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some ridicule, some odium, and it may be some danger, without halting from time to time to reckon the amount of their exertions, their sacrifices, or their -sufferings, but ever cheerfully saying- What is all this? the realization of our faith, the triumph of our hope, is worth even a severer martyrdom.' For they have declared their belief, and belief necessitates action-continual endeavour to accomplish that which is believed. To these zealots for Republicanism, these wooers and truest soldiers of Republican Progress, I now address myself, offering for their consideration the following

PLAN OF REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION.

In whatever place any one of you who hold our republican faith may be, look directly for such of your townsmen or neighbours as you know may be depended on to join you. If you know of none, begin the work of propagandism alone!-labouring like some zealous, indefatigable missionary, till you shall have won some one of those within your reach to a recognition of your creed: not a mere formal recognition, nor the poor assent of one over-persuaded to allow himself to be called a Republican,-but the valuable recognition of the convert, who, having thoroughly examined and maturely weighed the principles of Republicanism, finds himself convinced of their truth; and who, being a true man (one who acts as he thinks, whose life is built upon his conscience), is consequently anxious to carry his principles into practice.

So soon as you can meet with one such man,-whether of your converting or only waiting your inquiry-consider yourselves as the nucleus and provisional Committee of a Republican Association to be formed by you in that town or neighbourhood, and set zealously to work to add to your number. Be careful that none associate with you except those on whose private character you can depend. A bad man can not make a good republican. Better work slowly and surely than enlist the unfit. But be as persevering as careful, lest the sometime discouragement of great carefulness unduly retard your progress. Take three qualities as essential to the making of good republicans,-sobriety-honestyself-reliance. If your proposed associate is a man, be sure that he is honest towards women as well as with his fellow-men; if a woman, be sure that she is sufficiently self-reliant to act in virtue of her own humanity, not merely as the creature of another.

When your numbers in any place are such as to require organization,-and the sooner that is set about the better, even so soon as you number ten or twelve, then let your committee call a meeting of all its members, and constitute yourselves an Association for your locality, with some such rules as these here following.

NAME.

The Plymouth Republicans, or Plymouth Republican Association.

OBJECT.

To teach the Principles of Republicanism.

MEMBERS.

All persons (men or women) desirous of promoting the object of the Associa

Or Manchester Republicans, or East London, or Chelsea, etc.

tion shall be eligible as Members, upon signifying their adhesion to the subjoined profession of faith, provided they are well known to some one of the members who will answer for their sobriety, honesty, and self-reliance."

Open, and by a simple majority.

ELECTIONS.

DUTIES OF MEMBERS.

I-To teach themselves the Principles of Republicanism in order to render their own lives thereunto conformable; to teach one another as the best aid they can render; and by precept and practice unceasingly to endeavour to win proselytes.

II. To regard the members of the Association as brethren in the closest bond, closer than even the brotherhood of blood, and to rule their conduct toward each other by this principle.

MEANS.

Regular, frequent, and friendly communication between the members (perfect equality being observed among them, however different their station in society), the publication of a periodical openly advocating the republican principles of the Association, the dissemination of tracts as opportunities occur, and such other means of constant or occasional propagandism as time and circumstances may afford.

GOVERNMENT.

A President and Secretary (either of whom might also be Treasurer), and a Committee (when the Association has so many members as to require it), chosen annually by open voting of the Members present at the place of election.

The course of proceeding in the Associations might be much as follows. First:-The formation of the Association would by no means exonerate any member from active exertion as an individual. As to having nothing to do' except when at the meetings or when appointed on some special Committee of the Association, that is impossible so long as a man has the use of his limbs to carry him among his fellows, and the use of his tongue to preach to and converse with them. One may lecture; another may write tracts; a third may distribute them; another go out with bills; another collect subscriptions; another, even

The profession of faith would be that given at pages 8-9 of the English Republic: commencing with-' We believe in the progressive development of human faculties and forces' and ending with the example of those peoples most loving and most devoted for encouragement on the way.'

