Citizen, when we reflect for a moment on the wages which are at prefent paid both to the mechanic and labourer, which to very few there has been but a small addition within the last twenty years, and that the price of provisions, and rent for their habitations, are both nearly doubled within that period, I am of opinion, fo much of that law, which I have before alluded to, which fubjects thofe who are not enabled, on account of their scanty wages, however induftrious, to support their numerous families, but affociate for the purpose of obtaining pay in proportion to the use of the common neceffaries of life, to fuch fevere punishment, as our present merciful Judges generally administer to those who unfortunately are expofed to the rigour of fuch Law. One of the most cruel and oppreffive the human mind can conceive, for when the system of Terror, which was fo recently pursued in France, and fo much reprobated here, is compared with the system of oppreffion I have juft mentioned, upon cool reflection it will evidently appear to fall fhort in point of feverity. As the Tyrants of that day, if the exigencies of the times did not diveft them. of that character, doomed those who unfortunately were the victims of fuch fanguinary laws, to almost instant death. But in this country, thofe of our Fellow Citizens, who commit" that most attrocious offence aforementioned, are gradually fent to their graves, by long confinement in dreary and unwholfome dungeons, in which they contract disease, which with the additional excrutiating torments of the mind, too often caused in confequence of the fufferings of an affectionate wife, and numerous little helpless offsprings, plunged into the greatest mifery and distress, through an indulgent husband and father endeavouring to obtain wages equal to his merits, and which is absolutely necessary to procure fuftenance for their support—is the fole caufe of his diffolution. A wife and children thus bereft of all hopes of the fcantieft fupport, fink under the burden of their diftreffes, and are fwallowed up in the vortex of wretchednefs. This This grievance, with the many more too generally felt, certainly will never be redreffed without a reform in the reprefentation of this country. Freedom's Stye, April 16th, 1795. A LIBERTY PIG. SIMILE. WHO fights for merely paltry pay, of power All right and bright, till fome curst stroke Has beat away the stock, The barrel burst, the ramrod broke, And quite destroy'd the lock. Then thrown afide like iron old, And eaten up with ruft; His fad unheeded tale is told, And he returns to DUST. PAX. Those who wish to promote the PHILANTHROPIST, by their affiftance, will please to address their favours (post-paid), to the Editor, at Mr. EATON'S, No. 74, Newgate-ftreet. THE PHILANTHROPIST. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1795. LONDON: Printed for and fold by DANIEL ISAAC EATON, Printer and Bookfeller to the Supreme Majefty of the People, at the Cock and SWINE, No. 74, Newgate ftreet. 1795. PRICE ONE PENNY. CRUSADES. THE Project of recovering Jerufalem, and the country be dewed with the blood of Chrift, was the caufe of those wars, known by the name of CRUSADES. The Princes of Chriftendom feemed for a time to have forgot their jarring interests; and Kings, Princes, and Bishops, were united under the famous Godfrey of Bouillon to recover Palestine. Hiftory has left on record eight examples, of the infatuation of mankind in, following a Crufade, but thanks be to God (fays a celebrated Hiftorian), the blindness of Chriftians, in this refpect, has long fince been cured. How far Rapin in that respect is right, the latter end of the eighteenth century has decided; we have beheld another Crufade, as extraordinary as thofe described by William of Malmesbury, and which has, exhibited fome of the moft most prominent features of former Crufades. We have had our Peter the Hermit fetting forth the miferies and fufferings of Maria Antoinette, and preaching the fubjugation of the Infidels: we have beheld another Hero, in the perfon of the renowned Duke of Brunswick, leading the confederated Croifes to destruction: and we boast as long a lift of Emperors, Kings, and Peers, fworn to avenge the blood of Maria of Lorraine, as that of William of Malmesbury. In taking a comparative view of the former Crufades, for the recovery of Palestine, and the present war (as it is called) for the Establishment of Defpotifm in France, the ftriking fimilarity between the former and the latter, will perhaps induce us to add another Crufade to the former. In taking a view of the Crufades of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, we hall find their fource to have originated in the Popes, not from motives of religion, but from those of gain. They well knew taxes must be impofed, for the fupport of those expeditions, and that they should have the difpofal of them; it is therefore no wonder they should be the inftigators, of what tended fo much to their advantage. Since those times the Pope has ceased to have that extensive jurisdiction he had formerly; but the lofs of Papal Tyranny in some countries is amply recompenfed by the introduction of Monarchical Tyranny in its room. Confederated Kings and the Pope were the fources of the prefent Crufade; and that burning zeal, which inspired the Ariftocrats of former times, is still alive in the breasts of their defcendants: the Pulpit refounds with pious exhortations for the extirpation of the worst species of Herctics, that ever diffented from any established church (I mean Republicans) : Peter, Martin, and Jack, forgetting their former animofities, are once more joined in brotherhood and alliance. The eighteenth century, like the eleventh and twelfth, has beheld the doctrine of Benevolence and Subscriptions every where preached; the Church of Force, the Church Militant throughout throughout the world, and the Priefts, zealously labouring to procure recruits, while the miferies of mankind feem to be hid under the pomp of military parade. Barbarity and Ferocity were the characteristics of the former Crusades; but to the disgrace of the eighteenth century, history will relate acts of Barbarity of unparalleled ferocity-Bishops transformed into furies, forgetting the peaceful doctrines of their Mafter, and threatning with extermination twenty-four millions of their fellow creatures; but the invincible ardour which inspired the arm of a Saladin, has, in a better caufe, rendered triumphant the Republican Pichegru; the infallible Allies of his infalliblity, Pius the Sixth, every where routed, and the invincible Arms of Liberty every where triumphant. We have feen thofe men, who in conformity to their duty, preached the doctrine of Peace, perfecuted and treated worse than assassins, and our Courts of Juftice difgraced by worfe than millitary laws. J But the times of the Crusades have returned, and their concomitant evils. To gratify the inordinate defires of individuals, Britain engaged in a new Crufade, beheld her fons led to be flaughtered on the plains of Flanders, or fatten the iflands of the Atlantic; fhe has beheld her commerce, her manufactories, her wealth, and national importance, dwindle away; and the greater part of her hardy fons (the Tars) languifhing in the prifons of France; the refidue either torn from their wives and children, and forced on board men of war, ol fecking that afylum in the peaceful bofom of America, for that protection which their mother-country has denied them. Facts cannot be concealed from the eye of truth; and in future ages hiftorians will be apt to draw a comparative view between the Crusades for the recovery of Palaftine, and the more barbarous Crusade against Liberty: and though the writers of the prefent day may perhaps draw a veil over scenes like thefe, yet Truth must confess there was a principle of honour in the one, but, alas, barbarous ferocity is the characteristic of the other. R. F. A brief |
