In this article, George Markham Tweddell pays his first visit to address the Ironstone Miners of East Middlesbrough Daily Gazette -
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| George Markham Tweddell |
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Middlesbrough Daily Gazette August 1875
MINERS'
MEETING AT SKELTON
The
Merchant Shipping Bill -
The
Government Condemned
(By
Our Own Reporter)
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| Skelton High Street |
On
Saturday evening, a large meeting of miners connected with the North
Yorkshire and Cleveland Miners Association was held in a spacious field belonging to Mr Stephen Emmerson, of Holly Farm, Skelton for
the purpose of discussing the action of the Government in regard to
Mr Plimsoll's Merchant Shipping Bill. Mr Joseph Toyne, President of
the Cleveland Miners Association, occupied the chair -
The
Chairman said the meeting had been called to appreciate the efforts
put forth by Mr Plimsoll MP for Derby, on behalf of our seamen, whose
interest he had at heart for many years, having spent time and money
and strength in order to benefit the sailors' condition. When they
read what the sailors had to pass through and the way they were used,
it was a good thing to have someone like Mr Plimsoll to stand up and
fight for their glorious cause. The hon gentleman had been accused of
using unparliamentary language in the house of Commons, but were
there many present who would believe such was the fact. However, he
had gone too Merchant Shipping Bill had been shelved and Sir Chas.
Adderley, president of the Board of Trade, had introduced another
Bill, as the Government were obliged to agree to some measure of the
kind to appease the mind of the people. However a blow had been
struck at the Tory Government, Mr Plimsoll was the man who had struck
the blow, and nothing better could have helped the Liberal cause. The
Government knew that thousands of countrymen might loose their lives
next winter and thousands made widows and orphans, and yet they threw
up Mr Plimsoll's Bill. This proceeding cause the hon gentleman to
say what he would never have said had they acted otherwise. The
Cleveland miners had hitherto shown a warm heart for Mr Plimsoll;
when help was required for suffering humanity they had always shown a
willing hand and a ready heart. He was glad to see so many present
who sympathised with the cause of the poor sailor.
Mr Geo.
Markham Tweddell, of Stokesley, F.R.S.N.A. (Fellow of the Royal
School of Naval Architecture.)..copen etc., then moved the first
resolution, as follows -
"That in the opinion of this meeting ,
the withdrawal by the Government of the Merchant Shipping
He did not
think it worth while wasting time in trying to convince one of the
justice and the importance of the bill as that of Mr Plimsoll's. The
very fact that so many were then present who approved of the cause
they were met to advocate, showed that they, like him, approved of Mr
Plimsoll's conduct and regarded the withdrawal of his bill as at
least a blunder - if that were a proper expression, though he felt
they must use a much stronger one, as with regard to to the use of
language opinions differ. Politicians told us that a blunder was
worst than a crime but he confessed he could scarcely see that,
though they could plainly say the withdrawal of Mr Plimsoll's bill
for the protection of of the seamen was both a blunder and a crime.
(Cheers.). That it was the most important measure on the Ministerial
programme he thought any cool observer of Parliamentary business must
at once admit , because there was no other bill that might not have
been deferred for twelve months without any loss beyond that of
pounds, shillings and pence. No one of common sense would say that
the lives of British or any other seamen were of less value than
money. Perhaps, however, some people thought so; as if they looked at
legislature of this and every other country they would find that the
laws had protected property more than persons. A man might be guilty
of of great outrages against the person, and yet suffer less penalty
than if he had injured property. But he maintained that the first
element of civilisation was to protect life and property, but the
protection of property should not come before that of life. He felt
delighted when he read of the outburst of honest indignation
exhibited by Mr Plimsoll. He had remarked that of course the hon
gentleman have to say he was sorry if he used unparliamentary
language, but it had gone forth and done its work, and Mr Plimsoll
would not withdraw the principal part of what of what he had said. he
was glad to see that public meetings were held throughout the country
in support of the Merchant Shipping Bill, and was delighted to find
that the first meeting of the Cleveland miners on the question would
support such a resolution as the one he had moved. He remembered
reading many years ago some old Roman translations in the name of
Terence, who spoke to the effect
"that he was a man, and
anything that regards humanity could be handed to him"
(Actual
quote
"Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto", or "I
am a human being, I consider nothing that is human alien to me."
This appeared in his play Heauton Timorumenos.") Ed
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| Louis Kossuth |
He (the
speaker) wished everyman were actuated by the noble - great, if they
liked - principle of of the good old Latin writer. Public opinion now
ruled the country, and it was by a well educated and noble expression
of this opinion that, whatever the form of Government, the people
would be rulers..
It was Louis Kossuth (See this link) http://tweddellpoetryhub.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-earth-worm-with-letter-from-lajos.html)
who thanked the people for the interest they felt in in the cause of
the down-trodden nations, and said that everyman possessed some
influence for good, whereby many an evil deed might be prevented.
