The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-23
TIE BRITISH WORKMAN.

valuation OF 9l3- 420 O&2. 2.------
TIE BRITISH WORKMAN.
Dublin Nation.
The whole world is aware of the account
given by the British of their own national
character. The theme has ever been q
favorite one with British writer's, and than
| the picture drawn by those isinterested
| critcs nothing can be more charming. 1t
is that of people who, in one word, are
the salt of the earth. Frank and open
handed, brave yet cool headed, strong of
limb, and gifted to more than ordinary
degree with the faculty of perseverance,,
our modest neighbors have, they Themselves
cay, naturally been successful far beyond
the volatile, treacherous, and weak sinew-
ed men of the Latin races. But this
enumeration of good qualities which the
British so complacently place to their own
credit is not complete. There js at least
people are distin guished for one thing
more than for another, that thing, it ap-
peare, is their respect for law and order.
This noble, godlike attribute is,. we are
told, implanted in their very nature, grows
with the growth of the individual British
ers, and strengthens with their strength.
They may contend, and contend fiercely,
amongat themselves during the process of
law making, but once che will of the
majority finds expression, in unwritten
custom or in written statute, all bow down
in reverent obedience before what is then
considered as the decree of heaven. Hence
the ''sta bility" of British institutions, as
compared with the fieeting character of
the ssndbank structures, social and politi
cal, of other countries hence the absence
from the sacred soil of Britain of that
revolutionary restlessness which elsewhere
stays the progress of civilization. Aud if
there be one class of the British people Of
whom it can truly be said that they are
God fearing and law-abidiDg, it is, we are
led to understand, the working men. They
possess all the virtues of the race, uuailoyed
by the vices which their superiors may
possibly have contracted from continental
nations. Who has not seen drawings of
"the -Briiiah -Workmen,n, ,eleaE-sbavea,
neat in attire, instructiug his comaly Off
spring in the truths of the Biblef Now, we
must admit that there are occasions on
which the Britisher does, in reality, exhibit
himself in praiseworthy attitude to an
admiring world. AS long as things go on
to his satisfaction-as long as trade is good,
and stock speculations are profitable, and
taxation is becoming lighter, and he has
enough to cat and dFink-theFe ie no man
who can be 30 smable, 80 centented, and
to outward seeming-so victuous. Here,
however, our endorsement of the eulogies
he bestows upon himself perforce ceases.
OF what he can become when the times are
bad, the savage outburst of lawlessness of
which several hitherto prosperous and law
abiding towne in Lancashire have been the
scene during the last fortnight gives an
eloquent demonstration. The mill -ow wners
in those places, es our readers are already
aware, have been compelled, through AD
admitted slackness in the cotton trade, to
reduce the wages of their employees by ten
Per cent. Workmen who had been earning
five shillings day were offered four and
sixpence, and those who had been earning
off aroA oil for
sums. What has been the result Has the
peaceful Bible-reading, and lsw-Abiding
British workman resisted only with the
weapons of reason, to use which under the
circumstances might be supposed, from
what has been said, to be peculiarly his
exhorted, and then left his case to the tri-
bunal of public opinion7 No such thing
His plan, on the contrary, has been to
throw reason to the winds, and to use
instead, for the accomplishment of his ends,
the stone of the rioter, the torch of the
incendiary, and the corrosive fiaid of the
petroleum. He has attempted to wreck
mills, he has sacked and burnt private
houses, he has pursued his former employ
ers with murderous intent, he has waylaid
their wives and children, he has thrown
vitriol in the faces of persons who were in
the act of serving him with drink, he has
levied black mail upon his neighbors gen
orally and when the police have attempt
ed to curb his brutal violence he has assault
ed them with brickbats, so that the Riot
Act haR had to be read and the military
called out to prevent society from being
overturned. He has, in short, trsmpled
upon all law, temporarily at least, aud,
so far as the range of his operations has
extended, made peace and order q mere
legend. The treatment extended to Colo
mel jackson, the chairman of the Masters
Association in Blackburn, reminds one in
its several incidents of some of the worst
ed to the last pane. His house, three miles
distant, was next attacked. Not being so
we'll protected "a the mill against a violent
attack from without, it was plundered and
fred. His carriage was then taken, amidst
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