can lose nothing by misconduct. He is a tool, ready for the use of any adventurer, or party, which wants his physical force. Subsistence for the day, and the gratification of his appetites, are the only motives which influence him. There is no saying how low such an unhappy being may sink in the scale of humanity ; for we have seen instances, in our day. in which the death of the scaffold seemed to ono individual as honorahl.^. as that of the bayonet to 91 ( 4) another. Yet some there are, who would eeem to prefer such a race of British workmen to a race of Co-operators — who propose to place themselves beyond the possibility of pauperism and crime, and within the pale of property, character, and knowledge. 14. But Co-operation, if practicable at all, cannot be limited to the working classes. At present indeed they are struggling alone, against all the difficulties which inexperience, ignorance, and the want of honesty and character in their agents, subiect them to. Should they surmount these impediments, as they undoubtedly will, they will then be joined gradually by the classes above them ; and the superior character, education, and skill of these, will be enlisted into the service, which will thus move with an accelerated velocity, and march in peaceful but glorious triumph through the world. Thus, as Co-operation spreads, the pauperism and crime of the working classes will diminish. The two events will act as cause and effect, and the effect will be proportionate to the cause. The universal prevalence of Co-operation among the working and middle classes must be accompanied by the total cessation of crime, and the annihilation of pauperism. 15. In pleading the cause of Co-operation, we hardly know whether we are advocating most the interests of the upper or the working classes. On the other hand, we are struck with pity to see the incessant and laborious exertions of the working classes, rewarded with vice, pauperism and crime — to see noble natures and divine faculties ruined by untoward circumstances and Hottentot ignorance : on the other hand, in these eventful times we cannot view without apprehension, indications of approaching storms, which seem to flit along the horizon of society ; while a universal opinion seems to have seized the minds of the upper classes themselves, that no plausible remedy for crime, pauperism and general discontent, has yet been proposed. 16. The remedy seems to us to be, to transfer unproductive con- sumers into the class of producers, by placing them on land on their own account; to invest the annual surplus of their produce in machinery of their own, or otherwise, as may be thought expedient ; to turn the labor or talents of every individual to useful account, and thus to diminish that large class of idlers of all ranks, whose vicious and corrupting influence spreads its poisonous venom wherever they go. Whether this be done by voluntary Co-operation, or by a system of common labor under the direction of enlightened and "benevolent men of practical knowledge, similar to the Dutch Colonies, we are convinced the result would prove beneficial to the parties concerned and to the public at large ; and that it would go farther than any other remedy yet proposed to diminish those diflaculties and avert those calamities, which, however incredible before they happen, frequently have happened in the history of the world, and seem to some minds to be now impending over the upper classes. Notice.— TFe are obliged to S. for his remarks— our motto has been the subject of much discussion. It is our own rule m interpreting others, to put upon an expression the most liberal tnterpretation it will bear. The word. Knowledge, mu.st be taken m its most comprehensive sense. A man knows nothing who does not know that virtue is essential to happiness, and to the happy direction of power ■ and the man knows little who does not know that virtue, though it be not religion, has little foundation to stand upon without it. We refer S., on this subject, to "A Iftter to the Rev. W. L. Pope, Tunbridge Wells, in reply to Two Sermons preached by him. on the subject of Co-operation." Sickelmore, Printers,. Brighton. 92 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 24. APRIL 1, 1830. Id. Published by Messrs. TAYLOR & SON, Booksellers, North Street, Brighton (to whom all comniunicationn, post paid, must be addressed) ; and may be had also of Mr. STRANGE, No. 21, Paternoster Row; Mr. VIRTUE, No. 26, Ity Lane; and at the Co-operative Bazaar, No. 19, Oreville Street, Hatton Garden, London . OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 1. We have endeavoured in these pages to develope and iUustrate an impression which our own minds have received — that Co-opera- tion, if reduced to practice, would be advantageous to all classes of the community, to the upper classes, the working classes, the rich, and the poor : it would sti'engthen the hands of government — it would put an end to pauperism and crime : it would draw down science to the daily walks of life, and raise the ignorant boor to the rank of rational beings. If we have succeeded in our attempt, it is unnecessary to answer specific objections — they fall to the ground of themselves : if we have not succeeded, we must, necessarily, fail in answering objections. If a direct view of the subject is not satis- factory, an indirect one will never be so. 2. Still, however, objections are made. Some minds seem to be unable to perceive any subject but in its objections. This is very much the character of the age in which we live. All people seem dissatisfied with all things; not only in politics and religion, but in matters one would think of plainer import ; — dissatisfied with crime, and remedies proposed for it; with pauperism, and with indepen- dent workmen; with ignorance, and with its antidote, knowledge : — perhaps, even a millennium would disappoint some people if it did not come in the way in which they expect it. 3. It is objected by some, that Co-operation has a revolutionart tendency : that it teaches the poor to combine against the rich : that it breeds discontent with their present lot : that it represents the possession of individual property as an art of injiisticc, and holds up the property of the upper classes as a fair object of plunder to the working classes : that it attributes all the sufferings of the working classes to the tyranny of the rich. 4. If it be meant by such charges, that there are persons among Co-operators who hold these sentiments, the charges may be true, and yet perfectly frivolous ; for there is no party or sect under the sun, among whom individuals may not be found holding the most absurd and dangerous opinions. We fear there are too many Neros, in all clpsses, who would be glad if mankind had but one neck, which they might strike off at a blow. But if the charge be broxight against the plain principles of Co-opeiation, they are a more mis- representation, and can onl3' proceed from a superlative ignorance of the subject. Though Co-operation is oiily another rxpression for " brotherly love," yet we do not at all expeot to shield ourselves under such an explanation. We have reason to conclude, that the principle of " brotherly love " is far from being viewed as a desirable one in practice, by many whose lips arc accustomed to it in theory. 5. It is not a little .lingular, that while some object to Co-operation because they think it will produce a revolution, others object to it 93 (2) because they think it will prevent one. "If," say they, "the poor co-operate, they will acquire property and information; they will then be above want and discontent; and their minds will be too much occupied in their own affairs, and too well satisfied with them. to think of risking any thing by a national commotion." Thus, the reasoning of the radical is truly orthodox, though his wishes are the other way : while the honest objector is actuated by proper feelings, though they are not seconded by legitimate argument. 