The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-18 00:00:00

TEE BUILDERS' STRIKE.

No communication has as yet been received from
the associated masters with reference to the propo-
sals for a settlement contained in the letter of
" Publicola," and supposed to have emanated
indirectly from the employers. The workmen state
that though they are not prepared themselves to
accept the proposals, they are quite willing to meet
the masters and discuss the whole question with
them, though they will not solicit an interview.
Delegates from the committees are still in the pro-
vinces arranging with the masons now remaining
on some of the more distant works of the London
hour employers. The total number of masons who
have ceased working on the country jobs up to Mon-
day was about 300. Their withdrawal of the masons
has necessitated the discharge of most of the car-
penters and bricklayers, whose work cannot be pro-
ceeded with while the masonry is at a standstill.
On Monday, Mr. Myers sent 11 masons from his
yard in London to the works at Netley Hospital,
on which 70 of his best workmen had up to last
week been employed.
In anticipation of the struggle in London lasting
for some time longer, a proposition is going round
the lodges of the masons' society for a levy of 6d.
per week on every member of the society, about
12,000 in number—to be paid into the fund of the
society, to make good any amount drawn from that
fund for support of the strike.

The stripe of the masons which has been going
on for some weeks at Blackburn and Worcester ter-
minated last week by the employers acceding to
the terms proposed by the men.,
The strike against the hour system of the build-
ing operatives at Liverpool is still in full progress.
Several interviews have taken place between the
employers and deputations from the men, but as yet
without any result. All the branches of the build-
ing trade in this town are on strike, with the ex-
ception of the masons, in whose branch the masters
have not introduced the hour system. In com-
pliance with the vote of a large majority of their
society, the executive council of the masons, at
Bristol, last week forwarded a gift of £l5O to the
Liverpool Strike Committee.

CRA UFURD, ni.p.. AND HIS
COASTITUENTS.

The member for the Ayr District of Burghs,
Mr. Craufurd, met with his constituents last week
in the Theatre, Ayr. The theatre was about three
parts filled, principally by non-electors, and the
hon. gentleman was accompanied to the stage by a
good many of his friends and supporters; Provost
Kennedy occupied the chair.

Mr. CRAUFURD recapitulated the principal events
which had taken place in Parliament since the last
time he had met his constituents. Speaking of the
Reform question, he said that when: he stood on
that platform before, there were none who did not
believe that a Reform Bill was not a necessity, and
that not twelve months would elapse without such
a measure being passed. But the House of Com-
mons, which was said to be so earnest to fulfil
its mission, did not perform it; but, on the con-
trary, the Conservatives and Tories managed to
take up and waste the time of the house, and
they not only put a stop to the Reform Bill, but
also to many other important measures, and, in
fact to all the important business of the session.
This was deeply to be regretted ; but he believed
that if the country at large had been earnest—
as earnest as all the Scotch burgh constitu•
encies were—to have a real and true reform in
Parliament, things would not have gone on in
that way. He believed that south of the Tweed
they-were not so earnesrarirenerketie roe reform
as they were in Scotland. Moreover, the country
got frightened and alarmed, and not without reason,
but it was scared too easily. Their old friend John
Bright, an excellent working man, always spoke
up for the working classes ; still, he was sometimes
extreme in his demands for reform. He was apt to
speak unpleasantly at unpleasant times, and some-
how or other he contrived to frighten the upper and
middle classes of England, who began to entertain
the opinion that a reform bill would produce some-
thing like a revolution. Taking all these things
together, little could be expected. There was not
now the same exciting cause to fight for as in 1832 ;
and they could not expect to excite sl much feeling
as when they were fighting the battle between
oligarchical government and popular representa-
tion. People forgot when they talked about reform
that there were in a great part of the country
people who did not want the franchise to be lowered,
as they had got it themselves. Now, as he had said
before, in Scotland every man who had the franchise
would readily lend his assistance to have his neigh-
bour enfranchised ; but he was afraid that that
friendly feeling did not exist in England ; there was
an apathy there between the middle and the lower
classes; the former forget that those who assisted
in 1832 to get. them within the pale of the constitu-
tion were entitled to their assistance now ; but the
former had got what they wanted, and as human
nature is selfish, they would not now render them
assistance. He thought that Government this year
did wisely in abstaining from- another attempt to
introduce a Reform Bill without any certainty of
success. There were other matters of great import-
ance to 'engage the attention of the house, with-
out attempting to carry through a Reform Bill,
which would only be wasting time, to the detriment
of other important business. He rejoiced at the
part the Government had taken in the marvellous
reformation and regeneration of Italy—one of the
most important events for this country which had
ever taken place, at a time, too, when the French
power was becoming so great, and at a time
when England and France were playing at a game
which was very like beggar-my-neighbour. It was
well that they should have on the other side of that
country a frve and united state sympathising with
this country, which might act as a check on the
French power in the Mediterranean. One of the
great benefits which would ensue from the revolu-
tion in Italy would be the fall of the temporal
power of the Papacy in Rome. • Mr. Craufurd then
alluded to the civil war in America, He was con-
vinced that the evil effects would ultimately remain
with the conflicting parties and their unfortunate
country; and though, in the first instance, they
could not help regretting the loss of the produce of
the country, which supplied Britain with the
largest supplies of the raw material, which gave
labour to a great portion of her people, still they
were not entirely dependent on America, as they
had already looked elsewhere for a supply, and
there was one quarter of the globe whence they had
good hopes of obtaining it.
At the conclusion of his speech the hon. gentle-'
man was sharply catechised ; but ultimately
Mr. BONE moved that a vote of thanks be given
to the Provost, and that Mr. Craufurd be dismissed
the first opportunity. (Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. GRAY moved as an amendment a vote of
thanks to the hon. gentleman for his past services.
(Cheers.)
Provost KENNEDY said that Mr. Gray had made
a motion, which was seconded ; and Mr. Bone had
made a motion, but there had been no seconder.
Mr. BONE—lt's seconded in the gallery. I'm not
going to let you slip in that way. (Laughter.)
The PROVOST—Did any person second Mr. Bone's
motion ?

A VOICE—Yes, yes ; an elector has seconded it.
The PROVOST then put Mr. Gray's motion to the
meeting, and then Mr. Bone's, when there appeared
to be a considerable majority for the latter, but the
Provost declined saying which motion was carried.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the
proceedings.—North British Nail.