The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-13 00:00:00

THE WORKING MEN'S ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of the members of the Work-
ing Men's Association was held last night at the
Sussex Hotel, Bouverie-street, Fleet-street, to con-
sider the present position of the Reform question—
Mr. G. Potter occupied the chair. The chairman
opened the proceedings by reading the resolutions
proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
said he considered the majority of them highly un-
satisfactory, and that any Reform Bill foulikl,:,l
upon such resolutions would he a mockery
and insult to the people. The franchise to be pro-
posed was a rating franchise, the very principle
against which the late Government went out of
office. It was therefore impossible, if they were to
be consistent, that the leaders of the Liberal party
in Parliament could support such a proposal. There
was also an evident intention on the part of the Go-
vernment by the alteration of the borough boun-
daries to extend the Tory influence in the counties,
while no corresponding influence on the Liberal side
could take place in the boroughs. He had no faith
in the intention of the present Government to deal
honestly with the question of Reform in the inte-
rest of the people, and he therefore trusted Mr.
Gladstone would meet the proposals of the Govern-
ment by a direct negative. He would be supported
in that course by the great mass of the people. Mr.
Troup thought, upon the whole, the Resolutions
were good Resolutions. At any rate, they should
not prejudge the Government. lie would move,
"That the association, while maintaining its
avowed principles of manhood suffrage and the
ballot, and the more equal representation of all
classes, defer expressing an opinion upon the Go-
vernment Resolutions on Reform until the precise
terms are planed before Parliament on the 25th of
the present month." Mr. G. Brooke seconded
the resolution. Mr. Hartwell moved the follow-
ing amendment :--"That this association, having
considered the Resolutions upon Reform introduced
into the House of Commons on Monday evening by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is of opinion that
the great majority of these Resolutions are most
vague and unsatisfactory; and is further of opinion
that any Reform Bill which may be founded upon
those Resolutions would fall very far short of the
just expectations of the people." Ile thought the
opinions and intentions of the Government on Reform
were sufficiently set forth in the Resolutions to justify
the association in coming to an opinion without
waiting for another fortnight. Mr. Bligh seconded
the amendment. After a long and animated discus-
sion the amendment was carried by a large majority.
The secretary stated, in reply to a question, that the
meeting of trades' delegates, to be held on Fri-
day evening next would consider the propriety
of holding another demonstration of the London
trades to be attended by large deputations from the
provincial trades somewhere about Exeter. The fol-
lowing resolution was then adopted in reference to
the Royal Commission on Trades' Unions :—" That
this association, while refraining from expressing
any confidence in the Commission as constituted,
congratulate the deputation who waited upon Mr.
Walpole on Friday last at their success in inducing
that gentleman to place Mr. F. Harrison on the
Commission ; but that at the same time they most
emphatically protest against any legislative action
on the report of that Commission being taken by
the present or any future Parliament in which labour
is entirely unrepresented." The meeting then ad-
journed until Tuesday evening next.