6. The combination which Co-operation inculcates, is not one of the poor against the rich, nor of workmen against masters; but a ratioiial application of the principle upon which every man acts, and is directed to act, — that of bettering his condition. It is this principle which has raised mankind from barbarism to civilization ; and which will, one day, we trust, raise them from pauperism to Co-operative independence. We know not how far this principle is destined to be carried by Providence, — but, probably, far beyond our present conceptions : for, unless the progress of man were meant to be indefinite, there seems no reason for ever raising him above the rank of a savage; — for ever giving him intellectual cultivation, and a knowledge of the arts and sciences; or, above all, for making him acquainted with the high and sublime fate that awaits hira beyond the tomb 7. The combination of Co-operation is not directed against the property of others : first, because their own property would be liable to similar depredations; and secondly, because they ha.ve no occasion for it. Co-operative Societies have already proved, that property increases faster than the ability of managing it, whenever a certain fund is set apart to accumulate, without being used for current expenses. Co-operators know, that such funds judiciously applied, with all the assistance derived from modern machinerj-, would produce the necessaries of life in greater abundance than they could be used. The evil of the present day is not that work- men cannot produce their own support, but that too large a pro- portion of mouths are unproductive, and do nothing but consume. 8. Co-operation is a combination against idleness, against pauper- ism and crime (as we have so often reiterated), against vice and misery. A certain number of the working classes are treading in the steps of those of the upper classes, who have long entered upon this holy war. Surely such allies must be desirable : they are enemies turned friends. These enemies are no longer to be fought, to be converted, to be dreaded. So far the work of the friends of humanity is done. Where is the objection to fighting side by sideP Those who objected to them as enemies, will surely not object to them as friends, — unless habit should so far prevail over reason, as to render the use of offensive weapons a second nature. 9. Should Co-operation succeed. Co-operators will be raised from the class of workmen into that of men of property. As men of property, they will belong to the class which is now indeed above them, biit which will then be only on a level with them. Men of property cannot be objected to by men of property as such. Why. then, should the honest acquisition of property be considered an evil, a crime, when the possession of it is the seat of honor? On the contrary, if Co-operation is really practicable, its success will be hailed as a blessing by all classes. 10. We must again repeat, that the desire of property to be fairlv acquired, is the most anti-revolutionary of all principles. The revolutionary principle is one of destruction : the Co-operative principle is one of accumulation : — the former pulls down : the latter builds up : — the former scatters : the latter gathers : — the former reaps without sowing : the latter sows to reap. 11. There are two words (we might almost call them " cant terms ") which are flung about, in the present day, at every body's head who happens to think or to act in a. manner different from our- selves, particularly, on any subject which concerns the well-being of the LOWER ORDERS, as they are called : the one is revolution, the other INFIDELITY. Co-operation was scarcely bom before it had to bear the burthen of both these epithets. First derided, then abused, 94 ( 3 ^ it is to be hoped that it will oiitli\c both these accueatioDs, as HERESY of old outlived fire and faggot, and became established ORTHODOXY. When men accuse each other of revolutionary principles, we may smile at il as a mere party watch word. When serious men are too familiar with the term infidelity, we may well express surprise, that persons professing to believe that they ehall have to give account of every idle word, should undertake to determine the btate of another man's heart. 12. Yet so it is. And when a set of men have united themselves together for the purpose of interchanging the charities of life, upon a principle of " having all things in common," they are accused of wishing to subvert the plain practical precepts of the gospel ! — It has been observed, by a celebrated writer, that we should never bo surprised at obser\'ing contradictions in the human mind. Those who have seen most of tlio world, will be most ready to assent to this proposition : and it may be observed, in passing, that it is fortunate for man, that, in the limited state of his knowledge and faculties, he can entertain contradictory notions without discomfort. But still it is tho object of a rational bf-intf to pare these away, one by one; and so to build up a faultless state of mind for future generations, which may give birth to a more faultless state of pracli'^p. 13. The word infidelity has been applied to Co-operation, partly in the spirit of abuse, partly fi'om the circumstance of some of the advocates of the cause- iiaving professed themselves sceptical on tho subject of revolution. This we are free to confess. Some men may make much of such confession. We do not perceive that it has any thing to do with the good or evil of the cause itself. If every cause were to fall which numbers sceptics among its disciples, wo know not what is to stand. On this subject " we might a tale unfold, would harrow up the soul." The voice of history, and of the bible, speaks emphatically of the hypocrisy of man. The man who most strongly believes the divinity of the bible, must most strongly doubt the belief of the fire-and-faggot-men, either of ancient or modorn times. 14. When a man invents a useful machine, or constructs a beauti- ful building, or makes wide researches into the truths of natural insTORY, we never refuse to admire or to use the produce of his labour and ingenuity, till we have enquired into his religious creed. Providence has, no doubt, endowed man with a strong religious faculty or feeliug ; but ho has endowed him with many others besides, all essential to his happiness and perfection, though not all, perhaps, equally important,— and yet, all must be important which comes from such a hand, and goes to make up the noblest of his creatures. 15. Therefore, when a useful practical principle has been struck out by a person whose other opinions we may disapprove of; if that practical principle can be separated from his other opinions, and has no necessary connexion with them ; it would be worse than folly, it would be irreligion itself, not to separate the good from the bad. and to adopt it in practice. — The Infant School system in England sprung from a suspected source, though it arose in Germany lone before, under the auspices of one of the most indefatigable and pious ministers upon record — viz., of Oberlinc. That system has now received the stamp of universal approbation, while the name of the true English author i.s almost forgottcji. 16. Minds which deviate from the common road, though they may wander in a dreary labyrinth, may sometimes return to the cheer- ful haunts of men. with rare and curious specimens. Discoveries are generally made at a distance : and ho who sits idle in the cottagw iu which he was born, will seldom benefit his kindred. It may be in the order of Providence, that useful truths may sometimes be brought to light by those who do not acknowledge the source from which they spruns;. Mankind may light their torches at the eolitary flame, and scatter light through the world. 17. However this may be, truth and justice, and above all. religion, forbid vis to attribute to a system what only belongs to an 95 (*) individual. We have no right to call good evil, oi- evil good ; — to put bitter for sweet, or sweet for bitter. Let every man bear his own burthen, and be answerable for his own sins. Let every system stand, or fall, by its own merits. To use a homely proverb, let the saddle be put upon the right horse; and let us not put a stolen saddle upon the wrong horse, and then deprive the owner of horse as well as saddle. 18. If ever there was a system invented which is, in its very nature, anti-sceptical and anti-satanic ; if ever any system, when established, had a tendency to serve the best interests of morality and religion, and to draw down heaven upon earth; if ever any system demanded of its votaries a pure and undefiled religion, a conscience void of ofFenco, an honest heart, an industrious hand, a clear head, bi'otherly kindness, charity ; that system is Co-opera- tion. Visionary and impracticable it may be — that is to be proved ; sceptical and irreligious it cannot be — that is a contradiction. It is because men are not honest, not neighbourly, not disinterested, not christians, that they do not co-operate : it is because men have not yet learned to be of one heart and one mind, that they do not co- operate. What shall we say more? It is because men have adopted words for their creed, instead of feelings; because they are sceptical of the gracious designs of a directing Providence, — sceptical of his love, sceptical of his power, sceptical of his wisdom ; that they do not embrace Co-operation with open arms, and spread its principles, and aid its practice, with the same holy zeal with which the devoted Twelve first proclaimed the one great truth — man is immortal. 