The Sun. — 1867-07-01 (London, England)

ENING, JULY 1, 1867.  bearing of things and the requisite means to be adopted by those in authority through the agency of the press. Mr. GLADSTONE created some amusement by saying that public men were indebted to those who improved their speeches in Parliament, and .also to those who criticised their cause, sometimes bestowing encouragement that cheered them on in the hour of need and difficulty,and at others by censuring their actions. By this means, as he said, they afforded invaluable assistance, and imparted information which otherwise could not easily be obtained. After declaring his conviction that the moral tone of the newspaper press had improved since it first became a power in this country, Mr. GLADSTONE concluded his speech by an eloquent appeal to his hearers to let fair play be given. " Therefore in recognising the existence of this great power, of this new power among us, let us give it a hearty welcome ; do not let it be grudgingly admitted within the circle of art institutions and ideas; let us hail it as a new benefit, which, in the progress of affairs and institutions, it has pleased Providence to confer upon mankind. Let us take every fair opportunity of showing that we sympathise with it, and that we desire to aid it in its work, and let us acknowledge that kindly feeling with which we desire to recognise institutions such as this." This admirable address was received with every mark of genuine approbation, and it reflected honour alike on the speaker, and upon the cause whose interests he so ably advocated, and whose merits he so fully appreciated.  Not the least remarkable part of the revelations before the Sheffield Commission is the manner in which the members of the Trades' Unions allowed their money affairs to be conducted. They appear in many instances to have openly countenanced a systematic falsification of the books, passing entries which were evidently inaccurate, and allowing the secretaries so wide a latitude that there is good reason to believe some of the BROADHEAD stamp have made a good thing out of their dignity.  It is worth noticing how men can be led on step by step to tolerate the most extravagant and unjust proceedings which they would have indignantly denounced if they had been suddenly introduced to them. We know, unfortunately, that murder, arson, and robbery were not thought very serious breaches of propriety by the extreme Unionists, and it now seems that forgery is another of their accomplishments. It seems that at a meet. ing of one of the Unions a question was raised about  ,he sum of £7O which had been invested in the say  ings bank in the name of four persons, and the names of three of them were necessary to get it out. It had been taken out, and one of the persons complained that his name had been forged ! Nothing could be discovered about the money, how it had been got out, or where it had gone, and the meeting apparently receiving some intimation that it was better not to inquire too closely, passed the following resolution : —" That after a great deal of investigation we are of opinion that the £7O was drawn out of the bank for trade purposes, but at the same time we deprecate the nzanner in which it has been drawn out, and hope in future the committee will be very particular in the mode of doing their business." This is a tolerably mild censure for the offence, and the secretaries or managers of such concerns must have an easy time of it if they may draw out £7O in false names with impunity. If the working men like their hard-earned money to make to itself wings and fly away after this mysterious fashion all well and good ; only we think we should hear a little less about the low rate of wages and the high price of necessaries, unless indeed.a Trades' Uuion be a necessary of life.