The Trade-Union Congress commenced its annual meeting on Monday, at
Liverpool, with some formal business, and a review of the year by Mr. Broadhurst. On Tuesday, the President, Mr. Matkin, read his address, which was on points almost Socialistic. He was in favour of the nationalisation of the land, in order to prevent emigration to the cities— which would go on just the same, as it does in America ;—of the purchase, or perhaps the seizure, of all mines—he holding landlords' royalties to be an iniquity ;—and the absorption of all railways by the State. He desired that a plebiscite should be taken on the Eight-Hours Bill, and was urgent to increase the representation of labour in Parliament, where, he said, the landowners were being replaced by lawyers. His most practical suggestion was a federation of Trade-Unions, so that when one trade struck, the other trades could employ their resources to give the idle men work,—a curious pro- posal, which must have made some of the experienced Union managers who were present open their eyes. We suspect it will be found a counsel of perfection, and that the Amalga- mated Engineers will not risk bankruptcy in finding work, say, for the stevedores of Liverpool. According to the Daily News, the wilder proposals of Mr. Matkin were enthusiasti- cally applauded, which we can well believe. Moderate men are very apt to dislike shouting.
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