19. If man is immortal, it is not the great, the learned, the rich alone, who are so, — but the poor, the needy, the destitute, the Lazaruses of the world,— and much more, the honest and industrious workman. Why, then, should not that class of men begin to know and feel that their spirits are of a divine origin, and to be unfolded in endless perfection? If surrounded by all the means of comfort and independence, and of human and divine instruction, why should he not be encouraged to use them to his soul's good. Why should he remain any longer in a forlorn and depraved estate, subject to every vicissitude, a prej- to every designing knave, serial and political? — the tool of every ambitious tyrant, who, strong in the weakness of such human beings, makes them a stepping-stone to a throne of blood? Such, for many a long year, it has been the fate of our momentous times to witness : to witness a host of noble faculties wielded by the ciinning of one individual to be the scourge of his species. Such must other generations witness in their turn, unless some system be devised for enlightening, moralizing, and evangelizing the mass of the people. The system of past ages, admirable as it was in many respects, is insufiScient for the purpose. Crime and pauperism, war and bloodshed, have been its inseparable companions : and if like causes produce like effects, such will be its future progeny. 20. But that system is destined to have an end. The earth shall not always be a theatre of war, or of a competition of private interests, struggling to pull down the fortune of a neighbour. War shall cease. The ferocious passions of man shall be calmed : his energies shall be directed to nobler objects. Ambition itself shall no longer thirst for any power, but that of doinsr good. Public opinion, and public sympathy, shall be rightly directed, when the public is rightly taught. The poor shall be enlightened : he shall learn that knowledge is better than ignorance, and that wisdom is above the price of rubies : he shall learn that his own interest and happiness are boimd up with those of his fellow creatures, and that his own strength depends upon the strength of his companions; — thus, will he naturally turn his mind to a closer union with them, and this closer union must be that of Co-operation. Men will become christians in practice, they must therefore become christians in theory. The state of the world will carry its own evidence with it : it will be a running commentary upon those remarkable books in which such a state is clearly described. Scepticism can then no longer exist : it will be swallowed up in conviction, and that convic- tion will be the offspring of Co-operation. [Sickelmore, Brighton. 96 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS: HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 25. MAY 1, 1830. Id. Published by Messrs. TAYLOR & SON, Booksellers, North Street, Brighton (to whom nil communications, post //aid, must bf addressed); and may he had also of .Vr. STRANGE, No. 21, Paternoster Row; Mr. VIRTUE, No. 26, Icy Lane; and at the Co-operative Bazaar, No. 19, Greville Street, ffatton Garden, London. CO-OPERATION IS THE UNKXOWN OHJECT WHICH THE BENEVOLENT PART OF MANKIND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN SEARCH OF, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR FELLOW CREATURES. 1. Amidst all the " ills that flesh is heir to," there is in human nature a compensating principle — a principle of sympathy with and compassion for the sufferings of our fellow creatures — a principle of PITY. This is the secret balm which heals the sorest wounds ; which pierces the gloom of dungeons, the chamber of the afflicted, the despair of the oppressed; and diffuses light, cheerfulness, and liberty, among the outcasts of society. 2. Two characters have always been distinguished among men : the fierce, stern, unbending spirit — ambitious of power, tyrannical in its vise, and looking at the miseries of man with a dry eye : the other spirit is soft and yielding — follows the steps of misery with an unwearied foot, pours oil and wine into its wounds, shares with it its own comforts and superfluities, or even strips itself to clothe the naked. This spirit, from the time of Nathan to the present hour, has walked upon the earth, thinking none of its possessions to be intrinsically its own, but to be ti-usted to it as a loan, for the right use of which it was to be responsible to its better feelings — its conscience, and its God. 3. Those err much who denounce human nature as entirely made up of gross selfishness : man is not a creature of any single principle. Such an idea ill suits that endless variety of feeling and action which has been bestowed upon him by his infinite Creator : much less is that supposed single principle, selfishness. Even in the bloody track of the ambitious conqueror, though the murderous as?;:is;in follows to plunder the dying and the dead, yet there is still a third warrior behind — the man that conquers hireself, to become the Samaritan of the pi'ostrate, whether of friend or foe. To him all men are friends who want his assistance : neither counts he his time, purse, or life dear to him, so he may prove the divine truth — " every man is his brother." 4. That this principle of human nature should appear at first to be obscure, is not to be wondered at : it is retiring, modest and diffident. From its very nature it does not anticipate evil, its business is to follow it. and heal its wounds. It is not bold and presumptuous in inventing plans for preventing evil ; for it is con- 97 ( 2) trary to its nature to tliink ill of human nature : — " e,il to him only who evil thinks." It is only one of the melancholy fruits of experi- ence to be convinced, that there are permanent causes of misery in the world ; and that unless these causes are known, explained, and rooted out, all the ingenuity, the benevolence, and the reliijion of man, will in vain attempt to heal the incurable cancer. But how can v«e doubt of the existence of this kindly principle, when the helpless years of infancy and of old age equally depend upon it for jjreservationp when even the meridian of life's manhood v.ould sink under zeal, exertion, caie, and anxiety; unless, in the hour of retire- ment, some sympathizing heart soothed and tranquilized the throb- bing breast ! 5. We almost blush to write in such a strain : but we are fallen i;i an age in which truths the most pure, the most sublime, the most tender, are doubted, denied, and ridiculed. The minds of men are as the dreams of a sick man — tossed to and fro. Perplexity and amazement have seized the boldest counsellors : and in the general struggle for safety, all principles seem to be lost. We have lived to sec the attempt to do good branded with disgrace. 6. Nevertheless it is true, that this principle of pity is inseparable from human nature : that its force and power are continually in- creasing, as occasions call for its exertion : that it follows the same law of progressiveness as our intellectual faculties : that it is aided in its progress by intellectual improvements : that it gradually systematizes it« operations, like other principles : that it loves to congregate and unite with its kindred : that it must therefore ultimately perfect its knowledge of the causes of misery, and their natural remedies; and thus give a death-blow to the arch-enemy of human nature. 7. When civilization was in its infancy, and every event assumed an individual character, the principle of pity, or charity, or benevo- lence, was individual also. When civilization advanced, and property accum\ilated, some noble spirits, in every age, thinking io crush the Hydra-headed monsters, poverty and misery, consecrated their wealth to this object, in the shape of a permanent endowment. In our own country, especially, the number of endowments of this kind, and their amount in funds, are past belief. Some of these were violently taken possession of by despotic tyranny ; many were abused and perverted; and of the rest, the most valuable by far, seem to be those which turned to the more general diffusion of education and knowledge. 