The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-02-06 00:00:00

THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF
WORKING MEN.

• -
On Monday night an interesting social meeting of working
men, convened by Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P., and the Rev.
Christopher Nevill, blok place at the City Terminus Hotel,
In London. Mr. Samuel Morley presided, and aftet tea
briefly expressed how deeply interested he.was in the politi-
cal future of the working people of this Country, the dis-
cussion of which was the main object of the soiree, and
respecting which his rev. friend Mr. Nevill had promised to
deliver a short address.
The Rev. Mr. Nevill, after explaining that the
credit of the present gathering of working Ineovle was
owing mainly to Mr. Morley, who at his (Mr. IS evilrs)
suggestion got up the soiree, the rev, gentleman pro-
ceeded to deliver his address. It was taken as granted
by a good many persons among the upper classes, that
working men were generally rough and insulting in
their manner. He was sixty-three years of age
that day, and he could say that during the whole
course cf his life he never received a single rough
or ungentlemanly reply from a working man.
His belief respecting the asserted rudeness of the
English working man was that it was generally
brought upon those persons who excited such
conduct. He considered that the more the
classes were brought together and the differences that
existed were discussed, the better for all classes. For
instance, he had given, for three years running,
dinners to persons entertaining quite opposite opinions
on Church questions and the great cause of dissension
was discused in quite A friendly manner, and he
believed with good results. He had during his life-
time associated with the aristocracy of the wiunt), and
he had sympathy with them. He had also mixed a
good deal with the working classes, particularly with
the agricultural, and he sympathised with them. He
therefore could speak dispassionately on the relative
interests of the two classes. The New Testament laid
it down as a principle, with which he cordially agreed,
that the welfare of the poorest Was as dear in the sight
of God as the noblest in the land; but be could not
believe the statement that had been put forward from
time to time, that it Was in the power of the Govern-
ment to make everybody rich and happy. He at the
same time fully admitted that the condition of the
working people might be much improved through the
instrumentality of good legislation. He considered
that the welfare of the whole country was involved in
the position which the working people held, and he
therefore felt that it was the duty of the rich to do
their utmost to see after and endeavour to improve
those below them in the social scale. No doubt, for
instance, there was great cause of complaint on
account of some few men possessing immense tracts of
land which they would neither improve themselves nor
let anybody else improve it. He thought that if any-
thing could be done to discourage that system, and at
the same time keep within tine laws of property, it
should be accomplished. The currency was another
question of interest to the working people. He
strongly disapproved of any change that would in'
crease the circulation of paper. The great object to be
attained was to make the prices of provisions. &c., as
permanently uniform and low as possible. From his
personal acquaintance with the affairs of agricul-
tural districts he could add his testimony to the neces-
sity of the ballot. The public-house question was a
difficult matter upon which to express an opinion,
but he thought that all would admit the evil they
caused, particularly to working people. If retrench-
ment was to be practised, he hoped the working
people would not be made the sufferers. After ie-
ferring to some other matters, the reverend gentle-
man went on to say that he had great faith in
the political future of the working men of England.
He 'believed they were at present quite as honest
and well.intentioned as the classes above them,
and, considering their circumstances, quite as intel.
ligeht. He desired, therefore, to do all in his power to
promote their interests, and he earnestly hoped that
other men of eminence, such as Mr. Morley, would