The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-21 00:00:00

the cause. The damage sustained was of a tempo-

rail, nature, however, and distinguished as these

seceders were for their abilities, it was soon
found that the work went on better with-
out them. The course pursued by Mr. GLAD-
STONE was most factious, for time after time
he returned to the charge. The chief part of the
struggle took place before Easter, a decisive majo-
rity declaring for Government just before the recess.
From that time there was no actual danger, butt

only the greatest care and caution on the part of
Mr. DIsRAELI enabled the Government to reach
that point. It is perfectly true that the good sense
and right feeling of the House in general came
to the rescue of the Government, but had not
the Chancellor of the Exchequer met the House
half way the Ministry could never have held on.
In the house of Lords the bill met with favour-
able treatment on the whole, but even there it had
to weather some storms. Lord DEBBY showed a
spirit worthy of the course he undertook in the
summer, in which he entered upon the task of in-
troducing a Reform Bill. He had given time enough,
and more than time enough, to the Opposition to per-
form the work, and their numerous failures seemed to
indicate that if Reform were to be carried he must
attempt it, and no other. Lord CAIRNS came out
conspicuously in the debates on the measure, and
has taken a prominent position in the house of
Lords in this the first year of its experience. The
illness of Lord DERBY was a great drawback to the
chance of Ministerial success, but fortunately the
noble lord was enabled to re-appear and conduct
the debate to a triumphant issue.

During the height of the excitement of the Re—
form discussion considerable anxiety was felt on
account of the differences that arose between France
and Prussia on the question of Luxembourg ; but
the skill and sagacity or Lord STANLEY sur-
mounted the difficulty, and the noble lord gained
the approval of all by the masterly manner in which
he conducted affairs. There is something more
than the disinclination which Lord STANLEY enter-
tains to meddling in foreign disputes to account for
his success. He is determined and decided,
and those whom he addresses know that he means
what he says. Hence England has in a great
measure acquired that influence which she sought
to possess, and has ceased to be the nonentity that
she had become during the meddle-and-muddle
system. Mr. DISRAELI wisely abstained from
attempting to perform any financial feats this
session, for he had more on his hands than it
seemed possible for him to accomplish, and be
showed his good judgment by keeping as
nearly as possible to the line laid down by
Mr. GLADSTONE last year. Although Reform
was the one thing thought of this year, the Go-
vernment have afforded ample proof of their desire
to do a great deal in many ways, and the various
departments of the State have been faithfully served.
Ireland and Irish legislation has been a great diffi-
culty, but that is a heritage left to the present ad-
visers of the Crown by their predecessors. On the
whole, we may say, fairly and candidly, that
the Conservatives have been put on their
trial, and that they have passed through
the ordeal with credit to themselves and with
satisfaction to the country. The Reform Bill
of this year is not certainly perfect, but it goes
further and effects more than any laid on the table
of the House since the momentous period of 1832 ;
and the more it becomes familiar to the public the
more it is likely to be appreciated and ad-
mired. At any rate the task is accomplished,
and that is the great thing to think of.
No matter what temporary disappointments may
be felt, or what apparently good chances have been
lost. For many reasons it is as well that the Con-
servatives should have had the honour of this work ;
but it is not theirs alone, but that of the two Ilouses
of the Legislature. The opinion of the country
will certainly be in their favour, and we hope that,
encouraged by their support, they will go on and
prosper in their undertakings on future occasions.

We are glad to find that some, at least, of the
inhabitants of Sheffield have thought it necessary

to disavow the disgraceful sentiments openly ex

pressed by the Sawgrinders' Union. The outrage
on public morality, the aulacity as well as the
affront offered to all right feeling and good sense,
by the determination to keep two proved murderers
as members of their body, were indeed so remark-
able that it is not surprising men of more rational
and moral views are eager to seek an opportunity for
disclaiming them. Accordingly we find that a public
meeting was held last eight in Paradise-square,
called by the Rev. R. STAINTON, who delivered an
address, and afterwards proposed a resolution which
was unanimously carried. The terms of the resolu-

tion were as follows :—" That this meeting declares
that resolutions passed by the Sawgrinders' Union
on the 13th are inimical to their own interest as a
union, contrary to the basis of social law, a violation
of the laws of religion and morality, an outrage
on humanity, and a disgrace to the town ;
and it claims the right, and feels it a duty,
to call upon the union to expel the two
members in question, and to offer an apology
to the town for the evil and disgrace it has brought
upon it." These are strong terms, but none too
strong for honest men to use who are anxious to
deny their complicity with some of the darkest
crimes of which human nature is capable, and
whose minds are not confused by grandiloquent
talk about the rights of working men and the claims
of labour—the plain English of such talk being
that working men have no rights whatever over
their own limbs, their own tools, their own
children, their own titne, but the union is their ir-
responsible despot. The much talked-of "rights"
of labour resolve themselves into the privilege of
affording a mark for the thief or the assassin, the
right to be blown up or shot at. The system is so
oppressive that it is only wonderful so many thou-
sands of intelligent men should have so long and
so quietly borne the yoke ; but there may have

been two reasons for it. The bolder spirits have

been led away by inflated talk, the quieter and
more cautious have been governed by fear
of the consequences of opposition. The non-
unionist has much need of fortitude and
steadfastness, and with all his exercise of these
he stands at a constant disadvantage in the
labour market. The organisation of the unions is
complete, and every day they succeed in drawing
within their circle men who are weary of importu-
nity, of threats, of defeat, and disappointment. The
non-unionist has hitherto stood alone. The masters,
1 whose interest it was to preserve the independence
of the workman, could not be relied on to assist
him. If they gave him encouragement to begin
with the perpetual agitation kept up by the unionists
' soon wearied them into concession. There was no at-
tempt to consolidate the forces of the non-unionists,
so that unless a man was prepared to rely exclusively
upon himself and his own exertions in defiance of
the rest of his fellows, he must fall in with the rest.
In this case, as in many others, Ce West que le pre-
mier pas qui coute, and when once the spell is broken
and a counter organisation set up, there is little
reason to doubt that the ranks of the unionists
would be very greatly thinned. That is to
say, the _Trades' Unions would be restored to
_ their legitimate purposes, and Woke 'yho have