The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-29 00:00:00

m any years of active experience, and not only note
for himself but point out to others the marvellous
changes wrought in the last thirty or forty years.
The occasion of his recent address was one which,
from the present position of the country, was
especially interesting. It was the annual assembly
of the Union of Mechanics' Institutes of East Lan-
cashirc—a union which comprises about a dozen
groups of the evening schools of the manufacturing
towns and large villages, many of which are con-
nected with the library, news-rooms, and lecture-
rooms of mechanics' institutes, and similar es-
tablishments. It is not a little remarkable that
such institutions should have been able to hold
their ground at all during a time of such severe
and protracted trial, but that they should flourish
sufficiently to go through their ordinary forms, and
keep their regalar ceremonials, is a significant sign
of the times. The union, although missing the
contributions of some of the master manufacturers,
has received undiminished support from the landed
gentry of the district. The youth of the neigh.
bourhood have steadily continued their attendance.
The number of candidates for prizes who have pre.
sented themselves at the annual examinations has
not diminished, and the standard of acquirement
has not fallen. What is, however, the most notice.
able thing is that in some institutions, where the
subscriptions had fallen off, the working men
themselves have paid the charge for the hire of
rooms, for lighting, fuel, and books, as well as
guaranteeing to the Union the usual payment of
half the salary of the organising master. These
schools aro by no means insignificant in number or
character, since although this union only extends
over a radius of eight miles, the evening classes have
been attended by 1,800 scholars, one in every ten of
whom present themselves for examination every
mid-summer. Such facts show plainly the degree
of intelligence and mental cultivation current in
these districts, and this has no doubt exercised an
important influence on tho public tranquillity dur.
ing the cotton famine. " Education," says Lord
BROUGHAM, " makes men more easy to lead, but
difficult to drive." Forty years ago, when physical
force was the only argument thought of to reduce
the working man to order, the weavers and their
fellows resisted a temporary interference with the
trade of the district with riot and outrage, The
cotton spinners of our day have submitted to a time
of prolonged distress with a fortitude and an order
that have excited the admiration of the civilised
world. Sir S. SHUTTLEWORTH attributed the great
change in men's minds and feelings to a variety of
causes, prominent among which he placed the great
increase in religious and moral training. " No,
period," added Sir JAMES, " has been more remark.
able in our history than the last thirty years for a
growth of sympathy in Parliament with the well.
being of the workman." Be he agricultural la-
bourer or factory hand he is no longer in a position
of such hardship and injustice as he was. The fees
tory acts have regulated the hours of labour, have
protected the women and children, and, generally
speaking, improved the discipline of the mills. The
Saturday half holiday, the improvement in the cot-
tages, the opening of parks and gardens, the news
and lecture rooms of mechanics' institutes, have all
exercised an ameliorating influence, and have con.
vinced the working classes of the goodwill of those
above them. When we add to these agencies of the
free libraries, which have brought,the influence of
our best English literature to bear on the more
thoughtful workmen, the wide circulation of the
press, which brings to every man's door the teach..
ings of the time, which trains his judgment, en-
larges his sympathies, and moderates his prejudices
by showing him how other men think and feel and
act, we shall better understand the progress of that
remarkable change which has converted the theatre
of the machine riots of 1826 into the scene of the
heroic endurance and tranquillity of 1862.4. To
the general content and political satisfaction of the
masses Sir J. SHUTTLEWORTH adds another ingre-
dient. An intelligent, prudent, and skilful work-
man finds no difficulty in rising from the ranks,
and therefore he looks to the class above him not
with envy but emulation. A large proportion of
the master manufacturers of Lancashire can trace
their origin within one or two generations to work-
men, col'iera, or labourers. The Post-office sav-
ings-banks and other institutions afford facilities
to the thrifty but less ambitious workmen to invest
his savings in shops or building societies, or
gas and water works. The great inventions of the
cotton trade, the discoveries and improvements of
HARGREAVES, Of CROMPTON, of ROBERTS, and
ARKWRIGHT have all come from the ranks. These
men, who were all of humble origin, were, as Sir
J. SHUTTLEWORTH finely said, the aristocracy of
mind in the trade, and, though very few may share
their genius, all can feel that prudence and applica-
tion will enable them to rise from the lower level.
The vast increase in knowledge and education in
the cotton districts has been shown by another sign.
Instead of sharing the despondency felt by many
persons, instead of being overwhelmed by the appa.
rent annihilation of their trade, the cotton workers
have felt throughout a firm conviction of its resusci-
tation. Masters have enlarged their mills and added
to their machinery, men have been content
patiently to abide the issue. No other fabric has
been found to supply the place of cotton, and its
necessity is more than ever evident. Under these
circumstances a stimulus has been given to cotton
culture throughout the world which is even now
producing important results. But Sir JAMES
SHUTTLEWORTH thinks it wise to forewarn his
hearers of the possibility of another trial. Should
we depend on other countries for our supply of cot.
ton, a maritime war would produce another crisis;
and would Lancashire endure a war policy with
the same equanimity as she has submitted to the
consequences of a peace policy ? We see no reason
to doubt it, and, in the first place, it is improbable
they would be so severely tried, The largest fleet
in the world could hardly blockade every seaboard
at once, and if our supplies are drawn from India,
from Australia, from Africa, from the West Indies,
and from South America it will need a good many
ships to hinder their entries and exits. As for mari-
time guerillas, the English need not have much
fear. Let them be free to act, free to equip their
vessels and defend their property, and the docks
that sent out the Alabama can equally send out
vessels that will defy the privateer. France and
Austria are the only two nations that can be spoken
of as maritime antagonists, but the first wants
the national gift of seamanship, and the latter will
find quite enough to do iu protecting her own
shores without garrisoning all the seas with cotton
pirates. So long as the trade of Lancashire rests
upon our maritime supremacy it has a safe founda-
tion, and so long as the peace of tne district rests
upon tho intelligence and education of the masses,
we have good reason to hope that every year will
remove us further from the reign of strikes and
riots which all good me❑ must deplore, but from
which none suffer so bitterly as the rioters them.
selves.

There are few things more deplorablo in the
opinion of discerning persons than to think that
those who have done their best, and c'evoted their
lives to the service of their country, are not tide.
qttately provided for. It is true that noble edifices
have been reared which are the pri it of this land