[Footnote 1:  The recent reports of Mr. Tremenheere to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with respect to the condition of the population in the iron and coal districts, show that he places considerable reliance upon the effect of Education.  The evidence which he brought together from all parts of the country, shows that the increase of immorality with the increase of wages was attributed to the low tastes and desires of the people.—­that the obstinate refusal of the men to exert more than two-thirds of their fair powers of work, by which the cost of production is largely enhanced, capital crippled, and the public mulcted, was due to the same cause,—­that their readiness to become the prey of unionists and agitators is traceable to their want of the most elementary principles of thought,—­that most of the accidents, which are of weekly occurrence, are occasioned by their stupidity and ignorance,—­that wherever they have advanced in intelligence, they have become more skilful, more subordinate, and more industrious.  These facts have convinced the more thoughtful and far-sighted masters, that the only sure means of maintaining their ground under increasing foreign competition, and averting a social crisis, is to reform the character of the rising generation of operatives by education,]

It must, however, be admitted that education is not enough.  The clever man may be a clever rogue; and the cleverer he is, the cleverer rogue he will be.  Education, therefore, must be based upon religion and morality; for education by itself will not eradicate vicious propensities.  Culture of intellect has but little effect upon moral conduct.  You may see clever, educated, literary men, with no conduct whatever,—­wasteful, improvident, drunken, and vicious.  It follows, therefore, that education must be based upon the principles of religion and morality.

Nor has the poverty of the people so much to do with their social degradation as is commonly supposed.  The question is essentially a moral one.  If the income of the labouring community could be suddenly doubled, their happiness will not necessarily be increased; for happiness does not consist in money.  In fact, the increased wages might probably prove a curse instead of a blessing.  In the case of many, there would be an increased consumption of drink, with the usual results,—­an increase of drunken violence, and probably an increase of crime.

The late Mr. Clay, chaplain of the Preston House of Correction, after characterizing drunkenness as the GREAT SIN, proceeds:  “It still rises in savage hostility, against everything allied to order and religion; it still barricades every avenue by which truth and peace seek to enter the poor man’s home and heart....  Whatever may be the predominant cause of crime, it is very clear that ignorance, religious ignorance, is the chief ingredient in the character of the criminal.  This combines with the passion for liquor, and offences numberless are engendered by the union.”