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that 1. CHARLOTTE-TOWN,

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, SATURDAY, JUNE 1,

POLITICﬂL EXTRJICTS FROJlI LﬂTE PUBLICJITIONS. LONDON Summon—Distress if the la- bouring classes in England.-Since the 0- pening of Parliament, very contradictory statements have been made as to the condi- tion of the labouring classes in the North- ern and Midland counties. Mr. Atwood, ofBlrmingham, and Mr. Fielden ofOld- ham‘, who must have excellent opportuni- ties ofknowing the real condition of the population among whom they reside, have asserted in the most unqualified manner,

. 'We doubt not that, by the revival in trade, which usually takes place about this season of the year, the manu-

but when the Spring Orders are executed, the distress will certainly return ; and two months hence, the periodical complaints of want of work and reduction of wages will again heard. During eight or nine months of the year, the sufferings ofthe poorinhabit- ints ofour mining and manufacturing dis- tricts are intense and unremitting. Now, that extreme poverty inevitably tends to roduce crime, and that the utmost severi- ofthe law is, for the most part, unavail- when directed againstﬂzmishing crim- als, will not be denied by any one who acquainted with the past history and pre- nt state ofIreland. The vice and turbu- , are mainly owing to

a w

The Marquis of \Vest- eath indeed, maintains that it is not dis- ss, but sheer wickedness, that prompts eVVhitefeet to the commission of outra- sagainst life and property : but until at discerning personage can point out to a state ofsociety. on an extended scale, ere frequent crimes against property ve not invariably been preceded and ac- mpanied by intense suffering on the part the poor—or where a respect for the

the laboring classes in our osvn country. In England, the labor-market is glutted ; and except at particular and brief periods, wa- ges are much reduced. The working- classes are yearly becoming more impo- verished ; and consequently less disposed to respect the rights of poverty, or dread the punishment of crime. The number of convictions in England and \Vales, which f'orthe seven years ending in 1817 was :55, 950, and during the next seven years had increased to 62,412. duringthe seven years

ending in 1331 rose to the fearful height of

85,257. The amount levied for poor rates

, in England and Wales during the year end-

ing in March 1831, was 8,279,217. If the difference in the value of money is taken into account, it will be found that this sum is larger by some millions than was ever levied for the same purposes during the worst years of the war. It must be the aim and wish of every reflecting, every humane man, to apply a remedy to the evils which these returns prove to exist. Hitherto, however, little has been done, except, perhaps, by the diffusion of know- ledge. Assnredly we do not mean to de- cry the advantages of education ; but still

we maintain, that in order to its having a due and permanent inﬂuence, it must be accompanied by an improvement in the worldly condition of the'people. Educa- tion in England has not had fair play. It is proved by the reduction of the wages of labor, the augmentation of the poor rates, and the enormous sale of cheap publica- tions, that poverty and informatiOn have gone on increasing together. This state of things Mr. Huskisson declared to be without a parellel in the history of nations. It accounts for the fact, that the diffusion of knowledge has not, apparently, caused a diminution of crime- A man with the fear of starvation before his eyes will not be restrained from satisfying his appetite by the precepts of morality, or even of re- ligion. There are multitudes, moreover,

who though not driven to this extremity, yet nourish a feeling of hostility towards

Ws is not a sure indication of worldly mfort—we shall take leave to consider ' opinion as the result of obstinate preju- e, and as evidence of a state of mind ich utterly disqualifies him from legis- ing beneﬁcially for his native country. is not, however, to the state ofIreland, at we now wish to direct attention, but the fact that one of the main causes of

ish suffering and crime is at work among

the upper classes of society, which, how- ever unreasonable it may be, they are in no want of arguments tojustify to them- selves. This discontented spirit among the labouring population—the natural conse- quence of their being under-fed, over- worked, and, in their circumstances, over- instructed—may lead to dangerous results. It may break forth into acts of open vio-

lbe highly desira if possible, by s evil to which ' there canbe v of relieving t discontent of plying them legislative much tow: Corn-law.s stituted a-

being to

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eign pro

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flict no loss or. nothing—there portant article c cheaper rate than- reduction of wage take place as soon g

for our manufactures

met by a corresponding

price of butcher-meat.

jection to this reduction at

that it would interfere witi

trade carried on by the Iri

annually to this country, b69134, ‘ ter, and live stock, to the amount}. .

two millions. No doubt, it would have that effect ; butif it should gradually it; to the conversion of pasture lands into C. age in Ireland, and thus create a demand forlabour. andinduce more settled habits of life among the peasantry, the conse- quences would be in a high degree beneﬁ- cial both to that country and to England. Without exaggerating the advantages which would follow the adoption of our suggestion, we think it cannot be denied that the relief which it would afford the laboring classes, would be immediately felt. and that it would be attended with great ultimate good to the Irish landholders and peasantry, against whose interest it might at ﬁrst seem to militate.

The Standard has expressed itself glad,

lence sooner than we anticipate. It must

and we are sincerely sorry, to renounce