New-York tribune., 1874-10-22

should be taken by the Congress with reference both
10 the code of nations and to asystem OF arbitration
and the Ia tier subject came on at once for discus
sion Sir Edward Greasy read a paper on the posi-
bic extent of arbitration. Prof. Berry followed on
the same subject, and then came general debate IN
which Mr.. Motley, Sir Travers Twiss, Prof. Edward
Card and Judge Peabody took part. cannot say
that any of them added much to what has been said
before on the matter. Judge Peabody did not think
any civilized nation would dare 10 set aside the de-
cision of a court of arbitration in the face oil
public opinion, but Mr.. Freeland, with
much heat reminded him that publc opinion had
proved powerless to compel Prussia 10 exc
cute the fifth article of the Treaty OF
Prague though its violation was in Mr. Freeianfs
Judgment disgraoefu to civilization Lord Moncrleh
said that Mr. Fields code contained two PROVISIONS
which seemed to him to embrace the whole sub
stance of the talk they had heard. The first OF
these provisions was that every nation, party 10
this code. binds itself TO unite in forming JOINT
high commission and high tribunal OF arbitration
in the causes hereinafter specified and submit 10
the decision of the high trbunal IN conformity with
article 535 - and the other that If any party hereto
shall begin a war in violation OF the provisions ol
this code for the preservation Of peace, the other
parties bind themselves 10 resist the offending ma
tion by force" The real question they had to con-
gress should take any action-wbether they should
press the matter on the English Government and on
other Governments or simply express their views
and leave them 10 influence public opinion gradu-
allv In his Judgment the latter was wisest, for
he could see no mode of rendering wars impossible
except by educating the moral sentiment OF nations
And with this the subject dropped-for this week at
least-no reference being made To arbitration III the
meeting of Friday
must pass over an interesting paper read by Miss
Mary Carpenter in the other section on Industrial
Schools as well as the papers and proceedings OF
Thursday in the Education and Health Departments
In the former technical instruction was considered
and in the latter the Sewage of Towns. The
Economy and Trade Department offered the most
interesting field Of the day Here Mr.. John MathesOn,
jr. sounded once more the note of alarm which be-
gins to be heard so often in these islands, about
foreign competition. Quoting statistics az to the
dev elopment of industries M Prussia Russia, Swz-
erland and the United States. he found himself
obliged to concede more than be liked respecting
Protection-a terrible word always in Great Britain
Whether the protective policy of these countries,
which imposed import duties more or less heavy
both on textiles and the materials of their produc
ton, might or might not have usefully answered
the purpose of building of the fabric of
home industry, he could not say but
he admitted that it had reduced the exports from
Great Britain 70 those countries brisk discussion
followed into which entered at once the questions
of trades-uniOns. strikes, and coal supply. Mr..
Howell summed il up judiciOusly 10 saying he was
afraid they must not come 10 that department 10
learn political economy, for no two speakers took
the same view Of anytbng-and he straightway pro-
eeeded 10 express his Owl, which naturally differed
from all the rest.
Sir George Campbell. who presided. could not but
admit that he thought the country suffering aud tnat
something must be done In coal and iron he be-
ieved they could hold their own. but that the dan
ger in textile fabrics was very serious. Strikes, 70
far as they were a calse of decaying trade, might
be abused but they effected their immediate object
of securing better terms for the men, and he did not
see how they were to be got rid of The topic IL al
ways fertile of dispute, and the worklngnen
are represented here by several wel-known
trades-unlon leaders, Mr. George Potter and
Mr.. Lloyd Jones' well as Mr.. Howell.
Mr.. Potter declared II madness to suppose
that the wOrkingmeD, who We're more interested
than ANYBODY else in the matter. should combine TO
drive away trade from the country or from particu-
lar parts of the country TO other parts He quoted
his own set Of figures which he thought proved
that. after all Great Britain had little fear from
countries which Mr.. MathesOn had held up as rivals
in coal and iron. Belgium had exported only
f3.OO0OOO in ls7l in machinery, iron, and steel.
France exported none of these at all and her metal
ware exports were but G20O00O0. and the total for
America was less than half million, while that for
Great Britain in 1873, G25OO0OG0. he forgot 10
compare these with the figures of previous years or
to state how much other countries were now max
ing for themselves which formerly Great Britain
had made for them. Mr. Lloyd Jones went further
still saying-with much truth-that what the mer
chants of England seemed to want was the cheapest
possible production. in the hope that they might be
able to do all the labor OF the world forever. Did
they he asked, wish the whole trade of other cOun-
tries to be struck with paralysis that we might con-
tinue 10 provide for them! Was II not ridiculous
that the merchants of England should ask the
workugmen TO starve that they might get
possession of the markets of the world .
a question to which nobody seemed 10 have an an
swer ready. Mr. Howelrs remark bore on the same
point when he described Mr.. Matheson's paper as
based upon the principle that the wOrkmeD of this
country had right 70 any larger share of the pro-
duce as their labor than mere subsistence money.
This he said was the groundwork Of many similar
addresses. and vet IN Social Science Congresses and
elsewhere they turned round and told the people
that they must save for the future One OF other of
these principles must be wrong. That it was false
TO say that strikes had driven manufactures from
the country was shown by the fact that the men
were always ready TO accept arbitration. while the
employers insisted on their right to dictate the
terms they should receive.
But fear il will not do TO take Mr.. Howells word
without caution any more than Mr. Matheson's. In
the face of the history of the last few years it
require ordinary courage for man 10 stand up
and say that the men have always been ready to
accept arbitration, and employers have always in
sisted on debating terms The truth is. unhappily,
that each side in this everrecurrng dispute is look