The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-15 00:00:00

district ; but the mischiefs occasioned, and which
left their deep traces behind, opened the people's

eyes to their error, and the consequence has been

;he establishment in that district within the last

;hree weeks of a shed with 700 looms upon the co-

operative plan. It is important to observe that,
with another subject anxiously dwelt upon as well

as Strikes, at all our former meetings, the great
cause of temperance has been intimately and most
naturally connected. Not only are such of the con-
tributors as had before been subject to intemper-
ance weaned from their habits, but it is mainly
to temperate habits that the formation of
these unions may be traced. Exceptions there
may, no doubt, be ; but, as a rule, co-operative
societies are composed of sober and indus-
trious men. It is equally consolatory to find that
the improvement of health, the extirpation or miti-
gation of disease, everywhere keeps pace with the
increased habits of temperance. But in no respect
is it more gratifying than to observe the connexion
of temperance with the diminution of crime. In
France, it appears, from our colleague Mr. Quete-
let's statement, that no less than a fifth of all the
murders, during the last four years, had their origin
in tavern brawls. In six English counties having
the fewest publichouses we find that, where they
were as 1 to 109 of the population, the offences are
as 1 to 591 ; but where the publichouses are as only

Ito 235, the offences are as Ito 762. In Ireland
the connection of intemperance with crime is even
more marked. Between the years 1838 and 1841
the consumption of whisky had fallen off about one
half, and we find in the latter year judges congra-
tulating the counties on the small number of pri-
soners to be tried, and ascribing this happy change
to the growth of temperance. So, in 1839, there
were in Richmond Bridewell 3,202 prisoners, in
1841 only 1,604. It is remarkable, though certainly
not surprising, that the prudence which leads to
economy kept pace with the prudence of sobriety.
In the former year the Dublin Savings-bank had
7,264 contributors; in the latter 9,585. Source of
disease, of poverty, of crime, how long shall that
heavy curse be suffered to afflict us ? How long
shall we submit to a conqueror more cruel than the
armed invader—to a tyrant the most inexorable of
all, which has subdued rational men, and avenged
the world of unreasoning creatures for the wrongs
received at his hands ?

" Savior armig
"Luxuria incubuit ; victumque ulciscitur orbem."

