, 1881-09-18

well aware that If they were III
power tomorrow they could not begin
TO light the Devil with fire" with
QUE running the leading branches
OF English Industry. Taxing cotton would
not suit our farmers or enable the Manclics-
ter operatives to underscll Lowell or China;
ana taxing food, while it might help the
farmer, would starye the artisan.
THIS AGITATION IS NOT DIRECTED SOLELY
against the United States. German, Bel
glan, and Swiss competition intlicts greater
injury on Bradford, Macclesield, Coventry,
Nottingham, and other centres than your
manufacturers do may say that there IS
no feeling whatever against the United
States, and that the threats OF retaliation
arc directed exclusively against our Contl-
mental neighbors. These threats, as the
"falr-traders'' now point out, have not been
in vain. The Cobden-Rouher Treaty with
France expires on Nov. s, and, as
the negotiations for a fresh treaty had
fallen through, our manufacturers
expected to be subjected after that
date to the ltrohibitory duties Of the French
general tariff. But after clustering a good
deal France has taken alarm at the threats
to counter her by leyying high duties upon
her wines, and
TIE FERRY MINISTRY
has consented to prolone the Golden Treaty
for three months, and to resume the nesotia-
tlons for a special treaty. The fair
traders," with good reason, regard this as
a triumph for their policy. London opinion
upon this or any other subject is no test OF
the feeling i'll the manufacturing centres.
If the Tories were. in power they wonl0
checkmatc "fair trade" with q spirited for
eign policy. But Mr. Gladstone has made ,tp
his mind to throttle 1t, although, should not
be surprised to see it throttle tim bc-
fore long: Great preparations are being made
for his visit to Leeds OH Oct. 6. Everything
las been arranged to secure unanimity, adj
mission to all the meetings being BY ticket,
issued under the authority Of
TIE LEEDS liberal HUNDRED OF CAUCUS.
You can Judge Of the momentum Of the
i" fair-trade' movement by the fact that
Leeds has succumbed to it. Leeds.
which returned AfacAulay, Joseph Hume,
and Baines, and which,, yying with
Midlothian, Eut -1r. Gladstone himself
at the head off,: the poll last
year, with Mr.. lsarran," Liberal,
next, with majority OF 10000. On Oct II,
Sir Stafford Northcothe will address a coll
servatiye workmen's meeting at Edinburg.
On Oct. :, Lord Carnaryon, Tory OF the
Tories, will address Il. great conservative
meeting at Derby. On the same day Sir
Richard Cross, the Home Secretary in the
BcaconsleId administration. will speak
.. AT STOCKPORT
tthe hcresy has hit tile cobbIers hard). anil
the Duke of Beaufort presides this evening
at an important meeting Of Conservatives in
North Wiltshire, where protection to agri-
culture will no doubt be q prominent topic.
TIE Autumn CAMPAIGN
is thus fairly begun. Both parties are max
ing desperate efforts to concitiate not4he
farmers only, but the agricultural laborers,
who will be admitted to the franchise next
session. Against free trade the Liberals
offer land reform, not merely simplltica-
ton Of the process of transfer Of
land, but a radical program of tenant right
and peasant ownership. based upon tho Irish
Land act. The laborer has long been under
tutelage, and at present he is i'll
clined to follow those who have first armed
him with the ballot, and will lead him III as
sault upon privilege.
IN IRELAND
Alr. Parnell is fighting for the life Of the
League. That organization has been main-
tanned from the outset by American money,
aud the paymaster has informed the ENectl-
tive Committee that If the farmers do not
continue to stand out against rents the sup
plies will be cut OFT. This news naturally
incites Patrick Egan, the Treasurer, aud
other patriots, who would have to work for
a living if the stream Of American contribu-
tlons dried up, to greater exertio1s i'll behalf
Of anarchy, and the League Convention has
done its best to induce the tenant farmers to
reject the Land act and fight it out on the
old lines of "boycottlng," murder, and arson.
NO THEATRICAL. SUCCESS
for many years has eQualed the production
Of the '+Lights o London" at the Princess.
The Times sneercu at it, but Mir. Sims, its
author, may forgive that critic among
the large chorus OF public approval
which now greets him. The play is
q vigorous and accurate representation
Of various phases Of life among the working
people, their joys, and sorrows, and cares.
Hence success SO unaccountable to the
critics. The scenery is the most wonderful
ever produced even in London, and the ell
tire acting is of absorbing interest. Sims
appears likely to equal or surpass the
SUCCESS Ot J4Io QAIi14S Nf1yS.
Other great popular successes are Youth F"
1t the Drury Lane and 1.-The Colonel" at
he Prince of Wales Mr. Irving is being re-.
.eiyed in the provinces with greater ell
husiasm than ever.
THE MOST SERIOUS EVENT OF THE DAY
S the Immense interruption to tho cotton
:rade caused by the s'corner,' and the CON-
>ination Of millionaires to break it down.
Tens of thousands Of hands have already
,ecn thrown out Of employment and
every day adds to the number. The cor
1er' was originally formed BY Mr.. Alorriss
Ranger, large speculator of Liverpool, last
'ear and this spring lie bought up all the
cotton he could lay his hands upon
it between tivepence and sixpence a
)ounu, and has now advanced
he price to seyenpence half-penny. This
.eprcsents ruin to the bears, many Of whom
re among the largest cotton-spinners. They
,elieye that by stopping their spindles the
orner can be broken down; but, from local
Inquiries have made, l am led to doubt the
nccess of this 1expedient. Mr.. Ranger
,an afford to hold on to his cotton better
han the spinners can afford to do without it,
md meantime he is demanding delivery