8. The object of these endowments was, generally, to place certain funds at the disposal of one set of people for the benefit of another. The donor relied upon the same principle of charity and justice in the bosom of another which he felt in his own. No one is now surprised, that such an expectation should be disappointed. When- ever we use a second person as an instrument for doing good, we shall assuredly fail, unless we identify his duty with his interest. In the greater number of instances of charitable endowment, the duties and interests of the agents have been at variance; and the objects of the institution have failed. Those have succeeded best in which, as in the case of schools, new interests have sprung up and co-operated with the original objects of the endowment. 9. For the same reason, the good intentions of the legislature oo the subject of poor laws have been disappointed, because the interest and duty of all parties concerned have been at variance. In the various societies formed in recent times for the relief of the poor, the same defect exists : and after they have spread themselves out to a certain extent, they seem to leave as wide a gap unoccupied as they have themselves filled up. The best exertions of the b.est mean- ing" men seem to go for nothing : pauperism and distress increase on 98 ( 3 ) every side : and such fruitless exertions become the subjcuL either of the pity or contempt of the inditYerent spectator. 10. What, then, is the conclusion to be lierived from all this experi- ence? Is it that the principle of pity in human nature is abortiver" that it will for ever fail, as it lias done, in attempting to relieve the wants of mankind? Certainly not: but only tliat it has been mis- directed, and has not yet disco\ered its true sphere of action. So suroly as individual attempts to relieve poverty and misery have hitherto failed, so surely must they fail iu future. The friends of benevolence may rest assured, that as fast as they put down poverty in one place, it will start up in anotlier : and that nil their exertions, will take nothing from the sum total of its amount. 11. That which makes man poor and vicious, is disunion and neglect. Man comes into the world ignorant and helpless : ho is nursed and educated in ignorance and vice : he only l)ecomes known to society when he has reached the age of manhood, and appears before us as a pauper or criminal. Instead of being viewed as a christian, and a brother, he is only treated as an outlaw : he is then, at length, put under a course of discipline and controul, with no view, however, to the improvement of his mind and character ; but merely as a safeguard for a season. It is supposed strangely enough, that the inconvenience of confinement will renovate his minrl and feel- ings, and fill him with the motives and principles of a good man ! — a royal road, indeed, to so noble an end! Had the same discipline and controul been exercised over him from his infancy, had inquiry been made as to the means of his proper education, had his miserable neglect and deficiencies been supplied by proper inspection and teach- ing, a discipline begun so early might have had some chance of success. If a system begun late in life is supposed capable of form- ing the character, its chances of success would he increased tenfold by being begun in infancy. 12. One would have thought that so important an object as the prevention of crime, was one worthy of a nation's care ; and that a imiversal system of training and superintendence in parochial schools, was an obvious expedient. But no such thing. The preven- tion of crime and the formation of character have been left to chance. It has been left to the charitable and humane; and their efforts, though small compared with the amount of the evil, have been great and meritorious to themselves. That their success has not been more complete, has been owing to their disunion, and the imperfection of their plans — and greatly too to the low estimate they have made of the value of the working classes. The division of rank tends, no doubt, to encourage pride on the one hand and degradation on the other; and this, carried to an extreme, denies to the working classes all right to moral and intellectual improvement, or to any thing more than mere subsistence. 13. The low estimate of character and disunion of interests, throws insuperable difficulties in the way of the benevolent; and so it will continue to do. Upon the present principle the l)cnevolent are to do every thing for the poor, who are to do nothing for themselves. All the superfluous produce of laboiir is to lie placed in the hands of the rich, who are to dole it back to the poor in the way they think most judicious; the poor are to be incapable of thinking or manag- ing for themselves, and for ever to remain so : hence the abortive- ness of all our schemes. 14. How then are the humane and charitable to use and apply Co-operation as a remedy for these great and increasing evils? The method is extremely simple — they are to become Co-operators. Instead of travelling over a wide space to give away a portion of their income, which thej' can often ill spare, and a great portion o;' their valuable time, they are to recommend Co-operation to the 99 ( 4 ) poor, to assist them with a small portion only of their money, as subscribers, and with a very moderate portion of their time and talents in managing the accounts and instructing the members. The money, the time, and the teaching, wliich are now devoted to the poor by a small number of benevolent enlightened persons, and which, as we have said, produce little effect ;:pon the general mass of crime, poverty, and ignorance, if applied upon a Co-operative principle, accumulating permanent property for the poor, improved understandings to enable them to cultivate that property, and improved moral and religious feelings, would, in a few years, work a miraculous change in the face of society. 15. In Co-operative Societies, as well as in others, the most useful, intelligent, and wisest members, will have most influence among the rest. Benevolent persons, therefore, who may join themselves to these societies, will possess all the influence which their superior qualities may deserve. This influence will be seconded by the services of the members, who will become assistants in carrying on any good work which may be proposed. Thus the number of benevolent agents, continually acting upon the poor and the working classes will be increased, and their qualifications for doing good multiplied and improved. The same course by which good flows from man to man will be followed, but the number of streams will be doubled and tripled. The advantage of setting the poor to improve the poor will also be felt, as they are capable of influencing one another to many purposes, which are not within the reach of persons who are placed in rank too high above them. 16. We repeat, that we only wish to give a new and more efficient direction to that divine spirit of charity which has ever been alive to the interests of humanity, and which, in modern times, has exhibited itself in almost every shape in the attempt to give a permanent improvement to the condition of the lower orders. That such improvement is not in itself impossible, is proved by the simple fact, that those orders do at last furnish all the rest with food, clothing and houses. Capital indeed is supplied to them — but this very capital has been produced by themselves. That the lower orders, therefore, can supply themselves abundantly, admits not of a doubt, if they were only properly directed : and this proper direction it is easy for their true friends to give them by uniting with them in co-operative views. That the working classes, when more enlightened and experienced, will co-operate of their own accord, cannot be doubted : they would not else be men, to give away daily the major part of their own earnings, to starve upon the remainder. But we wish to see the time anticipated by the co-operation of the sincerely charitable and humane, and we wish to see these excellent persons adopting a new method of doing infinitely more good with infinitely less labour to themselves. 17. Then will the excellent qualities of many of the upper classes — their humanity, their kindness, their intelligence, their informa- tion, their integrity and good principles, be exercised to the highest purposes of which they are capable. They will spread like leaven among the mass— they will cause the green grass to shoot by their fertilising influence, they will multiply their own resemblances among their fellow-creatures — they will have attained the great end of all their labours, the end at which they are constantly labouring only now to be disappointed. So will they be the harbingers of a great and glorious destiny to the human race — so will they cover the earth with knowledge, virtue, religion, happi- ness, as'the waters cover the seas — so will they be worthy disciples of the great Him, who first taught mankind that the noblest attribute of existence was " to go about doing good." Sickelmore, Typ. Brighton. 