The little we have done to shake his dominions has
only been enough to let us know and feel how gall-
ing is the yoke, and how much the fault is ours who
bear it. The people have but to will it and they at
once are free. All honour to Father Mathew in Ire-
land, and to the grand Alliance in England, its
learned secretary, and his able coadjutors ! Nor
can I duly perform my office at the head of this
association if I do not enjoin it as a duty incum-
bent on all its members and on every well-wisher
to the progress of social science to patronise Mr.
Steele's most ably conducted quarterly journal of
all its branches. But why should I refer to other
branches than this great and fundamental one of
temperance ? Recollect the memorable words of
our learned colleague, that great philanthropist, the
Recorder Hill, who, in all his various efforts to
serve the people, providing for their comforts, and
reclaiming them from vice, declares—" Into what
path soever I strike, in whatever direction I go, the
drink Demon starts up before my face and stops the
way." I have said that the community have but
to will it, and their chains fall off. The progress of
the grand Alliance since our last Congress has been
my encouragement to say so. The permissive Bill,
allowing every district, by a majority in number
and value of rated inhabitants to prevent the open-
ing of new publichouses or to continue licences for
old, has, on a careful canvass of many great towns
—Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Plymouth,
Leeds, Sheffield—been accepted by very great ma-
jorities of the inhabitants, and by the greater num-
ber of the voters. Let us hope that the opinion
generally improved upon the most important ques-
tion of social science which can occupy the country,
may prepare the way for legislation, which, to be
efficacious, must be cautiously introduced, and un-
der appropriate guards. Onr attention was engaged
at the last congress to the employment of women,
and papers were read by Miss B. Parkes and others
upon this important subject. There has been no re-
laxation on the part of these ladies since that time,
and the printing establishment opened by Miss
Faithfull has gone on with increasing success. The
volume of transactions for last year was printed at
the Victoria Press, and Miss Faithfull is now en-
gaged in publishing a volume, under her Majesty's
sanction, containing original contributions from the
leading writers of the day. Besides these exertions,
Miss Parkes originated a scheme for encouraging
the emigration of educated women who cannot find
employment in this country. But for the inferior
cast of women the exertions now making to re-
claim the fallen and prevent the fall of others
are above all praise. The loss of Lord Herbert's
strenuous assistance is in this, as in other parts of
his most useful services, deeply to be deplored. Who
can move along the less frequented streets of London
and not have his heart wrung by such accents, too
often coming from female lips, " I have not had a
morsel of food this day ?" An important plan has
been devised by my friend Mr. Layard, with the as-
sistance of Mr. Jerrold and others, towards encou-
raging the humbler classes in acquiring books, it
being always found that the step which a poor man
makes to being the possessor of a little library, has
a most salutary influence upon his habits. This gave
rise to Book Unions, and though a bill to facilitate
these, and supported by part of the Government,
was afterwards thrown out by other members of the
Government, upon a groundless alarm that it tended
to encourage gambling, because the books were to
be raffled for, there is reason to hope that it may be
more successful another year; and its promoters are,
in the meantime, actively engaged in the support of
these unions, of which there are many in the ma-
nufacturing towns. They aro enabled to carry on
their business by receiving a pound in yearly sums
or weekly payments, giving at once a book of about
half the price, and allowing contributors to have the
chance of five pounds' worth of books at the end of
the year in a raffle. The subjects already broached
in the summary given are of a general description,
embracing the interests of the whole community—
jurisprudence, education, health, reformation of
criminals, temperance, female employment. A head
hardly less general occupied our attention at the
Bradford congress, and it is of great importance,
because , it refers to a benefit conferred upon the
better portion of the working classes, direct and
immediate, while other benefits are obtained indi-
rectly and gradually. I refer to the truly wise and
benevolent plan of early closing daily, and allowing
a Saturday half holiday. In this plan the em-
ployer must join with the dealers, and it has hap-
pily been greatly extended during the last two
years. The addition of lectures to the libraries
of some great establishments has been made ;
and the health of the men and boys has been
materially improved by employing part of the
time allowed in alternate cricket matches and drills.
Leeds and other provincial towns have joined in
the movement, and it is only to be lamented that
certain branches of trade everywhere stand aloof.
The happy effects which have attended these mea-
sures are so universally allowed that we may in-
dulge the hope of the exceptions gradually disap-
pearing. At our last congress the important step
was taken of adding a sixth department, viz., for
international subjects. This was the suggestion of
the distinguished foreigners who attended at Glas-
gow, the chief of whom were M. Gamier Pages, of
the Provisional Government, 1848, and M. Desma-
rest, of the French Bar. The same suggestion was
likewise pressed upon us by Professor Kharkt-
chowski, of Kherson, in Russia, who had intended
to be present, but was prevented by his professional
duties. 'He however sent a most instructive letter.
But we had been anticipated by the happy plan of
the Prince Consort for an international statistical
congress, which had held its meeting in London a
few weeks before ours, and had been attended with
complete success. His Royal Highness's able,
learned, and comprehensive address in opening it
deserves to be read with great attention, and is de-
serving of all praise. At Glasgow the subjects of
general international averages and other kindred
matters were discussed in a meeting attended by

delegates from many parts of the continent ; and we
have the confident expectation of others being pre-

sent here. The new department is under the presi-
dency of no less eminent a political economist than
M. Michael Chevalier, who also attended our Brad-
ford congress two years ago. This department de-

rives a peculiar interest at the present time from
the negotiations of Mr. Cobden and the measures

