The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-08-05 00:00:00

BANQUET TO HER MAJESTY'S
MINISTERS.

.1111 a 1.1 Nl.,yor
of 1,11 I t'l tlv• ,qt.t
to 11,, it I i t'
the Lod i. 1.1 liath, :
It, 11
aol the tot
111 r. awl 31r, I. W. I:. i and M:s.
Forster, his Estelluney the Freneh .I.lnba.ssador, his
Excellency the American 31ini,ter, and litany other
distinguished persons.

After the " Ilealth 4•I !ter Majesty the Queen,” and " The
Royal Family." had t,,en drmik, the Is.rd Mayor urnis...
Any Navy. and Reserve F..rres,"wlikh was respond
to by 11r. Cantwell, Vhs-Admical thuinanney, and
Bury,

The Lord Mayor, Is proposing "The Health of his Excel-
lency the French Ambassador and the Corps Iffplotnation,,"
said,—lt ia a suite 4.f great satisfaction to see present this
evening the repel sentatives of two great countries. The
°emelt. Ambassador is only prevented being present by his
leaving our shores ti-stay for 8,1110 time. I ant litre I cor-
rectly represent the feelings of all pr-sent awl of the city
generally when I say we give 3 most hearty welcome to
the Fretteh A mhassador and the American Minister.
(1.011.1 cheers.) The great mission of diplomacy is peace.
Log may that great bleadug be preserved to no and
I'. the nations lEnrol, and .1 the woi Id The aer”ill-
pli Mod tile min Nib" represent.; enr nearest Curop.
iteghtsair. iii / t-r many y, ars our faithful ally. i revel, 'liii
this cenntr) n nil the l,reittt (elleerS). tic I may.
p. I hap,. :Mow ed to 4 No, e. the i.qo t hat for ermy cars 1,.
e"lnc the ~re eomitry he An n't pleSelltS 1114 ellj.;3'
p.•le, brci,), all s. develop, its great
to thea ,tisfm 4,f Euro:re ale! the Ikappiness et its pe;;ple.
I I;;;•01 let say suit!. what pleia,tre we welcome the
tihilocilittce 501.15: 115010 e kikrile-nliibed Man nh.;reilreSentfl
the I nal,' States of Uteri,. (bind iljs; I ieepleare or
on chiblren. (Cheers.) I know front tweet al visits it America
they regard w ith pride awl affection those tomb whom they
have sprung (cheers), and we are justly p 1.01.1 of the gi eat na-
tion founded by Englishmen, and which maulf ests all those qua-
Mies 41 which we air,' proud, aii4l which flud ample and site.
cessful development in their noble country. (Loud cheers.'
I cannot Pit dOWn without stating the great sat id'actil m with
which I have this day heard that the RiOlt list the Re-
corder has been invited by the llovennuent to proceed lir the
United States to settle the claims under the lab clause of the
Washin,ton Treaty cheers and I trust that by means of
that important Treaty, all differences Rini disagreements
being removed, we shall be enabled to cultivate, without in-
terruption, that hiendship awl commerce which are so limes-
saly to the prosperity if Is dh countries, and the peace and
happiness of the world. bunt cheers.)
His Excellency the French Ambassador, the Due de
Itr,glie, whit, on rising, was loudly cheered, having responded
for Franco,

His Excellency the American Minister, General Schenck,
who wan received with much cheering, said,—My Lord Mayor,
my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,-1 am sure you might
properly excuse me from making farther response to the
toast you have kindly drunk to the representatives of foreign
nations. my senior colleague, the nolile tool distinguished
Ambassador of France, might be considered as having
happily relieved me }rem such duty by the eloquent words
in which Ile has returned our thanks, my Lent Mayor, for
your elegant hospitality ; and yet if France thanks you for
such kieilly remembrance, and reminds you id the friendly
and.plessitig relations which exist between your two coun-
tries, it scull hardly liecome,America to sit silent at your
bend. (I firers.) F'rom that great country awl nation, it Is
true, you are isiparated by but a narrow Sea, w Welt circumstance
of itself gives herall the interestofyinir nearest neighbour. But
that far wider channel winch lien I tetween yion and us we have
determined shall net divide., (('heers.) Even as a physical iii
structien to our intercourse it has been wonderfully overcome.
