The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-02-02 00:00:00


*idled this. For himself he could not see any strong
distinction bet west clubs —work ing men's dabs ant
others. He belonged to focr or five dubs, and be
should like to know what he woe himself but a work-
'man I—(hear.) An idle tem was • plague as himself
and to everyone else, sad all might to be workers. If
dubs we neeemary for the rib man, they are at least
equally neemeary for the peer, as a maths of amuse'
pent mid recreation. They obit Smight the acme
OPportunitiee se he had *Hie his friends in London,
whets them who held views In common sought their
enjoyment together. The working man had a com-
fortable shalt to sit in, a table to sit at, a good fire, good
light, book. to read, and gmiea to amine themeelers
with, and be did not see much difference. As had been
remarked, "the cottage or the palace marks oar plane
but alters not our nature." Clue were • humanising
Ida of lostitution. We all like to be aseociated with
oar fellows, and when tie meet with them, we very
moped, like to amnia a certain degree of eelf-respeet.
When he wont to his dub, is did not like to make the
worst °thirsted', but when be oad had anything pertiouler
to Ohs went to the lavatory, end made himself tidy. That
was what he supposed they all did before they came to
the dub, and therefore he ansidered snob dubs human-
ising institutions—died). Dee of the most important
things he should like to see carried out would be that
they should combine with some mains of education,
li. by sale means only could stability in the working
dames be ensured--ear. hear). It could not be
expected that working mea, after the toils of the day,
would sante together as if tc a Wool, but they must do
something to taiprova themselves, or they musk occupy
what le called the lower level instead of rising in their
pantiles. A poet whose, !munition for brilliancy end
wit will live whilst Ilaglish poetry enders', bee said in
linos quoted times cal of number that "a little learning
is a dangerous thing.' Aye I butt. it me dangerous as
total ignorance Listen to what another poet, of verse
as madl, sentiment as exalted, and moral and reli-
gions character infinitely superior, has said in sober
prose Listen to the calm, deliberate opinion of
Thomas Campbell. 'lf we were to compare the value
of much with that of little learning, there is no con.
issesion in favour of the much that we e odd rd
willingly make. But in emptying small acquisitions
with none at all, It appears squally absurd to consider
• little learning valueless, or even dangerous as some
will have it, as to talk of a lade virtu., a little wealth,
or health, or ebeedulness, or • little of say other bless-
ing under hosiery, being worthless or dangerous. To
abj ore any degree of information, became we cannot
grasp the whole circle of the mimeos, or sound the
depths of erudition, appears to be just about as sensible
as if we were to shut up our windows because they are
too narrow, or because the glass has not the magnify-
ing pewter of the Weimer*. For the smallest quantity
of knowledge that a man oan sequin he is bound to be
contentedly thankful, provided his fate shuts him out
from the power of acquiring • larger portion, but whilst
the possibility of further advanceseent remains, let him
he as proudly dissents/aid as he pleases with his
little learning." What we want throughout this
gnat kingdom is education amongst the working deism
When they have sulBcient education they will be able
to settle many of those eared questions that now
weepy their superiors. He did not want to touch upon
smatter that might not partieularly oocopy Choir attention
at the club; but hepointed out the advantages; of work-
ing men legislating for themselves, and not being
blindly led by them leaders who occupy public atten-
tion or regulate public affairs. He should think it was
rather • painful recollection to the working dames when
they considered their present petition and recalled what it
might have been. They needed only to look back • few
months to reed • time when labour was in demand
almost beyond the power of supply. Working men
were to some extent masters of the satiation, but they
submitted to be dictated to did led in such • manner
as to thole Irma and labour, that coalesces which
belonged emeludvely to England itOe sent out of this
country. He was not opposed to the union Of work-
men so long ea it was cowrie out in • way that °caducei
to their advantage; but be thought they ought not to
submit to be led and misguided as they had been
recently—(hear, bear). It was then that • man could
have work, if he might so exprem it, until be could
work no longer, and then it was that those who claimed
to be the leaders of the working man suggested the
ridiculous notion that If they 'odd limit their hours of
work, they could ensure °bulldog work, Of it were, for
ever. They followed that plait when we had prosperity,
but now we had arrived at a state of adversity; pros-
perity had flown, and what is to be regretted moat of all
is that instead of men having made the best of those
brisk times, and Named up something against the evil day,
they had lost the golden opportunity, and he did not
know when we may predict its return—(bear, hear). He
did not want to occupy their attention on snob matters
any longer, except with rgard to one thing relating to
the Labouring elasses. One of the released regulatinni
they had laid down was, he believed, to the effect that
the idle and indlistrions ate to be yoked together, that
one man is only to do as much as another, let hies be
over so skilful and industrious. Thus men are tied
together on • level, but unfortunately it is the low
level, and not the higher one, on which they are per-
mined to stand, Thus artisans are prevented from
advancing in the way they formerly used to, whereas
in their circumstances emulation and advancement are
a neesesity. If he (Mr. Edwards) had limited his hours
of labour in times of prosperity, be should never have
