The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-29 00:00:00

TIM WII,ESTIVG
31 ATCII.

The International wrestling match was won by Ve
Prenchmen. Tho victory really turned upon the teas
which decided the style in which this final bout should be
played. The Englishman won both falls, wrested accord.
ing to the rules in force in Cumberland ant.
Westmoreland, and the Frenchmen were the
victors in both those which were decided
according to the • system in vogue across the
channel. Wright and Le Bond were the firs,
pair to engage, and it was sem time before they got hold
Once he had established his grip, Wright went to work i
earnest, and speedily tl, rew the Frenchman a fair bee.,
fill. The result was hailed with rapturous cheering from
all parts of the hall—which, it may be observed, was more
densely crowded than even on Thursday evening—an I
Wright testified his own satisfaction by throwing
perfectly • unnecessary somersault before he left the
platform. Jamieson and Dubois lost no time
in getting hold, and. at the very first attempt Jamicsot
threw the Frenchman fiat upon his back and himself fel'
upon him. These were two splendid falls, and the Eng
lish wrestlers had good reason to be proud of • the skil;
which they had displayed. The spectators cheered them
to the echo, and the hopes of the English party rose
higher and higher every minute. Henceforward, how
ever, all the success was on the side of the Tr _nehmen.
The first struggle, according to the French system
between Le Bceuf and Wright, was interrupted by
one or two disputes. First Wright complained that thv
Frenchman had clasped his hand, and then Le Bceii_
alleged that Wright had improperly used his leg. After
these difficulties had been got rid of by the umpires, and ,
good deal of time Lad been lost, the wrestling proceedei
and in the end the Frenchman threw Wright fairly uper
his back, and held him well down upon both shouldec
blades. This result was not satisfactory to the majority
the audience, but they did not refuse to Le Bceuf, who
is a strong but elderly man,the applause which his achieve-
ment de'served. In his encounter with Dubois, Jamieson
never got any advantage. Very soon after they closed the
Frenchman swung him off his feet and threw him fir
upon his bank. The ceremony of tossing for the style in
which the last bout was to be wrestled was watch~
with great anxiety by the friends of
sides; and when the display of a tri-coloursa
flag announced that the Frenchmen hind won the
' toss, and that, therefore, their . method would be adopted;
all but the most sanguine gave up the English cause es
kat. Contrary to general expectation, Wright, who is the
lighter of the north countrymen, and who besides had in his
last bout seemed a good deal distressed, was put forward
instead of Jamieson to struggle with the gigantic Dubois.
The Westmoreland man had one chance, and that ha just
missed. Ho threw the Frenchman upon his side ; and,
while Dubois seemed somewhA bewildered by the fall,
sprung at him to turn him over. Unfortunately for him-
self, ho was a little too slow for the agile although heavy
Frenchman, and his well-meant endeavours proved unsuc-
ce tsful. Soon afterwards the Frenchman threw him
well upon his back ; and although Wright • alleged
that in doing so, he had made an unfair use of his leg,
the judges were clear that this was nct the case ; and the
victory, therefore, fall to France—a result which Ives
bailed by the audience with some cheering, and mar.)
expressions of dissatisfaction. As soon as the last
fall was decided, Mr. Holland telegani hod to the Emperor
1 of the French to inform him of the issue of the match.

MILITARY INTERVENTION IN STRIKES.

CREUSOT AND SHITFIELD.

Some of the French deputies are very indignant at the
despatch of a military force to Creusot, and M. Esquires,
the well-known writer on England, has called the Govern-
m2n tto account for it. "Is it true," he asked the
Minister, `• that a considerable force was despatched to
Creusot during the late strike? In the name of order and
public peace, I protest against the intervention of the mili-
tary element in questions of labour." At this there
was laughter upon •4\ hlch the speaker con-
tinued, "The members who laugh have doubtless
never lived in a free country. I have spent long
years in England. I have seen the formidable strike
of the builders' workmen in 1800. I have seen 150,000
workmen assemble in Regent's Park, but I have not seen
one soldier nor one policeman. Since they tell us con-

