The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, VIIIDAV EVENING, MAECH 19, 1869.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, Regent's-pail:, OPEN daily (ex-
cept Sundays). Admission, ls.; on Mondays, 6d.; Children
under twelve, Cd.

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change here by ordaining the appointment of a judge,
who must be an experienced barrister. He will
occupy a position subordinate to the Arch-
; bishop, who, as in the case of the Bishop and
his chancellor, will be the chief judge. Lastly,
there is a final right of appeal from the the judg-
rment of the Archbishop's court to the Privy Council.
The constitution of this tribunal is not to be altered,
and, in this respect, it will be generally admitted that
Lord SHAFTESBURY has acted with great judgment.
Whether the Privy Council is or is not
a satisfactory tribunal, whether the lay element does
not preponderate too greatly for the just decision of
clerical cases, is a vexed question. But it is not likely
that the originator of this measure, as a prominent
supporter of one of the antagonistic parties, could
have devised any settlement which would have met
with general acceptance.
Such is the proposed constitution of the eccle-
siastical courts. But by far the most momentous
change is made in the method of procedure against
offences committed by clergymen. This is
much the most important branch of eccle-
siastical jurisdiction. The power to decide tithe
disputes, cases of spoliation, and dilapidation
are of comparatively rare occurrence, the first-named
extremely so. Breaches of the laws of discipline are,
however, not only frequent, but the mode of pro-
cedure in such cases is, under the existing law,
very unsatisfactory. The existing system is not
sufficiently simple. Aggrieved parishioners cannot
obtain the reform of abuses without a roundabout
preliminary in the shapeistiotfutoe proceedings.btaithn
obtaining permission
This
from the Bishop to institute
complexity frequently delays, often defeats,
the ends of justice. In matters of this kind,
where the offence is general, and affects no
individual in particular, the mode of redress must be
simple and direct, or only the most flagrant offences
will be noticed. The bill promises to supply this
want. It stipulates that no charge against clergy-
men, nor any suits involving questions of doctrine,
can be brought in any courts save those pre-
sided over by the Bishops. But it enables
three members of a church to institute proceedings
in the diocesan court against breaches of the eccle-
siastical laws. The court will have power to suspend
or depose any minister, provided that the sentence be
not greater than is now provided by the existing law.
Issues of fact, with the consent of the court, may be
submitted to a jury composed of three beneficed cler-
gymen and justices of the peace. Besides these
three, there are minor regulations for the saving of
time and expense, the most noteworthy of whichis that
surplus fees are to be applied by the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners, who will have charge of financial
arrangements, to the augmentation of poor livings.
Costs may be enforced against either party bringing a
rivbn overlooked in the composition of this
oloeueschargeordefence.Nothing of importance
frivolous
measure, which forms a thoroughly complete whole.
The changes it is designed to effect have long
been felt necessary to remedy the most vague and
unsatisfactory branch of our judicial system. There
ought to be no difficulty in passing the bill into a
law. The chief complaint which will be brought
against it—that of not dealing with the constitution
of the Privy Council—is not likely to become a
serious obstacle to its success.

THE election petitions are relapsing into a round
of monotonous uniformity, but here and there a
fresh variety of demoralisation turns up to cast a
new light upon our electoral system. Blackburn is
a case in point. The hearing of the petition which
has unseated the two Conservative members furnishes
some of the most noteworthy revelations which have
yet been made. The election was characterised
by the most disgraceful rioting in the United
Kingdom, and votes were secured by the
wholesale application of an illegal influence; but the
honest class of electors may satisfactorily reflect that
their unpleasant experience has not been in vain.
The last election in general has furnished
a strong argument in favour of the Ballot ;
but of all the individual constituencies Black-
burn must be held to contribute most largely
to this result. The remarkably lively election in the
Lancashire borough was not decided by bribery.
Both parties had recourse to the far cheaper, and, as
it seems, not less efficacious, influence of the "screw."
Conservative employers intimidated their workmen,
Conservative workmen intinndated their colleagues,
and Messrs. IIOuNBY and FIELDEN were returned.

