The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-17 00:00:00

Til L SUN, LONDO.Y, Wl' ESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBE'R 17, 1869.

THEATRE-ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
,dole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chaterton,

Tuts kVENING, at 7, BELLES OF THE KITCHEN. At 8,
FORMOSA : Messrs. Barrett, H Irving, David Fisher, Brittain,
Wright, John Rouse; Mrs Billington, Misses M. Brennan, Mac-
donald. and Katharine Rodgers. Conclude with BORROWED
PLUM LS

Straw mattresses, chimneys to our houses, silver
forks, are all luxuries when compared with the mode
of life led by our ancestors a few generations back.
The luxuries of a former age have become the objects
of daily use in our own. Luxury, if it be moral, is a
stimulus to progress, and helps to raise the general
level of mankind. It is also a direct and fruitful
source of labour and wages. That last word leads
to a very important subject. The idea that there is
anything degrading in taking wages M. BArDnri.-
LART most strongly deprecates. A number of per-
sons agree together to build a house. Some have
money enough to wait for repayment until the house
is finished and occupied ; the others have not. The
first pay the second for their labour; give them wages,
that is, while they—the capitalists—look to be paid
hereafter. But they run the risk of not being paid
at all, for the house may not be tenanted. There-
fore they must have a higher rate of compensa-
tion to induce them to enter upon the under-
taking. But no wrong is on that account done to
labour. If capital does not get thus remunerated
for the risk it incurs, there will be less available for
works of industry, and though labour may get more
in proportion to capital than it gets at present, it will
get really less ; and as men are supported by realities,
not by relations, this is an important consideration.
'Of late years the attempt has been made to unite the
capitalist and the labourer in the same person. It
has often succeeded ; it has sometimes failed.
The problem to be solved before co-operation can be
said to be established is, are workmen sufficiently
trained and educated in habits of perseverance and
self-denial to be able to bear losses ? If they are,
co-operation will succeed; if they are not, it must
fail. M. BAUDRILLART devotes a whole chapter to
the evils wrought by drunkenness. This, perhaps, is
the least thorough portion of his work. For instance,
he finds in the misery of the very poor an excuse for
drinking, forgetting that it is drinking which has
caused the misery. A man who does not drink need
not be very poor. A man who does drink will be
worse off in proportion as his wages are high, for he
will have fuller opportunities for gratifying a habit
that ruins both body and soul. Nevertheless there
are in M. BAUDRILLART'S pages many forcible argu-
ments against the ruling vice which cu±ses the
working men of both England and France.

Few families have shown so large a measure of
hereditary ability as the ADAMSES of Massachusetts.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, a man of the highest talent,
has just been defeated as Democratic candidate for
Governor of his State. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS,
jun., read an important Essay at the Social Science
Meeting of the American Association just held in New
York, " On the election of Presidents of the United
States ;" and HENRY BROOKS ADAMS is the author

of an elaborate paper in the October number of the
North Anirican Review "On Civil Service Reform,"
which has been much discussed by the American
press. Considering that the father of these gentle-
men was the well-known Minister in London dur-
ing the Civil War, that their grandfather and
great-grandfather have interwoven their names
into the history of the United States, the family
presents a spectacle Fare in the world, for we are
more apt to inherit the bad humours and diseases
of our progenitors than their ability and virtues.
The two subjects treated by these brothers are
closely allied. At the meeting of the Social Science
Association at Albany in February last the follow-
ing question was asked in the paper " On Protec-
tion of the Ballot" :—Can any good reason he
suggested why the people of this country should not
directly vote for their Presidents as they ever have
for their Governors?" The present system not only
renders fraudulent voting most unnaturally effec-
tive, but exactly points out the localities where it

is needed to produce result, and almost how many
votes are required. Fraud has become a political
necessity to counteract fraud. Violations of the
ballot are only possible in large cities where voters
are unknown to each other and in scattered but law-

less communities ; and the question is how to restrict
within legal limits these crowded and lawless portions.
We answer, by removing the prizes from the grasp
of the successful politicians, that is, by reforming
and making permanent the posts in the Civil Ser-
vice. But CHARLES FRANCIS ADA3IS, jun., is dis-
cussing how the greatest of all the posts, that of the
PRESIDENT, is to be filled. We believe that it would
be for the interests of the country to lengthen that
officer's term, but we feel sure that the country
would not be thrown into these rapidly recurring

turmoils of excitement if behind the PRESIDENT'S
election there were not numberless offices contin
gent on it. Few are deeply interested in who is to
be King, unless that King does in some way affect
themselves or their relatives. It is the personal in-
terest introduced into the election of a PRESIDENT
which has made it of such overwhelming importance
to the people, and has led to so much fraud and
has hitherto escaped
ed on the ground of
i,re e corruption.ntia lh o
e elections,c contested
trstey
fraud, only by a miracle as it were. This good
fortune cannot continue for ever. The subject
cannot be too much discussed. The solution If the
problem will be arrived at when that system of
elections is devised under which the effects of