Meaning, of course, general integrity.

The seducer, or the profligate, is not honest.

I would have this fully carried out. Let the Republican aid, associate with, trade with, work for and with, the brother Republican in decided preference to any other, even to the brother of his blood.

By this I of course do not intend that each society shall publish a periodical; but that each shall do its utmost to maintain at least one avowed Republican Journal in England. If, however, one could be established in every town, so much the better.

The worth of the ballot is as a protection. But in a Republican Association no protection could be needed. And the education of frankness and moral courage would be desirable.

An error into which associated men so frequently fall, thinking foolishly that because the are combined they need no longer be self-reliant.

ing after evening, unweariedly endeavour to gain the ear of this or that friend or shopmate; another, less advanced, less able to teach, may be studying in his chamber some yet not thoroughly mastered principle; and another be even better employed, discussing the point of difficulty alongside of some fellow-republican, so helping and being helped at once. 'Nothing to do' will be impossible if men are in carnest. If they are not in earnest, they had better cease talking about the English Republic.

Beyond this individual sphere of duty two courses of combined action would arise one through the general meetings of the Associations, and one which I will explain here.

In addition to the ordinary general meetings of Associations, it seems to me that it would be well to hold separate meetings, certainly not less often than once a week. For this purpose divide the Association into small parties or knots of four, five, or six members (according to circumstances), which knots might be called families. Let these families' meet at each other's houses. The object

of this method of meeting is to insure a more frequent and a more friendly intercommunication of the members than would take place if there was no regular meeting except of the whole Association. Personal friendships would thus grow up between the members: even between those of different stations in society. The great expense, too, of frequent meetings would be avoided. The classing of the families,' the determining how many and who of the members should compose such and such a 'family,' would depend mainly on locality. But the 'family' should never exceed six or seven members-better be only five; and it would be well to change occasionally,-that is to say that at least one old member of each 'family' should be transferred to another, and one new one be admitted in the vacant place, every month: so that the friendship thus formed and the knowledge thus acquired might circulate as speedily as possible throughout the Association, making the whole one band of friends and brothers. The business of these weekly meetings of 'families' would be to hear the accounts of the four or five or six members, of how each had been bestowing himself during the week, what work he had done, what proselytes made,—as it were 'taking stock' of the republican progress of the family; and discussing points of interest or difficulty, perhaps maturing some important question for the general meeting. So the four or five would act as mutual encouragers and advisers, wholesomely inciting each other to persevering action, or checking each other in any false course. At these meetings one would act as 'head'; and it would be his business to condense the individual report and the proceedings of the meetings, and to forward this condensed report to the Secretary of the Association.

At these and, indeed, at all meetings strict punctuality should be observed as a matter of conscience.

The aggregate meetings of the Association should take place at least once in every month. Their principal business would be to hear the reports of the 'heads of families,' and to advise together as to what means might be necessary, either to render their regular operations more effective, or to take any particular course required by the need of the hour. At these meetings also would be

Let it be always borne in mind that these Republican Associations are by no means intended to supersede other associations for special objects. One portion of their business

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discussed and decided any doubtful points of doctrince which had already been debated in the 'families.' Subscriptions would be paid at these meetings, either by individuals or through the heads of families.' Special meetings might be called by the Secretary at the bidding of the President, or upon the written requisition of the majorities of any two 'families.'

An account of the proceedings of all general and special meetings should be published, for the information and encouragement of the Republicans of other places, in the English Republic' or any other Journal which may advocate the principles of the Associations.

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For matters to be avoided,-beyond the general caution, on which too much stress can not be laid, of associating only with the trustworthy (those of good character),—all that need be pointed out as dangerous will be, firstly the corresponding of one association with another, which is an offence against the law, involving every member of the offending association; and secondly, any action, overt or secret, or recommendation of action, against the Royal Authority. Of this last there can be no fear, if the Associations will constantly bear in mind their object, which is not to act, but TO TEACH REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES. The Associations are for mutual instruction and for propagandism. That will be the business

of the Associations I am anxious to form. Their aim is not to conspire or rebel for the Republic, but To MAKE REPUBLICANS.

