The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-17 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

pounds shillinise and pence estimate of human etateluct to
govern rewerds in human life, I would like to know how
many anomalies you might not point out, and Lott slimly
ridiculous results you might rod hold up to public con-
tempt. ( ('heers.) It is only bee-Huse you choose yourselves
to adopt the lowest test for that wineh we esteem to be
the highest conduct that you offer this reward ; but it is
unnecessary for me to make a remark upon the subject,
because the best refutation for all those charges are the
feelings of the labouring (leases of this country when they
Hirer anstemst us, and their 111*Tit is recognised by the
nu-ass that are at our dispomd, and in the unumer which
we have:adopted here. (Hear. hear.)
" I have no hesitation iu saying, and many of you with
more extended information than myself NW have no betel.
laden I AM sure in saying, that this moriety, limited as its
influence must necessarily be, has produced during the
tenn of its existence very beneficial effects ; and that the
inducements it holds out to the labouring demotes of the
ere looked forward tee with considerable interest,
and with en estimate very different from that of those. who
make 4.1164.0 remarks upon eiremnstancee of which they
are very indifferent judges. !('!.errs.) Nut a shepherd,
or ploughman. dairymaid enters that room to receive
the reward who does nut etomprehend that it is offered to
them in cousequenve of their tumid conduct, and as a
reward for their skill and assiduity. (Near.) They do
out at all 111111.+1111: the teeutryaitioAl by the mere amount
-that is lonia them—though that is not elespieable—ltt
they teal that they leuve the. mom. after having received that
public recognition of their eunduet, elevated in their
Islohere—(lfeac. hear )—and 1 know that our friends here,
who have received the uniform of the society as an
lese 4444 umble recognition of their labour., will go to church
in the green cems you have given them with the /kerne
pride—the same rational pride—as the nololeman will go
to Celled ire u blue riband, if he has merited that badge.
(('heers.) The principles that dictates the reward is
rashly the same, and why should we nut give credit to
them for being influenced exactly by the same feeling?
( Hear. hear.) My own convict' is that they are in-
tbietseed by the same feeling, and therefitre I have been
always of opinion that societies like the present have a
tendency to elm ate tine condition. because they elevate
the feelings, of the labouring classes of the country.
(('heers.)
"1 have no doubt we might do more, but it is a great
deal to do something vont' •ly fir twenty-one years.
(('heers.) Matt) societies are starting with very great and
commendable efliais. but where ure they at the end of five
or even of three years ? (11 cur, hear.) Where do we see a
society that, after twenty-one years spent under all
imaginable eircummteincem, huue still eontrived to toting to-
gether in a room so largo. an assembly AM the present, for
puristses su pillre, honest. and iaouourable as those which
have bnaight UK together? (Cheers.) I say we have
done that which we have reason to congrandatc ourselves
upon. (Cheers.) It may lead to greater consequences,
mud be tin- foundation certainly of welder efforts to
amelionde the emelitien of the working elasses of this
country ; but no one esti deny that the principle **hid' we
adopted twenty-one you* ago was a sound principle—that
the results with:le have aecnied frem putting it in practice
have been satisfactory mud benetivial—and that the general
effect of this seciety has been to elevate the feelings and
audition of the labouring classes of the county of
IluckittgllAlll. ('lacers) That is a subject of eonsideralde
interest, and at no tune of greater interest than at the
present. ( Ilene, twee.)
"We knew well that very great changes are taking place,
and the whole tendency Of those cluniges appears to Wes-
Miami viTy gnat changes in the condition of the labouring
classes of the country generally. For example, if it be
true, it is more than prelnelole that a very considerable
ele%ation in the condition of the labouring classes of the
country only occur, upon whirls I will now give no opinion.
be-elitist. it is a SillijeCt that lends to great argument. stood
one no doubt of considerable coutroversy. (Hear, hear.!
it is something fist 104 to be able to say that before that
change has taken place we have shown our sympathy wills
the hasn't-Mg elastics. and have prepared them for that
mom elevated position which perhaps they may be called
upon to assume. ( Cheers.) Here is the machinery. and
hem has been the unwhinery now for a considerable mem-
ber of years, which has shown to the people abut us that
we wolfish++. their claims and the respectability of their
position, and that we have always been, AS far as lay in
our power, prepared to reward theta for meritorious
conduct, and to give them inducenients to tehow they
were worthy of the etympethy of the community.
'leerti.)
" Now-, no one can tell. in an age etf rapid change like
the present, what may be the condition of that particular
(lass with whose tint tines and condition we an' to-day TV
immediately interested. (Near. hear.) Our proceedings
have been stopped for a 1111 l Lent le-cause wet have been
told that the candidates of the day were not prepared to
receive that humble but very sincere recognition that we
am going to make them fir their achievements. The
ploughmen are not going to appear immediately. though
we may soon are then' ; but how do we know what may be
the condition of the ploughmen in the course of the year?
( War, hear.) I have recently mad, and I dam say your
also have read, the opinions of a gentleman who is con-
sidered to Ie an anthority en this subject, and who
states that the plough is in tact completely superseded.
We always thought that whatever revolutions occurreel,
either in our cirentustances or even in our opinions, we
should always say,' speed the plough ;' but now we live
in au Nee autl we bale ani‘ed tel a period alien it is very
doubtful whether ire PH iug, ' speed the plough,' we might
not be as old-fashioned as in saying ' success to a jarvey;
(('hens and laughter.) Although those great material
changes are taking place. wheat I want toimpress upon you.
though indeed the line principle of this asset-union which
brings us together shows nu- that it is Ullttece,stoy to bap
press it upon you, because you aro swam of it—what I

