New-York tribune., 1873-03-17
BRITISH TOPICS.

N
LONDON, Feb, 22,--The two topics of great
"a, interest in London ts week COATS and libels
Goals have a tragic sde the iibels rather comic
last night Mr.. Mundella moved for a commission TO
INQUIRE the price OF Goals This Is the most popular
form Of Parliamentary imbeclity. When the public are
argey plundered by combinations of capitalists some
proposes commission of inquiry into the process
oy which it has been done and by the time the commits
sion makes its report, the pockets Of the pub
ic will have been completely emptied = when
,t course the process OF plunder stops
and then people say, "What fine thing the Commission
vast" Nobody blamed, nobody Is the better and the
public indignation has been avertcd. Eighteen months
ago AZ was stated last night In the House OF Commons
roal cost half crown a to raise it; and 1t was sofa
m London for 20 shillings Now the increase VI '"o
cOers wages makes the price OF raising toh OF co"i
nearly and sixpence and the ton now sells 10 Lon
don for 90 shngs, that for the one shg tue pooi
collier GETS the coal owner gets 80 shilngs' Iou see
ve have discovered in England how 10 turn lraues
Unions 20 account After denouncing them Tor 81 years
employers have found them TO be the most prohtaoie
1eycos OF the day Some irate Unonsts ask Tor sni
ling and the capitalist charges the public 80; ana
instead Of Trades Jnionist leaders being sent TO the
treadml I have no doubt that their photographs are
hung up in honor the nuer paror Of many employers
who have grown rich beyond the dreams of avarce by
ihat excellent Unionist inventOn-a strike and mo sur
render" II capitalists have proper eye 10 business
they will always keep strike going. Cobdon sad dur
ing the cotton famine arising out OF the American war;
hat IL was cheaper for TO support the Lancashire
geavers on champagne and turtle soup, than go 10 war
with the North behalf OF the South 1t quite clear
that II would pay coal capitalists to have good
strike going every winter.
Never did the libel business flourish 80 much In En-
gland as 1t has the last fortnight Editors. novel
m actors managers, ard shoemakers, have all been In
the for the settlement Of questions of defamation
ofcharacer The picturesque trial has been that
Olger against the editor of The London Figaro
Ia avo douh hpa ard
This week be applied proceedings TO recover costs
against him (Which amount to 5000 the ground that
he verdict was against the evidence; but his appca
lion was refused The libel business is well managed In
.his country. It is possible TO defame workingman
scandalOusly, aud make him pay $500 he complains OF
t. Mr. O ger Is a shoemaker and speechmaker. His
ealns counsel was Mr. Sergeant Simon. NJ. p who con-
rived TO say nothing whatever calculated TO influence an
English Jury OF the conventional type, on his clients De-
lalf Had the jury been told that the proprietor OF Ihe
FiQqY0 was a Southern American, metamorphOsed INTO
Frenchmln under the Empire; aud that consequently
ae possessed no diploma for setting up as censor OF
Englishmen: aud that The Figaro was an lmperiaist
aud not at all English organ and that 1t judged MT
Odger by an Imperalist standard OF politics, winch mas
never been recognized in this country the verdict
would probably have been dferent for is not many
gears since turned Lord PamerstOn out Of the Pre-
mership because he attempted to manipulate English
acts Parliament to meet the views of the late Emperor
Of the French The Figaro secured for its defender Sir
briefs nor needy, took brief against working
man aud he treated Mr.. Odger, who is distinguished
among workngmen for his personal integrity with as
much contemptuOusness he did the claimant TO the
chborne estates. When Mr.. Olger very properly dis
hnguished between the political Office OF the Queen and
the Queen herself, saying she thought Her Majesty
most estimabe lady," Sir John answered in one of his
contemptuous and most impolitio sneers: "NO doubt
Her Majesty will be much obliged TO yOu,i Mr.. 4Odger
This is The way that the AtorneyGenera for the crown
cOmmends proper feeling and respectfuness TO work
iugmen. Had Mr.. Otger been gentleman IN the con-
ventiOna sense of the term. The Figaro would never
have dared to insult him In the which jury
has sanctioned.
Parliament this week has been the OF act of
conspicuous imbecty, the part of some OF its men,
bers beyond all precedent n Its faulty Mr. Phmsol,
the member for Derby published book short time
ago upon Our seaInen." II not book that any
body would think Of asking for at circulating libraries
Many books upon seamen have been published, but no
body reads them We make great boasts Of our maritime
capacity. Jack Tars very popular IN the street OF
on the stage hut nobody troubles himself as 10 how
Poor Jack" fares upon the water and therefore, Mr.
Plmsos book was never likely be read, and this he
knew very well; for he spent l,O09 ia having 1t
nicely printed and giving it away. am sure that not
20 members of Parliament would buy the book, including
those connected with the shipping interest or those 10
whom Mr. Pmso would give the book not one in 20 would
look IT, At the last election one or two shpowners
from the North obtained seats in Parliament 1t was
said OF one them when he to the House, by
member who knew many Things {" That man was in
baukrupt state some ago. but he lost seven ships,
and now he IA able to come here" Some of these sus
plcous shipowners Mr. PlmsOll attacked in his book
and against one he did not hesitate to bring the awful
charge that "his name could be heard in any coffee
or exchange In Yarmouth, Hull Scarborough, Whitby
Pickering Blyth Shields, Newcastle, and Sunderland
or in any port on the Northeast coast notorious
for excessive and habitual overlooking and reckless
uho had Inst
steamers and drowned than hundred men in less
than two years. Any about the House" knew that
the person here alluded Col Gourey of the
members for Sunderland
This dramatic and terrific accusation vas very prop
ery made matter of action the law courts by the
member supposed to be referred but the member in
question had either enemy a most extraordinary
friend in Mr. Eustsce Smith, the member for Teign-
mouth himself a shp-owner, but not Of those sup
posed TO be referred TO by Mr.. PlmsOl The member
had the amazing indscretion 20 bring the libel before
the House of Commons as breach or privilege, be-
cause Mr. PlmsOll had said that, II certain ship
owners opposed his lmotion, he would expose
them. or course 1t a breach Of privilege
10 say 80. But the act OF bringing 1t kbefore the
House was OF madness unless an instantaneous and
triumphant reutatOn of tho whole charge could be at
once made This impossible. because the forms OF
the House take cognizanoe OF personal charges
made by member against another II made out Of the
House. only itself with its dignity and
privileges. As Mr.. PmsO had appeared TO. threaten
members in they voted certain way that was an
onense against the House. possible infringement Of
che liberty of action. Accordingly, all Mr. PmsO had
20 do was apologize to the House. and promise
offend 10 like manner again, and he under
sty TO apologize the members whom he had outraged
or 10 withdraw any charge against them This is pre-
a. vv1tc pmeOl III.