The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 29, 1868.

ever views they take, they will be consistent
in carrying them out to the best of their
ability. A vacillating or wavering course can never
answer in the foreign affairs of this country, and no
better proof of the value of decision could be given
than the Luxemburg question, which was so speedily
and satisfactorily settled, to the great admiration
and surprise of all.

Mr. MOWBRAY next referred to the Reform mea-
sure of last session, and the good fortune which
had attended the present Government in arriving
at a solution of the problem which had puzzled so
many, and which Lord RUSSELL, with all his ex-
perience, Lord ABERDEEN, with all the talents in his
Cabinet, and Lord PALMERSTON, with all his power,
had alike failed to accomplish. The Judge-Advocate-
General was very fair in his observations, for he
admitted that they mainly owed the result to the
patriotism of the House of Commons, and the ab-
seuce of party spirit which the majority of that
assembly had displayed. They, however, owed it
also, as he well remarked, to the way in which
6' that house of Commons was led, by the remark-
able sagacity, by the admirable tact, the unfailing
temper of the Chancellor of the Exchequer." Mr.
MOWBRAY concluded his interesting remarks by
touching upon the question of Ireland, and
regarding the Church question he said, that
this session would not see its settlement be-
cause of the appointment of the Commission
to inquire into it.

The land question might perchance be dealt with
if they could make out what was really wished for
in respect to it. This address is one worthy of
notice, since it enters fully and fairly into the chief
points of the present day, and treats upon them
in a candid and straightforward spirit. The
more things are regarded in this light the better
for all concerned, both for the constituencies and
the members, since nothing can be gained by a
false impression being conveyed, and things made
to appear as they are not.

The present condition of trade and employment
at the East End of London is becoming one of the
most serious questions of the day. With general
depression everywhere, with the prices of the neces-
saries of life exceptionally high, and trade of all
kinds dull, there exists no doubt in many parts of
the country, and more especially in the metropolis,
a large and exceptional amount of distress. In the
East End, however, the destitution which always
prevails more or lees has reached a terrible height.
The chronic disease has assumed an acute form, and
absolute starvation not only threatens the pauper
classes, but snatches its victims every week. So pain-
ful a state of things has naturally called forth a ready
response from the public, and so prompt and liberal
have been the contributions that some fears have been
expressed that the people may become permanently
pauperised. The troubles of the future, however,
arc not the most pressing consideration. It is the
perplexity of the present which is engaging the
attention of good and thoughtful men. The first
question in the mind of the really benevolent, on
hearing of such widespread distress, is naturally
what employment can be provided, and what is
the' condition of the principal trade of the
district. The answer to the first part of
this inquiry is being earnestly sought for, and
has in part been found by a committee in Bethnal-
green, who, under the charitable auspices of Miss
BURDETT COUTTS, have organised an extensive
system of road clearing and similar work for des-
titute labourers out of employ. There are thou-
sands whose work, always precarious, depends
chiefly on the weather, and to whom wet and frost
are deadly enemies. There are are others who
whaavyesbeceeunritiaeffs,ecatendd btyhethoeondseelpirtersns
tedintsetarrteupotif•onraioli
work that may be
i nh 'la
nu sdtsii o
tuos
oweaiollingthaonrkfauollyy
othertur
turn
many new wozks. All such labourers, if honest
raloaedn,
athutdir
provided, well content
to earn eighteenpence a day to
the door, and glad to get in such
hard times nine
shillings a week instead of their usual eighteen.
But the class above them can appreciate no such
logic, and a meeting of considerable importance,
held the other day at Limehouse,
ouse, shows clearly how
great are the difficulties of the case. We
have said
that those who wish to assist such
wholesale distress
among a dense population would naturally ask,
" What is the condition of the • • principal trade of
the district ?" Every one knows the answer
to this in Poplar, Mill 11 wa , and the Isle
of Dogs. Shipbuilding is the
ing employment, and shipbuilding
in the Thames
yards is in an unprecedented state of depression.
Yet
Yet on the Clyde, at this moment,
the amount of
shipbuilding is half as much again
as it was at this
time last year ; and in the yards on the Tyne and
the Wear there is no stagnation • like
that experi-
enced at Cubitt-town, Milwall, and
Poplar. The
meeting, held last Saturday in B dur ett-hall, Lime-
houre, was summoned to consider the present posi-
tion of the trade, -and to such adopt measures as
may lead to renewed employment. Masters and
men were alike strongly represented, the hall was
thronged, and many who could not obtain admission
stood in the entry. Some 1,500 or ' 1:
ss -mg men were
present, and the proceedings were listened to with
the deepest interest. The men were freely invited
to express their opinions; and many of then did
so, but little definite was accomplished. A com-
mittee of workmen was, however, appointed to con-
fer with the masters, so that we may hope some
mutual understanding may be arrived at. The
plain facts of the matter are that the trade 'is • going
from the Thames yards to those in Scotland and the
north of England. The men say this is the fault of
the masters ; the masters say that it is the fault of
the men. The men complain of a system of sub-
contracts, by which a few men get all the profit
which should be divided among the many, and the
workmen cannot come into direct communication
with the large employers, but only with the mid-
dlemen. Thus on one speaker asking " Why did
not the men meet the masters?" a voice in the
body of the ball answered, "It is the foreman who
would meet us." This has no doubt something to do
with the mischief, as it places a barrier between
employer and employed which interested persons
are ready to make the most of. Prejudices and
misunderstandings which might easily be disposed
of by a frank and straightforward explanation
grow from molehills into mountains for want of
it, and the men and the masters grow to look
upon each other as natural enemies and anta-
gonists, instead of as partners in trade,
who must rise or fall together. The case of the
masters is, however, still stronger than that of the
men, and it is clear that it has more to do with the
prevailing distress. Trade is bad, money scarce,
speculation inactive. Every one admits these facts,
but the workmen in the Thames yards will only
work at the same rate as in times of prosperity and
plenty. The natural consequence is that orders go
elsewhere, and if work done in the Isle of Dogs for
Gs. Gd. can be done in other places for 4s. Gd., it
is no great wonder that while the Thames yards ale
all but empty the tonnage of iron shipbuilding
now on the Clyde is 115,000 tons, against 80,000 of
last year. No more elaborate explanation need be
sought for than the difference of price. Men will
not pay dear when they can get the same thing