The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-16 00:00:00

THE STRIKE AT GENEVA.

Arbitration in trade disputes seems to have been tried
with some success in Switzerland. For some little time
Geneva has suffered from a strike, or a series of strikes,
got up, it is said, by the International Society of Work:
men. First the society persuaded the printers to cease
work, and when these went in the masons were induced
to strike. This dispute, however, has now been settled.
A. mixed commission of workmen and employers assembled
uncle the presidency of a Councillor of State, and suc-
neded in coming to an arrangement which has been
Accepted by both parties.
ThE IRISH CHURCH BILL.
A correspondent of the Times suggests some'
improvements in Mr. Gladstone's bill on the Irish
Church, and says that it is not likely so extensive
a proposal should be faultless. He considers that
no representative body should be incorporated until
its construction has been laid before Parliament for
a certain definite period. The gravest error of the
Government scheme appears in the liquidation divi-
s ion, where it is proposed to give up
the tithe rent
charge without any consideration whatever. If this
be done with a view to propitiate the Irish landlord,
the motive would be pusillanimous, but the better
solution seems to be that the scheme is a blunder.
He thinks that the proposal to compensate
the vested interests of Maynooth and the
Presbyterian Academy out of the Church funds
is a right one, and that there is no ground for com-
plaint. He objects to the proposed appropriation of
the surplus, and questions the wisdom of the gene-
rous machinery for accomplishing the works of
mercy. In conclusion, he declares that he writes in
no spirit of hostility to Mr. Gladstone's aim. It may
be worth mentioning that Mr. Trench, writing to the
Guardian, declares that the so-called present of the
tithes to the Irish landowners will involve them in
an absolute pecuniary loss. Clearly doctors differ.
POST-PRANDIAL ORATORY.

The Fislnong,--rs' Company has been very strong
in point of its princely hospitality this season. It
has far outshone its brother corporations of the City
of London. Ministers of State, ministers of the
Church, and both together have dined at the
company's board, and spoken through the press to
the world afterwards. Another of its magnificent
banquets was given on Wednesday, and attended
by Prince Teck, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Earl of Ducie, the newly-created peer, Lord Lawrence,
Sir Roundell Palmer, the Bishop of Chester, and no
end of other celebrities, titled and otherwise. The
after-dinner speeches of these notabilities are pub-.
Wished in some of the papers to the length of nearly
half a page. But the speakers themselves will hardly
thank the editors for their kincinqss. The Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, for instance, is made to
say, at the length of some half a column,
that he knew of no place where a bishop
was more in his position than in joining
such a corporation as that. It helped—it may
be presqmed to some extent by its education in the
ethics of cuisine—to spread refinement and civilisa-
tion. The only sentence which is worthy of remark
was one towards the end, in which, referring to the
presence of Dissenting ministers, his Grace said that
he always found amongst those who disagreed with
the Church of England more points of connection
than of difference, and it was their duty to unite on
these points without sacrificing principle. The
sentiment is by no means new, except, perhaps,
in the mouth of a Primate. Lord Lawrence
also dealt out the same kind of generalities,
and Sir Roundell Palmer hardly relieved the
dull tedium of the speaking when he proceeded to
argue against that so-frequently-exploded fallacy,
that the old times were not necessarily the good
times, and to declare that it was necessary for the
Legislature to unite tradition with progress, to march
on but to beware. The speeches cannot be com-
plained of. Here was a company of gentlemen
called upon to:talk, talk a propos of nothing. What
could they say ? It may be very jolly to come
together in this way to eat, drink, and " orate;" but
it by no means follows that it should be all taken
down and put into writing—much less into print.
Another banquet, which was perhaps a little
Co the purpose, was held in the borough
ofr. idiril
Morgan
InbCotrile.
It was intended as a consolation to m
Howard, who unsuccessfully contested the
at the election. The Marquis of Down:sihr boroughire, Earl
Smith,
i
Beauchamp, the Hon. F. W. B. MasseY
the member for Westminster, Lord'
ociester
Lord George Hamilton, M.P., Messrs. Peek
t
rnbY,
o'
Charley, Sidebottom, and Vicars,
do honour to their less successful brother.
rick, M.P., said of the Irish Church Mr. Brod-
ldbupon e fought Bill that it was
whichelaus e
they by
eolnaeuseofandthroesesolz•thiioc h
nh
resolution,byso
whTihchattuh.eays
t
the policy of the leaders of the
ought
tt
tnoottaktoefaligfuuleltahnedifuouldi siev,i
dbceudo
ervative party.
suepuosne
Of course everyone thought that the
Conservative
reaction had commenced generally
throughout the
mutt:G lad Dukcldgey loixbeth.