100 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS : HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 26. JUNE 1, 1830. Id. Published by Messrs. TAYLOR & SON, Booksellers, North Street, lirighton, and 21, Great May's Btiildim/s, St. Martin's Lane, Lon- don (to whom all communications, post paid, inust be addressed); and may be had aho of Mr. STRANGE, No. 21, Paternoster Rowl- and at the Co-operative Bazaar, No. 19, Oreville Street, Hatton Garden, London. THE BIBLE. 1. There is a book in the world called the Bible. 2. The above proposition, perhaps, no one will be inclined to dispute. We have stated what we believe to be a fact; and we shall proceed to make some observations upon it, which we think will not displease either the friends or enemies of Co-operation. 3. The Bible is a very ancient book ; that is to say, parts of it are very ancient. Parts, indeed, are very modern : so modern, that they belong almost to our own times : so modern, that some persons exclaim — "O yes, we know all that; we can read the same thing in such and such authors; it requires no prophet to write such books; the facts are to be found every where in profane history, as well as sacred ; and we owe nothing to the authors for having multiplied our sources of information." 4. Other parts are not quite so modern : and when they are read by the same persons, they remark — " why yes, those facts arc certainly spoken of, or alluded to, by some writei"s besides those of the Bible; but the times are distant; many works have probably perished ; events are not so fully recorded as in later times ; the history is very meagre; we are not sorry to have all the light we can get, we wish we had more ; as far as the same histories are concerned, the Bible seems to agree with other books, and it gives us some information liesidos, which is not elsewhere to be found." 5. But there are other parts of this Book of which not even this can be said, viz. — that it agrees with other histories of the same period: for after having traced history upwards: and compared the Bible with other documents, to a remote period : we come, at last, to a time of which no history speaks but the Bible. The Bible stands alone, as a foitress in the midst of a desert ; within which, we must either retreat for safety, or remain without exposed to uncertainty and danger. We must either admit the evidence of this Book,"^ or have none at all. We must either believe this, or believe that there never was a written history previous to the oldest profane histories we have, or that all true historians of that date have perished. 101 ( 2) 6 The antiquity of this Book, therefore, is very remarkable; but not less remarkable is a certain spirit which runs through it from beginning to end ; — which spirit we mean to point out to our readers. Whoever the persons were who composed the difierent parts of that Book ; whatever were their motives and objects : whatever the times they lived in; or the subiects they wrote upon, whether law, religion, history, or poetry; tkey were all actuated by this spirit among others — they all concurred in one feeling — a feeling which, traced through so many ages, and through so varied a succession of writers, may well bo called sublime, from its simplicity and consistency — a feeling for the poor. 7. The Bible speaks of a period prior to that of the division of ranks ; it speaks of a time when society constituted but a family ; when tribes, and even nations, were l)nt families ; when there was no distinction between the rich and the poor, for all were main- tained from a common capital. When, however, the distinction of ranks comes to be spoken of ; and the family whose history is chiefly detailed, assumes the form and substance of a nation ; the same voice which fixes the civil institutions, is lifted up in behalf of the poor. The existence of a class of poor having taken place, and become unavoidable, the lawgiver assumed the office of their protector; and ameliorated, by special provision, what he could not annul. 8. The avarice and rapacity of the rich of those days, and the natural tendency of property to accumulate, were guarded against by a law which prevented the perpetual alienation of small pro- perties. Neither force nor cunning could despoil a man of his little inheritance ; for even were it sold for a price, in a few years it must revert again to himself, or his family. With respect to the class still below this, which had no inheritance to dispose of, and whose subsistence therefore was at the caprice of the rich; the lawgiver did all that he could for them, when he gave them a permanent right to the sympathy and charity of the rich ; and proclaimed, that upon the respect shewn to this right, would depend in part the prosperity of the nation. Thus three great points are provided for in this legislation : first, the security of all property, by positive law, and by a moral and religious sanction ; secondly, the permanency of small possessions ; thirdly, the rights of the poor. 9. The first legislator of the Jews seems almost to have had a prophetic eye to the fate which awaited a great portion of society — when the labourer should sink into poverty, degradation, and slavery. He had, indeed, in the country in which he had been educated, beheld the miseries of extreme wealth, and extreme poverty : he had seen the tyranny to which it invariably leads, and the moral degradation which necessarily follows : he had seen his own countrymen gradually losing the pure ideas of one divinity which their fathers had possessed, and driven by slavery into a gross idolatry. He had observed all nations following the same course : riches leading to luxury and crime; and poverty to slavery, superstition, and idolatry. 10. No wonder he should shrink, at first, from the idea of putting himself at the head of a nation of this description. His own mind finely endowed and cultivated, was the last to be disturbed by the dreams of ambition. Far more congenial was it to him, when sick of the heartless contrasts of Pharoah's palace, to retire to those beautiful plains, where he might raise his spirit to the wondei's of nature, and " the God of his fathere; " and in the enjoyment of his own meditations, and a peaceful home, might try to forget his people, their wrongs, and their rights. 11. While dwelling in this comparative solitude, it did not appear 102 ( 3 ) disgraceful in his eyo?;, to mix himself up witli humble oii ..[jjuioiis : " he fed his flock in Hoieb;" and held out a proof to all succtoding ages, that laboiir is honorable, and tliat it is possible to combine with laborious occupation, the highest energies of the mind, and the profound&st meditations. When oalled upon to quit his retirement, by a voice and authority ho could not resist, he shewed by the whole tenor of his conduct and legislation, that personal aggrandize- ment formed no part of his ambition ; but that the good of man- kind, and particularly of the poor, was the only object of his actions, his thoughts, and his life. 12. After this man had finished his extraordinary career : had redeemed his countrymen from slavery, and presented them with freedom, liberty, and a land of their own : and had fixed the law upon a permanent basis, so that none should alter it at their peril ; one of the grand features of its form, being a principle of charity ; he was succeeded by a long line of men ; the most illustrious of which, were most anxious to preserve this distinguishing principle. Whether under the name of Judges, Kings, or Prophets, it is remarkable that the best and wisest of men, lifted up their voices against that avaricious and grasping spirit in human nature, which is always ready to sacrifice the weak to the strong. Indeed, one of the most memovable and pathetic stories on record, is that of the mighty monarch condescending to confess his own tyranny and injustice, humbling himself as a child under the rebuke of his servant, and offering any atonement which was then in his power to make. 13. In the subsequent history of this people, when they became the prey of surrounding nations, among the causes of national decline enumerated by their writers, the breach of this part of their law — the principle of charity — is particularly dwelt upon. The nation had been settled in their country upon condition ; a positive contract had been made ; and as Moses had professed to enact the law oi charity by a divine authority, so the later prophets appealed to the same authority when they asserted, that national punish- ments had followed the national violations of this law. 14. Among the writings which liave descended to us, from this remarkable people, is a volume of religious poetry. The religious poetry of most ancient nations, consists chiefly in magnifying the warlike power of their supposed deities : — a few of their benevolent qualities are sometimes dwelt upon, as the causes of temporal prosperity. In the Hebrcv*? poetry, the irresistible power of their God is indeed described, (as well it might be.) by persons who attributed the existence of the nation solely to that power :• — the beauties of nature are also most sweetly sung, and the whole creation is invited to join in a chorus of praise to its maker. But besides these subjects, the Jewish poets have seized upon others, peculiarly their own : they have attributed to their Deity a character sublimely moral and paternal, and represented him as the guardian of the meanest of his creatures. Of the two great classes into which mankind are divided — the rich and the poor; the God of the Jews is represented, emphatically, as the God of the poor ; they are under his especial protection ; — tyranny and oppres- sion are his aversion ; — and the man who is most secure of his approbation, is he who is hospitable, kind, and merciful to the poor. 15. By the poor in the language of the Bible, are to be understood workmen and the working classes : it is their cause, therefore, which the Bible so strongly pleads. The reasons for the distinction of ranks, which has hitherto prevailed in the world, has never })een thoroughly investigated; though capable of the most satisfactory explanation, and a proof of the most refined and consvmmiate wisdom : but it belonged to that same wisdom, to moderate the 103 (4) evils attending it, by the most express precepts in favour of the workmaJi. Riches are invariably represented as a loan in trust ; and the right management of them, as constituting an awful responsibility. So just a precept became him, who was well aware that riches are only the productions of the many, accumulated in the hands of the few. It was not right, in any point of view, that the workman should be deprived of his produce, and left to starve : and yet we must recollect, at the same time, that no ancient book, except the Bible, has maintained this principle in any degree. 16. Far be it from us to presume, that we have penetrated deeper than others into that wonderful Book ; or are delivering any thing more than a private opinion, in tracing the analogy between the spirit of the Bible and the spirit of Co-operation. The fact, however, stands so — that the amelioration of the condition of the workman, is the object of both : the one, indeed, only requiring it morally of all who profess to believe in it, and therefore liable to be disobeyed and disappointed : the other, proposing actually to effect it bj* the simple combination of powers already in action, and which are acknowledged on all hands equal to the purpose. 17. But we may observe farther, that the clear, positive, and constant inclination of the spirit of charity, indicates the will of the author; and with that will, his intentions and objects — which is only saying in other words, that it is the end of providence. We speak to those who believe the Book : his word cannot be void : the precept, the promise and the fulfilment, are separate only in time : they are not arbitrary and random declamation, but they indicate a plan and a system : that plan is the course of providence, and that system its consummation. We may therefore conclude, from a due consideration of that volume, that the amelioration of the condition of the poor, or working classes ; the universal reign of peace, harmony, and plenty; of virtie and religion: is the end of providence. 18. We may also observe, that such views do not rest upon mere inference, but are plainly spoken of in various parts of the Volume. Time is anticipated ; and as men in these days seem to behold society assuming new and more splendid forms, judging from the rapid triumphs of arts and sciences over obstacles hitherto deemed insurmountable, so, in those days, some few highly favoured men poured out their prophetic conceptions, derived from a higher source, to be at once the delight, the consolation and the hope of the world. 19. If these things be so — if we too breathe the " spirit of faith, hope and charity " — if we deem the improvement of our fellow creatures desirable and possible, and that we have discovered a new and superior method of promoting it, what, it may be asked, is the duty, what the office, we are called upon to discharge? The answer is, to afford them that assistance which their ignorance and inexperience require, and which our education and knowledge qualify us to impart. When the different classes of society shall be engaged in a common object, alike beneficial to both, their mutual jealousies will cease. Each will bring his labour or his know- ledge to a common fund, and find his happiness in promoting the common good. By the mutual interchange of good offices, a feeling similar to that which binds people together in famihes, will spring up ; and if a tree be known by its fruit, that fruit must be pleasant which is grown upon the stock of intelligence watered by affection. Sickebiiure, Typ. Brighton. 104 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGE AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS : HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 27. JULY 1, 1830. Id. Published by Messrs. TAYLOR & SON, Booksellers, North Street, Brighton, and 21, Great May's Buildings, St. Martin's Lane, London (to u-hoin all communications, post paid, mtist be addressed): and may be had also of Mr. STRANGE, No. 21, Paternoster Row; and at the Co-02)crative Bazaar, No. 19, Oreville Street, Hatton Garden, London. CHRISTIANITY. 1. In our last number we took notice of a peculiar feature in the Bible ; which, though it has not been entirely overlooked by religions professore, has never received that attention which it merits ; nor has it been traced out to all the consequences which legitimately flow from it. This feature ought also to secure for the Bible a hearty reception among all the sincere friends of the working classes ; because, considering the authority of that book in the world, it might be made the most powerful ally of the true philanthrophist in ameliorating their condition. What is wanted in the present day, is not merely the discovery of new principles, but a selection and new application of old ones. Many important truths are scattered through the writings of former men, which lie undistinguished in the common mass : these want to be drawn out and applied under the present favorable circumstances of the world. 2. So it is with the Bible. The spirit of that book is eminently favorable to universal benevolence and improvement, if the spirit of the readers did but respond to the spirit within : but as this has rarely been the case, the inferior lessons have hitherto chiefly been studied, leaving the superior ones yet to be developed and reduced to practice. When they shall be properly appreciated and applied, we may then expect to see in the world, by the joint operation of divine and human authority — of religion and science, a state of comfort, perfection, and happiness, to which we have hitherto been strangers. 3. In speaking of the Bible, we have chiefly had in view that part of it which is called the Old Testament : but there is another part, called the New Testament, of which the contents arc still more extraordinary than those of the Old. That spirit in the Old Testament, whicli pleads the cause of the poor with so much earnestness and authority, lives also in the New. So far there is an identity of purpose and object. But there is a new spirit in the Gospel, and a new character given to the poor. In the Old Testa- ment the poor are merely protected from the tyranny of the rich : in the New, thev are selected as a chosen class, to teach, instruct, and inform those very rich. In the Old, the poor are represented as a class helpless aiid friendless: in the New, they are exalted, 105 ( 2) and even glorified ; — they were endowed with the highest powei's, even supernatural ; and taught to look forward to the noblest perfection. 