A WORD TO THE MINERS.
(To THE EDITOR, Of TUE " Sescreton."1 Sia,—The Rome correspondent in the Times of the 24th ins). gives a truly pitiable account of Italy's desperate need of coal, and the sinking of heart with which she is watching events in this country 3— "It was arranged," says the correspondent, "that from January this year England should take over the duty of supplying Italy.... The last bulletin from Cardiff states, however, that exportation has completely ceased, the produc- tion of the mines being no longer sufficient to meet the most urgent requirements of the British market."
Now, whatever the rights or wrongs of the mining question, the miners are indisputably out for their own advantage, and are looking forward to an easier life than ever before. Our internationalists were very eager to get the working man's ear when there was a question of his being asked to perform a patriotic duty; their unceasing theme then was the solidarity of Labour. Why do they not speak a word in this sense now— appeal, in fact, in behalf of some of the worst off in Europe to some of the best off—and show why the British miner should work harder just now than ever before? To me the most die- quieting feature in what is loosely called the democratic advent is that no one, I care not who, ever speaks to the working classes (as such) in the name of honour, duty, or unselfishness, or appeals to anything but self-interest. Even their mentors atop short with the admission of "legitimate rights." The higher voices are silent. allogether.—I am, Sir, die., C.
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