The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-07 00:00:00

ca use of the South. The assembly itself was in
sc me way connected with the Southern Indepen-
d once Association, and the resolutions proposed and
c arried at it were unquestionably indicative of
,sympathy with the Confederates. A very large con-
-course was gathered together, and the audience did
not show themselves disposed to favour the time-
honoured maxim of audi alteram partein, for one
portion resented every word in favour of the slave-
holders, while the other half was equally unwilling
o hear anything about neutrality. Nevertheless,
in spite of an introductory uproar and occasional
disturbance, the meeting was not without its im-
portance, and it may be ranked among the signs of
the times. Englishmen are growing tired of this
.murderous and purposeless war. They see their
'commerce sacrificed, their trade injured, and a whole
'world of interests and occupations disarranged, in
order that the North may go on fighting for an
idea; for if the hope of a restored Union and re-
newed Northern supremacy had ever a chance of
more substantial development it has long since
passed into the shadowy and intangible realm of
" ideas." We should hardly have expected our
prosaic and matter-of-fact Transatlantic cousins to
have entered the lists thus vigorously in behalf of
an unattainable end, but the sweets ofprofit and
power have been too pleasant to be willingly
re-
linquished. The Federals who watch with jealous
eye every indication of feeling in this country, will
see with some dissatisfaction the account of the pro-
ceedings at Stockport. The speech of the evening
was made by Mr. SPENCE, who seconded a reso-
lution, to the effect that, considering the injury
done by the continuance of the war, and the little
hope that existed of its speedy termination, the
meeting urged upon the Government the desir-
ability of communicating with the other European
powers with a view to obtaining a restoration of
peace. In supporting this motion Mr. SPENCE
observed that he sympathised with both
North and South ; and although this declaration
was politely greeted with cries of " gammon" by
his uncompromising hearers, such a state of feeling
is by no means impossible, When we reflect indeed
upon the severe losses entailed upon both sides, and
of the sacrifices necessitated by the maintenance of
the struggle, of the bravery shown in those terrible
encounters that have cost so much bloodshed and
suffering, of the desolated homes and mourning
widows, it is difficult to withhold our pity from
either side. But the sympathy which Mr. SPENCE
spoke of was something more. He intended pro-
bably to convey the impression that he felt with
the North in the opposition to slavery, which they
at least profess, while he wished the Southerners
success in their struggle for independence. Allud-
ing to the distress occasioned among our own ope-
ratives by the struggle, Mr. SPENCE said that they
had been told " that the North was pursuing a war
for the purpose of emancipating the negroes, and
that it was their business to suffer." That would
be very right if it were true, he added, and forth-
with ho Proceeded to recapitulate those reasons
which hinder England from putting too much faith
in Northern professions of sudden abolition fervour.
It is not so very long since the PRESIDENT, now
the idol of Abolitionists, stated that he had no in-
tention of interfering with the " domestic institu-
tion, and therefore we may be excused for accord-
ing a very doubtful credence to his virtuous efforts
to break the fetters of the slave, especially as he
can conveniently shut ono eye to the faults of his
friends, allies, and supporters, while he keeps the
other turned on the wickedness of his adversaries.
Still, however little we nray trust in virtue so very
opportune, en English audience is always impatient
of any attempt to defend slavery. They feel, justly
enough, that no leniency or indulgence on the part
of the master can affect the principle of a man's
right over his fellow man, and therefore are equally
indisposed to favour Mr. BEECIIER and Mr. SPENCE
on this matter. But when the latter gentleman
avows himself to have been always a strong oppo-
nent of slavery, and to retain the same sentiments
now it is unfair and unreasonable to refuse to hear
him state facts which came under his own
personal observation. He maintains that, as a
rule, the slaves are kindly treated ; and although
if they were lodged in palaces slavery would still
be a great wrong, there is no good and valid reason
in making out things worse than they are. The
anti-slavery cause is too strong to need exaggera

tion. It rests on truth ; on the inherent and in-
alienable rights of man, on the claim of all races
to the great common gift of liberty. As one of
the American poets has truly said-
- we cannot hem
The hope of being free
With parallels of latitude,
With mountain range or sea.
The unreasoning enthusiasm which will hear of
nothing but immediate wholesale abolition, without
regard to the ultimate fate of the negroes or to the
other difficulties of the case, which will see in slave-
owners nothing but brutal tyrants, and in slaves
innocent and virtuous martyrs, this kind of senti-
ment, only too common among well-meaning and
high-principled persons, puts obstacles in the way
rather than takes them from it. Mr. SPENCE said
truly enough that the only means of emancipating
the negro would be when the Southern people fol-
lowed the example set by England years ago, and saw
that the day for slavery had gone by. If the South
was made an independent power the death-knell of
slavery would be sounded ; for when a new nation
entered into the union of nations the power of
public opinion would predominate and slavery
would be abolished, as it was in England and in
the colonies of France. That such will be the final
issue of this protracted and disastrous struggle we
cannot but hope. It would be bad indeed for a
nation to pass through such an ordeal without reap
ing some rich and abiding fruits.

There is souse satisfaction in the reflection that
he state of Bethnal-green has at last engaged the
attention of the authorities. Doubtless some time
map elapse before any very striking alterations are
Zfie,ulinti,its
its condition, and there must perforce be
in the
selietillway, but still any beginning is
stronger4' and the more facts that are elicited the
for the
the
desire to make some change
better eat he . Thern report of the inspector of police
speaks volumes
exist as , and the dant° the nature of the evils that
produce,
so
de
wrong, and inflicts f the houses in which the
The
11,i:tee:tons effects which they .must
extreme poor are
aerill'elY crowded is a cruel
S
lare. that too much instead of
It is quite evident us
ll'icry on society at
too little is drawn from that
1,,,nt4
of
l'he poor have to pay beyond thei these houses.
they cannot find vouchers for theirn:eans because
tied because their possessions are noetBl"tabqitY,
zntable state
large to secure confidence. If such a ler, tiffielentlY
of things must continue until some one has hit
upon
the remedy, at least good accommodation and
attended
sani-
tary arrangements should be scrupulously
to. Judging from the evidence of eye-witnesses, it
would appear that the reverse of this is the case, for
it is only surprising that fevers arc ever cut of the
place, exposed as its inhabitants are to such an as-
semblage of horrors, and such discomforts of all
kinds. Perhaps the worst feature in the case, and
likely to prove the mast prolific of disease, is the
custom of letting the underground rooms. These
are altogether unfit for the purposes of habitation,
and it is shocking to think of families being crowded