tinually that we ought to imitate English freedom, 1
should be glad to see the practice of England in regard to
strikes introduced in our country. Perhaps you will say
that these 150,000 workmen were calm and inoffensive ?
They were so, but only because the Government was wise
enough to abstain from all rrovocat:on. What
would have occurred if bayonets had • appeared
at the park railings? Perhaps that pacific display would
have become a massacre. Is the French workman less
proud, less jealous of his rights than the English work
man? You cannot think it. Let the new Ministry be
warned by the experience of its predecessors at Ricamaiie
and at Aubin. They wished to sow intimidation, they
reaped the effusion of blood." (Applause from the Left.)
M. Chevandier de Valdrome, the Minister of the Interior,
said that 3,000 men had been sent to Creusot but
only as a measure of precaution, and were
happily not required. —M. Gambetta maintained
that this was an undue interference with the
rights of labour. What became of the just equilibrium
between employer and employed in presence of these
thousands of bayonets. They were a flagrant violation of
the law. (Murmurs.) Supposing (continued M. Gambetta)
that the masters had assembled and resolved upon resist-
ance to a particular change, would the bayonets have been
sent to help the workmen?—M. 011ivier said that the
Government had been warned by the local authorities that
threats had been made which interfered with the freedom
of labour. The presence of the troops, instead of a source
of irritation, was a means of pacification. He read the
instructions given to the prefect of Same-et-Loire,
which ran as follows :—" The mission of authority is to
protect the freedom of labour and to prevent violence, to
maintain public order with equal prudence and firm-
ness. Before all things consult the general interest." M.
Gambetta said he did not take his stand upon the instruc-
tions given to the prefects, nor on the presence of tho
troops, since the troops had nci used their arms. Ho took
higher ground, and said liberty only existed for labour in
the absence of all constraint. Troops should never be
sent into the midst of a population on strike,
as by sending them you favoured unduly one
of the two conflicting interests. The Ministers
were so sensible of this that they said the troops wore not
to support either side. They might have meant honestly,
but their theory was a false one. A body of workmen are
on strike—a regiment arrives on the spot. What is CA
immediate and natural conclusion? Is it not that the
troops have been sent against the workmen? Do not the
employers see a protection in their presence ? That wa...
interfering with the equilibrium of labour. Either the
right of coalition had no existence, or armed force
should never interfere in strikes.—M. 011ivier
said that public authority was bound to intervene
when a dangerous collision was threatened. If they had
folded their arms and ono single workman had been
wounded the Opposition would have justly reproached
them. They had sent a considerable force on purpose to
avoid the effusion of blood. A small force provoked oppo-
sition, a large one overawed.--M. Esquires, who had a
good right to refer to English examples since he had so
ivell described them, should remember that in England in
similar cases similar precautions were taken. At
Sheffield, within the last few days, a serious strike
occurred. In England there existed associations
which imposed arbitrary conditions on their members.
Some employers, wishing to preserve their legitimate
authority over their workmen, required that they should
not form part of these asscciations. Thols who were mem-
bers wished to prevent the others from working. The
English police did not remain with folded arms, and the
military force would have seconded it if necessary. Free-
dom of labour was thus protected. Thus we have only
acted like all other nations in this emergency. Let
the working classes be convinced that the Govern-
ment has no intention of interfering against
them in questions respecting the conditions
of labour, but it is resolved not, under any conditions, to
allow a noisy and audacious minority to outweigh an
honest and industrious majority, which asks to be pro-
tected against threats and violence. The Minister sat
down amid loud applause, and the subject was soon after
dropped.

The long-talked of metropolitan improvement of
providing light bridges for the safety of foot passengers al
dangerous crossings is now, we learn from the Engineer, ii
contemplation iu Paris.

An emigrant from Bristol has written to a
contemporary on the subject of his experiences in
Canada. He thinks that any man who is able and willing
to work may emigrate to Canada, for he will find some
kind of employment. The greatest demand is for farm-
labourers. He does not approve of persons coming
out to form a party, but thinks it better to divide
and go wherever the way opens for them. As
to the price of things in Canada, he admits that
some articles are dearer than in England, but adds that
people can afford to pay more, because they get more
money. Such things as potatoes, beef and mutton, and
poultry, are very cheap, so is flour. Beef and mutton
average about 31d. per lb. ; geese and turkeys, 2s. :d. to 3s.
each ; ducks, 2s. Gd. per couple ; fowls, 2s. per couple. " I
saw a goose that weighed 151bs. offered for sale for ss. at
Christmas. I have seen such geese fetch 12s. in Bristol.
Bread is 4d. per quartern here."