The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-27
Two Kinds OF Reform.

From the Times.
II need not in the least detract from the favor
able estimate which we have formed OF Mr.
Brghts energy as an agitator, if we devote
word or two to truth which the London Re
ioIm Trades meeting OF December J seems TO
make apparent. The meeting was proiessediy
one of the organized trade societies of the metro
polls, and was projected in accordance with Mr..
Bripbt's idea that all the po Wer which artisans
are able to use for industrial purposes should
be used for political purposes as WELL Fully
expecting that the various trade societies would
take the same view of the matter be predicted
procession of two hundred thousand per-
sons, and a day of great enthusiasm. Neither
the one expectation nor the other was fulfilled.
The procession appears to have numbered about
twenty-five thousand, and beyond the fact that
there was great crowd OF lockers on, the ex-
Citement was of a very mild description. This
result was due, TO some extent, to minor causes,
but the conclusion cannot be avoided that the
heart of the laboring classes was not very
strongly moved on the question OF reform.
We have repeatedly pointed out that the
apatl y OF these classes on political subjects is
gieater than some would have it appear. The
difficulties under which they live are uncon-
nected with the suffrage, as they know very
well. Every EuPlish mechanic of any intell-
gence knows that full work and high wages are
not TO be controlled by any legislation what
ever. The working classes of England are,
without doubt, always studying the relations of
capital and latOr for those relations are what
control their condition, and enter into every
circumstance of their ha1d-working lives. But
with these things changes in the representation
have nothing to do. In fact the course Of Br-
tsh legislation having been toward the fostering
ol British trade, and successfully so, the masses
are generally disposed to content themselves
with political affairs as they are. In fact the
British workman is not in the main, discon-
tented with hls rulers, for he knows that we're
he TO take their place, he could not remove
evils that are inevitable. As for sensation
writer's, who abuse everybody who does not
believe in them, and who affirm that England
"groans' under its aristocratic system, they
may be dismissed with the statement of fact
well understood by wellin niormed persons
Englishmen are not weary of their aristocracy,
but, on the contrary, look to that aristocracy
with great respect, and recognize its general
influence in preserving the status of the nation
among other nations with much qualification.
The preservation of the "ancieut honor of the
family is, as most even OF the poorest classes
understand it, sort OF sacred obligation with
the majority of the titled gentlemen, whose
names are reminders of many old historic epochs
-epochs not less interesting to ourselves than
to other peoples; nay, epochs in which our own
ancestry bore an honorable part, and in this
sense ale guarantee of The staOilty and the
respccta blity of the nation ITSELF
The political movements, in short, which from
time to time are rife in England, are not to be
judged by an American standard. In that
country much that with us is constant subject
OF debate, is settled and accepted. The course
OF parties does not run there as does the course
OF parties with ourselves. There the masses un-
derstaud, and are proud TO understand, that the
general forms of government are fixed, and,
humanity speaking, mmutable, and that there
are limits even to political vagalies We, who
are forever patching, or seeking to patch, the
holes which we ourselves have made in the
structure, which we have reared with so much
labor, and love so WELL cannot understand that
another nation will stand firm around social
edfce formed upon a different model But the
truth is the truth nevertheless. The difficulties
nowise concerned in these matters, and the
trade societies which did not parade at Mr..
Brights bidding knew it. The problem which
they have to solve is a different one from that
which he has undertaken TO solve. They intend
TO combine not for the election of members OF
Parliament, but for the establishment Of indus.
trial enterprises of their own. They are more
bent upon realizing that labor is capital than
upon the possession of "a franchise which would
be of comparatively little use to them. They
turned out to see the show of December the 81
as people will turn out to see any show. But
when all was over they returned home with
mingled feelings Prominent was, of course,
that of respect for Mr.. Bright, who is respected
even by his enemies but as prominent was the
other feeling, that votes were very well, but
victuals were better, and that the elevation of
the British workngman must depend upon the
union of industry and skill, to be Cuided by his
own brains, and to enure TO his own benefit