The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-05 00:00:00

ferring to Reform of Parliament, it is impossible to
pass over the great expediency, indeed it may be I
termed the absolute necessity, of some change in
the conduct of what is called private business or Bills,
those Acts not only affecting property of vast amount,
but conferring what Lord Longdale used justly to
term transcendental powers. This branch of the
proceedings is that by which Parliament is chiefly
known to the community, and no doubt considerable
improvement has of late years been made in the
conducting it. But the greatest of all the evils felt
has been left unassailed, the necessity of every one
particular in each bill undergoing the same inquiry
in both houses, so as almost to double the expenses
of all parties. With that great man, whose irrepar-
able loss we daily deplore on all questions, whether
of foreign or of domestic policy, whether of peace
or of war (it is superfluous to name the Duke of
it was my lot to co-operate:on this
Wellington)subject
having with him brought forward those
standing orders which now regulate the private busi-
ness before both houses, and which were introduced
in a committee of the Lords. When they were to be
propounded there my illustrious friend said, "Why
not bring forward our great plan ?" My answer
was, " Because it would be certainly refused by the
committee." "Never mind," he said, " we can but
be beaten, and then we fall back upon the lesser
and ineffectual plan." The great measure was offered
and refused under the influence of professional men,
who saw that it would cut off nearly half of their
services. It consisted in the appointment of a joint
committee—seven commoners and four peers, acting
with the assistance of a professional judge or asses-
sor, to help them on questions of law respecting
evidence ; and the report to be in each house de-
cisive on all matters of fact, but leaving to the house
its full discretion upon the whole bill and all its pro-
visions. This is not the first time that the plan has
been mentioned before our Association, and in con-
nexion with the great man's name who took such an
interest in it, and who, indeed, mainly contributed
to its preparation. But it is a sacred duty to his
memory that so important a portion of his history
should be preserved and continually held up to the
admiration of his grateful countrymen. He unfor-
tunately took an erroneous view of Reform in
the representation, and he maintained his opinion
strongly, being deeply impressed with the belief
that the proposed change in the constitution of the
Lower House would dangerously interfere with the
Executive Government—that it was too large a
measure to be adopted at once. His joining, there-
fore, in so radical an alteration of the legislative
procedure was the more important, and is one,
though among the least, of the many proofs that he
is to be named among the foreniost of our statesmen
as he is at the head of all our warriors.
" Statesmen and warrior, he lived and died,
" Where duty placed him, at kis country's side;
" Trod with firm foot the line which justice draws,
" Fixed to prevail, or perish in her cause."—Cowper.
It was highly satisfactory at our last Congress to
mark the success of the great co-operative movement
in the increase of the number of the societies and
their resources, That progress has continued, al-
though not at the rate of former years ; and as this 111
diminution has partly arisen from the increased
rigour of the rules established, and the arrangements
enforced with the view to profit, an advantage has
been gained ; except, perhaps, that too great parsi-
mony has been shown in the payment of those em-
ployed. It was, however, impossible that the same
rate of increase should continue which had been ex-
hibited iu 1860 and 1861, when no less than 250
new societies had been formed. In 1863 there were
in all 454, whose sales in the year amounted to
£2,626,000, and their profit divided was £213,000.
Mr. Pratt's return for the last year (1864) is 505
societies, their sales £2,742,000, and profit £225,000.
The counties of York and Lancaster continue to
take the lead, as the number of 505 Lancaster
has no less than 130 and this county 104.