of Mr.—Gladstone ; but it commands at all times
our great respect, from its direct tendency to
maintain good relations between different coun-
tries, and to promote the sacred cause of blessed
peace. At the two last congresses we had the
satisfaction of observing that Social Science
was making considerable progress in other coun-
tries. This, indeed, was testified by the attendance
of important persons from thence at our meetings ;
but it was peculiarly gratifying to see the adoption
of enlightened and liberal views by Governments
which we should little have expected to find pur-

suing this course. The last year affords further
evidence of their happy improvements, and in quar-
ters we should least of all look for traces of it. The
decease of the Sultan has brought upon the Ottoman
throne a prince who begins his reign as a reformer
both in his own practice and in the scheme of
his administration—nay, even in the system which
he is resolved to introduce. The dismissal of his
predecessor's harem of scores of wives and hundreds
of mistresses—the proclaiming his intention of
being the husband of a single wife, and the avowed
adoption of European principles to govern his policy
and even to amend his laws, shows plainly the pro-
gress which the manners and the usages of civilised
nations and of modern times have made in the realms
of a barbaric Power. Let it be further noted that
a Social Science Committee has been established at
Constantinople, and many lectures have been de-
livered, among others very interesting discourses by
Mr. A. Fry. In Russia the fixed determination of
the Emperor to complete the great measure of serf
emancipation met with powerful opposition, and
even disturbed partially the peace of the country ;
but the chief mischief has arisen less from the
obstinacy of the landowners than from the ignorance
of the serfs, to inform whom upon the exact amount
of the change in their condition sufficient pains had
not been taken ; and there is every reason to hope
that the vast measure of bestowing independence
upon the bulk of the community, the labouring
classes, will be effected with little further obstruc-
tion. It must be confessed that, even if we lament
some error in the mode of proceeding, the Emperor
is entitled to the warmest sympathy in his great
work, and to the highest admiration for the wisdom
and the virtue of his conduct. If to such a Sove-
reign his own people may well be grateful, let us
hope that his Polish dominions are destined to owe
him equal thanks. It would be an act of magnani-
mity " beyond all Greek, all Roman fame," were
he to re-establish a kingdom of Poland, with its ad-
mirable Constitution of 1793, under a prince of his
own house. Even should he deem such constitu-
tional principles dangerous, because so much at
variance with those of his own empire, and should
give the kingdom a more absolute government than
that of 1793, it may safely be predicted he would
find in the grateful Poles the most trustworthy and
devoted of all the nations under his widely-extended
rule. The interest which, in common with all the
friends of national independence, I take in the
fortunes of the Poles is not of yesterday. Forty-
eight years ago, in common with my esteemed and
now lamented friend the chief of the Polish patriots
and counsellors, Prince Czartoryski, the man who
made far greater sacrifices to his principles than
any who ever lived,—in common with him, and
urged with him, I addressed, through the press
(being then out of Parliament) to my fellow coun-
trymen, and to the allied Sovereigns, " The Appeal
of Poland," which cannot be said to have had no
effect, though far less than was desired, for it
brought the subject of her wrongs so much into dis-
cussion, especially in England, that it occupied in
no small degree the attention of the Powers at the
Congress of Vienna. If, from contemplating the
very probable, though not immediate, prospect of
Russian freedom, we turn to the Austrian empire,
we have less reason to be surprised at the constitu-
tional course taken, because the elements of a con-
stitutional government have existed there in all
times. They possess that especially which else-
where is wanting, even in France since 1790, and
which is absolutely necessary to the permanent
existence of a free Government, an aristocratic
body independent of the Sovereign and of the mul-
titude,—a class of wealthy landowners, not like the
Prussian proprietors, needy and looking to place and
patronage. The agricultural class is also respec-
table an deserving. With elements of a really
good Government, progress was making towards
it, until the Emperor Francis checked it,
perverting the traditions of the monarchy,
centralizing all authority, and taking every-
thing into his own hands. At present the
plan is pursued of leaving their internal con-
cerns to the Provincial Diets, but ruling the Mon-
archy from the capital, through the representatives
