The question of the appointment of working men to the
borough Magistracy has been again raised, this time by Mr. Burt, who tells the workmen of East Bromwich that he approves the innovation. So do we, if workmen who are clearly fit for the office can be found, as we believe they can be found among foremen and secretaries of the workmen's societies. No one would wish for a better Magistrate than Mr. Burt himself. The only objection is to the selection of candidates because they are workmen, thus perpetuating the very claim of caste which it is desired to bring to an end. Mr. Burt will say that Magistrates have hitherto been selected for wealth or position; but the argument is only verbally sound. The old and true theory was that the poor had not either the needful education or habit of reverence for the law, which they hardly compre- hended. Education has altered that condition of things; but the proportion of workmen competent to dispense justice is still small. If it is not so, why, in the working towns, are there so few workmen elected Councillors ?
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