One cannot avoid recollecting the saying of
a Rochdale tradesman, when a few workmen
advanced a little money to establish a store ;
he said he should be able to carry it all in
his wheelbarrow, and now the assets of the societies
are returned at £691,000, and their cash in the bank
and in the hands of their treasurers at £105,000. It
must be added that the strong recommendation given
at York to employ co-operation in agriculture, and
the signal success of Mr. Gurdon's experiment in Suf-
folk, have had their effect in Ireland, where on the
Vandeleur property there is every probability that the
same success would have followed, but for the unfor-
tunate insolvency of the landlord. As far as it went
nothing could be more satisfactory. Mr. Craig, its
able superintendent, states that when the co-opera-
tion had been continued some time the greatest im-
provement had taken place, both in the comfort and
moral condition of the inhabitants, although they at
first had taken against it hostile proceedings, which
they carried even to the length of a breach of the
peace. The cause of co-operation in all its branches
owes almost everything to Mr. Pitman, whose con-
stant exertions and self-sacrifice cannot be too grate-
fully acknowledged by all co-operative societies, and
their efforts are justly required to aid him in his great
work, the conduct of the " co-operator." Nothing
can be more gratifying in all respects than the spread
and success of co-operation, both as regards the
comfort and improvement of the people, and if the
middle classes have gained much, the working classes
have had a larger share in the benefit. The question
then naturally occurs, and it was asked in the course
of the general election, are these classes, preponde-
rant for their labours as well as their numbers, to
remain for ever excluded from a direct share in the
choice of our representatives ? And this question has
been received by some with indifference, by others
with contempt, and by not a few with proposals,
the cause of alarm to most persons. But there is
one view which does not appear to have been taken
by any of the reasoners on the subject, and it is
peculiarly addressed to the promoters of Social
Science, because it applies to the great cause of pro-
gress in all its branches. The working classes gene-
rally, and even a large proportion of the middle
order, are prone to be too earnest, and even im-
patient, for the adoption of measures which they
deem necessary or expedient. They do not give them
due consideration ; they do not perceive the checks
which experience has shown to be required for secur-
ing safety and conformity with other institutions.
The lesson is slowly learned which these classes
have never understood, or only apprehended to make
it an object of ridicule or clamour, how much of the
best of laws may be the result of compromise or
mutual concession, and how often in carrying through
any measure, the most important and beneficial, such
compromise has not only been expedient but neces-
sary ; nay, how much the whole of our social system
has been a succession of compromises. In consider-
ing any of the proposals for extending the Parlia-
mentary suffrage, this circumstance of prevailing
importance is to be well considered, and we, of the
National Association, are fully aware of its great
influence over our supporters in the community.
It must ever be kept in mind that the primary
object of co-operation is self-help, the enabling the
working man to obtain his goods of the best quality
and at the lowest price, to gain him fair wages,
and to secure his share in the profits arising from
his labour. His gains are as far as possible em-
ployed in the education of his children and his own
improvement. In this he may be assisted by his
wealthier neighbours, and in providing for his
relaxation and social intercourse during the hours of
his rest. The want of room in his house often
obliges him to attend a club, and therefore the
best assistance that can be rendered him is to facili-
tate the forming of clubs, which among other ad-
vantages have the great merit of coming in compe-
tition with the ale-house. Accordingly, three years
ago, there was formed in connection with our asso-
ciation the Working Men's Club Institute, and its
operations have been very successful in enabling
working men all over the country to form clubs. In
all cases the object has been the relaxation and
social intercourse of the day labourers. Our col-
league, Lord Lyttleton,
n
ously supported the Institute,acl owt hheorsse,
able
ande s t r edni
--
gent secretary, Mr. Solly, has attended our Con-
gress. It must be added that nothing can be more
erroneous than the notion prevailing in some quar-
ters that the object of these clubs is for education
and other matters of use to the working classes.
These may arise out of them, but the main object
is to give the labourers that amusement and relaxa-

tion which they require after work. In all my
addresses as president of the Institute, what has been
dwelt upon is relaxation and amusement as the pri-
mary objects. This has been the fundamental doc-
trine, admitting the necessity of harmless amuse-
ment to men after their day's work. It is most
satisfactory to find that our colleague, Lord Stan-
. ley, has lately inculcated this at the Birkenhead
co-operative meeting, and it is only to be regretted
that he had net attended at York, where the same
subject was more than once under the consideration
of the Congress, and a paper read upon the subject
by the secretary of the Institute. In our Congress
at York the subject which had occupied us the year
before at Edinburgh, of female education as con-
nected with the University examinations, was
resumed. Some difference of opinion was
occasioned by the mistake that the pro-
posal concerned degrees for females ; whereas it
was certainthat this could not bethe case, the exami-
nation conferring no degrees at all, as had been
fully stated by Mr. Hastings at a preliminary meet-
ing. But, fortunately, the University of Cambridge
received most favourably the memorial, signed by a
thousand persons connected with education, as well
as many others, including some of the most promi-
nent and active members of our own Association.
