The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

Every fresh discussion upon the Ten Hours' Factory
Bill advances the cause of the hitherto neglected ope-
ratives. The more the arguments employed against
the diminution of diurnal labour are sifted the more
does their sophistry become visible. The specious
tinsel of economy, with which the question has been
enveloped by the manufacturers, has glittered only for
a period, it has only for a time deceived the eye by
its dazzle. Bit by bit the spangles have dropped
away, and the true worthlessness of the reasons ad-
vanced against this measure revealed, showing that,
of the twelve hours' advocacy, " all ti e rest is
leather and prunella !" Lord JOHN RUSSELL has
manfully grappled with the difficulties thrown
ia his way by the opposers of Mr. FIELDEN.
The Noble Premier has more than satisfied our cu-
riosity ; he has by his unanswerable speech of
yesterday evening ensured the victory of this benevo-
lent campaign. Fagh a Bealech! was practically the
text of his observations, and the sickle of his logic
effectually reaped down the objections to the Factory
Bill. Nothing now obstructs the triumphant
passage of this measure through Parliament—no-
thing, at least, deserving a moment's consideration.
And the popular representatives have avowed their
readiness to hasten its progress in every available
manner, by immediately following up the address of
the First Lord of the Treasury by a division of 144
against 66, being a splendid majority of 78 in a
House of 210. Lord J. RUSSELL restricted his argu-
ments to the consideration of adecrease to eleven hours'
employment, but his keen and masterly reasoning is
as applicable in reference to the minimum time de-
manded by Mr. FIELDEN. Not, however, that the
Noble Lord expressed even by inuendo his disincli-
nation to legislate for any diminution of labour upon
the time specified in his harangue. On the contrary,
he expressly and distinctly affirms as follows :—" If,''
says he, after this reformatory interference is carried
into operation, " it be desirable that more time should
he allowed to the children to improve and enlarge
their minds, lam content to give them that time, in
order that it may be so applied !" Regarding the
matter as one spiritually of a sanatory character, and
looking to the mental vigour and moral soundness of
our industrial classes, as one of the surest means of
conducing to the national prosperity and happiness,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL is prepared to make every
reasonable concession to satisfy the social war.ts, and
to advance the individual interests of the manufac-
turing labourers, and especially of the women and
children. As Prime Minister of the country, and
therefore as the guardian and conservator of all our
strength as a people, Lord JOHN RUSSELL declares
his willingness to consent to the proposed reduction.
But the manufacturers have to make enor-
mous sacrifices ! Well, the Noble Lord seizes
that counter-steternent. Ile examines it in its
integrity Supposing, he argues, supposing the
manufacturers were required upon the acceptance of
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