New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-10

OF ENGLAND-THE WORKING-WOMEN ALSO
THOMAS HUGHES-WILLIAM HENRY CHAN
NING-MEETING FOR FREE CHRISTIAN UNION
-ATHANAsE COQUEREL-JOHN JAMES TAI-
LER-JAMEs MARTINEAU.
IFROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
BADEN BADEN, July 22.-The week of my ar
rival in London, / attended meeting Of CO0pera-
tive Congress- consisting Of delegates from London
and it's vicinity ROehdale Halifax, Manchester, and
other important celters of cooperative industry.
do not know but you may have already received an
account of this remarkable gathering, as several of
our friends present who are always glad Of an
opportunity to communicate the progress of social
reform to the readers of THE TRIBUNE. The meet
ing however, had some features of more than tenn
pOraTy interest and do not think it waste Of time
to recall your attention to the subject. You may
imagine my pleasure in being able to witness such
an assemblage of the working-men of England. 1t
is true the meeting represented the intelligent
class of operatives and was certainly not fair spec
men of the average type of English labor. The ap-
pearance of the audience, in general, would have
done credit to the British population Of any rank in
life. They were apparently well fed. and undoubt-
edly we'll dressed No marks of "low-thOughted
care" were visible on their brow. Their counte-
nances betrayed intelligence and reflection and in
spite Of the servty which the distinctions of English
society tend to engender, there every token of
manly self-respect They appeared to be thoroughly
conversant with the prominent questions under DIS
CUSTOM and the debates conducted with moder-
alton and courtesy, showing for the most part a
rugged good sense and an honest depth of convic-
ton, but none of the heat aud vehemence. which a
French or German assembly under similar circum-
stances would have been apt to exhibit. few zeal
Gus women were interspersed with the crowd but
am bound to say that they contributed but little to
the grace of the occasion, and appeared to be of
inferior order to the husbands and brothers whom
they accompanied. Such specimens of womanhood,
with 80 small pretensions to intelligence or good
looks could scarcely be found in an American audi
ence and indeed are rarely to be met with in En-
gland except among the very lowest ranks of its
population. The drudgery of household cares and
the want Of social exctements produce unhappy
effect on the women Of the working -casses and in
point of mental culture and development, leave them
comparatively in the hack ground.
IL Is not to be understood that the meeting was
composed exclusively Of operatives. There were
several representatives Of different class of society,"
including some distinguished foreigners Of high rank,
a number Of eminent philanthrOpists, and several
persons Of wealth and education, who are watching,
with deep interest, the modern experiment OF
combining capital and labor in just and healthy
relations. Among the last named class was Mr.
Thomas Hughes, whose admirable writings have
gained him so many warm friends in our country
and whose versatile talents have given him high pO-
htica and social distinction in his OWL He presided
over the meeting and took active part in its de-
hberations His opening address was model of
lucid statement and happy illustration 1t was de-
Hvered with the simplicity and earnestness which
are better than eOquence and more than supply its
place. His frank aud cordial tones, with the fine
expression Of his manly features, gave force
10 his words and held the audience in Tapt attention
His discourse was free from all endeavor after rbe-
toica effect. and indeed. for considerable portion.