The Labor enquirer., 1882-12-30
Political Education.

From the American Statesman. r T. O..
We are inclined to regard the average
workingman~ of America as outranking in
intelligence and learning those of his class in
England, but in political education unless
they take more pains to inform themselves
then they have done hitherto their English:
cousins will soon leave them in the rear. In
a much larger sense than the signifcation
given to the advice by the subjects of the
British sovereign, ought We to accept that of
Lord Sherbrooke, political economist Of
many years ago, who warned the British,
public that in view of the wide extension of
suffrage aud the power the ballot gave to the
individual citizen we must "educate our
masters" Americans abroad notice with
great deal of interest the amount of political
instruction the people of England are receiv-
ing, and it is said that in the discussions
which follow lectures given on this subject
in the vicinity of London, such sound views
are ad ganced, and so much good sense and!
knowledge is displayed by the speakers who
are all workingmen, that stranger hearing
them would be more likely to have a more
hopeful view Of the future of England than
if he had heard an average debate in the
British parliament" Arcorrespondent of the
London Times speaks in the same manner Of
the trades union congress ct Manchester.
Work kingmen there receive their instruction
MOI p1ryt thrnnob Iboir
of which are, formed on party lines, and
there are others which belong strictly to no
party. but all are conducted by liberals, the
cOuserv atives having no interest in educating
the people. Under the auspices of The Social
and Political Education League, non.
partisan body in London, lectures are given,
principally on Sundays, by graduates of the
universities who have made political science
special study, and discussion by members
of the organization follows every lecture.
To carry ont such plan in this country our
people would have one advantage which the
English have not and which they desire
very much, that is free access to libraries
containing works; on this subject which are
Invaluable to one who attempts to discuss the
merits OF certain aspects of political bIloso-
phy or the art of government. There are
only three public Libraries in London, and
two of those are very small, but with our
advantage how much more interesting we
might make meetings Of this charec'er The
lectures in London are free, the local society
paying for advertising, the expenses of the
hall, etc. Strictly partisan clubs formed by
liberals are thriving in all the large maau.
featuring cities of England, similar to the
National Reform unioa of Manchester, whose
objects are to enlighten the people andto
strengthen their party, and the result 30 far 7
has been e1ninently satisfactory. The course !.
of lectures by this association, which was
given in every town and village in the
country, was a revival of Cobdens me- h0ds,
and in the campaign Of 1878 AID 1879 did
good work for Mr.. Gladstone AID was eva
considered indispensable in breaking doYn
the troy rule of Beaconsfeld. In LiVerp5l
there is parliamentary debating society
whose meetings ace conducted like those Of
the house of commons and governed by the.
same rules. -,Hs.5l.
Bills are passed in imitation of that body
and their proceedings are recorded in a
journal. All this and more We might be
doing this winter to place our young M on
par with those of Great Britain, if noh ma
more enlightened plane, in respect to the Vsil
WHICH govern us and the way those lawSl 2
made. N "