New-York tribune., 1874-10-27
SOCIAL SCIENCE ABROAD.
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL ON ECONOMY AND
TRADE. -.

NENT LABOR MARKETS FOR THE wORLD-INTER-
| EST OF wORKMEN IN THE PRODUCTS OF THEIR
| LABoR-A FORM OF HOME RULE ADVOCATED
| lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE !
GLASGOW. Oct 7.-At the risk of doing injustice to
many able and Jealous members of the Congress,
must say that the chief interest of its sessions thus
far has lain with few exceptions in the addresses OF
it's President and of its Presidents Of Departments
| This rule holds good of yesterday also, when oir
| George Campbell delivered his address on Economy
| and Trade. SO well-known is Sir George Campoen'
and so high is his reputation for courage and
aty in his views on economical subjects that 1t Is
| surprising he had no larger audience to hear nm
| Queens Rooms were not more than han 1uil AhiS
is the last of the great addresses too uhiess soo
thing unexpected occurs at the concluding "ee'ins
to-day. No doubt the weather is, to some extent.
responsible for the falling off In attendance-to say
nothing of the sense Of repletion which begins to
overcome the stoutest mental digestion after four
or five DAYS of steady listening to papers and dis
cussions on sociology. The discussions do not
seem to me to have shed much light on the matters
in question They have been little desutory and
sterile and the real work of the Congress- as usual
must be sought In its papers prepared beforehand
The subjects are not such to gain from rhetoric or
loose conversation.
At the very outset of his address, Sir George Camp
bell brought forward notion which. in one part OF
America at least, is likely to be l-receiveds Look
ing in a broad way-as man who has passed
great part of his life out of England is apt to do-at
the social questions here waiting to be answered.
Sir George asked to bear in mind that the coun-
tries of Western Europe are not the only nor the
chief labor markets of the world. Southern and
Eastern Asia will in the long and perhaps very
soon have to be taken into account In those coun-
tries exists population infinitely more numerous,
and wages there are out of all comparison cheaper.
As between Europe and America influences now and
for good while past at work tend to diffuse popu-
lation and equal1ze wages. The same influences
may soon have similar effect as between Asia and
the countries where labor is dear-they have IN TACT
already begun. Sir George Campbell knows the MS
tory of Chinese emigration to California, and 1t
strikes me that he has much moro respect for
Chinese cheap labor than Bill Nye and other Califor-
mans have been IN the habit of expressing. 1t has
become evident he remarks that the Chinese are no
mean competitors They have physique very little
inferior to Europeans and they have an industry and
perseverance superior TO many Europeans. Circum-
stances political and social. have been against them
hitherto Butt almost takes ones breath away
Sir George has often been inclined to think that If
the gates of China were fairly opened, it would be
question whether the New Worlds are to belong to
the Americans or to the Chinese. He indicates but
one difficulty in the way Of Chinese success as colo
nists-ther reluctance to take their women abroad
which he lightly calls social prejudice, and believes
it may be overcome-nay, sees symptoms OF IL
already and therefore does not see what is to pre-
vent the Chinese from multiplying and replenshing
the earth Let us hope at any rate, that no report
of Sir Georges address may reach them.
Coming nearer home Sir George Campbell betrays
the same heroic indifference to preudices the same
willingness to see experiments tried thoroughly
the same remarkabe-it is remarkable-capacty to
see that other than European races have rights and
ought to have opportunities He looks at the efforts
of India from anything but Manchester point of
view indeed the feelings of Manchester toward Sir
George Campbell must be akin to those of Califor-
na There is no concealing the fact, says he. that
the natives of India inferior though they be in force
and energy are Just as well fitted EDghshmen for
the kinds of work connected with machines. lie
has been told by those who have practical expert
ence of the great mills recently established in India
that the natives do the manual labor just well
Dundee or Manchester hands. They have distinct
aptitude for this kind of thing He warns English
manufacturers that they must face the music; that
they have got to consider the probable effect of the
spread of manufacturing industry in India that the
jute mills in and about Calcutta having been found
to pay extremely well, are rapidly increasing in
number; cotton mills ALSO there and elsewhere.
These facts lead him to consider the queston-one
of those not down for discussion in this section
what are the best means of drawing together the in
terests of the United Kingdom, India, and the Colo
MES This is mainly British question: and shall
not follow Sir George in it except to note his opinion
that Canada, under present arrangements, is q bur-
den and risk to the Empire, and the additional
fact on which he dwells that India has enormous
quantities of excellent iron ore and fairly good coal
hard by-something for Glasgow and Barrow-in-
Furness to think Of
Outspoken as this is, there are more startling
things to come, Sir George approaches more gen.
eral questions, and considers the possibility of
greater happiness resulting from better dstribu-
ton of wealth. governing plutocracy, as a sub
stitute for aristocratic rule (which has in great
degree ceased,"is not to his mind. But he seems
rather for educating people of the lower classes to
save, than for calling on the rich to divide. The
greatest question of modern days s in his Judgment
how to give the wOrkmeu sufficient interest in the
produce of their labor sufficient incentive to exer-
tiOn, and sufficient motive to prudence; which
seems only roundabout way of saying larger
share of profits than they now have. Not in their
own interest only, but in the general interest
l." do believe" excaims Sir George that for many
reasons E1, 900 saved by ten workmen is moro valu
able to the country than f2 600 saved by capital
ist and that thousand houses and gardens owned
by laborers contribute far to the safety of the
country to the security of property. and to whole
some social state than one great estate owned by
one man. Do you hear that, my Lord Duke of
Westminster, or you. Messrs. Baird, with your
eSOOOO year apiece of profits from iron-making
1t is not on your shoulders thinks Sir George Camp
bell that England rests You are not the indispen-
sable persons. but the men to whom you pay wages
You are invited to arrange the land laws that the
industrious mechanic may have garden plots, ar
range labor laws so that the thrifty may
save. arrange money laws so that his saw