The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-13 00:00:00

ADDRESS TO WORKING MEN AT SHEFFIELD.

In connexion with the Autumnal Session of tho
Congregatiuual Union at Sheffield, a great meeting of
working VIM was held on Thursday evening in the Tem-
zit:ll,2o%am
pentuce-hall to hear addresses from Mr. Samuel Morley
and the Rev. Newman Ilia Mr. Morley, who was in
is
zdworkingr.u.wenfranchised, classes,fcnh edexpressing
tooh
the chair, suldreased some plain and faithful advice to the
tf
he
ngbeirteithderi'sei trvareseeti
many evil habits which could give occasion fur argument
against them.
The Rev. NEWNAN HALL, LLB., who was received with
loud cheers, explained that he had Leen requested b) the
committee of the Congregational Union to address the
working men of Sheffield, and that be complied with the
request with great pleasure. lie explained the principles
upon which the independent body was founded, and
showed the perfect freedom from state patronage and con-
trol that it enjoyed. The Independents would be ashamed
to take any money from the state fur the support of their
religiun. He spoke of the importanceof education, and of
the dangers to society that arose from ignorance, and
remarked that the people must be educated by some
means or other. The community that would have to
suffer from children growing up ignorant, ought to see to
it that nobody grew up ignorant. (Cheers.) Speaking of
the reasons why so many of the working classes do out
attend the public celebration of divine worship, he said
that ono reason was tyranny. He thought that
working men had a erfect right to demand what-
ever wages they could get, to combine to get those
wages, end to strike if they could not get them. (Great
applause.) if he went into Mr. Rodgeni's saleroom and
offered tee. for a knife which was worth, in the opinion
of the seller, Co, the latter would " strike " for that
amount, and refuse to part with the knife for less, and
be perfectly justified in doing so. The working men had
time, and muscle, and labour. and skill to sell, and they
had the right to demand their price, and to combine toge-
ther and say that they would not work for less than a stated
sum per day. If the employer offered leas, they could say,
"We shan't accept, and we will go home, read our paper,
and enjoy ourselves." (Laughter.) The working man had
clearly as great a right to stand out for a certain price foe
his labour as the capitalist had to demand one for his goods.
(Hear, hear.) But there was another side to the picture.
Suppose a man were to go to another and say, " I have
been working for six shillings a day, and I want seven;
I want you to join me in refusing to work for leas than
seven ;" and if the other man were to reply, " I tried my
employer, who says be can't afford to give more at present ;
I have a wife and children, and if I were to lose my work,
my wife and children would be in difficulties. I don't feel
dispowsl to do as working but you can do it if you like, but
I shall go on o" Supposing the first replica,
" Very well, a number of us will combine together? we
we will drive you from the works, and if you persist in it
we will blow up your house." That was tyranny. (Great
applause.) It the tyranny of the men who had never
professed to care for freedom was a despicable thing, the
tyranny of those who were always deuounciog tyranny
and crying out for liberty was so despicable that he could
war,a word in the English language strong enough to ex-
war, a it. (Renewed cheers.) Gut upon such despotism.
Let the working men deliver themselves from the shackles
of their own class. (Cheers.) The rev. gentleman gave an
instance of this tyranny which bad come under his own
observation in London. A very clever young bookbinder.
who had conscientioua scruples against joining his trade
"society," was driven from place after place by the refusal of
the union mento work with him, and he was alnicet starving
when he made the case known. That was a piece of abomi-
nable tyranny. (Hear.) He WAX iu favour of political re-
form, hut he warned the working men that the real re-
formation must be from within. Let them reform them-
selves, and all other reforms would follow; neglect self-
reform, and they would find political n form to e a de-
lusion, a cheat, and a snare. (Cheers.) He touched brie Ay
upon the immense evils occasioned by the liquor traffic,
and in conclusion Le addressed hinnelf to the hearts of
his audience with fervent and in.passioned eloquence, en-
treating their attention to spiritual thins. The peters-
tion was listened to with breathless attention, and at the
close the audience cheered the rev. gentleman with the
heartiest .
theeenthusiasm He brought the proceedings to a
close by pronouncing enediction.
ng

---
The Lord Mayor's banquet to the chief persons
maged in constructing and laying the Atlantic Telegraph
will take place on Tuesday, 30th inst.
THE REFoRM LEAGUE. —At the usual weekly
meetinti of the council of the league, held last evening at
Adelpht-terrace, the president, Mr. Beales, who presided,
gave a resent, of the meetings he had attended in the pro-
vinces since last be met the council. On the motion of
the president, the following resolution was carried :
" That the hearty thanks of this council are heartily pre-
sented to the Birmingham, Manchester, and Bradford
branches of the Reform League, and the Leeds Manhood
Suffrage Association, for the imposing and magnificent
demonstrations at Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds
in support of the great and national principles
of the league manhood suffrage and the ballot."
Mr. Howell (secretary) announced that two of the
largest tattles unions in London were about to con-
nect themselves with the League. With respect to a pars-
graph in one of the morning papers stating that Mr. G,ra-
ham, M.P., and Mr. Ifl`Laren, M.P., would only attend
the G ow meeting on the condition that the resolutions
should not go the length of manhood suffrage and
the ot, a resolution was carried to the effect that the
only position in which Mr. Beales could attend the meet-
ing was as the advocate of manhood suffrage and the
ballot. Dr. Smith brought forward his propositions for
the formation of a " People's Parliament," which, after a
debate, was rejected.
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