Not only hasit been bridged by the fleets of ships which go and
come in the occupation and interests Of Oiir vast and intimate
onenerce—tip the magnificent steamers which weekly, daily,
convey your citizens and ours from one store to the Other On
their errands of business or pleasure - but undetowath the vast
expanse of waters lie constantly throbbing (nun the heart of
one people to the other cords which unite us fit ...... nentary
intercourse. (('heers.) And yet beyond all these - better than
all these---have we net learnt that between two nations,
kindred in so many ways, there should be, and there can ba
bonds that Illik as closer than wires id steel (cheers) tics,
more sensitive MA sympathetic than those which are in-
toner.? and animated by the mysterious electric current ?
(('lteurs.) My Lord Mayor, you have spoken it AMOUR as
a child if England. A. lusty growth, is she not ? -although
not always, nor altogether from your pelting. As olle
your children, then, from over the water, lit it lie remembered
that 1 ani here this evening speaking in the presenee of my ven-
erable grandfathers and grandmothers. (A laugh. I shall claim
your heltilgence but a moment further, to thank you filially
for your welc and attention. o beers.) This twinned,
my Lord Mayor, you give to the Ministers of your Queen,
your distirished nod special guests 011 nel-11-sioll. I ail
happy to NJ privileged to meet them. These eminent gentle-
men are chanzed with the care and management of ymir
Treasury, your Army, y • Navy, your Post Mice—whatever
relates to the organization of those great dninestie branehes
of your Govermnent service, tot which it is not proper for me,
a stranger, even to Whole, lint there is one thing in their
public history to which they and you nmst furling mo If I
venture kll refer. It is 111111113 tippet .priale by what has already
;wen flalll. I think 110 Inl-net —1 illll mire every
Englishman and American alike shmthlremenaber—that it has
linen daring the administration if your Government by these
Ministers of Her Majesty that a en-at agreement has
been concluded which in to remove all serious dif-
ferences between our two manila,. (bond elo.ers.)
It was they who wisely bmk the responsibility of initiating
that work through winch, overcoming prepoliers, lIRSMOVIS,
,pll,llll, and whatever had tended to snake 115 feel sorely to-
wards each 4,titer, 11e. InlVll 1-0111 e togelll.l., it in tut be
10, terms flint will secure awl piso ... de lasting peace and Mtn
friendship. (Cheers.) My Ism' Mayor, when France and Eng.
1111111 are exehanging kindly assuranees of good undenitand., Mg at n civic festival like this, it impertineuk,
! Ivo hap.% fOi. itilt•i.V.-ne With IL' rework that we
audits-a, ut-reuse' of 1 nr li,,r,t ..• 11,10 idle,
pan-mere. 111311 .tc t hi 1.1 • Innate, `.lii
antihe 1. . i 1 .• i•
beers and a I 'II I 1 71 4
tation, I hulL I ILI, I „
laughter.) I LLUI,,I. li,)
only is e. • r• I,- I. I .. ,I,t
we place our tied I fa. o Iluli,101•111 7111 h'hilllh,b, lit
!
to, unite th.. " Ali right " id England a ith the • • head " et
Ameri.ta. (Cheers.) That would make an .d 1 iati..6 which
would not probably easily be overman° by env other com.
mutation on earth. (fmnil 111111 clintineed eheering.)
