The Co-operator.

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.

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.

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.

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.

To them we 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 foundation stone of your own emancipation.

The working classes 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.