The Miner. — 1863-05-16 (London, England)

TIIE MINER.  Si,—ln looking through the MINER during the last few weeks, I perceive that our friends at various places have been making some inquiry about certain individuals. As lam one of the specified number, it may, perhaps, be as well for me now to give a brief account of myself, both for being absent from the post of duty and for acting upon the silent system. With respect to my worthy brothers, I feel confident they will be able to give a satisfactory account of themselves, for past experience tells us that they are not the men to eat the bread of idleness as long as their labours and influence are needed and appreciated by the working classes. Then, as regards myself, I could give very many reasons for not writing so frequently—two or three may suffice. Were Ito enter into details it might give some people pleasure, and to a few, more generous, pain. The fact is, I have been fully employed; besides, a rib fractured three weeks ago while fighting labour's battle, has made things no better. Again, I was certain I should do no harm by dropping off for a season, and leaving a vacancy for others more able. This the columns of ,THE MINER testify. Yet I am happy to acquaint our warm-hearted friends, both in Lancashire and everywhere, that I am unchanged in spirit and principle with respect to the " Natioual Association;" for I feel confident it will gradually prosper and flourish. By-and-bye, its usefulness will be incalculable in educating, moralising, and regenerating the world. Poor Richard says truly, "He that by the plough would thrive, himself must either hold or drive." Not a single day passes but we behold this wise maxim verified. On these grounds, therefore, it behoves every earnest reformer to use his influence, and stick to the "national" colours. As regards myself, I have seen no reason to abandon them or that can justify others in doing so. True it is that many have suffered, both in the past and at the present, for the sake of justice and universal right; but then persecution and wrong are nothing new—the "devilish" system is as old as we can trace back mankind. The Bible gives account of murder and robbery being perpetrated when the world was in its linfancy—we read in, the Holy Book, of Cain slaying his brother Abel, and then flying into some far country. Jacob deceived his own father, and got his brother's birthright, and he fled also. Judas—yes, Judas —betrayed his Lord and Master for thirty pieces of silver, and then hanged himself—a good idea for other Judas's. In modern history we read that mankind was no better.  Monteith betrayed Win. Wallace, the hero of Scotland, and General Georgey sold Kossuth, Bern, Klapka, and the whole people of Hungary, to Austrian and Russian despots. Haynau, the woman-fiagger, played hie part at tho same time, and got rewarded for his trouble, in London, at Barclay and Perkins's brewery, by the draymon ; and many thousands of people rejoiced, and said, " served him right." Then, to come down to the present time, we know a few men who have tried to strangle a national cause for their own selfish interest and per. ambition. Are not these bodies gibetted in the public papers alined every week? And they, too, without doubt, will be remembered in the future ; for the two extremes among mankind are never forgotten, their characters live after them, both in tradition and in history, and every succeeding generation curse the memory of all oppressors and impostors. But the men who have been true, and have lived for the good of others, eternal blessings sooner or later crown their efforts. As regards John Anderson, some superstitious people may blame him for selling Tux MINER at a place where might, not right, prevails, and a few may say John has been born under an unlucky planet—perhaps so. Anyhow, he has worked for a cruel hard taskmaster; possibly a descendant of Dracos. Yet, bad as his case is, I have no doubt but there are some— yea, hundreds—that would rateer change places with John Anderson, than John 11---, both men and places ever become remarkable through singular circumstance; or we in the north  might never have known there was such a place as Snedshill in Shropshire. But mark: this case does not prove all colliery agents to be bad men; no, no, for we can find as good mon in that class as can be found in any other. Brothers, let truth abound, and justice also, for truth will ultimately prevail.  Your obedient servant, W. E. Spennymoor, May 12th, 1863. P.S. I enclose my mite, twelve stamps, for poor Anderson.