The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-21 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUB raT,C JOURNALS.

The Times thinks the state of things existing in Chapel-
town, Sheffield, should not be permitted in any civilised
country, or under any responsible government. The
dismissed colliers will allow no successors in the work
vacated. Supported in idleness from the funds of their
Union, they have declined to quit the district, and have
applied themselves to the duty of rendering the place
uninhabitable, not only to the new-comers, but to the rest
of the population. The colliers attack not only the ob-
noxious workpeople, but even their very wives and little
ones. A mother cannot fetch a bottle of physic for her
sick child except under an escort of police. The children
themselves dare not go to school for fear of vio-
lence on the road ; nor can they so much as venture
to church on Sundays. Even now we have not told the
worst, for the dead themselves are not safe from insult,

and the decencies of burial are outraged by howling mobs
of rioters. More than once attacks on a large scale have
been organised, and the reports from the place represent
it as under a reign of terror, without relief or pro-
tection from law. No circumstances whatever
could justify proceedings like these. We have endeavoured
to explain, without leaning or prejudice, the origin of the
quarrel, and we have given what we can imagine might
be the arguments relied upon by the men. But in whatever
light the conduct of the masters is viewed it appears
perfectly allowable; nor, if it were otherwise, would the
fact carry the least excuse for these outrageous breaches
of law and order. If Messrs. Newton and Chambers
desired to free themselves from the interference of a trade
union in their affairs, their right to do so was indisputable,
and their motives in so doing not much open to question.
If, again, they desired to get cheaper labour than they
were employing, that also was at their discretion, and the
very fact that they have obtained it justifies their views.
But, leaving all these considerations aside, it is a disgrace
to the authorities that the peace of a district should be
systematically broken; and its inhabitants subjected to
daily outrage by such proceedings as we have described.
The proprietors of the Thorncliffe Collieries may have had
more or less reason fur their dealings with their men, but
there can be neither reason nor excuse for putting a
peaceable parish out of the pale of the law, and the mero
exposure of the fact will suffice, we hope, for the removal
of the reproach without delay.
It is by no means improbable, says the Standard, that
the meeting of the Church Institution on the subject of
the election of bishops may prove the initial step of a
movement which will exercise a very important influence
upon the relations which now exist between the Church
and the State. It is due to Mr. Gladstone and the sinister
policy which he has pursued in regard to the appointment
of Dr. Temple, that grave and sober men who have long
been the stanchest upholders of the union are beginning to
ask whether the Church is justified in making such
sacrifices as those demanded by the present Premier in
behalf of the State. The Dean of Norwich proposes
to do away with the profane sham of the cove
d'ilire, and to abolish the penalties which now attach
to a bishop who refuses to take part in the consecration.
In a word, he would make both the election and the con-
secration perfectly free. We agree with Sir John
Pakington that the farce of the conge d'ilire should be
got rid of, and that the power of election, now nominally
vested in the dean and chapter, should either be made
real or withdrawn altogether. If, however, it is a
question of giving the Church a real voice in the
election of her bishops, there is a mode of eliciting it
which seems far preferable to any improvement which
can be effected in the form of election by the chapter.
Would it not be more feasible that the Crown should
nominate two or more candidates for the vacant see, and
that the names should be submitted to the vote of a kind
of diocesan synod, in which the clergy of all grades, toge-
ther with the lay members of the Church, should be fairly
represented? It appears to us that under some such
scheme, the rights of the Crown and of the Church would
be equally provided for, and that we should get a bona
fide election into the bargain. Of course it would be
liable to the drawback that under such an arrangement
the appointment of another Dr. Temple would be im-
possible.

