The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-17 00:00:00

ARTISAN VOLUNTEER CORPS.

The following letters have been addressed to the
editor of The Times :
Sir,—The letter of Lord Elcho in The Times of
Wednesday last on the subject of Artisan Corps of
Volunteers has attracted some attention, and, as my
name has appeared as one of the patrons of the pro-
posed corps to which Lord Elcho has taken excep-
tion, I am desirous that the public should have an
opportunity, through your columns, of hearing some
of the views of those who have advocated the for•
mation of the corps in question.
Lord Elcho, in the first place, finds fault with
the designation " Royal National Rifles." I may
say to that, " What's in a name ?" and I will not
stop to argue against that objection. Lord Elcho
then states his belief that the success of the
Volunteer movement depends upon the force being
very large as well as well-trained and disciplined,
and that numbers can only be got by the admis-
sion of the best working men to the ,Volunteer
ranks. Such is my opinion, and the only question
is how best to arrive at the desired result. Lord
Elcho proceeds to read a lecture to Volunteer corps
of the metropolis, and to point out that in'order to
admit the best working men into their ranks an
alteration must take place in their system, the ex-
travagance of the present day must be given up,
and Volunteers must be content to wear an inex-
pensive uniform on parade; but that if the taste or
fancy of any member of the corps should induce
him to get a more ornamental or expensive dress,
the smarter uniform must never appear on
parade. Why, sir, in my opinion here will at once
arise one difficulty; the artisans of the metropolis
will not, as I believe, enter in any numbers any
corps into which they are not received on perfect
equality with their fellows. The fact of one man
being permitted to wear an expensive uniform for
highdays and holidays, which the artisan would
not be able to afford, would at once create a dis-
tinction fatal to a feeling of equality ; and, setting
aside the fact of such a proposition being most un-
soldierlike and as smacking of playing at soldiers,
I say let no man be allowed to wear a dress in
which he does not appear on parade, and no invi-
dious distinction can exist.

By this proposition Lord Elcho unwittingly dis-
plays the feeling which has caused the drawing back
of the artisan class from heartily joining the ranks
of Volunteers. The working men of London are
anxious to prove their loyalty and their love of
Fatherland, but they are not prepared to be ad-
mitted into the ranks of any Volunteer corps in any
other than in a position of perfect equality. Lord
Elcho also suggests, as a mode of meeting the diffi-
culty, that artisan companies should be attached to
existing corps, whose dress, though the same in
colour and general appearance, might be less orna-
mental and expensive. This appears to me to be
creating a distinction which a man of any spirit
would decidedly object to, while the noble lord, al-
though not forming artisan corps, would be form-
ing artisan companies, and would thus be perpetuat-
ing quite as much that which he appears to dread
—viz., class distinctions, but in an aggravated form.
The truth is Lord Elcho now finds out the mistake
that has been committed, that the artizan class,
which he considers, and rightly so, essential to the
complete success of the movement, has been to a
great extent excluded hitherto owing to the expense
which has been gone to in the Volunteer corps, and
he would gladly correct the error ; but the artisan
class of London, determined to be prepared for the
defence of their country, are not inclined to wait
until measures may be arrived at to admit them
into existing corps. They will most gladly wel-
come the superior classes to their ranks ; but,
being determined to take part in this national
and patriotic movement, and having confi-
dence in their own good intentions, they have
shown their desire for the formation of a corps in
which their own class may be fairly and fully ad-
mitted, the expenses being kept within their reach,
and it would ill become Lord Elcho, who has de-
served every credit for the energy he has display 4 d
in the Volunteer movement, to suggest difficulties
or to throw cold water on the patriotic spirit which
every well-wisher of his country, and of the indus-
trial classes especially, must rejoice to see.
Lord Elcho very truly observes that the artisan
does not like to be "patronised." When all are
on an equality in the ranks no such idea can be en
tertained, and I anticipate the very best results
from the opportunity which is about to be afforded
to that numerous class enrolling in the rifle corps