'li,, boot Mayor then nsse awl said I have neov the pelvi
lege and the lemmir ..1 proposine •• Health of It, r
ffilliarzt (I bet•rs.; This is a privilege wt,i, Ii the
Lon' Mayor of London prizes veiy highly, for Her Majesty's
Miiiiidi•rs, front whichever side of the House they come, are
mon e hi, have thenkielves, and taken it 11,1 d Is
the orin .11,/13 of Farb !weld ivy lifo, met, piny byt.
a. (tired abe i;reate-t thi. tinetion attainable. hate twurred
and tan+ rtal..-ii reol iyhyrii.ii.. deft,
If If,! 'spy he -..:1„1 ;,incraliv of the Mrn!.tei of I hate, I
venture to think the !TIME wh • ha., hf.a1,,nrt...1
with pres..n'e tomi•Mt, 1,, a r ort.pit u nia e....impLi of on,
who, b/e,ed 'sit?,preat intelleaualpoc-cr, which hv hat oil.
tivatcl with etc utmoat (Ate, haa devoted Mate powers to the
service of his country. (Cheers.) I should be well pleased
to think that war then, feslay mlnbt ba tak -n t re•
prt-sent the rel.:brutal Whitt bait dinner. now fallen lido
disuse, that it was a 61.01 that the sick of the heoolnui
of Parliament had been aecomplished, and that repose and
quiet might follow it. I fear this cannot be considered the
cane; but, whatever may he the result id the Sesdion, it be-
i ColllrB us tit Malik those who take upon theut the great duties
of rooducting the affairs of this mighty nation. (('heers.)
, Without approaching the donntitt id party polities, we
mast tender eur best thanks bi• Her )lajesty'a Ministers fir
their sbecisisful efforts ill sectiriert for ns the unbroken
ble.isings of peace. (Cheers.) ilere, wWle, to our great

sorrow, we have wen other nationsengagetlin warand suffering
its consequences, wehave ourselves been free, and anxious only
to testily our sYmPutitY, and offer what help we could to
those who were suffering. ((heers.) And I think I
may especially congratulate fler Majesty's Government on
that treaty which they have negotiated with America (cheers)
—a treaty which has for its object the adjustment of all
differences between nations so closely allied as we are, and
between whom it is necessary, for our ow n interests and
character, as Nell as for the common interests of the civilised
world, that we abotild be st, peace, (/ lesser ) t desire, it.
the narne of the sitisen.: oft otabin, to offer end. hest thithke
to Ir. s Pialesty'S Ministers for the labour and abilltY they
manifest in -the discharge ttf their Artllloll3 Mal impertant
ditties, and beg to propose their heath. (Cheers.)
Mr. Gladstone, who was received with haul cheers, said,
—Sly lord Playor, my laarda, Ladies, and Gentlemen, on
lahalf of my colleagues and on my 'site behalf, I rettirn to
pour Lordship and to this company our grateful thanks, both
for the bstet you have been pleased to give and for the
manner in which it has been given and received. You have
alluded, nty Lord Mayor, to the date at w Melt yoU have
called 11l to share your reporting hospitality. It IA 011 the 1
glith If .1 lily that we 111140 gathered 15110.1 paw board. it
period whirh eotonsody Ity only a few 1143'0 the
close of the Parliamentary Session, and when I inui the
honour Cl communicatinll with yeur lorlship, and fixing the
date by negotiation some months bath, it was with the belief
that at this period there would he stealing over 'lethal s,.th-
log languor, the product partly of exhaustion and partly of
hope, Which best describes the feelings of Ministers and
members of Parliament when they approach the close of
the Session. However, my Lord Mayor, we are not no for-
tunate. We are ill II 1114101cr 1110i11 trial for one lives.
(A laugh). A notice has been Kit en—which is still tinly a
notice—that on Plonday the severest punishment a branch
of the Legislatur) eau inflict will, ill), It say be inflicted,
but will be proposed to Inc Minded upon us In the House of
Lords,—in that august nesembly which I hind may long
continue to discharge with rvisttom its important 81111 esSen-
tial 11111db/118ln the constitution .4 the country. (Cheers )
Ply Lord Mayor, st ith the opinion w I•ich I entertain ..f that
august assentitl) 111111 unable to believe that they will con
-
sure the Government whieb pleads guilty to no offseses but
this that We have lewd a legal power for the suppressnot of
an illegal pi:settee. (Cheers,) A system of growb noturituts,
and palpable illegality we have, ill the exercise of our un-
tionitted power, put all end to in the only ml :r which re-
mained open to 114 after the circumstances Imre oC-
curred. ft beers.) That la the appeal whirl] 140 1110 perfectly
content to Stake to the enlightened jildglinent If our country.