Every man should act upon this sentiment. The mighty ocean was made
up of drops of water from the clouds. Humanity was made up of units.
By everyman and woman knowing their rights, and daring to maintain
them, the liberties of the country were preserved. he did not think
that the resolution he had moved required much pleading for. he
should feel thoroughly ashamed of any persons who would not hold up
their hands in support. He complimented the Cleveland miners for
coming forward to support Mr Plimsoll in his glorious cause. The
bread winners who risk their lives in the mines acted nobly in
supporting those who risked their lives at sea. It was only by the
working classes of one craft being true to the classes of other
crafts that their positions could become greater than in the past. If
they looked at the
history of the past in every country, even the
most civilised, they would see that the position of the working
Mr W.M.
Snow (Lofthouse) seconded the resolution. he said that every man
should feel its his duty to
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| The article as it appears in Daily Gazette |
If Mr
Plimsoll had good grounds for using such words as 'Villains' and
'scoundrels' - if it were true - then
Mr G. Cox
(Lingdale) supported the resolution. Mr Plimsoll could not say too
hard things against the Mr
Freeman who had been fined and imprisoned for sending an unseaworthy
ship to Cardiff (Cheers).
conduct of the Government in not taking up
the cause of the widows and orphans. For years he had worked hard to
put all his power in force to bring things to a point. He hoped they
would live to see a time when the hon gentleman's bill would be
passed. If ever a man was worthy of a lasting monument and of
testimonies, he was, and in years to come he would be looked upon as
an honour to the nation. Whatever should be the loss in a particular
sense, life should have a free course, and humanity enjoy free
thought. he hoped they would hear of few such cases as that of
The
Chairman said that if Mr Plimsoll should never have a monument, he
had carved his name and it would be handed down from one generation
to another, and never be forgotten. On putting the resolution it was
unanimously carried.
Mr Joseph
Bourne (Brotton) moved the next resolution as follows ; "That in
the opinion of this meeting, the present Government has forfeited the
confidence of the country, and ought to immediately resign."
(Laughter) Mr Disraeli and his Government deserve the "sack"
for their conduct during the present session. They had been a
'stop-gap' to all progress. The Tories had put a stopper on every
that might be of benefit to the masses or the country at large. When
Mr Trevelyan introduced the Household Suffrages Bill it was squashed
by an overwhelming majority. ; and when Mr Plimsoll introduced his
measure for the protection of those at sea, it was treated in like
manner. This was sufficient to upset a man like the member for Derby,
and half a dozen such men. There was no reason in the way he had been
treated. How were they to guard against such a state of things? let
the trade unionists throughout the country, if they were properly
federated, select a candidate, and when a vacancy occurred in either
borough or county, run him in. They had Mr Lloyd Jones, Mr Thos
Halliday, Mr Arch and others who might be brought forward as Liberal
candidates and who would represent the working men's interest
fairly in the house of commons. Looking at the majority of the
members in the House of Commons, there were not much more than 16 or
20 who said anything on behalf of the working classes. This was very
wrong. He did not think they could be fairly represented with less
than a hundred members in the House of Commons. Referring to the
recent Hartlepool election, the speaker said that the candidature of
young Kenealy was only a trap by the London Tory Clubs to secure as
many votes as possible in order to prevent Mr Lowthian Bell getting a
seat in parliament. They (the working men) did not did not want a man
like Mr Bell ; he represented capital and they might depend upon it
he would represent it fairly too. He had nothing to say against Mr
Bell as a gentleman or private individual, but if he said one word
for them as a class, he would be like a clown in the pantomime and
say “ One for you, Joey and two for me (Laughter) one for you
Billy, and one for you old man, and three for me.” (Renewed
laughter). Working men should direct all their attention to being
fairly represented. Look at the vast sums that were expended by these
men in getting into the House of Commons. Certainly the monies which
came before the public eye were never fathomed. No one but the
candidate himself could tell what the cost was. Money was spent on in
all directions but it should not be so. He did not think it would
have cost Mr Spark any canvassing or bribery or scarcely any money to
have got in for Darlington during the contest last year. At the
Birmingham election of 1872 it cost John Bright £29. This seemed
only a small sum, and it was within reach of the working classes to
pay it. The election of Mr Elliot, the Conservative member for North
Durham, cost tens of thousands. Unless they were united and sent a
Liberal to Parliament wherever a vacancy occurred, they would never
get their rights, nor sailors either. There were some gentlemen in
the House of Commons just as absent minded as the men who had left
home, and imagining he had left his watch on the piano, went back to
fetch it, and looked at his watch on the way to see if he had time to
go or not. (Laughter) When a measure of was brought forward by an
hon. Member who is the real friend of the working classes, it met
with the greatest opposition at once. The course was planned in club
house at Pall Mall what a man was to say and do and who was to pay
him. They required to give the matter their earnest and sincere
attention. When their secretary sent petitions to be filled up, they
should work earnestly to fill them up in a correct manner ; it was
only by petitioning that they might hope speedily to make their
influences felt in the Houses of Commons. In 1866 when John Bright
was agitating for reform measures, petition sheets were carried into
the House of Commons which weighed 25cwt, and two men were occupied
one night carrying out of the street into the House. The measures
were passed ; and if they aroused themselves, they would be
successful also. Mr Trevelyan intended to bring in a Bill next
session, which, if it were passed, would justly benefit them and the
working classes at large. They must give their earnest attention to
the matter in the coming winter and endeavour to get the measure
through Parliament. If they did not work and watch they would never
get a step in advance of their present condition. If they were all as
unanimous as he was, Mr Disraeli would be removed at once. There were
clever men who would gladly handle the reins of Government, if the
working class would only work together. If Mr Gladstone were backed,
he would take command next week. They would never have a finer
Statesman, politician or leader of the nation, than they had in Mr
Gladstone. (Cheers).