frauds shall be restricted within the narrowest pos-
sible limits." Mr. ADAMS considers that a direct
popular vote would be an improvement on the pre-
sent system, while he admits that it would be cum-
brous, liable to fraud, as well as to great danger in
case of a close vote. " Even New York, whatever
that State may be aczustomed to within its own

limits," says this paper, "might not see with equani-
mity vast opposing majorities rolling up from the wilds
of Texas to settle some closely. contested election."
If the PRESIDENT had not 60,000 posts to give
away, would not New York take a calmer view of
the question ? or would the hunters for votes on
the wilds of Texas be found so, ready and nu-
merous ? So conclusive, however, is this objection
considered that while the existing system stands
condemned, relief is not looked for in that direction.
Therefore the writer falls back on the electoral
system conducted by districts. All agree in con-
sidering a change in the Constitution to be impe-
rative, and while we desire to take the tuft of hay
from under the donkey's nose, by which he is led
into these excesses, such papers recommend shackles
and restrictions on the animal's movements. The
following is the plan suggested :

"Two members of ...b. ...allege, rospresenting the
United States Senators, should be electAd by a vote at
large. Each district should elect, also, one member of the
college. Any number of thousands of fraudulent votes in
a given district could only affect three electoral votes
under this system, instead of 33, as was tbo case last year,
or the grand result, as would be the case under a general
popular vote. All incentive to great fraud would thus be
removed. The regulation of this subject is especially re-
served to the State Legislatures by Article 2, section 1 of
the Constitution."

Mr. HENRY BROOKS ADAMS criticises the present
Administration in his
,Essay on Civil Service Re-
form. He blames Gnarafor giving way
pressure, and disappointing the public expectation
by his selections for office. That the public have
to the caucus
been disappointed is undoubtedly true, but this is
more because it looked for something
superhuman,
ascribing, as it ought not, godlike attributes to
the PRESIDENT. The essayist forcibly paints the
difficulty of the task, which really involves the de-
struction of a very powerful system of Government,
this, too, in the face of an amazing
and the overthrow of all its
political machinery ;
apathy on the
part of the people. They elect GRANT, place him
on the horse, put a spear into his hand, and point
out the dragon he is to slay, like ST. GEORGE, and
then go quietly home to eat and drink and be
merry. But the PRESIDENT is not ST. GEORGE, and
after running two or three tilts at the monster, and
finding it cased in impenetrable scales, with strong
and dangerous claws, from which he receives a few
scratches, he also returns,
takes a railway ticket,
and tours about the country. Then those who did
not give him even the assistance of their presence,
abuse their champion for having (apparently at
least) abandoned the enterprise, leaving the dragon
to prey on them. What the Administration did in
the way of reform was to economize by cutting
down the number of employes, leaving untouched
the origin of the evil,
while pairing away some of
its excresences, but what credit do they get for
that? Why, Mr, ADAMS talks of those cruel scenes
which for uionth4 followed the inatiguatiozz and

reduced the city of Washington to such a condition
as is caused by an ordinary pestilence or famine.
ft must have been a cruel necessity to kind-hearted
men to throw out of employment so many clerks ;
but whose is the fault—that of the Prince of Politi-
cians, ANDY JOHNSON, and the system which brings
men like him to the front, or of Gen. GRANT? The
late President had party friends to satisfy, and while
we believe him to have been thoroughly honest per-
sonally, his training blinded him to the dishonesty
of using the Treasury as a means of rewarding his
political supporters ; so he appears to have been
alike indifferent whether he created a post or signed
a criminal's pardon. Tie left the Augean Stables
full, and it was GRANT'S unpopular and miserable
task, to clear them out. So these "wretched women
and worn-out men were ground to death under the
wheels of this slow-moving idol of faction ;" but
this Juggernaut car is the creation of others, and
was set in motion in this case by ANDREW JOHN-
SON, not by GRANT. The Administration is open
to attack where it followed the example, more
especially of its last predecessor, and it deserves
credit for every effort it has made to get out of the
well-worn track. Mr. ADAMS, however, says "it
was reserved for the Administration of President
GRANT to descend lower than the worst of its pre-
decessors in the scale of self-degiadation." No-
thing appears to us so disingenuous, caring as we
do neither for Republican nor Democrat, as the per-

sistent efforts to describe GRANT'S Administration
as a failure. This is the tune to which the corres-
pondents of the London papers nearly all sing ; but
when they come to state facts the music is in much
the same harmony with the words, as the " Dead
March in Saul" would be at a ball or " The Girl I
left Behind Me" at a funeral. Putting aside the
reform in the Civil Service, which is GRANT'S her-
culean task, and one he must not attempt to evade,
finance was the great and immedite subject for con-
sideration. He bad to turn out the thieves ;to
reduce the Army, Navy, and superfluous officials ;
to take measures for paying off the debt and rais-
ing to a higher level the credit of the country. So
successful has Mr. BounvELL been in all these that,
notwithstanding the dislike with which the Demo-
crats regard him as an avowed Radical leader of
the New England type, nothing can be said against
him, and even those who were loudest in denunciation
when he was placed in office have been forced into
silence. And why ? Because his Administration has
been marked by ability, good sense, and an honesty
which even the American press consider it useless to
attempt to tarnish. The fruits, are au extra-
ordinary reduction in the expenditure, and an equally
extraordinary increase in the receipts, as well as a
rise of over ten per cent. in the value of the Bonds.
Does Mr. ADAMS consider this to be a conspicuous
failure? lie contrasts the two Ministers from
Massachusetts—Secretary BoUTWELL and Attorney-
General HOAR. The Finance Minister he describes
as " the type of that narrow political morality which
has obtained so general a control of America, the
product of caucuses and party promotion." We
confess to a partiality for the " narrow political mo-
rality" which achieves the undeniable results se-
cured by him. By these he must be judged, notby the
opinion of this or that politician, this or that essay-