The memorial was presented towards the end of last
year, and the question was referred to a special Syn-
dicate, who, after a careful consideration, made a
report recommending the proposed extension. In
accordance with this a grace of the Senate was
passed, giving effect to the recommendation of the
Syndicate. The scheme is to keep in force as a ten-
tative measure for three years, at the expiration
of which there is every reason to believe that it will
be made permanent. In the meantime ladies' com-
mittees are arranged for the superintendence of the
examinations at several of the local centres, and the
promise of candidates is already very considerable.
Of the complete success of the movement it is
scarcely possible to entertain a doubt. The direct
result of examination cannot fail to be most bene-
ficial, and the moral value of such a recognition by
one of our old Universities of the importance of
female education is likely to be still more widely
and deeply felt. The success of the new system of
education in Ireland is a just subject for congratu-
lation, and the rather because an attempt was made
by clerical and other bigotry to represent it as a
failure. The principle at all times urged by our
Association of combined secular and separate re-
ligious teaching has been applied, and the result
is given in the papers before Parliament. In the
year 1849-50, when the Queen's Colleges were
established in Belfast, Cork, and Galway, the num-
ber of pupils was 395, and last year they were 837.
But in Cork and Galway the increase has been
much greater than in Belfast, because there educa-
tion had begun sooner. Notwithstanding the popu-
lation of Galway has fallen one-half in the time, the
number of pupils has nearly doubled. The number
belonging to the Established Church is only one-
fourth of the whole in the three colleges. It must
be added that Mr. Whiteside, tho representative of
Dublin University (Trinity College), with distin-
guished candour and consummate ability, opposed
those who argued that the measure had been a
failure. Mention has been made of the grew step
taken by the Universities of Cambridge and Edin-
burgh in favour of female education. What has
been done by certain benevolent persons belongs
rather to the head of charity than education. Yet
is it very important. A hall has been set up for
poor sempstresses, who may work there instead of
in those wretched garrets to which they are gene-
rally confined, and the addition of a cooking appa-
ratus is a great improvement. There is no more
praiseworthy employment of the funds which chari-
table individuals allot to that unhappy class of their
fellow-citizens, and the suggestion of Mrs. Way is
very important—that teaching the sewing machine
is greatly wanted for the class of sempstresses. But
the greatest benefit rendered to these poor women
is from the companies that have been formed by the
principal ladies in London and the dressmakers, with
limited liability, for homes under strict regulations,
and which have succeeded in an extraordinary man-
ner. One of these companies is in Clifford-street,
Bond-street, the other in Grosvenor-street, Gros-
venor-square, and these divide upon their profits. In
Edinburgh the society for the employment of women
is doing great good in extending the resources of
their labour. In the branch of photography the success
has been perfect. The Commission upon schools issued
on the recommendation of our Council has not yet
made its report, but it has been actively engaged in the im-
portant work. It is much to be regretted that Mr. Chad-
wick was not named among the commissioners, as his ac-
quaintance with the subject exceeds that of most men, and
he is the founder of that valuable improvement, the half-
time plan. The commissioners have appointed 10 assis-
tants, who examine the schools and their method of teach-
ing in the different districts of this country, as well as in
America and on the continent of Europe. In this country
circulars of questions have been issued to 843 endowed and
152 proprietary schools; and witnesses have been fully
examined. The commissioners have sat 35 days, and aro
to resume their sittings for further examination of wit-
nesses in November. It is impossible to doubt that a great
body of information, both as to this and to other countries,
will be collected, and many useful suggestions made. Mr.
