The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-19 00:00:00

TOF THT,TREIDAY

on the subject have proved fruitt;
hoped that this mistake will toe
and that our legislators may derive

tis 11:4t
at
the use

lesson, that if Parliament is to do anything it
should do it effectually. But there is another diffi-
culty in legislatingupon this subject, which is more
serious. It is tolerably easy to place great maim-
factories under a certain law, and make companies I
and partnerships conform to certain regulations. '
But, according to the Commissioners, nothing has
been proved so conclusively to them as the fact
that the parents are the persons against whom
boys and girls of tender years require moat pro-
tection. Nor is this any new thing. In 1840 it
was stated "that "in all cases the persons that
" employ mere infanta and the very youngest
cc children are the parents themselves, who put
" their children to work at some process of menu-
" facture under their own eyes in their own
" houses." The fact remains the same ;
and, unhappily, the cause remains also.
Unhappily most frequently it arises from the
irregular habits of the fathers, who idle away the
beginning of the week, and recover lost time
at the end of it by making their children over-
work themselves. The extent to which this evil
prevails is moat serious. It is calculated that
out of the 1,400,000 who form the subject of in-
quiry one-half are employed in the so-called
" private houses," or in places which cannot be
called factories, but which are described as
" small, crowded, dirty, and ill-ventilated."
Now in legislating upon this subject it is im-
I possible to ignore these facts. To insist that the
provisions of the Factory Act shall be applied to
the large manufactories while private houses are
exempt would be not only unjust, but a fatal
blunder ; for it is obvious, as the Commissioners
, observe, that the supply "of juvenile and female
" labour would be drawn off to the places exempt
" from legislation ;' and that a stimulus would be
given to the multiplication of the smaller places of
work which are " least favourable to the health,

- -- . —_
" comfort, education, and general improvement of
" the people." On the other hand, it seems
doubtful whether Parliament will readily be in-
duced to sanction so inquisitorial an inter-

ferenoe with the rights of individuals as
the Commissioners propose ; for if such I
powers recommended by the Commissioners
were conferred upon any Inspector, they would be
entitled to enter into any individual house, and
at any hour, and inquire into the manner in which
a father or a mother might be dealing with their
one child. Such a proceeding would certainly be
novel, and it might be considered by very many
somewhat obnoxious. At the same time it cannot
be doubted that if such a system were carried into
effect with judgment and caution, it would have
an excellent effect, " not only upon the young
" and feeble," but upon the still larger body of
adult workers. "It would," say the Commis-
sioners, "enforce upon them regular and moderate
" hours—it would lead to their places of work
" being kept in a healthy and cleanly state ; " it
would save the rising generation from over-exer-
tion at an early age, and it would ensure them—
at least up to 13—the opportunity of receiving the
elements of education.
It would be wrong, however, to exaggerate evils
so grave, or to despair of improvement. It is now
six-and-twenty years since this subject began
to be investigated, and since that time matters
have decidedly improved. The age at which the
youngest children are now employed is somewhat
advanced. At that time children sometimes began
to work between three and four ; now it is rare to
find children employed below six. Now-a-days
children are better treated. Cruelty is rare, and
suffering from want of food and clothing has dimi-
nished. Employers in these days are animated by
a higher sense of responsibility towards their work-
people. Efforts for their improvement—formerly
described as " very uncommon "—are now very
general, while the means of obtaining instruction,
both secular and religious, are enormously increased
' and infinitely more efficient.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

