New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-09
GREAT BRITAIN.

JuE sHEFDELD OUTRAGEs-TRADE UNIONS AND
THHIR FROsPECTs-PROBABiLITY OF PENAL Leg
IsIATION
yI., OY Special CoIresIo ndent
The confessions of certain members of the Trades
Unions at Sheffield, extorted by the examiners de-
pnted 20 carry on the inquiry into the working oil
those bodies in that unhappiy notorious town have
created profound sensation here. This, indeed, Is
natural enough when one considers Tor moment
what these confessions amount to- II has been
proved beyond all question that almost the foremost
man of the Unions in Sheffield 20 whom all the
funds of his own Society were ntrusted, was in the
habit of paving out of those funds for mnrderOus
attacks on men who had become obnoxious to their
Union On the one hand, this man Broadhead never
seems 70 have had any difficulty i'll finding hired
asssssins to carry ont bis atrocOus ordeTs on the
other the members Of the Union, though at present
there no direct proof of their completely in the overt
acts Broadhead having falsed his accounts III order
so raise the necessary blOOd-money without having
90 give detailed explanations clearly have allowed
Che terrorism 10 continue without any serious at
tempt to put it down. Looked at from whatever
point Of view we will this is by no means encourag-
ing i'm the year Of grace 1851 But however uninvit-
ing The prospect it has to be faced and, If possible
looked through and understood; and therefore,
a. had occasion several times during last Autumn
and Winter TO call the attention of your readers to
the exceedingly critical aspect of the labor question
here while the cloud To those whose attention had
not been specially called to IT, looked scarcely bigger
,han mans hand, / should like TO return TO the
subject with your permission, now that the heavens
are black with Clouds and the storm has burst upon
us 1t will be as much as those of who have not
lost our heads can do to prevent mischeyOus class
LEGISLATION here against all combinations OF work
people formed for the purpose OF keeping mp the rates
0f wages You not at all likely TO err IN TINS d.
Yection but unless / am much mlslnforncd, the
same questions are asking for solution in all your
great centers of industry, and in any case am sure
ihat the American people are anxious 10 know the
truth as to all social problems which are beng
worked out in the old cradle of their race.
First then, let assure you that 50 iar as these
acts of violence are concernedwe rapidly improy
ing: Sheffield is known as he place in all England
where they are still rife, and even in that town
public opinion has been steadily setting aeaint them
for many years This murder of Lnley took place
eight years since. The commission now sitting was
IN the first instance empowered TO inquire only into
Dntrages which have happened within the last ten
years. They have fonnd 10 similar ease within that
period and IN order 10 enable them 10 prosecute their
inquiry as To the next most recent not 81 nur-
der, but of manning their powers have had to be-
extended. and they now inquring into an attack
on a man named Palmer, which occurred more than
twelve years ago tistrue that during the period
there have been Eve instances Of attempts to
blow mp the houses or workshops of persons Obnox
ions 10 the Trades Unions but this class OF ont
rage is very decidedly on the decrease Daring the
last FIVE wears there have been only two eases Of All
aggravated character whereas in the previous iiro
wears there must have been eight az least
and the proportion would increase rapidly the
further the inquiry was extended backward. In
other parts Of England trade disputes have for years
lost their savage character with the exception pei
hsps, Of those in the bHck-yards near our great
cities which, With Ms, are centers Of lawicSsnesS
During the great strike last year. for instance iu The
coal and no. districts Of Northumberland ,Icrt "a-
rO Instance even 81 Intimidation. IN llr Stair1i-
shire lock uu., intimidation To sAtcn! Nas H-
iced used ,nt IcrsOnai violence wa- almost uHbeard
of while IN the very bitter contest which II stl
dragging on between the West End master ,aiois Of
London and their men, although numbers of che
latter have been summoned before the Police
Courts, the worst that has been proved against
them is, that they have peseverDgly watched
The shops Of the masters, aud have used
All means short Of absolute violence IA
prevent men and women carrying away work.
Moreover the best known Trades Societies haY"
openly and vigorously set their faces against any
thing like intimidation for some years past Indeed
they can well afford 10 do this, for their orsaniz-
iions have become exceedingly powerful, and, What
ever mry Ie said IN the journals 81 t5e npp'r a1d