Page:The Chartist Movement.djvu/254

 People. The objects of the Association were tenfold. First, "to unite in one general body persons of all CREEDS, CLASSES, and OPINIONS who are desirous to promote the political and social improvement of the people"; second, "to create and extend an enlightened public opinion in favour of the People's Charter and by every just means to secure its enactment so that the industrious classes may be placed in possession of the franchise, the most important step to all political and social reformation." The third object was to erect Public Halls and Schools for the people wherever necessary. There were to be Infant, Preparatory, and High Schools; the halls were to be used also for Public Lectures, Readings, Discussions, Musical Evenings, and Dancing. Each school was to have playgrounds for both sexes, gardens, baths, a museum, and a laboratory. The establishment of Normal Schools, of Agricultural Schools, the creation of travelling libraries, the publication of tracts and pamphlets, the presentation of prizes for essays on education, the employment of missionaries, and the discovery of legal means whereby the members may be able to control the Association in a democratic fashion are the remaining objects of this Association. A vast system of education on a purely voluntary basis was the object of Lovett's speculations.

The funds for the scheme were to be raised by voluntary contributions. Suppose, says Lovett, that everybody who signed the National Petition would subscribe one penny a week. This would give an income of £256,600 a year, devoted to the following purposes: No provision is made for the upkeep and staffing of the schools.

Lovett now proceeds to explain the advantages of the scheme. A people so organised "would not use its energies in meeting and petitioning: it would not year after year be only engaged in the task of inducing corruption to purify