The Welsh Insurrection of 4th November 1839.Northern Star Editorial
The Weekly Chartist paper, the Northern Star reported the Newport Rising in its edition of 9th November and an extract from its Editorial is below.
The Editorial notes that the paper had no direct knowledge of the events which is of interest.
It was based in Leeds in 1839 and certainly did rely on reports from correspondents in the days long before the telephone let alone social media.
Perhaps it didn’t have someone in Newport.
On the other hand since one view of the events of the 4th November 1839 in Newport was that they were meant to spark a national insurrection, perhaps it did, but given the failure decided wisely to claim ignorance.
In this respect the use of the word ‘Insurrection’ is interesting as Newport is commonly referred to as a riot or a rising.
The Northern Star on the Welsh Insurrection of November 1839
Editorial 9th November 1839
…..The time has gone by when any Government can hold possession of the reins of power in this country only by the musket and bayonet. The hearts of the people of this country are full of generosity and kindness. They bear much; bear long and bear patiently; but as the evidence of Newport proves a continued and uninterrupted system of oppression may () them past endurance and, awakening suddenly the recollection of their strength, cause them to exchange the attitude of supplication for that of defiance. It is not a light sense of wrong which has converted the peaceful hills of Cambria into mountain fastnesses of warfare. The grievances that could thus excite the sympathies of a whole population in one movement for redress can have been of no ordinary character…
….to what extent the insurrection has been organised, or how far it may be from being yet subdued, we have no means of knowing; our information having been derived entirely from the London press.. which of course views every object through a jaundiced medium
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