The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-27 00:00:00

THE IMPROVED POSITION OF THE WORKLNG CLASS.

Now, what, after all, lithe great object of our delibelet•
lions In this section? Why dome collect and test and analyze
statistics? cud why do we study the principles of economic
mience and the mode In which those principles are ap-
plied / Mainly, I think we should all answer, In order
to promote the economic well-being of the great mail
of the community. I should be exceedingly glad if
some of the memoors of our Aesociation, elco are so
well qualified to do no, wield c ,nsider whether at the forth-
coming meeting • comparison—careful'y prepared—of the
economic condition of the great manes of tim people
could not be made from returns of the economio
condition of the great MOS. of the Englah people
Cl Ude time, compared with what it wes when this Assmistiou
wash rtned, 40 years ago. I have not made th comparison.
I have not had time to collect statistic.; but I think Vila
statement will Madly be challengel. Take, for example, the
condition of the manual labour class in this country, which
is alter all the largest clan t the community, and ui Wit con-
tinue so. I believe It would not be oisputed that there has
been a progress melt hopeful for the future, and most remark-
able, as compared with like periods in the put ; that the great
body of manual labourers throughout the couetry have •
greater share in thecornforte and enjoyments of life than they
had SO years ago, and that they are more able to obtain the tie-
ceuaries, the comforts, and even some of the luxuries of iife.
and that their wares are higher. Awl for that matter I
would refer you to the paper read by Professor Levi, bearing
in some measure on that subject, In which It was shown that
Melo wages are not only much blither in themselves, but that
notwithstanding some rise in the coat of living, they are
higher in proportion to the csb living. (Hear, hear.) I
do not think that will be denied. There is great reason why
they should be high, r, fur, though they are aunt with shorter
hours of labour, and, generally speaking, under Improved
conditions, still labour is more severe than it was at any
former period.
A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT
SOCIETY.

CLASSES

Then, again, I believe no one can deny that there has been
progress in education, that there has been progress in general
culture, and generally speaking, progress lii the way of a
better and more kindly relationship between this Important
class and other abuses of the community. I should be very
tarry that this remark should be misapprehended. Dc not

suppose that in stating my belief that the has been progreu,
I think we have got to that polut when we can rest and be
thankful. I should be sorry to be thought for a moment to be
suggesting apathy in raising and Improving the c ndition of
munal labourers. I believe there is that In the condition
of the manual labourer throughout the country to which
the term "content" would be by no means applicable ; that
there is very much for others to do for them and still more
for them to do fcr themselves. I merely mention this pro-
gnu us stimulus for future exertion, and not as any ground
for rest. Totals not the place or the time to dilate on the
point of what lebnuers can do for themselves, and all I
would may on that matter is, that when any of us see
advised to speak against what we may think to be the be-
setting sins of the labouring classes, we ought never to
forget what are the besetting this of our own visas, (Ap-
Oaths.)

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRIME AND VICE.
And we most also recollect this, that In the present date
of civillsdicn we must make a great distinction between
crime and vice, and that crime and vice cannot be attacked
in like manner. We must continue to punish crime, and td
bring (twos to bear upon it but as regards vice—and I will
include in that term the great and terrible vice of drunken-
ness—we shall be obliged to admit that the time has long
passed, if there ever was a time, in which we could attack
Vice with success by force, or by any means but per.
Session. (Applause.)

Now, as regards what can be done by others than inch a
inctiou at this, by the Legislature for example, for the con-
dition of manual labourers—l believe that, notwithstanding
what has been done, very notch more may be done. I
alluded to the improved condition* of labour—by help of
scientific discoveries a man fights nature with less milady g
to himself. Many of you could detail the benthelent results
of scientifid discovery in one cue alter another I believe
these conquests over nature are only the preludes of future
triumph., and I lock forward to that great and beneficent
result being still more apparent In the future than it has
been In the past. The thought and the experiments of
scientific men will enable the products of nature to be
rudissd for the god of man, as I said, with less suffering to
the individual worker.