New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-24

| LONDON July o.-Ihe Government have made An
important concession to the Trades Unions in so far
supporting Mr. Hughess bill as to secure it second
reading That does not commit them to the details.
but does commit them to the principle OF the
measure The main object of the bill was TO reueal
the laws against combination, and to protect the
funds OF the Trades Unions by giving them the same
standing as friendly societies Mr.. Hughes declared
his purpose to be to relieve the Trades Unions from
ali legal sgmas, to secure them against fraud and
to open the widest door for cooperation and comb.
nation, while closing t absolutely TO coercion. The
Government rendered its support through Mr.. Fors-
ter whose declaration was all the more significant
because he is not only member of the Government
but an employer of labor. Speaking for the Minis
try Mr. Forster said that they proposed 10 support
the second reading in order to affirm two principles
LIST. That there was nothing in Trades Unions that
should deprive their members of protection against
| robbery and I'd. That the laws respecting comb
nation as they at present stand should be repealed
That done. the Government would consider how far
1t was necessary to egislate to prevent coercion.
The extent of Mr.. Hughes's success is TO be meas.
ured by the opposition and disbursement he has
had TO resist But for his determination to press the
second reading, nothing could have been done The
ordinary course with measure that cannot be
passed. and which the Government langudly APP
proves to allow it to be debated only and per.
suade the author of the bill to introduce his motonon
half pledge that something shall be done at some
time in the indefinite future. The Ballot showed
aside in that way early in the session. But Mr..
Hughes was resolved to have either division the
actual support of the Government which would make
division unnecessary and be got tbelatter, much to
the surprise of men who had been for some time de-
claring that it was impossible the House should
sent TO the second reading of measure satisfactory
to such an ayOWed champion of the wOrkingmen as
Mr.. Hughes.
The renewed effort for prosecution Of the direc-
tors of Overend, Quincy & Co., is good example OF
the state Of the English lawlaw which eminent
English persons take pleasure in describing as the per-
lection of human wisdom. American readers used to
various codes which, though imperfect. not abso-
lutely mbecile in their provisions for the bringing
of criminals TO trial. cannot without effort under
stand the difficulty in this case That the Gurneys
were once wealthy and respectable is not the DIM
Guilty or not just the specific obstacle which hin
ders their being tried That this oense is one which
mercantile men view leniently. and do not care 20
see dealt with by the law is not the difficulty That
they still have powerful friends is not the difficulty
The real dfcultys the absurd theory of the English
law that where individuals wronged their sense
of wrong will always be strong enough to induce
them to proceed legally against the offenders and
that public prosecutor IS not needed. Not stopping
to comment on this theory let what has lately
| happened in the Quincy case.
| II is some three years since the crash. One OF
| the victims DR.. Adam Thorn, found himself unable
to go quietly through the rest of bis life, pocket
ing his loss and accepting final the failure OF for
mer proceedings against the men who had robbedhim.
He procured the arrest of the Directors on charge
of fraud. They were examined before the Lord
| Mayor who had original jurisdiction and were held
! for trial At the same time DR. Thorn was bound IN
the snm of $4,000 TO prosecute The State treats the
whole affair kind of private quarrel between the
Gurneys on one side, and DR.. Thorn on the other.
The public is supposed TO have no interest In It, The
law provides tribunal where the dispute may be
tried-if the judges have time before their shooting
! begns--but that is all. A crime has been commit
| ted but society knows distinction between tho
criminal and the victim. In fact it makes itself the
| arbitrator between them; treats them both alike,
and imposes equally fine one if he do not prose-
cute and fine on the others If they do not appear TO
defend. The officer known in America as district
attorney paid by the State to do the work OF pro-
tectng the State by legally prosecuting the
criminal is unknown in England. The Queen
is party of record to the prosecution, but
she has no counsel The prosecutor must
furnish counsel and incur originally all the expenses
of prosecution 1t would be difficult to conceive OF
public trial in America breaking down for want Of
funds to 20 on The State pays its attorney he may
emnlov other counsel If necessary; he prepares the
case tries it, and puts the injured party on the stand
as Witness but he is not the attorney for the injured
marty does not take his instructions from him, and
would commit gross breach of trust if he did. 30
honest officer would withdraw public prosecution,
for instance merely because the individual wrongsd
had received reparatiOn. 1t is done sometimes, but
when done, is justified on the ground that the pub
| lie interest does not demand conviction.
But here is Dr. Thorn, held to prosecute obliged to
| IA pet nm his Va
employ counsel fined if he does not. The case Is to
he tried before the Queens Bench Court Of highest
jurisdiction. Dr. Thorn. himself Canadian barris-
ter proposed to appear in person, being unable or
unwilling to incur the enormous expense OF employ
| ing counsel. The Court refused TO allow him.
| Then he applied to the Government to assume
the prosecution TO become responsible for the ex-
penses which his attorneys agreed should not exceed
| $4,000 The Government, by the Home Secretary,
refused Again applied to, they again refused, and
on the matter coming before Parliament, Mr.. Glad
| stone himself justified the refusal. He aud Mr.
Bruce both admitted they had the power and that il
was sometimes exercised. but nothing in this
case TO take 1t out of the general rule. An outsider
might see good dea-might see, for instance, social
influences at work TO protect criminals where crime
has not yet cost them their high place In society.
1t seemed likely that the joint refusal Of the Court
to allow Dr. Thorn to prosecute in person. and OF the
Government to pay for counsel would end In the abb
solute breakdown of the trial. The result OF thaL
again, being the forfeiture of his recognizances W
| Dr. Thorn, so that his efforts to bring 10 HIA S
| men who had defrauded him of great sum- "ouiu
| have ended in defraudng HIM of afurther sum Oh
o. 900 tho Government making itself the accomplish
| 90 tb criminals That great scandal has been
| o,ortad 7 don't unite know how. IL Is understood
,ht frpds are 10 be forthcoming for paying counsel
Tha General appeared at the opening OF the