4. The Gospel was not born in a palace : it did not go forth from kings, princes, or nobles. Its cradle was the cottage of a mechanic, and its irresistible heralds were from among the lowest of the people : its first addresses were made to the poor, its miraculous powers were exerted in their favour, its purest precepts were explained to them, as fully competent to understand and receive them : its high principles of character were laid down for their imitation, and its sublime promises were made to them, as their natural inheritance. 5. The Gospel, therefore, took the poor by the hand : it lifted them "out of the mire:" it made them "kings and princes:" it found them poor, it left them rich : it found them weak, it left them strong : it found them degraded, it left them exalted : it found them men, it left them sons of God : it found them clay, it left them immortal spirits. The Gospel has entirely changed the face of the world, the destiny of the poor, and the character of human nature itself : without it, we could not but despair of the improvement of the world ; with it, that improvement becomes a first principle in philosophy : without it, even if we admitted the progress of science, we could not admit that of the mass of mankind; with it, we become acquainted with a new law of providence, viz. — a perpetual progress, not only of science, but of mankind of all ranks, and especially of the poor, towards an endless perfection of character and happiness. 6. This peculiar principle in the Gospel has been much overlooked. The world is indebted to the poor for the Gospel : they first received and taught it, and sealed their testimony to it with their blood ! " Not many rich, not many mighty," were then called : and even the wisdom of the learned was considered foolishness. But at length, the rich and the learned having elected themselves the professed guardians of the volume of the poor, have so interpreted its comprehensive and exalted declarations, as to leave nothing for the poor in this world, as a class, but poverty and ignorance, and the consequences of them — vice and misery. What prospect they may have of happiness in a future life, without the means — by a m.ore careful education — of forming that character here upon which happiness will there depend, it is painful to contemplate. 7. This state of things is not the religion or the principle of the Gospel. The principle of the Gospel was to put an end to that immense disparity of condition and comfort which till then existed in the world : to" soften the ferocity and tyranny of the ambitious part of mankind : to proscribe the selfishness of the wealthy : to humble the proud oppressor : and to proclaim the rights of the defenceless and the poor. However high and mighty a man might be, it boldly told him that in the eye of Heaven he was but dust and ashes, that he was responsible for every exercise of his power, and that the lowest man with honest principle was greater than the high&st without it. 8. The state of the first christians, generally, approached very near to a true Co-operation, and in some cases attained to it entirely. The community of goods which was at first enjoined upon all, united with the rule that the wilfully idle should not be allowed a share of support, proves that a provision was made for labour as well as for charity. A particular sect, called the Essenes, carried these principles into a regular organised system, and subsisted for some ages upon a pure Co-operative plan. They seem, at last, to have become extinct from the political revolutions of the world, and the general state of ignorance upon all mechanical and scientific 106 ( 3 ) subjects. The motives of their union were too exclusively those of duty; which, unless connected with a general taste for useful knowledge, is Uable to degenerate into superstition. Their exist- ence, however, is a proof how easily the spirit of the Gospel, when finst ushered into the world, drew its votaries into Co-operation, and how favorable it must ever continue to be to such unions. 9. Co-operation, besides proceeding upon the principle that labour is the only source of wealth, affirms also that the faculties and intellectual powers of the workman are the same as those of all other classes of society, and as capable of improvement from cultivation. The spirit of the Gospel does the same : for that was the first voice that taught the workman his own value and dignity, both here and liereafter. Co-operation promises the workman an improvement of his temporal comforts, and an addition to temporal happiness, by a union with those of a kindred spirit, and by the mutual interchauge of the charities of life. The Gospel repommcnds precisely the same kindly feeling, the same mutual assistance, and promises a mental satisfaction in consequence of it, which can spring from no other source. 10. Co-operation is inconsistent with the selfish passions of our nature : with all low and idle pursuits : with all waste of precious time : with all indulgences in mere animal gratification : with all infringement of the rights and properties of othei-s : with all malice and ill will towards them, for any difference of taste, pursuit, or opinion. We need not say, that on all these points the spirit of the Gospel is precisely the same ; and that one of the chief obstacles in the way of the establishment of both is the same, viz.^the selfish- ness of human nature. 11. The spirit of the Gospel, and the spirit of Co-operation, are both of them new principles, introduced into the world at different periods, and of course upon a different authority ; but both opposed to the common spirit of the world, both holding out peculiar rewards for the adoption of their principles, and both contending with peculiar difficulties, in consequence of their opposing the selfish principles of man, and appealing to his higher feelings and faculties, which are not yet sufficiently cultivated to be alive to the import- ance of the cause. The author of the Gospel was too wise to make positive institutions, because the progressive nature of rnan makes all institutions temporary. Institutions themselves nuist be for ever changing, in order to be for ever improving : but there may be a spirit in all institutions which may remain the same, while the form in which it acts may vary. This spirit has been wonderfully seized in the Gospel — a spirit of universal love, alone sufficient to prove it divine : and this spirit has iiifused itself more or less into all the institutions which have been formed in chi-istian countries; and is still growing in importance, as it grows in age. 12. It is this spirit which has, in fact, given rise to the attempt at Practical Co-operation : it saw the wretched state of suffering to which many of the working classes were reduced : it saw the intrinsic value of their labour : the improveable nature of their intellectual faculties : the extraordinary assistance they might derive from the use of modern machinery : the wonderful produce of labour when ably directed : and it cherished the hope, that by uniting them amicably into one body, they might succeed in improving their minds, and insuring a comfortable independence. 13. There is something in this idea consolotary to the friend of man, and which bids him not despair of the ultimate happiness of his kind. Many petty attempts have been made, by benevolent persons, to- relieve the wants of the lower classes, and to promote their comfort : but no one ever imagined, before the present day, that workmen were themselves capable of looking so far as to adopt 107 ( 4 ) a system of mutual labour, support, and instruction, in order to provide for themselves upon a permanent plan. The spirit which prompted this, is a new spiiit; as much as the steam engine is a now mechanical power. Like other new powers and machines, it will require many experiments to bring it to practical perfection; but when one experiment has succeeded, imitation will become easy. and mankind will reap the benefit of it for ever ! 14 In endeavouring to trace an analogy between the spirit of the Gospel and of Co-operation, we neither wish to degrade a divine institution by comparing it with a human one, nor to press into our cause an ally which does not naturally belong to us. While we have selected certain points of comparison, in which the Gospel is favor- able to us, we are well aware that its grandest claims are of a still higher nature : and while some Co-operators (unfortunately for the cause,) have pretended to doubt of the real truth of the Gospel, and have imagined themselves capable of making a new gospel out of Co-operation, we have that opinion of the force of evidence accumu- lated upon the subject, as to attribute their doubts to the same fertile source of scepticism to which we attribute the scepticism of the enemies of Co-operation, viz. — to ignorance. 