As usual, the two innocent ex-members knew nothing
of the means employed to secure their return, but
their agents availed themselves extensively of the
most discreditable influence by which the fate
of a contest can be decided. The Con-
servative co mmitte addressed a circular to
the Conservative employers of labour asking them
to secure the votes of those dependent upon them.
The committee found a Christian circumlocution
for the agency which is barbarously, but with
ndieictitdeeed
were
oerrcee,of denominatednpininntt managers, millowners,
hathe " screw." The corn-
overlookers, and others possessing influence knew
better than other people how to appreciate the
" blessings, temporal and religious, secured by the
Constitution, which is now threatened by unscrupu-
lous politicians." They were therefore implored to
exert their influence to secure the return of
candidates who would shield the Constitution
from these dangers—who would prevent " Christian
England " from being made a " godless nation."
Those in possession of influence took the hint. Their
workpeople were enlisted in the cause of righteous-
ness by a clear intimation that if they refused to
fight the good fight they might be cast out utterly.
The effect was decisive. Many operatives, who would
have voted with the Liberals, decided to preserve
England from becoming a godless nation rather
than incur dismissal. Those who maintained their
independence lost their places. The Conservatives
won their election by the votes of Liberal artisans,
and when the contest was over there was a
general settling up, and old servants who
bad been unfaithful politicians were merci-
lessly turned away. Intimidation was em-
ployed by operatives as well as by masters ; in
fact, the election clearly shews that the danger of
workmen intimidating their fellows is by no means
chimerical. Operatives who were a grade above
the ranks, overlookers and others, applied the
" screw " as unblushingly as their masters,
and though in this case it was employed
for the benefit of the Conservatives, there
is no reason to believe that the danger does not
exist equally for both parties. The tendency of
these disclosures is palpable. It mfg • ht have occurred
to the Conservative committee and those whom
they addressed that the Constitution will hardly
be upheld by the degradation of a principle
which the Conservatives themselves claim to
have conferred. The idea might have suggested
itself that the godliness of Christian England will
hardly be promoted by pitting a working man's con-
science against his daily bread. But these considera-
tions never do influence elections, and never will. Pre-
vention is certainly better than cure ; but the neces-
sity of a cure is becoming more and more apparent.

It is said that at the forthcoming meAing of the
Hadson's Bay Company, a number of the share-
holders propose to move that the offer lately pro-
posed by the Colonial-office be rejected, and that
negotiations be opened for the sale of the com-
pany's territory to the Americans. Whether this
suggestion which appears to be dictated by a bitter
feeling at the disappointment sustained by the
shareholders, is meant seriously or not, remains to
be seen.

At a meeting of the Irrigation Company of
France (Limited) the directors' report was adopted.
It referred to the present critical position of the
affairs of the undertaking, but expressed a hope
that all obstacles to the full and active resumption
of the whole of the unfinished works may be re-
moved without much further delay. The works
have been inspected by two engineers, who regard
them as wise in conception, economically con-
structed (with certain exceptions), and likely to
become remunerative.

SALE OF INTOXICATING ,LIOUORS 01V
SUNDAY.

