The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-01 00:00:00

KAT 7
a 13

1852,

tion, international hospitality, submarine telegraph,
and penny omnibuses. All these considerations war-
rant us in indulging in hope for the future, although
there is no denying that a few dark clOuds hang over
the present. The chief difficulty of course shows
itself on the Continent. The preparations for playing
out the great game between free institutions and des-
potisra are proceeding more rapidly than ever. That the
cause of freedom is meeting with reverses is too
true ; that it will eventually triumph it were a sin to
doubt. The great ground for hope lies in the fact
that the enemy has now thrown off the mask, and is
no longer fighting under false colours. After coquet-
ting for six and thirty years between Liberalism and
Absolutism, the chief Governments of the Continent
have now decided for the latter, and the .11cman
Catholic Church is solemniz7ng the union with all
splendour. The world is waiting with breathless
anxiety for the result of the match. In the meantime,
let us be grateful that peace is with us undisturbed.
Diplomatists still smile outwardly upon each other in
every court in Europe. Everything is as yet couleur
de rose on this New Year's morning. Ambassadors ere
preparing to exchaege courtesies with the Governments
of the countries in which they are resident. Formerly
it was the custom to make costly presents to mo-
narchs on this day, and occasion was not unfr«pently
taken to choose such gifts as would convey advice in
a manner more or less evident. Thus Latimer, we
know, on New-Year's-day presented Henry VIII.
with a New Testament, with a leaf doubled down
et Hebrews xiii., 4, conveying a very significant hint
of the bold Bishop's real sentiments about Henry's
proceedings matrimonial. A fertile fancy might in
like manner find fitting employment in devising ap-
propriate gifts to be presented to-day to the various
sovereigns of Europe. Thus the King of Naples
might be presented with a cord and axe and the cast-
off clothes of the imprisoned Poerio, significant of
the executioner's tools and perquisites. To the King
of Pluisia a polite offer might be made to re-bind
the old copy of his Majesty's New Testament on
which he has taken so many constitutional oaths.
The Queen of Spain might be presented with lead-
ing-strings, and a strong soldier to keep her Majesty
from slipping out of them. Louis Napoleon would
be appropriately gifted with the story of "Hobson's
choice," to typify the nature of his offer of a govern-
ment to the French nation. The Emperor of Austria
might be presented with a tight-rope, as a hint of the
difficulties he will find in balancing himself in the
present conjuncture; and a diploma might be made
out for the Emperor of Russia, investing him with
the-sole privilege of picking up his unfortunate bro-
ther of Austria as often as he may fall. So much for
monarchs. To return to ourselves and our readers.
To the latter we conscientiously believe we can wish
no greater public benefit than the realisation of those
measures of political and social importance which it
has, for years past, been the object of the Daily News
to advocate. To accomplish this, however, they must
work with us and with each other, and with such co-
operation there is no overweening confidence in the
anticipation that a good result must flow from our
hearty wish to them of a " Happy New Year."

THE THREATENED STRIIiE.
The Lancashire employers of operative engineers
had a meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the Clarence
Hotel, Manchester,
,which w as'attended by upwards
of fifty members of the leading firms in this branch of
trade, and presided over by Mr. T. B. Sharp, of the
firm of Sharp, Brothers, and Co. The committee
appointed at a former meeting reported the substance
of what bad transpired between the deputation from
their body and the employers of London and the
vicinity ; and also the proceedings of a meeting of
those employers, at the London Coffee-house, on the
24th inst. The warmest gratification was expressed
at the cordial reception of the deputation from Lan-
cashire by the central body in London ; and, ou the
motion of Mr. James Nasmyth, of the Bridgewater
Foundry, Patricroft, seconded by Mr. John Hick, of
Bolton, it was unanimously resolved, "That this asso-
ciation forthwith join, and become a portion of, the
central association of employers of operative engineers,
&c." The tone of the meeting was most decided and
unanimous in the expression of a determination to
resist any and every attempt at dictation on the part
of the men, as alike injurious to employers and
employed, and destructive of the best interests
of the country. It appeared that while many esta-
blishments had singly resisted such attempts at dicta-
tion on former occasions, and in their resistance bad
been successful, there were many others where this
system of dictation was still in full force, and where
the employers, with the name of masters, were in fact
the slaves of their men, and were obliged to submit to
the grossest tyranny, dictated by a few unseen agita-
tors. Now this dictation had manifested itself in the
audacity with which the present demands have been
put forth. But it was observed this would have the
good effect of uniting in one formidable body, with
scarcely a single exception, the whole of the employers
of engineering labour throughout the kingdom.
Their bond of union was the strong one of self-de-
fence, and the determination to resist every attempt at
dictation on the part of the workmen. The proceed-
ings, which throughout were characterised by the
greatest unanimity, closed about a quarter before six
o'clock. Two other facts we may add, which do not
appear in the official proceedings, A general desire
and determination was expressed, that as the men had
threatened a strike, their object and intention should
be tested, and that the question between the em-
p!oyers and employed, having been raised by the
latter, should now be brought to some clear and defi-
nitive issue. We learn that individually nearly all
the firms in this district have received from their cus-
tomers, for whom they are making mill or other
machinery, in some cases under contracts with penal
ties as to non-fulfilment in time, the most cordial
assurances that they approve of the course taken by
the employers, and that they are disposed, under the
circumstances, to extend to them the utmost amount
of indulgence that may be sought in the completion
of these contracts. Under circumstances such as
these, lacking that which is an element of strength in
some strikes,ipopuldr approval and support, it behoves
the workmen to pause ere they take a step which,
once taken, will assuredly prove irremediable. Up
to last night it was quite uncertain at Manchester
whether the operatives would pause, or were prepared
to run the risks which must follow should the strike
be persevered in.