The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-17 00:00:00

It ht is long been a recognised fact in the histo,:y of
men and nations that no war is so cruel as a civil
war 4 —no enemies are so bitter as estranged friends.
Woi -de can hardly do justice to the intensE; vindic-
tive ness of feeling that is now raging in so many
Ar 3 erican hearts. It is a painful revelation of
th

3 weakness of human nature. here are friends

d, brothers ready to tear each other to pieces, and

fo r what ?—For the Name of Reunion!. In the deso-
cr ated names Liberty, and Equality, and Fraternity ,
he ;fore now, there have been perpetrated acts of
T Fanny, and Oppression, and Cruelty unparal-
h lied. So now, in the much abused name of Unity,
ti se Northmen of America cry " hav ac ! and let slip
,E,e dogs of war," regardless of all consequences. It
vvould be well if President LINCOI ,N and the Federal
'Congress, which is about to be co..tvened at Washing.
I ton on Monday next, would ta3.,:f.) a lesson from their
own time-serving General YLEADE, and withdraw
from a position that threatens to prove untenable.
It is easier, perhaps, to r eeross the Rapidan than
the Rubino, but the attempt that has been safely
accomplished in the one instance, might be prudently
and profitably undertaken in the other. Such an
act of wisdom and good sense and magnanimity is
not to be expected from such a quarter. We must
still—Heaven knows for how much longer—be
do omed to witness and to wonder at the madness
and cruelty and criminality of this protracted and
use less civil strife.

'She Report of the Early Closing Association,
rec sntly published, presents much information that
deserves notice, and it is to be trusted that especial
at oration will be paid to its contents, concerning as
they do a subject which involves the interests of
so many. It is now some time since a few earnest
and energetic individuals took up this cause of
early closing. At first the case seemed almost
hoLa3less—the difficulties to contend with were
nearly insuperable, and there were many to decry
its purpose and to sneer at its efforts. Notwithe
sten ding all this, a considerable amount of success
has been the reward of the efforts of the perse-
vering, and there are now many witnesses to the
efficacy of the undertaking. The advantages that
have been derived in many quarters are most ex-
tensive, and it is a delightful thing to reflect upon
that by these means, simple as they may appear,
large numbers of young people, and indeed num-
bers of all ages, have shared in the benefits of edu-
cation, and been enabled to devote time to the cul-
tivation of their minds. Regarding the employ-
ment of leisure, it is here stated very truly, that
the fear of the time which is gained being abused
has less foundation than ever. There are the even-:
ing classes at King's College, iallich have been
proved to be so great a success, and various other
societies and institutions exist which tend to de-
monstrate how desirable has been the result of this
early closing movement, and how especially im-
portant it is to carry on the prosecution of the
cause with vigour, in order that more may share
the benefits and reap the advantages of the scheme.
There are other objects taken up by this society,
one of which is the " Early Payment of Wages."
This is a very important item in the effectual carry-
ing out of the system devised for the welfare
and happiness of the working classes. It is im-
possible to deny that the practice which is only too
prevalent in many quarters of choosing an advanced
hour for the payment of wages must occasion con-
siderable inconvenience, create much confusion, and
in many cases greatly militate against the enjoy-
ment of a day of rest on Sunday, besides interfering
with the due reverence and observance of that day.
Many employers who have adopted this plan have
furnished " practical testimonies" as to its" practi-
cability and value." This furnishes, of course, an
additional argument for those who desiderate the
further spread of the notion, and the pamphlets that
contain these testimonies have been extensively
circulated. Also this practice, if strictly adhered to,
would do much to put a stop to the practice of Sun-
day trading that prevails so much in some localities.
It is to be hoped that many whom it concerns will
peruse these reports for themselves, and they cannot
but be influenced in some measure by them if un-
happily they are not at once converted to the right
cause. It is a great thing to bring a case well for-
ward, and put a question in a practical form before
those whom it is important to secure as advocates
of a measure or to persuade into being auxiliaries.
No one can make the excuse, after reading these re-
marks, that they do not know what they are wanted
to perform, or how, and in which way to set about it.
They have not even to initiate themselves into a
comparatively unknown system, or to inaugurate
a novel method ; all that is demanded of them is
to follow in the wake of those who have been
pioneers in the path of progress, and to adopt in
good faith a plan which has been certified to
be for the interest of thousands. No well-
meaning employer, who possesses a due sense of the
responsibility that devolves upon him, will hesitate
to make the experiment, and to join the number of
those who have already come forward to evidence
its excellence and to uphold its continuance. The
long stretch of hours of work must exercise a very
deleterious influence on mind and body, the mono-
tony and weariness of their employments must
weigh heavily upon the numerous class which per-
forms the duties required of assistants in places of
business. The question is whether they are to sacri-
fice their health, and become mere machines, in the
constant and unremitting range of toil, or whether
a portion of their time may not be redeemed from
the rest, and made available for purposes of recrea-
tion and pursuits of benefit. In the hurry-skurry
of existence, amid the ceaseless. whirl of business,
and the endless range of- imployments,,it .is most
gratifying to find that some can contrive to snatch
a few hours to inithrove their minds, turd to increase
their store of kii*O*Wledie.. It'is a great error to
eaPpuse that a,dditiOnal information pate persons
f
°` Itke p4?*rmaamof their duties, even if these be
at13414t mechanical times.; the more the intelligence
is cultivated: the better are the duties of life dis-
chargea?
ant the greater interest is taken in the
avocatioui
movement 11
,
gaged in. It is to be hoped that this
will go on increasing in strength and
numbers 'until it_
8
but few ez object is attained, and there re-
maineePtians-to the general working of
a rule which protaitet,
comfort, and wellbeie to promote the happiness,
r.
of a numerous class. Toil
is requisite, and labour of
someo sort is the lot of
among us, but these
'should d always be carried
view to the advaadvantagedr the employed as
e
oninw
oWellst iatsh a
t o the benefit of the employer, or else there
.unsafe and unsound In the workings
isof
the
system.

The friends of progress have always looked
with
a favourable eve upon all institutions that tenti in
any degree to raise the intellectual standard staou
the masses, and to promote the cause of nation,'
education. Mechanics Institutes have long been
known as establishments that were conducive to
the general good, although a regret has often been
expressed that the class for which they were chiefly
designed did not avail itself of them in great(
numbers. Of late, however, a new effort has been
made towards establishing institutions of the same
character, under a slightly different form and title.
We do not now hear so much about Mechanics
l Institutesgss, a and paebrharoutsl7 irorking Men's Clubs and
the less pretentious title may