On Thursday a deputation from the Central Associa-
tion for Stopping the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on
Sunday waited upon the Home Secretary, the Right Hon.
H. A. Bruce. Amongst those present were Archbishop
Manning, Mr. Bazley, M.P., the Rev. J. A. Stowell,
Manchester ; Mr. B. Whitworth, Mr. Jacob
Bright, M.P., Mr. Thomas Barlow, Bolton ; Mr.
H. B. Roberts, Mr. J. Hawkings, secretary Claremont
Sunday Schools, Islington ;'the Rev. F. W. Brown, New-
castle ; Rev. J. Reid, Moderator of the Presbyterian
Church in England ; Mr. G. Blakly, United Kingdom
Band of Hope Union ; Rev. J. C. Patterson, Man-
chester ; Rev. J. M. Ross, Manchester ; Mr. J.
O'Cullahan, Rev. Dr. Fisher, Rev. Dawson Burns,
Mr. W. Hoyle, Mr. NV. Hitchcock, Dr. Martin War-
rington, Rev. G. NV. Macree, Mr. W. T. Palmer, Mr.
Lowmond, Mr. G. Dibley, Mr. J. Andrews, and the Rev.
J. G. Murray. The members of the deptnation assembled
at the Westminster Palace Hotel prior to pro,-eding to
the Hen. ?flice. A letter was read from Ni.Miall,
M.P., which stated that the writer regretted that he could
not attend the deputation in the objects sought to be ob-
tained but in which he believed he concurred. A letter
from Mr. Cawley, M.P., to the same effect, was
also read. At this preliminary meeting a me-
morial to the Home Secretary was adopted. This
document asserted that the stopping of the sale of
intoxicating liquors on the Lord's Day would be in
accordance with the wishes of a great majority of the
people of this country. Their feeling on this point had
been tested not only in large public meetings (such as
those in the Guildhall, held ender the presidency of the
Lord Mayor, and in the Manchester Town Hall, under the
presidency of the Mayor), held in twenty or thirty of the
chief cities and towns in the kingdom ; but also by a very
general canvass instituted from house to house in more
than 200 towns and villages in various parts of the country
—the gross result of which was as follows :--

In favour of closing on Sunday.
England 291,643 .
N. Wales 31,964 .
S. Wales 23,267

Against. Neutral.
... 58,431
451
899

Total
A separate canvass of employers of labour and of work-
shops gave similar results. It was, therefore, prayed that
the Government would introduce a bill into Parliament,
prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors (except to
travellers) during the twenty-four hours of the Lord's
Day.
Mr. BAILEY, M.P., introduced the deputation, and
called upon Mr. Robert Whitworth to present the memo-
rial referred to above.
The Rev. Mr. STOWELL intimated that the only object
the deputation had in view was to stop the sale of liquors
on Sunday. Many of those present were not connected
'with temperance societies, but they all felt that it was not
necessary that -public-houses should be open on Sunday
except for the convenience of travellers. If the working
classes required beer on Sundays, they could obtain it on
the Saturday. The fact was, that to a large extent the
proposed alteration in the law had the approval of the
working classes.
Archbishop MANNING contended that the efforts made
to prevent drunkenness by moral persuasion would be
much more successful if the traffic in drink on Sunday
was not legalised. What had been done with perfect
success in Scotland was an evidence that the will of the
people would be with the promoters of the present move-
ment ; the mass of the working men and their wives
desired that the temptation to drink on the Sabbath
should be withdrawn. Publicans, too, desired to have one
day's rest in the week. The disease of drunkenness was
on the increase, and a terrible harvest would be reaped if
steps we, not taken to prevent it. If impossible
to obtain Obligatory Act, let the will of the people
be tested by the passing of a Permissive -Act for large
towns.

Dr. MARTIN, az a medical man, had come to the conclu-
sion that unless something could be done to stem the tide
of drunkenness, but little good could be effected in the
direction of Sunday improvement. Nothing would tend
so much to the preservation of the health of the working
classes as the closing of the public-houses from twelve
o'clock on Saturday night until eight o'clock on Monday
morning.