of the Diets in the Reichsrath. In Hungary the
ancient Constitution as it existed before 1848 is
restored, and the establishment of that which was
formed in a season of civil war is alone refused. It
is most earnestly to be desired, for the sake of the
general peace, so intimately connected with the in-
tegrity of the Austrian empire, that the discontent
of Hungary may not be fermented by foreign in-
trigue and foreign agitators ; for as yet the power
of Austria has really not been materially impaired
by her losses in Italy. But the Sovereign, yielding
all that he can, must continue to be, as he always
was, entitled when opening the Diet as King of
Hungary, " His Sacred Majesty the Hereditary
Emperor of Austria." The condition of Italy has
in one practical respect been greatly improved by
the general acknowledgment of the new kingdom ;
but the internal state of the southern portion is still
most unsatisfactory, affording daily proofs of what
all experience has proved in other countries, that
there is no possibility, unless by main force, of esta-
blishing a Government for which the people are
not prepared. The execrable tyranny of the Boar-
bon princes had reduced their subjects to a condition
that rendered them incapable of being governed
except by constant recourse to violent measures ;
and those princes have, even in their exile, dons all
in their power to keep the people in a state of law-
less anarchy, which may almost make them regret
the loss of the worst of tyrants. In all other parts
of the Italian kingdom great and solid progress has
been made in popular improvement, and the bless-
ings of a free constitution are already felt in its
influence upon the instructions, and generally in the
circumstances of the community. That kingdom is
now left free from all foreign interference to manage
its own affairs. The original action of Pied-
mont and her ally to obtain her extension can
never be too severely reprobated, although we
are entitled to rejoice in the result. The maxim,
feri non debuit, factuni valet," may here be
applied; and assuredly, if the French and Sar-
dinian arms only interposed in helping the
Italians, both in the north and elsewhere, to strike
off a foreign yoke, and unite themselves with
Piedmont, the interference is of a far less objec-
tionable kind than a mere ordinary aggression and
conquest. But certainly the Government of a coun-
try, however bad, gives its neighbours not the very
least right of interference ; and to attack and seize
the territory, under the pretpxt that it is ill-governed,
is to repeat the most atrocious crime ever committed
in modern times, and by civilised States—the par-
tition of Poland. Take even the condition of Rome,
under a priest, chosen by other priests, and so go-
verned as justly to merit the reprobation of its own
people, and the sympathy of all others; this affords
not the shadow of an excuse for any foreign State
to seize upon the Roman territory, any more than
the Polish Government, the very worst in Europe
—an elective monarchy, the choice in the hands of
a mob, afforded for its partition. If, however, the
Poles had risen against their rulers, and called in
the neighbouring Powers to assist them, the case
would have been very different as regards Poland,
and even if after the partition these Powers had
given it a good Government of its own, their con-
duct would have escaped the universal reprobation
which has attended it. And so, if the Romans
themselves choose a good Government, even with
the help of foreign Powers, and give their territory
up to tnose Powers, they will themselves be great
gainers, and their foreign allies be blameless. In no
other event can we expect social improvement to
make any progress in Rome, as it is steadily doing
in the northern and central parts of the Italian king-
dom. France has not only persisted in the same course
upon which she had entered before our late congress,
with regard to commercial policy, but has carried the
principles there adopted further in treaties with Bel-
gium, Holland, and Turkey. In Belgium the most
entire support is always given to sound views of agri-
culture and trade. There is a still further step made
in France by the Imperial policy, and in a direction
little expected when we last met. An important re-
laxation has been given to the restraints imposed upon
political discussion. An absolute freedom in this re-
spect is allowed to both Chambers of Legislature and
to publishing the reports of their debates through the
press. There really is no difference whatever in this
particular between the French Parliament and our
own. All political topics are fully and freely dis-
cussed, so that the country receives, and receives
immediately, whatever impression the Ministers, or
the 0
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ever, is still under the most absolute control of the
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upon any proceeding of the Government, or indeed