Action will not depend on them. Of course as independent bodies, they will be able to attempt any kind of action for which they have a mind, without caring to consult similar bodies of their brethren throughout the country: but

As

would be to throw their weight in favour of any agitation of the day in which their principles were involved, and so indirectly, as well as directly, to work for the Republic. to the Chartist agitation, they must help that, seeing that it goes for the very first principle of Republicanism, viz.—equal right.

I give here only such regulations and arrangements as seem advisable to be common to all the republican associations. Other matters, such as lecturing, calling public meetings, firing amount of subscription, establishing libraries, reading-rooms and clubs, may all be left for future consideration, and to be then determined on according to the various means of different localities. What I chiefly aim at here, is to put forth something like the model of an association which in its most essential features might be adopted by all localities. Some little difference would of course obtain, in this or that place, necessitated by peculiar circumstances. There could be no need either of retaining the wording of the Rules given here. No circumstances however could overrule the necessity of having one common profession of faith, asscuted to by every member. The object is to found a Republican Church, in harmony with the European Republican Party; not to add to the too great number of Republican sects already existing.

For this purpose, so soon as any associations are formed, reports may be sent to me, at Miteside, near Ravenglass, Cumberland: such reports to reach me not later than the 17th or 18th of every month. I should have some for next month.

* Private individuals, or individuals acting in their private capacity, may of course correspond with whomsoever they please. But the officers of a society, as such, or any persons in the name of a society, are forbidden to correspond with the officers of any other society, or with any persons acting for it. But it is not illegal to publish the resolutions of associations; nor for me, or any other, as an individual, to make proposals based upon those resolutions.

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they will have learned very little of republican devotion (in which word discipline is included), have very poorly comprehended the necessity of republican unity and organization, to be guilty of so gross a blunder. Action should only be determined by a Central Committee chosen by all the Republicans throughout the Country. Any partial action is a treason against the whole.

Through whatever republican journal the proceedings of the Associations are published, the formation of the CENTRAL COMMITTEE can at any time be proposed; and its election take place, so soon as an absolute majority of the enrolled Members of Associations throughout the country can be obtained. That is to say, it will be formed so soon as a majority of the English Republicans require it. Not till then. The Central Committee should consist of as many men as can muster fifty votes in any part of the country.' THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE ENGLISH REPUBLICANS Would conduct the future organization of the whole party. Up to this time every thing will be merely provisional.

Does all this seem a work of so much time and difficulty that you are disheartened. Take away your hand from the plough! Do not lay hold of it, to halt in mid-furrow. Time!-the veriest weed must have time to grow. Difficulty!no great work ever was done without it. Difficulty is the seed of triumph, and

- time its necesary fructifier. Mazzini and his compatriots, and how many of them exiles, wait patiently for twenty years. Recollect again what has already been effected by some young men without great means, without the influence of rank, without material force'! In Italy they are keeping the Eve of the Republic. When shall we do so in England? When we are as brave and as devoted. Three herdsmen made Switzerland a Republic. Twelve poor fishermen and mechanics, unlearned and despised, by the energy of their faith revolutionized the world. Twelve apostolic men in England, be they never so poor in station, one for each of as many of our English towns, working as apostolic men do, withcut fear, without ceasing, and without counting their own sacrifice,—and in twelve months we would have the strongest party in the country: the strongest because the most zealous and the best organized. Which of you who have declared your readiness to join me, which of you who now read these words, will be the twelve founders of the English Republic?

In any part of the country, because else there might be a very large minority, perhaps nearly half the whole Republican force, without any representatives. As new members were added to the Associations, every fifty would be entitled to send a member to the Central Committee. It would be easy enough to keep accounts of voters (open voters) so that none should vote twice. Fifty, or any other number that might be agreed upon; such agreement being very easily obtainable by circular from any private individual, through the pages of a Republican Journal.

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