H. Roby is their able and diligent secretary. We have
great reason to be thankful for the acceptance of the most
important plan of law amendment. The act giving suitable
jurisdiction to county courts has been for many years
strongly urged by us. Indeed that jurisdiction was part of
the original Local Courtsßill, and the:committee to which it
was referred in 1830 partially approved that provision. But
in 1852 an elaborately prepared bill was introduced by our
council. This equitable extensioa has been year after year
attempted by us, and is at length carried to a certain extent.
The great subject of a Law Digest was handled by Sir Jas.
Wilde in his most admirable address at York, and has
been subsequently discussed at our meetings, and an able
paper upon it was read by Mr. Reilly. It cannot be said
that no progress has been made towards the attainment
of this object, for the house of Commons has voted £5,000
towards the expenses of it, and constant and active work
has been bestowed upon the kindred task of selecting for re-
peal all the statutory provisions which are in fact inopera-
tive, but still continue upon tho Statute Book. It must be
added that the work of digesting and consolidating the laws
has been undertaken at New York, and is proceeding under
the superintendence of our corresponding member, Mr.
Dudley Field. At our last Congress Mr. G. Denman under-
took to bring in a bill for removing the anomaly in our pro-
cedure, of counsel not being allowed in criminal the privi-
lege given in civil cases of summing up the evidence ad-
duced. He did so, and the act being passed last session the
anomaly no longer exists. The failure of Sir. F. Kelly to
amend the law of evidence has been mentioned. That
amendment, which the Judge Ordinary of the Divorce Court
strongly recommended,—the enabling parties to be ex-1
amined, which had been omitted in my act of 1849, was
part of Sir Fitzroy's bill. The chief objection to that and
to the examination of defendants in criminal cases were the
same that had been urged against the greatest amendment
of the law in modern times, the examination of parties in civil
cases, and it may fairly bo expected that those objections
will no longer bo allowed to prevail. One great improve-
ment has, however, taken place in this branch of the law, the
natural extension of limited liability, at all times strongly
supported by us. An act passed last session excluding from
the responsibility of partnership those who lend money to
traders and men who receive payment for their labour out
of the profits to which they have contributed. This is a great
benefit, not only to the workman, but to his employer, and
to traders as well. But much has been done for tho working
man without any parliamentary proceedings. The repeated
and earnest expressions of opinion by our body to their em-
ployers has continued to receive their full consideration,
and those whom we extolled at York and Edinburgh for
their kindly conduct, and especially the Messrs. Chambers,
have been reducing the hours of labour to ten, and this
has become a general movement. The early closing of
which Leeds was so groat and so early an example has been
more generally followed, and it is very probable that in
both these relaxations the loss in hours of labour will be
compensated by the more healthy state of the men and
their more diligent working. The report of the select com-
mittee of the House of Commons on the bankrupt law has
been made public during the past session, and we find that
it recommends substantially the adoption of the Scotch
plan of trustees chosen by the creditors, and their proceed-
ings referred to the ordinary courts instead of a separate tri-
bunal. That some amendment in this branch of the law is
loudly called for by the whole body of traders there can be no
manner of doubt, and it may be hoped that the discussion in
our Jurisprudence Department will assist the public in ar-
riving- at a conclusion as to what the amendment should be.
The Commission on the Patent Law has also reported since
our last Congress, recommending various modifications in
the existing system, but admitting that the change would
only palliate the evils complained of. Opinions have since
been expressed favourable to the repeal of the statute of
James 1., or the abolition of the rights conferred on inven-
tors. This is a subject of great difficulty. That there are
grave objections to the inventor's rights as at present exer-
cised may be true, but his exclusion from the monopoly he
now enjoys is extremely hard to be distinguished from
that which would deprive authors of their copyright. The
concentration of the superior courts and their offices in one