SATURDAY,

want to impress upon you is, that, whatever may be the
change in material af airs. let there he no change in our
moral principles, and, though the plough may be super-
seded, let us make the English labourer understand that,
though he may cease to be a ploughman, be is still the
mender of a community that respects his virtues, if he
shows them—(cheers)—of a community that is prepared
to recognise and reward his good qualities, if he proves that
he is entitled to its respect and its rewards. I 'haw's.)
" f consider, therefore, that this society—which I ant
glad to say has listed for twenty-one pars—is founded
upon the right principle. (Cheers.) Witut is that princi-
ple? It is a principle that acknowledges that there is a
sympathy of sentiment and an identity of interest between
the employers and the employed. (I.:here's. ) That is
really the principle that brings us together—that is the
sentiment that we contribute by our devotion and adhesion
to uphold. and that we consecrate by our conduct, and by
taking every opportunity of proving that we are faithful to
it. (Cheers.) Then you may rely upon it, gentlemen,
that whatever changes may occur—and in this age you
must be prepared tar the greatest and even the wildest
changes—so long as that principle is acknowledged by us
we may look at those changes without apprehension, be-
cause we shall all of us be members of a society founded
upon principles of public virtue, and upon an acknowledg-
ment that, whatever the circumstances we may have to
meet may be, we recognise that between all classes of men
the principles of justice and of good feeling shall lee the
governing principles that regulate our conduct. (threes.) •
Gentlemen, with this feeling I can only repeat that it is
with the greatest gratification I find myself again by the
side of my excellent friend the chairman to-day as your
guest—if I may call myself a guest who um at member of
your society. (1 Vers.) There an very few of our meet-
ings that I have been unfortunately not present at
oar formation. (Hear, hear.) I believe my absence has
always been aceounted for by rests lIIS that were considered
Hear, hear) ;—and you may rely upon it that so
long UM 1 have the high honour of being your representa-
tive I never will permit any circumstances but those over
which 1 min have no control to prevent me from being
present at the annual meeting of the society. the general
effect of which i believe has been most beneficial in the
county of Buckingham."
The right hon. gentleman resumed his seat amidst
loud anal long-continued applause. Various compli-
mentary toasts followed afterwards, and the company
broke up.