been able to stand in the proud position of being their
member in Parliament--thear). He had worked 16
hours • day, and if his strength would have permitted
would have worked 24 hours. Thus be took advantage
of the golden period of prosperity, and every one knew
there was plenty of time to rest when bad time. came
—(hear). It was moist melancholy to NI the state of
the ureniployed id London at the present time, and he
believed that Government would have to adept tome
MOW of public emigration. It was very strange how
history seems to have repeated itself. At the time of
the lest commercial penis and the famine in Ireland,
distress prevailed from one end of the kingdom to the
to the other, and then Government were obliged to
send emigrstion agents throughout the length and
breadth of the kingdom, and almost mart the people to
leave home and go to odr oolotiles. These abroad said
they had plenty of food; but they could not send the
food to the people, the people must be brought to the
food. Yet,in spite of all means tried, the hand of man
could not lighten the ship. Then the hand of Pro.
videnoe was never more strikingly displayed than when
the magic word "gold r sounded !rem Australia It
attracted thousands, and then it was that we got rid of
thoselerbmas we sometimes say,"loar about our country,
and, by the good Providence of God, the good ship
ligletoped, and they bad • period of prosperity. Mr.
Edwards continued that the medium of redeees which
he believed the country must look to would be to aid
oorpailei
!pt
relieve
them to emigrate
fromigrte the necessity to our coliieson ieh
wouldliving
as paupers at home. Passing to another subject
he said be should like to as, something similar
to a friendly society emaciated .with the club. Be New
the Registrar the other day, sod was startled whoa Mr.
Tidd Peed told him that one in avety ten of the people
of this country belonged to some friendly society or
other. Two millions of people contribute to different
friendly societies about £8,110,000 sterling per annum.
Referring to the state of the unemployed pooh in
London, Mr. Edwards stated that ao IndastrW Em-
ployment Amodatleo, of the committee of which he
had been solicited to become one, had issued • pros-
pectus, which stated: "Owing to the discontinuance of
transportation 2,000 convicts are being annually dis-
charged from our coavict establishments, haring moans
of subsistence so small that a very large per-tentage of
them return to the evil practices in which they have
been trained and educated. Over 100,000 criminals ars
annually turned out of our gaols in • like condition, and
miler employing:a can be foetid for them they must of
neeemity continue to prey upon the public. The Tents,
In November last, dated that in the year 1801, out of
9,000 criminals reconvided, 6,000 had been convicted
ere times and 34)00 ten times before. The wet of the..
criminals to the Goverpmenkamording to the published
reports, is between ESO end £4O per man per annum,
and while they are exercising their infamous calling, it
I. estimated that they abstreet at least El per week per
man, or FM per man per annum. Taking the mean
between these two points, it may fairly be calculated
that each criminal oods the public at least £4O per
=MM. whisk for the number of criminals above stated,
is £4,020,000 per annum, But, besides the released
eriminals, there are at large in the metropolis dotards
of 10,020 persons known to the police as 'roughs,'
Imeing no visible honest occupation. There are eaten-
Idol to be upwards of 100,000 shildres of both setae in
the streets of the metropolis, into mead
and ',grapey, esii thee 1 the great stresierl
crime. It is an admitted fad t • large per-mintage
of the girls *dumbed in some of the London workhouse
schools Peed lives of depravity. and many return with
their offspring as paupers to the work.hottses. The
mendicants of both seem, frequenting during the day
parts of the metropolis remote from their wretched
nightly shelter, constitute an organised body of the
lowest dams of destitutes: Count the money-ocet of
this state of things; The criminal statistics .for
the year 1866 show the oost of minis to be
from £7,000,000 to £8,000,000 per minim The Peer
law statistics show an expenditure of upwards of
£7,000,000 foe the maintentnes of peal:ere partially
disabled from work by age, but capable to a madder.
able extent of productive labour and restoration to
indeptindenes." This was the last Importation, and he
had been solicited to lend his aid to this society for the
purpome of relieving the people. The figures would show
what a &Moult task it would be; but he hoped the
society would mimed in somewhat ameliorating the
eonditloim of these people. With these facts before there
sod the bad state of sonuneree, they would me what
bad to he got through before they could, as it were, get
the ship adore ; but he hoped the day was sot tar distant
when he shoold have the opportunity of meeting them
vein, and telling of a more sheering and brighter state
of thing,- {hearty applause greeted the bon. member as
he consoluded his very timely speech).
Glee " Bat I Smiling Recur'
Mr. moans than said he had • very pkeenrable
duty to perform. They would all heartily respond to
the beet of the health of their worthy president—
(applause). Had it not bees for him one startling fact
be 'meld tell them—they would not have bad any
working mess dub. They were indebted to him for
being there, and he (Yr. Edwards) was indebted to him
for the pleasure of that evening. Yet this was only one
of the !ed things antedated with the name of
Eliot —(applause). The name was connected with every
good work, and the president's worthy father was
ameodated with every shariteble institution, not only In
Weymouth; but also, be believed, among the greet
charities of the metropolis, there was seared, • charity
but Mr. Eliot's name was conneeted with. They would
drink his son's health with the greatest pleasure, for all
would aoknowledge that the son was walking in the
steps of his worthy and respected father —(drunk with
cheers).