The Pall Mall Gazette observes that the directors of the
Brighton Railway, in their report just issued, take credit
to themselves that they have always acted on the prin-
ciple of making a clean breast of everything, whether
agreeable or disagreeable. On the present occasion it
must be confessed the disagreeable predominates. In
recommending the complete abandonment of the Surrey
and Sussex line, the directors intimate that this will
involve altogether an absolute loss of £500,000 on this un-
dertaking. In the present reduction of work-
ing expenditure the directors have more substan-
tial comfort to offer. This reduction would, in spite of
the falling off in receipts, have had the effect of leaving a
surplus for a dividend--a small one, it is true ; but still
225. 6d. per cent. would have been much to the Brighton
shareholders. The New Cross collision dashed their hopes.
For the passenger train, which was run into by a goods
train, the company received only £l7, as it was provided
for the Licensed Victuallers' ftlte at very low rates. In com-
pensation and other expenses connected with the accident,
they will have to pay, it is estimated, £45,000. The report
winds up with a bitter protest against the oppressive com-
pensations exacted from railway companies. It is impos-
sible to deny that juries are prejudiced against the com-
panies, but there are two exceptions we must take to the
directors' remarks. They argue that the collision shewed
no want of precaution on the part of the company, but oniy
that " human agency is not infallible." It shewed more than
this ; that the most cautious and experienced railway
servants are in the habit of disregarding signals
altogether, and we fear that too often they are
not only allowed to ignore rules with impunity, but
have superior warrant for doing so. Again, the directors
complain that no other department of the carrying busi-
ness is subject to such unlimited liability for accidents.
Phis is an error. Every branch of the carrying business
is subject to exactly the same degree of liability, which
may be enforced in the same way. The law as to railways,
steamers, sailing vessels, stage coaches is in this respect
the same, and we can hardly conceive how the Brighton
Erectors should be ignorant of this.

The Telegraph agrees with Mr. Forster in looking for-
ward to a time when, by some means or another, states-
men will be able to weld a bond together which will unite
the English-speaking people in our colonies at present—
unite them with the mother country in one great
~onfederation. "It may be a dream," said Mr.
Forster, "but still I believe in its fulfilment." And
at presence of such a union of one hundred million
English-speaking peoples," ranged by nature, interest,
Ind comfort upon the side of peace and progress,
what sublime programme would then seem visionary?
What dynastic intrigues and military tyrannies could con-
tinue to exist ? War would be impossible without the
ieave and license of that globe-embracing Federation, and
the dreams of the poet and the statesman would come
nearer to realised truth than any but a few dare now to
believe. Of course, a project so grand as that of a Federa-
tion:of "the English-speaking peoples" cannot be draughted
sff in a day, like an Act of Parliament. What should be the
oasis of such a union, what the consultative, and what the
Executive machinery of its colossal power—how best to
3stablish its foundation and ensure its continuance—will
be problems of extraordinary novelty. and moment. To
fettle thorn would demand a spirit of faith and patriotism
large as the enormous issues involved. It would need the
freest interchange of ideas, designs, and discussions ; the
frankest statements, and the fullest information, with the
tclditional elements of time to mature the minds of men
for a scheme so glorious. It would necessarily await the
growth of new events to lead to its accomplishment.
The plan would not be magnificent, if the difficulties were
not many and great ; and, as in all exalted enterprises,
victory must be carried by arduous and noble achieve-
manta. Not to-day, not to-morrow, but at no inconceiv-
'Ably distant day will arrive the time to render the splendid
fore-cast a reality, and with the time will arise tho mind
which will know how to make use of the unextinguished
sense of brotherhood between us all as a spell to charm
obstacles away, and to create the superb alliance.
The Daily 11 errs remarks that the Governmnnt has not
done much during the recess to satisfy the curiosity of the
public as to the legislation of the coming session. Only
two of its members have spoken on political questions,
and they both exhibited a caution which has probably
been more satisfaotory to their colleagues than edifying to
the world. Mr. Bright exhibited what some of his critics,
and perhaps some of his colleagues, must have felt to be a
now power of keeping Cabinet secrets, and Mr. Forster,
who had no Cabinet secrets to tell, gave the
only new and definite promise of legislation which the
Ministry have yet given to the country. In such a Go-
vernment as the present courage is wisdom, and zeal is
discretion, Great Liberal measures are waiting tobe passed
' into- :law, and to pass them without delay is the true
policy of a strong Liberal Government. It may be easier
to lot such measures ripen till they pass themselves, or,
what is the same thing, till even Tories consent to pass them
but a strong Government has no right to take counsel of its
ease. It should do and dare great things. It should be equal
to all its opportunities, and alive to all its duties. It
is not necessary to urge these considerations upon Mr.
Gladstone, The country and the Liberal party know 1113
generous eagerness and constitutional love of great under-
takings, We should be rather disposed to entreat him
personally to spare himself and carefully husband that
strength of which England still expects so much. The
country has unbounded faith hi his devotedness, and will
take his word as to what is practicable, but we do not
thin lie will be the statesman to chide the publie•spirited
iratt,A6itOt his folloiviii;

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