Pines proceeflito point it how it
erurity. qfiglor for . int
the extetiod eafety d Germany. ill
to pieces now chiefly because it heta no strength
in itself ; and to all appearance the unmilitary
and unofficial inhabitants of North Germany are
perfectly content to see the Diet overthrown,
and to become, either nominally or virtually, Prussian
subjects. As in America, so in Germany, the "recon-
struction of the South" will be the most difficult problem,
after the war is over. The ignoble part of Bavaria to the
peakeikama now being enacted goes far to show that she
is incapable of heading a new Southern Confederation.
She has incurred the enmity of Prussia without earning
the gratitude of Austria, and when the time comes, if it
ever does come, for a rectification of frontiers between
Fran& and Germany, she may perhaps learn that an
arrangement has been made eminently satisfactory to all
parties but herself.
Devoting an article to the Venetian campaign/hp°
Tines concludes that from this moment what is
called "/a grande guerre " is at an end in
Italy, and that room is only left for sieges
and for the desultory operation■ of petty warfare.
The attempt of Custozza was a stroke of sheer madness at
the best, the army, chiefly, it is said, under I® Marinora's
strategy, being led into a blind alley where advice" was
impossible. Even now, however satisfactory Cialdhare
progress has been, the Italians are no nearer coming up
with a visible and tangible enemy. Strange to say the
fleet which was to co-operate with him is not before Venioe,
and while nothing is done by sea Cieldini is not likely to
venture on any ansustained attack on the land side. As
to Venetia itself, indeed, the question seems to have been
satisfactorily settled by Prussia's victories and Austria's
necessity ; but it is otherwise with the Italian Tyrol,
which the Italians will never obtain by treaty, we will
not say from the Austrians, but not even from the Prus-
sians, unless they establish upon it the right of posses-
sion before an armistice pats an end to further pro-
gress. Southern Tyrol is to be won by hard fighting. It
is too difficult for mere volunteers. Fifty thousand
chosen troops would not be too many for an attack on the
Tyrol, both on the western passes of the Stelvio, the
Tousle, and the Caffaro, and on the eastern side at Val
Sultana. Of such an enterprise, however, we have as yet
no account.

A uttorly failed m
ate y me, for
%Oen

On the eve of the great battle, remarks the Daily News,
which is to determine the fate of Austria and Germany, it
is not surprising that the governments most concerned
should seek to define their several positions. Prussia has
formally stated that she does not desire the annexation of
the important kingdoms of Austria now in her possession;
Austria, in her turn, declares that she will not accept
an exclusion from the new organisation of Germany,
and the Monileur refers to the Prussian demand in terms
which suggest that the French government did not regard
it as an unreasonable requirement.
__ .

The Past is happy to learn that the Emperor Napoleon
has now thoroughly made up his mind to accept the results
of a war which threatens the very existence of one of the
great Powers of Europe, provided such a break up of Aus-
tria as may possibly occur does not give a too preponderat-
ing influence to any other Power.
While wishing to do all justice to the motives for which
the Constittaioand and the Moniteur claim credit as hay-
ing uniformly actuated the diplomatic movements of their
government, the Herald cannot ascribe to them the merit
of having effected much in the interests of pesos. Prussia
and Austria might as well have been left to deal with each
other independently, if all that the neutral powers can do
is to recommend abject submission to the power which has
hitherto certainly been worsted in the strife, but which
has not yet lost all hope of turning the tables against its
adversary. It is pretty clear now that the Emperor of
the French will do nothing to prevent the utter humilia-
tion and ruin of the Austrian empire.
The Telegraph believes that if any advance in the Tyrol
in the direction of Trent is to be pursued, something much
more serious than a mere repulse awaits Garibaldi He
has now too many men to feed, and the population,
although not hostile, is, to my the least, lukewarm ; while
the distance from his base of supply is so considerable as
to render any sort of relief precarious. The difficulty in-
creases with every mile of his advance. and the hostility
of the population will grow in exactly the same degree.
Further persistence, without some marked success, will
not only endanger the volunteers, but imperil the military
reputation of a leader who has rendered himself dear to all
Earn 3.
The Star looks to see the garrison of Venice succumb
within a few weeks. The Austrian soldiers are thrown
away there, but the road of the Italians to co-operate with
the Prussians is not barred. If the bulk of the army of
the south is around Vienna, the Italians will overrun the
southern provinces and seize Trieste and Istria never again
to give them up.