(Cheers.) My Lord Mayor. we have hail in Nome senstat a
stortuy and in °Mersa wearisome Mesoloil, and it is thy builtion
to speak of it as a barren one ; hllt It has MA yet reached its
eig. There is an old saying that no man ought to he pro-
nounced happy until lie has reached the final term of Ills
life :!so I still venture to alp' that no Session ought to
be prontonteed barren till yeti love arrived at the pro-
rogation. (('hem.) 'the distinguished gentlentalt Wiol
bah spoken to-night as the representative of America
has referred to that ftertlnacity of character w hitt,
lie 5030, itild I belitiVe trlily, distinguishes the two nett 111 l
atilt for my colleagues and myself I can say as much as
Oita, we are so far at least Englishmen that when we think
lye are in the right pee don't like to be beaten. (Cll.•rs
I nod a laugh.) Our littentionS see perfectly plain and
understood. It depends Upon others at what time they
will reach their final (ointment. livers.) lint one thing I
relay venture to add the aim ef all our attempts, whether
in legislation, in administration, or whatever the ontward
form may Is the same ; it is tel extend and eolith m 114
far as we can that union of freedom and order, of attach-
ment to ancient institutions, with the lively desire for int-
privenwitt, which we believe to be in 1•10111 e degree at least
chat:len:l.6th: of this country. (("heers.) For this end we
have endeavoured to toppoac ourselvee to faVoliritiBlll and
the legalisation of favouritism in every form, and whatever
measure we have introduced, and whether we may succeed
or fail, it will not be for a person, it will not be Mr classes,
It will not be for plares or districts that we shall attempt
to legislate--it w ill be for the nation at large cheers),
and for that union of the nation in heart and will Upon
whielt we believe the hopes If its future to depend.
(Cheers.) But lam glad, after the speeches we have heard,
that upon Oda occaelon whatever interest may attach to the
present festival as a festival held in honour of the Adminis-
tratbm of the day has been eclipsed by the higher interest
which has gathered around it from the representation at
your board of the diplomatic body. (Cheer.) We have
lietettell with unusual Interest to the remarkable addressee
of the two distinguished men who come to us front two of
the greatest nations of the earth. ft heu-ro.) We have
haunt in the language of the representative of Frallee a
0110101 worthy of that great and remarkable country a
countly whose relations with us have ever borne, and muet
over bear, a special character. We have known her as a
I..rmi.lable has and we have known fur as a faithful friend.
(l'ltet•rol.) ite have sometimes shared her triumphs. We have
sometimes sympathised 55 1111 her eorrows ; but. come what
may, I ant persuaded that the sentiments of friendship which
unite these two nations have atsinired It solidity that neither
tittle nor change can shake (cheers), and that at this 'lament
the one and eitly desire that pervades every heart and mintl
in the British nation is that, in emerging from the tre-
mendous stniggle ill \Odell Frallee has been engaged, the
Government and people may be gifted with the
necessary f.r them to choose the best and the wisest le .if
reestablishing her prosperity, and prow Wing for her future
happiness. (("heers.) Aii.l yet, my Lord Slayer, eommanding
110 ia the interest which at thus moment in lenticular attaehes
to the name of France, I cannot place as second to it that
tither interest ..ith whkh at tills junettire the nanie of
I' 'Ollll3 ill every ear. ('heer.) We have lawn by
ymux'lf, at wI II asitY thespeeelt of omilistinguished 111,11.10 e
Aillericalt 'Minister, called to consider for an instant the
character If that transaction which has just passed between
the two countries. I should detain you long were I to ilea-
, (tribe all the setnees of satisfaction opened to us nt last by
j th• Tis aty of Washington. Ido not mean that it is to be
r •. : lin the light of a Controversial Victory, list it is In
which itillst be far more gratifying to every
1 h • edlol. It b• a great international mai:tuition ,of
Gs., .; d ~•.1 511hi1'll are, I tri.t, now discovering
5,1111 i 11. 1 a!, 'sent of quarrels better than the
Is nisi he 5w,0.1. (Ilittera.) Ste have
, inns, ; ' etir °Wit prejllitieea and
, all t, • •a• views of our iiiirtiell-
-1 • a icluts ss • . • , • • ill the ltr,t place,
t wi the list
•
. .
