Mr. Cardwell addressed the Druids at Oxford on Thursday in
a long and good speech, part of which—his account of the Ashantee war and the possible change in the land laws—we have quoted elsewhere. We must note here, however, that .he laid down the distinct principle upon which the followers of Huskisson and Peel were, as regards the contest between capital and labour, bound to act. All the Legislature, he thought, could do, "was to establish perfect equality and absolute justice, and then stand out of the sunshine." He would legislate as little as possible. That is sound teaching, if we ever can establish perfect equality, but we doubt that. Can a handicraftsman ever be the legal equal of a capitalist, or can a Union be the 'equal of a Federated Association of Capitalists? As Civil law is now administered, he certainly cannot, the man who can bleed guineas being the necessary winner.
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