!°i!t!'"

•
The Ciralsents soared them that be most deeply
felt the very bled manner in which they bad received
his health. He quit* joined with the members of the
slab la the latidestioe they felt at having the advantage%
of that room. Mr. Edwards had bees idea enough to
say that the idea of a working men'. club originated
with him (Mr. Elie') but be disdained the bower it
originated with others. But be bad always been pleased
to help forward the matter is any way he maid ; bus
there were others in the room who started in the affair
before be joined the 11110•011111111 i. He Amid always look
beak upon the old club inhering afforded him gamed tbe
happiest moments of his life, and he wee pleased to be
associated with men who showed a desire tos
themselves forward, for be hide perfect horror of id
and be hoped by helping others to do good and
good. He trusted that the men belonging to this club
were sub is would themselves posh forward and also

assist others to better themselves. The question oi
iodination Wal one of the most important que.tions of
the day. bemuses men who have the leelings of
Ingliehmen in their breast cannot be contented to
remain mere dolts. Those who Edo cannot make any
stand against competitors who have tshaa the tr mble
to gain knowledge and Ii tbdeaclrn for aoy eloaties
tiny mat be milled octoftlh R 6 hoped he @Wald
always feel a pl.maire in cc-operating Inge the Working
Men's Cirib, and that the day would be for distant etheu
their eonnection should come in an end—(aepleusel•
Mr. J. IVIMATIION proposed "Seems to the Working
Men's Club," and remarked that the olub's prosperity
did not depend so much upon the amount mid to iti
funds se on the members thernseivu thoroughly appre-
ciating and properly making use of what had been
provided for them, for it mattered little what friend.
might 4o unlearn they themselves took a proper interest
In the eitib—tapplodsel.
The "Health of the Visitor" Was eotlpled with that
of Mr. Joseph Drew, and was remised with twist-
matioe.

-1-I;.—Dazw, in eloquent term, respondei, and
expressed birnaelf aa ready, any time that the lecture
committee might have an evening unoccupied, to give a
lecture. lie had been through the adjoining counties,
and he believed that there was no similar alob that
enjoyed mote, if u moth prosperity and seems as this
one—(heat, bear. and applause).
Mr. W. B. BtUgrr felicitously propelled the "Health
of the Indefatigable secretary, Mr. W. Page," whose
exertions on its behalf he jastly oommended—(driank
with cheers).
Mr. POO. said It would have been One of the last
things be had in big mind, when, with his old friend
Mr. &calml be first took the room in Highetreet, that
they should have a, real member of Parliament at •
banquet aif theirs. He aelmowledged (he cancan which
bad attended the (dub and the great kind:nes of Mr.
Edwards, end felt that the money bad been judiciously
laid out. Bat at the same time be thought it would
have been better to have had • permanent building,
whereas now they had marls improvements and still Ind
a large rent to pay, with only a certain number of years
to sojey the improved building, after which it might
pass out of their hands. He did not believe that the
, gentleman who now held the property would take any
advantage of thent—(Mr. Hal/glow : No, no) ; but the
desirability of getting • a/rampant building was im-
paired especially now that, having icon ills club so far
successful, he felt it wee Wei time for him to resign and
some one else to enjoy the sweets of Aloe. Their
having 108 members was • proof that the club wee 8o
far successful; but he was sorry to say that they bad •
number of members who did not pay anything or take
any interest in the club.
.me " Heath of Mr. Dann," the caterer, was heartily
drank, shsw which the.ebairmen vacated the chair, to
whichMr Page was milled, and tbe party amtinued to
enjoy themselves with song and toast • short tiers
longer ; but they maintained that character for
moderation which ought to be • feature in such clubs
by separating some time before midnight.