.• • . • ,
II'') •
' ' ~f ti, • •et th.• a. • • 1
Oros , 7'; • o filing de votioo ea
we II .2,11 the assistains .0 I shataeter , ,
both is the condint of ei•lepheateil
liken ke to the cif, s•t of itlitenig' a truly national slur
upon the settlements It Ph hieb .we have arrived. p
Thas umott of heart, blond. and ftistittithe . '•
connects Int, 00:0 itlistalliling thet 3,0110 mileg If . ' •i
roll het, cell 110. 1, ith taw brethren heyi net th,
V1.11k5 for Rail!. ((1 Wets.) The melting:et, s :
whist, 100 years ago America commenced lier ear ,
Dation.] fr,,lom illitepenilenee a career in which s
:ill wish her the real...lion of her writ sanguine and prom:,
hopes ileera cheotteled the warm affections that ought
to la-tee prevailed between the two countries with painful
revolleetions. 'rho eery last ot these causes of difference
has, I believe, now been removed, and I fe,l we ntay look
ft wart w itli reason to a futitre ..f perfect harnon v itit
America. (iners.) Wc are able also locast a gismo heyond
.Sitietica, and to that at this moment ti lion I speak
Losimoi has ~iliorit•l, or a rout tore: sy. or it stibject of
itiliereive ith sing'. nation illana the face 1,1 the earth.
t loud theers ) Ply burl Mayor, my lords, ladies, and gent le-
Men, tilt Se are Which Might to call forth 101111
eet•lty litittil emotions of thankful satisfaction. litters.)
Ply right hon, friend near nte has nail with truth that in the
times in which we live, awl, indeed, in all times, a great
nation ought not to speculate upon living by the forbear-
ance of its neighbour, nut ought to live upon its own
resources—(theers,)—and to he strong in the confidence of
the vise and free 11Se of those resources for the innisose of its
defence. (Cheers.) Most true as is that doe:rims iwver, I
believe, will it Is, forgotten, never neglected In this country ;
lout it is also notch—aye, it is more than all this, that we
leok forrrard as mie of the great sources of our strength to
this, that, pi owibly in a great deems, (tont the Sit.ll4tfoil which
we eni"Yo we bare tel real Conflict ttf interests with any other
people that exists, and there is nothing to prevent us, unless
it lie our own fault, from cultivating ss ith one and all relations
not only of einnitierec, but of friendship and affection. To
contribute however little towards the realisation of these
remits daring the time, be it long lie sh,e, for width we may
be responsible for the administration of the affairs If the
country. as it has been so it will continue to be the 1114111
desire, the constant and steady aim of the Ministry whose
health you have been au kiwi as to propose. (Loud cheers.)
The Lord Mayor then proposed " The two [louses of Par-
liament," which toast was drunk with loml cheers, and ably
responded to by the lord chancellor for the Molise of Lords,
and Ly the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the House of
Corona ma.
Mr. Gladstone proposed "The Ilealth of the Lord Mayor,"
who briefly responded 1 51111 in turn gave the toast of The
city Plagistrates," which was replied to by sir Santee Duke,
whose name was coupled with the toast, " The Sheriffs,"
proposed by the lord Mayor, 111111 rearotntled to by Mr.
slit riff .1 ; rani 3lr. Chichester For tescue gave the last
toast, "The Ladies," to which the Lord Mayor responded.
This brought, the banquet to a elose.