The Bee-Hive. — 1870-08-13 (London, England)

BEEHIVE.  SlR.,—That I have been a constant subscriber and have made some sacrifices n time and money for the BEErrivE is no reason Icily it should represent my peculiar opinions ; but it is a source of pain and disappointment when I see the object of so much care taking such a weak shilly-shally and illogical course with regard to great public questions, as instanced in the case of Education, the Contagious Diseases Acts, and the war on the Continent. Reason is the forte of working men, and a paper to be of any service to them must base its arguments or reason and justice totally indifferent whether it may offend or please the prejudices or foregone conclusions of any one.  - You indicate that in the event of certain complications on the Continent England will be justi. fled in going to war to maintain the independence of Belgium. I believe you are entirely wrong, and moreover, that you do not represent the opinion of the mass of working men by such writing. What have working men to do with the independence of Belgium P Thousands of working men have made the acquaintance of Belgium throuoh short commons and a reduction of wages. I don't say that is a reason why Belgium should not be independent, but it is a reason why she should not be independent at our expense. Belgium has a perfect right to compete in our market, but (with the burden we have to carry through former interferences in continental affairs) the effect is to take the bread out of our mouths, nevertheless, and under these circumstances, to say that we ought to tax out selves in life and treasure to maintain her independence appears to rne preposterous, and can only be accounted for by the intimate royal relationships which prevail between the two countries, and tbe kindly feelings that have naturally been generated by the many turtle soup jollifications that have taken place between the well-to-do on both sides, but in which working men have had neither interest nor share. But, say some, we have solemn treaty obligations with regard to Belgium, it is amusing and instructive to notice how suddenly some statesmen have become alive to our tt eaty obligations, and with what solemnity they will maintaia it is the duty of England to take up arms in defence of Belgium, when all the while they know that these same treaties have been torn to shreds by the powers that made them without a protesting voice from this country. Sir, there are always some fusty treaty obligations brought to light when England has to be dragged into war; let those who made this treaty thirty years ago, or their representatives, go and fight for it; we had certainly nothing to do with, and are not bound by, its provisions. The only obligations that are binding on working men are peace, justice and fraternity, these, I am sure, cannot be promoted by war. Let us be warned in time ; two millions are already voted in order that twenty thousand more professional murderets may be drilled into uselessness and idleness. This with money at 6 per cent., and going up, means to us a bad winter and privation for thousands. There are no people whose independence is so much menaced just now as English working men's ; let them look to that, and they will find their greatest enemies at home. I shall be astonished if they are led away by the hue and cry of interested parties to look for them on the Continent. Yours, &c., F. J.