15. But believing in the divine truth of the Gospel, we have a right to take up its principles, and apply them in a new age, to a new order of things. If the age in which we live affords us new means of improving the characters of mankind, and of securing to all the comforts and conveniences of life, it is but a poor interpreta- tion of the spirit of the Gospel to argue, that because there were poor in those days, therefore there ought always to be a class of forlorn outcasts. Nothing, indeed, is more hostile to the spirit of the Gospel than such an argument : nothing more congenial with the spirit of it, than that now at length the united action of the spirit of the Gospel, and the spirit of modern intelligence, should revisit the poor, from whom the Gospel sprung, and give them a new rank in the scale of this world, just as the Gospel itself once gave them a new rank in the creation of God. 16. The time is fast coming when mere theory on the subject of huinan virtue, liappiness, and religion, will not satisfy human wants. The man of theoi'y must be also a man of practice; he must not merely talk, he must practice : he must live by the side of his fellow christian and teach him by example, as well as by words. The author of Christianity was not a mere teacher : he lived with the people he wished to instruct : they saw him in private, as well as public : they became familiar with his character, till it wove itself partially into their own. Such must one day be the character and conduct of the disciple of this master : he must teach by his life, and must give to the circle around him, the vital impress of his own sentiment and his own intelligence. 17. This idea is not imaginery. Already here and there individuals exist of a true noble character — who devote their fortune, talents, time, to the instruction and moral improvement of those around them. Years have been given to these experiments, which promise more and more fruit as they advance in progress. They have benefited individuals, they must hereafter benefit society at large. We can do no more than allude to them here: but our own hopes in favor of Co-operation, would not have existed without a know- ledge of such experiments. Happy the persons who commenced them ! Happy those who shall apply such knowledge in their own immediate neighbourhood ! And far happier those who shall succeed in proving, that such experiments united with a Gospel spirit, are sufficient for the success of a Co-operative community ! SICKELMORE, PRINTERS, BRIGHTON. 108 THE CO-OPERATOR. KNOWLEDGK AND UNION ARE POWER : POWER, DIRECTED BY KNOWLEDGE, IS HAPPINESS : HAPPINESS IS THE END OF CREATION. No. 28. AUGUST 1, 1830. Id. Puhlixhrd hy Messrs. TAYLOR & .S'O.V, Donksellrrs, North Htrrrt. Brighton, and 21, Greiit May's Buildings, St. Martin's Linir, London (to whom ail communications, post paid, must be addressed); and may he had also of Mr. STRANd'K. .\'o. 21, Paternoster Row; and at the Co-operatirc Bazaar, No. 19, Grcville Street, Hatton Garden, London. EDUCATION— MANAGEMENT— CONCLUSION. 1. In recommending Co-operation to the attention of the work in -r classes, it was necessary to shew what we ma\' call the physical possibility of it : that is, that workmen possess already, within themselves, the materials, in their labour, of wealth, and of every enjoyment they can possibly wish for. We even went farther. We said, workmen might co-operate or not, as they pleased : they might grow rich or not, as they pleased : they might remain, if they pleased, as poor as famishing hundreds are at present : but one thing they could not help — and that is, filling the world with an infinite abundance of food, manufactures, houses, and comfort.s of every description. A man may not have sense enough to co-operate, to work for himself, but he must have sense enough not to starve ; and to prevent his starving, he must work for another ; and that other will take good care to save out of that labour enough to make himself comfortable, or even rich. 2. This ground is so strong that the co-operator can never be driven from it. No one can deny it. No one has attempted to deny it. No one ever produced a particle of food, clothing, or lodging, but the workman; and no one ever will. Palaces may be built, steam engines constructed, railways laid dovirn, ships navigated, kingdoms conquered, but all must be done by the labour of the workman ; without whom, engineers would plan in vain, and generals issue their orders to the winds. 3. But in taking our stand upon this ground, we never supposed, for a moment, that workmen could co-operate with minds such as they possess at present — without knowledge, without information, without the power of thinking : as well might we suppose, that coin would grow without the plough, thread be made without the spinner, or bricks co-operate spontaneously to build a house. In pointing out the physical powers of workmen, we have always most carefully insisted collaterally upon the absolute necessity of knowledge, before success can be expected; and, by way of encouragement, have occasionally asserted the facility with which it may be acquired : in doing which, we have not gone one step farther than what we know to be fact. 4 In Switzerland, a gentleman of the name of Fellenberg has been employed for many years, upwards of thirty, in the education of workmen. He has a farm, on which their education takes place. They are employed chiefly in agricultural labour. Tliey begin to labour as soon as their strength permits ; and the kind and quality of labour they perform, is suited to their age and powers. The farm 109 ( 2) IS supplied witli workshops, in which every machine used on the pre.'iiises is manufactured. The children are also taught these trades, and various others necessary or useful to their own comfort oi- to their future destination in the world. A moderate portion of the day is devoted to schools, in which the elements of a useful education are tavight — reading, writing, arithemetic, geography, liistory, geometry, laud measuring, botany. 5. In these schools the master is not a mere master to teach Icttei-s, aiad keep oider with a stick. After school hours he accompanies the boys to their labour : he assists and instructs them in that : he makes the labour a source of instruction : he teaches, by conversation, all the knowledge connected with the employment of the day. The children acquire a double interest in their labour, for it is the source of profit and of knowledge : they understand the mechanical principles of the machines they use, the natural history of all the plants they cultivate in the field or garden, the qualities and uses of all the wild plants and trees of the country, and the nature of the minerals and rocks by which they are surrounded. When they return from their labour they bring home specimens of plants to form herbariums, and of minerals to form museums. They also learn the medical properties of such plants as are used in curing diseases, and the mode of preparing them for that purpose. — Thus every employment tends to a useful, practical, interesting end. 6. Fellenberg takes the children when extremely young, and keeps them till they reach the age of twenty-one : they are then able to go into the world and earn their own living : they either go into service as workmen, or as superintendents and managers of estates, for which many of them are well qualified. Though instructed in many kinds of knowledge, they have not been brought up above their station, for their habits of living and clothing have been those of the workman : they are, therefore, not discontented with their station, but they stand a better chance in the race of life than those who have been less usefully educated. To crown the whole, they are men of superior character. — Fellenberg considers, that a moral and religious character is the most valuable possession of every man, and the paramount object of all education. — Life consists not merely in living, but in living well. 7. Fellenberg is a christian : he loves his neighbour as himself. With this motive, in the early part of the French revolution, he exerted himself to turn the public events of the day to the advantage of his country. He hoped, that improved public institutions would materially promote the welfare of the people. He soon perceived, that a revolution was a game of selfishness, folly, cruelty, and tyranny. He quitted public life to attempt his favorite end — public good through the improvement of private character. In this he has co)npletely succeeded. He began with taking charge of a few children, orphans an