The Essence of Co-operation

The original wording of the appeal by George W. Holyoake of Manchester, England, when the Rochdale Pioneers applied in the year 1844 to the British House of Commons for their charter.

Co-operation supplements political economy by organizing the distribution of wealth.

• It touches no man's fortune.
• It causes no disturbance in society.
• It gives no trouble to statesmen.
• It enters into no secret association.
• It contemplates no violence.
• It subverts no order.
• It envies no dignity.
• It asks no favours.
• It keeps no terms with the idle.
• It will break no faith with the industrious.
• It asks no special privilege.
• It seeks no government aid.
• It fears no competition in trade in any branch of production.
• It abhors monopoly and will fight them to the bitter end.
• It seeks healthy competition knowing this is the soul of all true progress.
• It means self help, self dependence and such share of the common competence as labour shall earn or thought can win and this it intends to have.