After a few remarks on the prevalence of drunkenness
amongst juveniles from the Rev. G. W. MACRE;
The HoME SECRETAICY replied, expressing his gratifica-
, tion at having heard the remarks advanced by the mem-
I hers of the deputation. He trusted that if his answer
was not entirely satisfactory they would not understand
that he intended for a single moment to throw s doubt
upon the statement that drunkenness was a great
evil, and was the cause of very many crimes. This
however, did 'not settle the question. There were
those in the country who thought that if it could be proved
that a great evil existed, and was productive of disastrous
consequences, it ought to be crushed by the strong hand
of the law. Public-houses, it was contended, were the
sources of such unmitigated and widespread evil that
Parliament ought to be called upcn to inter-
fere and put an end to them. But, he would
ask, if such a state of things were possible in
the present state of opinion in this country. It was
i time that the deputation asked not that the public-houses
should be entirely done away with, but only that they
should be compelled to close on Sundays. The principle,
however, was the same in both cases. It could not be
denied that it was the duty cf a Christian Legislature to
see that as far as possible the Sabbath should be properly
observed, and they would admit that much had been done
in this direction ; and that as regarded public-houses
there was a great difference between Sunday and other
Says. The matter now brought forward had been referred
"so a select committee, and a report had been adopted by
them which was opposed to the views of the deputation.
Mr. Bruce continued that though it would be impossible for
him to promise that anything could be done inParliament this
Sear he:might assure them that if it was at all consistent
with the concurrent claims of other subjects, the question
of licensing generally would be dealt with by her
Majesty's Ministers, and if they could not see
their way to pass entirely preventive measures,
'hey would do what they could to regulate
that system and make the best efforts to guard against its
abuse. Admitting that the evils of drunkenness were
great, be (the Home Secretary) was not prepared to admit
sill the consequences which were stated to follow from it.
'hie of the- speakers (Dr. Martin) had referred
'A the Forbes Mackenzie Act in Scotland. No
doubt it had worked well in many respects, but still
the fact remained that last year the number of deaths in
Glasgow was at a higher rate than in Birmingham. He
Tas himself inclined to doubt if there was apparent in
Scotland any greater improvement than that which pro-
^ceded from the general improvement of the people
throughout the country. Nor did he believe that drun-
kenness had increased, in proof of which he
invited a comparison of the aspect of the streets
at the present day with that which they presented
sorty or fifty years ago. Much of the crime which still
was prevalent was due to other causes than drunkenness.
The Home Secretary concluded by saying that the only
legislation that would be possible would be such as was
supported by Parliament and the desire of the people.
That desire was in favour of the suppression of
drunkenness, but he was doubtful if it went
further. He would also remind them that public-houses
were the only resorts of large numbers of the working
classes who lived in lodgings, and had no comfortable
homes. If public-houses were to be closed, there must go
hand in hand with the movement another for providing
suitable places of resort for the working man. All these
were matters which would have to be well weighed, and he
could do no more than say that the members of the Cabi-
net would be quite ready to attempt anything that could
be reasonably done to prevent drunkenness.

A Cabinet Council will be held at the official resi-
dence of the First Lori of the Treasury, Downing-street, on
Saturday.

The Church Estates Commissioners have issued their
.nnual report. They have, under the provisions of
she 6th and 7th sections of the Act, transferred to the Eccle-
siastical Commisaioners for England during the past y ear a sum
of £70,000 in respect of the surplus proceeds of enfranchisc-
ments completed. The aggregate amount which has been
paid over or transferred to the account of the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners is now £1,400,207 2s 2d., in addition to
£170,000 in respect of interest which has accrued on the
surplus.

An account of the receipts and disbursements of
he Duchy of Lancaster in the year ended 21st December,
180 ; also a separate account of the capital of the said
duchy, to tho same date, has just been issued. The re-
ceipts wcte £46,755, and there was cash at tauhers on 21st
December last, amounting to £:3,695. Tln-, laynic eta in-
clude £28,51:0 for her 31vjesty's use, at d ordinary
charges, salaties, improvements, &c. The capital account
shows— stock, £3-1,850, and ca:lt £2,940. A sum of .£8.51"
has been outhtid on the estates. •

The Lords Justices had before them on Thursday
the case of the Credit Fonder and Mobilier of England r.
the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, in which
an appeal was made against the refusal of Vice-Chancellor
Stuart to give leave to the Credit Fonder and Mobilier of
England to file a bill against the London, Chadian], and
Dover Railway Company to recover .£200,000 which
the former company had given for debentures issued by
the latter company on the security of the eastern section
undertaking. Their lordships granted leave to file a bill,
on the Credit Foncier undertaking not to proceed against
the company under any decree they might obtain in the pro-
posed suit, and not to issue any execution against the conA-
PanY, 70,hout tl4 loave et the court.