Mr
James Philbrick (Brotton) seconded the resolution. It was openly
confessed that the occupation of miners was of a dangerous character
and they confessed that the frequent hearing of sudden deaths and
accidents in mines confirmed the truth of the statement, yet he
considered that the sailor who has to cross the ocean in a rotten tub
or vessel was more in danger than the miner. There were only a few
inches between him and a watery grave and why should that space not
be composed of good material. Things in Cleveland were not now as
they were formerly, and they would ask the Government to resign
office as early as convenient (laughter) – and not allow them to
sit another session upon any consideration. (Renewed laughter).
Mr
Thomas Green (Boosebeck) supported the resolution. It seemed a great
mystery however, the present Government ever got in power. He was
confident that if the country had had its rights they never would
have and if the Tory government had not been in power they would have
received the benefit of the legislation of Mr Gladstone and his
colleagues, which, as things were that had yet to fight for. It was
time we had more such heroes as Mr Plimsoll, when it was seen that
hundreds of lives were annually lost through the greed of the
capitalists. Mr Plimsoll had not expressed himself so warmly as he
might have done under the circumstances. At the Mansion House banquet
the other day, Mr Disraeli had said the working classes were
satisfied, but it was untrue, as they never would be so long as he
was at the head of the government. The power of the Tory Government
was dated from the time they rejected the Merchant Shipping Bill. He
believed that the country, both Tory and Liberal had protested
against the action of the House of Commons in rejecting the bill.
Referring to the substitute bill to Mr Plimsoll's, that had been
introduced, the speaker said that the Government had been compelled
to legislate on the matter because the country demanded legislation.
They should combine together as working men and never rest satisfied
until they obtain a franchise ; then they could send to Parliament
whom they liked., and need not be in fear of a Tory Government. He
had been told that whenever a Tory Government was in power, wages
were always lower. If they passed the resolution, he had no doubt it
would pass through its proper course, and be landed at headquarters.
Mr
Joseph Shepherd also supported the resolution. He knew Mr Plimsoll
personally, and could state that he had worked on behalf of the
sailors and other working people besides. In benefiting more directly
the sailors he must benefit the miners also, as, when shortly old
ships would be broken up, the plate iron trade would improve both in
Middlesbrough and elsewhere. If Mr Plimsoll needed support similar to
that what was afforded him in 1873, he ws satisfied they would be
ready again to give it. (Hear hear). Mr Plimsoll supported every
measure which pertained to benefit the working classes ; and the day
was not far distant when he, along with other hon. Gentlemen, would
go in for assimilation of of the country and borough franchise, and
they would then be able to tell Mr Disraeli what they meant. But let
them mind he did not thwart them like he did in 1867. he said then
the people should have a vote, but should pay for it, and those in
the boroughs have had to pay for it to the tune which they did not
like.
The
Chairman put the resolution to the meeting and it was carried
unanimously. Mr Plimsoll was a hero of the 19th Century,
and he hoped the House of Commons would shortly be filled with such
men. There were few self-sacrificing men men in parliament and by the
labours of the country to become franchised the day would come when
they would be able to send what men they liked – men like Mr
Plimsoll, who could look any obstacle in the face, and never mind
being kicked and called in a good cause. (Cheers).
Mr
Joseph Bourne (Brotten), moved a vote of thanks to Mr Emmerson for
the use of his field and to Mr Tweddell for the trouble he had taken
to be present to interest himself in the meeting. He remarked that
the moaners of Cleveland were betaking themselves to reading &c
and in time they would have more thoughtful and better educated men
in the district.
Mr
Joseph Shepherd moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and those who
had been instrumental in calling the meeting together, and the
proceedings were terminated.