ist, or this or that " able editor." Mr. BOUTWELL
is a man in whom the European bondholders have
a far greater interest than they are aware of. He
has effectually helped to raise the value of their pro-
perty, and if he can only continue his course, vast
numbers, who have scarcely heard his name, will
owe him no small debt of gratitude. Judge HOAR
is described as ote of that refined class who have
been driven from politics, but whom reformers hope
to restore. We are not qualified to give an opinion
on the work of the Attorney-General, nor can it be
judged by the same tests all can apply to that of
the Secretary of the Treasury ; but it is passing
strange to find members such as the two discussed,
belonging toan Administration which, as Mr. ADAMS
says, has descended lowest in the scale of degrada-
tion. We cannot expect the gigantic task of re-
forming the Civil Service to be performed in a year,
for the reason he gives that it involves the whole
political machinery of the Republic; nor do we ever
hope to see it accomplished, unless the people shake
off their apathy. Democratic writers may attempt
to fasten the blame on the Administration, but
honest men will tell the people that most of it lies
at their own door.—Anglo-American Times.

THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR

IV/GAS.

TWENTY-SEVEN LIVES LOST.

WIGAN, Tuesday Night.

The explosion of fire-damp which took place yes-
terday afternoon at No. 5 pit of the Moss Hall
Coal Company, near the Platt Bridge Station,

Hindley, proposes to be a much more serious matter
than at first considered. At the time of writing
only eight dead bodies have been brought to the
surface, but 19 men and boys are reported missing,
and there is not the least doubt that 27 lives have
already been lost. To this number an addition
will i❑ all probability be made in a day or two, for
several of those who were brought up alive are so
fearfully injured that their recovery is considered
impossible. An additional complication now is the
firing of the mine, and it may be long, therefore,
before the missing bodies are recovered.

FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE-(THIS DAY).

One of the most exciting, in fact agonising,
scenes that has been witnessed for some consider-
able time on the Surrey side of the river, occurred
this morning between the hours cf two and three
o'clock. The painful circumstances connected with
this d;stressieg affair may be thus briefly narrated
—lt appears that a policeman of the M
whilst patrolling his beat in Great Suffolk-street,
Southwark, noticed an unusual glare of light in
the ground floor of the premises belonging to
Mr. George Dunton, the proprietor of the Bath
Arms, ale and refreshment stores, situate at No.
131, in the before. named thoroughfare. Being con-
vir.ced that the building was on fire, he at once
sprang his rattle, and two men coming up, he de-
spatched one to fetch the fire-ladders from the
police-station, at Stone's-end, and another to call
the escape and the engines. This was a work of
not more than 5 minutes, but the flatlaCS rolled up
the staircase and ignited not fewer than eight
rooms of the establishment. At that time there
were on the premises the proprietor, his wife,
and child, the servant maid, Susan Goddard,
between fifteen and sixteen years of age, and
three lodgers. None of those persons were able to
get down to the door, owing to the violence with
which the flames progressed. The police tried to
reach the upper floor of the building, but one ladder
was too short, and at the same moment persons
were seen upon the roof of the house partially
obscured with sparks and smoke, and one man was
on the third floor window sill almost in a state of
nudity. Mr. Superintendent Garforth, of the M
division, who came up, and suggested that
the two ladders should be spliced toge-
ther, 'which was done by the man on
the window sill throwing some blankets and sheets
out of his bedroom, which were tied round two
ladders, and the police, with the aid of Mr. Roberts,
the proprietor of the Prince of Wales coffee-house,
and a friend of his, raised the ladders upon their
breasts, and by that expedient the man was enabled
to reach terra firma in safety. The other parties
who were upon the roof managed to get down at
the back, but not before two men were scorched.

As soon as the ruins were sufficiently cooled Mr.
Illamlyn and some of his men went in search of
the serva,:it girl, Susan Goddard, and they found
her sn dre ulfully burnt as to prevent any means of
identifica .ion.

GREAT FIRE AT WAPPING.
t the above fire was at its height another
one of o more extensive character, but fortunately
not of a fatal character, happened in a large sail
and rag warehouse in Orange-court, Wapping,
which for a time illumined the eastern portion of
the metropolis. Mr. Superintendent Swinton, of
the London Salvage Corps, with Mr. Gatehouse,
tilt; chief officer of the Eastern Division of Brigade,
at tended with about a dozen engines, and in spite of
a. good supply of water the fire was not extinguished
u atit the property was entirely destroyed.