The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-10 00:00:00

matter. There is good reason to hope that great
as are the benefits already accruing to the workers
in our mills and factories from the acts of former
years, they will be considerably enhanced by the
adoption of this supplementary measure. All the
earlier legislation with regard to the protection of
the factory labourers was, in fact, experimental. It
was carried out from a strong sense of justice and
feeling of humanity, in spite of loud and confident
assertions that its effects upon trade would be most
mischievous. The owners and employers natu-
rally feared that their profits might be seriously
affected, and they accordingly opposed every
step in the way of reform. They have since
then frankly admitted that so far from their fears

being realised they have actually been gainers
rather than losers by the working of the measure.
Lord SHAFTESBURY, in his able and interesting
speech last night, referred to the effect already pro-
duced in the Potteries by the legislation of 1864.
He had visited the schools last year, and the testi-
mony of all concerned was that the improvement
among the children was wonderful. The increase
of scholars speaks for itself. Within the factory
districts alone, said Lord SHAFTESBURY, there are
now nearly 70,000 children under tuition, whereas
when the Act was passed there were not, he be-

lieved 1,000. Yet the masters, in many places, as
sert that the work done is greater in quantity
and improved in quality, because the em-
ployed bring untired minds and bodies to their
work. No doubt legislative interference with the
details of a large establishment appears in many
instances vexatious and unnecessary; but experience
has proved that, as a general rule, neither. men nor
masters can be trusted to adopt those necessary
precautions on which the health and life of the
workmen often depend. Many employments are
only injurious because the proper measures which
science points out are not taken. Thus one clause
of the new act provides that fans shall be intro-
duced to blow away the dust in rooms where men
are engaged in grinding, glazing, or polishing on a
wheel. The inhalation of this dust reduces the
average age of grinders to 40 years, while its dis-
persion by fans greatly lessens the danger. Many
similar regulations are introduced in the measure,
whose working will only be found irksome at
first. It is possible that some parts of it might
bear alteration, but we must remember that this
bill is not the device of a theoretical philanthropist,
but has been elaborated before a select committee,
composed of men thoroughly conversant with the
subject in all its details—many of themselves pro-
prietors of works. We can hard suppose that
such men would not have fully weighed both sides of
the question, and we may therefore hope, with the
noble earl, who is better qualified than any other
to give an opinion on the matter, that the bill may
be instrumental in carrying peace and comfort to
the hearts of thousands without any material draw-
back.

The Atlantic telegraph brings us the important
intelligence that President JOHNSON has requested
Mr. STANTON to resign, but that he has refused to
do so. It has long been rumoured that the PRESI-
DENT bad such a step in contemplation, and the
differences between them has been known outside
the Cabinet. Mr. STANTON has never been a cordial
supporter of the PRESIDENT ; and on many im-
portant questions, more especially on the recon-

struction of the South, their views are diametrically

opposite. The Secretary, however, does not hold
Radical opinions for nothing, and he is fully deter-
mined to reap all the advantages which his position
gives him. Whether this open breach is due to a
sudden quarrel, or is merely the natural result
of long - standing differences, we cannot learn
from the brief wording of the telegram, but
it is possible that the PRESIDENT has determined
to take advantage of the dispersion of Congress to
remodel his Government. The Cuba, which arrived
yesterday after an unusually rapid passage, brings
news to the effect that Mr. JOHNSON has decided
upon removing General SHERIDAN. Perhaps the
PRESIDENT may be inclined to try a bolder policy
than heretofore, relying on the h
support of te
moderate party throughout the country. The
Radicals hare gone on unchecked for so long a time
that the public have been able to judge of the prac-
tical effect of their policy. They can hardly be well
satisfied with the result. The finances are heavily
embarrassed, the national debt increasing, the
South completely disorganised, riot and tumult
being the order of the day, and the whole trade and
commerce of the country suffering from depression
and uncertainty. In Tennessee there aro still ap-
prehensions of serious election riots—so much so
that the Militia are ordered to be under arms, and
Federal troops are being distributed to preserve
order. The citizens are for the most part wearing
arms, and it is expected that the negroes will in
some parts be intimidated from voting. Riots at
elections are unhappily becoming a matter of course,
and in the South they, too, often furnish an excuse
for an outbreak of the bitter feeling smouldering
between the races, which all recent legislation has
been directed to increase rather than to moderate.
In Kentucky the Democrats have carried the elec-
tions—an encouraging sign of the times but since
nothing can be hoped from the patriotism or good
sense of the Radical party, we can hardly expect
to see a permanent change in American politics
until their ascendancy over Congress has been
destroyed.

We are glad to meet with another communica-
tion from our able correspondent, "A Lover and
Observer of Historical Dates and Facts." It is,
indeed, a satisfactory task for him to look back upon
the last six months, and the retrospective glance
which he takes more than realises the best he could
foretell in his prophetical remarks. What will
Lord DERBY do? he asked before, and he now con-
cludes his inquiries by asking,W hat has Lord DERBY
done ? As he says his previous answers were neces-
sarily most vague and problematical, but he has a
" good, full, and substantial answer" to his ques-
tion at the end of the session. All who have
watched the course of events during the past ses-
session, and considered the progress that has been
made, will concur in the reply here made that Lord
DERBY has done a " vast deal." He has shown
equal talent and vigour in carrying the Reform
Bill of 186? that he did in carrying that of 1832.
Seldom, indeed, can we point to the accomplish-
ment of so much in a lifetime. The period which
has elapsed since the time of the first Reform Bill

has, lucked, been a momentous one, and its changes
have been most striking ones. Some of our every-
day surroundings now were then unheard of, and
at best but vague and illusory. Railways were
hardly spoken of, and the electric telegraph was
wholly unknown. Old Father Time has wrought
many changes, and, as it is effectively put here, the
old of 1832 arc gone, and those then in their prime
are either in extreme old age, dying, or dead.
The young Princess, then the Heiress Presump-
tive to the British Throne, has been our
QUEEN for a whole generation, and is the mother
of a large family " from whom we look forward to
a line of illustrious kings."

To return to the thread of the argument, Lord
DERBY has done more in six short months than his
predecessors did in seven long years. -The only ad-
vantage, as it is truly said here that England gained