The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-15 00:00:00

LONDON, IVEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1868.

On Monday afternoon a soiree was held at the
Town-hall, Birmingham, in connection with the
Working Men's Liberal Conservative Association.
A numerous party assembled, and the speeches were
of an interesting character. The chairman, Mr.
S. LLOYD, entered at some length into the nature of
the institution, and mentioned the effects it had
produced at different times and in various directions.
The last time inquiries were made into the matter
it was aseeirtained that there were more than a
hundred Liberal Conservative Associations, or those
of a similar character, in the country. This is as
well, for the very extreme doctrines that
arc promulgated by the Reform League
and other Associations do not fairly represent
the spirit of the people, and it is desirable
on many accounts that there should be some con-
centrative agency at work. It is always of conse-
quence for the working classes, who form the largest
portion of every community, that there should be a
good Government maintained, and that order
should be preserved above all other considerations.
As the Chairman very justly observed, it matters
comparatively little to the rich ; they could thrive
after a selfish fashion, and get money from any
form of Government. " Even under a despotism
like that of Prussia people could get rich fast
enough, but the working classes were always the
first to suffer in times of civil commotion,
bad Government, and slackness of trade."
This is very reassuring ; and as we all know that in
any financial or social and political disturbances the
working classes pay the heaviest penalty, surely it
behoves them to regard public affairs and important
questions in an enlightened manner, and from an
elevated point of view. It is a mistake to imagine
that if a working man takes up politics at all he
must do so in an irritated sense, and that he can
only look upon the rulers of the land in a captious
spirit, and with the intention to find fault with
everything, large and small. This by no means
follows, for there are many among the lower
classes who entertain very correct views on
those things, and form a very correct idea of the
requirements of States and the duties of legislators.
The teaching of the demagogue would have us think
that these associations or institutions are all founded
for the purpose of the working men being edified
by sornegrand display of stump oratory; but a better
spirit may prevail with advantage, and the errors
that exist among us may be pointed out, without
indulging in sweeping censure or vehement abuse.
Professional agitators do more harm than good,
and so many have abounded among us of late that
it is high time some counter-demonstration was made,
in order that those most interested should discover
who are and who are not their friends ; and also
that these critics should not have the opportunity
of declaring that they arc the spokesmen of the
community, and represent the working men in
their harangues. It is a far wiser and truer policy
to show the members of these associations how they
can rise iu the social scale, instead of for ever de-
claiming against all the wealthy, titled, or influen-
tial among us. In this speech now before us it is
said that in the ranks of the army, the navy, and
among the ministers of the Church, there arc sons
of working men, and on the bench of bishops there
are at least one or two sons of working men ; " and
all this shows that the working class, as well as the
middle class, have an interest in the maintenance
and the right administration of these institutions."
Such violent opinions have been promulgated by some
speakers atvariousmeetingsandassemblies that mo-
derate men must welcome the opportunities that pre-
sent themselves to discuss the chief subjects of the
day with calmness. The language in which some in-
dulge, talking of Fenianism as deserving to prosper,
and declaring that Ireland must employ force to
remedy her wrongs, is quite unsuitable, and yet
such violent declamation may come to be consi-
dered as the exponent of the working man's feeling
if means are not taken to set people right.
Mr. STavELY-lIILL made some remarks, which
were well received, and deservedly so, for they were
spirited and to the point, while they represented
some very true sentiments. He said if they called
themselves Liberal. Conservatives, it was because they
thought that the gentlemen who appropriated to them-
selves the name of Liberals were a good deal more
so in name than in composition. Many good men
might be found among the Liberal party, but the
combination of old Whigs and extreme Liberals
does read droll, and certainly produces incon-
sistency ; and there is a great deal of truth in the re-
mark of Mr. HILL that the Liberal party is never
united but when it opposes the Conservatives.
Many questions await the consideration of the Go-
vernment which affect the working men, such as
education and the trades'-unions, and we agree with
Mr. HILL that a great proportion of the outrages
we all deplore are due to such legislation. The
funds of no society should be put beyond the power
of the law, still less at the disposal of " fraudulent
trustees and dishonest secretaries."
Mr. BROMLEY DAVENPORT explained the Liberal
Conservatives to be those who protested against the
undue assumption of a certain class who came for-
ward to arrogate to themselves all the good quali-
ties of the earth. "If you disagree with me, you
must be very foolish. We are the only salt
of the earth, and in us you must believe or
believe in nothing." As for the Conser-
vatives being called obstructives, he very
properly denounced it as unfair, declaring that of
late especially they had done nothing to deserve
such au appellation. The Whigs and Radicals were
jealous of the late Reform Bill, and did all in their
power to cast ridicule upon it, and it does appear
inconsistent, to say the least of it, that those who
all their lives bad been advocating reform
should be so indignant and disappointed
when at last a measure was carried
which went further than any of the kind had done
before. It is certainly true, as the hon. member
remarked, that it is Mr. GLADSTONE'S fault that the
Session is clogged up with work, and that he wish,l
to force the Conservative party into an awkward
position by his recent Resolutions. Lord STANLEY'S
ittllelldll3Cllt was not fairly treated, for some
middle course must be found between appeal-
ing to " extreme bigotry and smashing down
the Irish Church with a violent blow."
Some very sound advice was given at the conclu-
sion of this address—" Preserve your own line, do
no trust too much to Prime Ministers, still less to
leaders of Opposition ; watch and judge for yourselves,
and, above all; let there be a party like that which