The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-18 00:00:00

they have been guilty in quarrelling with their
real friends iu obedience io the dictates of thos
who feel no interest in their permanent welfare,
but use them merely as instruments to carry out
their own object, that of getting the destinies of
trade under their own control and management. The
great majority of the operatives are now not
merely willing to resume work on former condi-
tions, but to submit unconditionally to the rea-
sonable demands of the masters, and to eschew all
connection with a system which has already led to
such heartrending results. The sufferings they
have already endured—the bitter privations to
which their innocent and helpless families have
necessarily been subjected—have taught them a
severe but salutary lesson, and they now deeply
deplore the grave mistake they committed, and
would willingly take any pledge to appease the
just irritation of their quondam employers.
It is greatly to be lamented that the masters
cannot make arrangements to take back those who
now confess their error, and would consent to
abjure the Societies and Unions by which they
have been misled. It is painful to see the wear-
ing effects of famine beginning to tell, not merely
on men, but on women and children, palling their
cheeks and reducing their strength. The haggard
faces and wan aspects of the sufferers must plead
powerfully in favour of a merciful use of the vic-
tory that has already been achieved in many of
the districts. We cannot extenuate the conduct of
the suppliants. It cannot be denied that they
have merited all they have endured, and are still
enduring. But they are our fellow-creatures,
and, conscious of the magnitude of our own errors,
we should regard theirs with leniency and con-
sideration. It is said that the millowners of
Burnley and Bacup, and what may be termed
the outposts, have stated, in answer to the
urgent applications for the re-opening of their
mills, that " any attempt to do so would be pre-
mature." It is also asserted that there are very
considerable stocks on hand, so that they would,
even had there been no dispute, have been com-
pelled either to suspend operations or to work
short time. Under such circumstances, and
smarting under the irritation naturally arising,
from the arrogant demands put forward, they ap-
pear determined to make the best use of their
victory, conceiving they have not only their own
interests to look to. But although they would
be justified in so doing, we should greatly regret
to see so stern an adherence to legal rights. It
could not, of course, be expected that they would
now consent to patch up a precarious truce, liable
to disturbance at any moment. It could not be
anticipated that they would take back parties who
would contribute any portion of their earnings,
however trifling, to the funds for the support of
the " turn-outs" in other localities. They would
not merely be justified, but imperatively re-
quired, to demand the most efficient guaran-
antees against such steps. The first condition,
a condition absolutely indispensable, would be a
clear, distinct, and unequivocal renunciation of all
connexion with trade unions and societies formed
for the purpose of in any degree regulating the
management of the concerns, and a solemn pledge
against any pecuniary assistance being afforded to
those who are still standing out against their em-
ployers. If these preliminary terms be not entered
into, no reasonable expectation can be entertained
of permanent tranquillity. " The snake will be
scotched, not killed," and all the elements of dis-
turbance will exist in undiminished force. The
temporary arrangement will be broken on the first
apparently favourable opportunity, and the mas-
ters will be exposed to still heavier pecuniary
losses, and that at a time when they are less able
to sustain them than at present, while the suffer-
ings and privations of the operatives may be in
no degree more tolerable than those they are
now enduring. An arrangement that allowed
the operatives to , continue their combinations
and confederacies would be worse than useless.
The men might themselves be well disposed and
unwilling again to come into collision with their
employers ; but experience proves that they are
subjected to a most stringent and galling des-
potism, that does not permit freedom of action,
or even of thought, to the most strenuous advo-
cates for " the rights of labour," who, in striving
against the mild and legitimate rule of their em-
ployers, the purchasers of their only available
property, yield themselves in soul and body the
veriest slaves of irresponsible and good-for-nothing
scoundrels, who make them the mere tools of their
own nefarious projects.
Any contribution to the funds of the turn-outs
would be equally prejudicial to the cause of order,
although the subscribers themselves did not again
join the societies. It might turn the scale against
the masters in the places where the contest is still
waged, and where the committees are concen-
trating all their forces in the hope of striking a
heavy blow at capital. A victory of the malcon-
tents at Preston would speedily excite new dis-
turbances at Burnley and Bacup, at Accrington and
Bury. The masters are leagued together in the
cause of order, and none can now be so obtuse as
to take any step that might be injurious to the
general cause. A binding pledge against any sub-
scription would, therefore, be an indispensable
preliminary to the resumption of operations.

There is a recent precedent in favour of de-
manding such pledges. When the engineers,
foiled in their attack on the masters, expressed
their willingness to rehrn to work, the masters
insisted on every man signing an undertaking,
binding himself, while in their employment, not to
belong to, or even to subscribe to the funds, of
any trade society. The demand was very dis-
pleasing to the agitators ; but it was steadfastly
persevered in, and the great majority of hands
speedily succumbed to a condition which they
found to be indispensable. The same declaration
would, with very slight alteration, answer the
purpose on the present occasion. The leaving a
locus penitentice to the men, who are already
awakened to their error, would, we verily belisve,
bring the dispute to an earlier termination even
at Preston, and deprive the agitators of the
trifling influence that still remains. We throw
out this suggestion to the masters, believing that
they will find it well worthy of calm and attentive
consideration.

Among the many benefits arising from the pros-
perous state of the country may be reckoned the
progressive increase in business, more or less, of
all the Life Assurance Companies. As men's
minds are less harassed by difficulties and anxieties
they become more disposed to consider in what
way they can best make provision for their families
when it may please the ALMIGHTY to remove them.
Thus the principles of Life Assurance are gra-
dually becoming better understood, the prejudices
of many hitherto existing are being removed—
and the means of attaining the object at the
least sacrifice of present comforts more fully ap-
preciated. This is evidenced by the yearly in-
crease in the number of insurers. Having always
advocated the principles of Life Assurance, it
is satisfactory to record the fact, and it gives us
pleasure to draw the attention of our Commercial
and Trading readers to a Meeting of the Provi-
dent Clerks' Mutual Life Association, recorded in
another part of our columns, because it is a proof
of what we have stated. Thirteen years back
this Association was first established, from which
time we have watched its steady progress, and
advocated its claims to the support of those for I
whom it was more immediately formed. The
large Meeting and result show the position it now
holds, and where, in the early stage of its pro-
ceedings, it was difficult, as the Chairman stated,
to get gentlemen of position and character to
take the responsibility of its management, there
is now a strong competition. In connection with
this Association is a Benevolent Fund for Insurers
who are clerks, and it has often been our pleasing
duty to record the benefits it confers. Let us,
therefore, once more draw the attention of the
public, and clerks especially, to the advantages
offered by this Association.

BANK OF FRANCE.—The letters from Paris state
that the Bank of France are said to have discussed the
expediency of limiting their discountsto 75 days. It
was not generally believed, however, that any such
measure would be adopted.

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