The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-16 00:00:00

HILL,

On Tuesday evening Mr. H. B. Sheridan, M.P.
for Dudley, paid a visit to the borough for the
purpose of addressing meetings of his constituents
in the Brierley Hill and Cradley Heath divisions.
The hon. member arrived in Dudley about six
o'clock, and was driven from the railway station to
Brierley Hill. At the outskirts of the latter place
he was met by a number of his supporters, and a
brass band conne,:ted with the Brierley Hill Blue
Ribbon Gospel Army, which was le lby the "Major"
preceded his conveyance into the town. playing "See,
the conquering hero come." Mr. Sheridan, on be-
ing recognised, was hailed with loud cheering. He
firstproceeded to tie Eagle Inn, wL ere:he met several
of the promine it members of his party, and ar-
ranged to receive at Cradley Heath on the follow-
, .
mg day a deputation from the Dudley and District
Teachers' Association, another from the leaders of
the local Miners' Union, and another who wished
to lay before him suggestions far improving the
mode of electing Poor-law Guardians. Afterwards
Mr, Sheridan addressed a crowded meeting in the
Town Hall. Mr. Henry Carder (president of the
Brierley Hill branch of the Dudley Liberal Associa-
tion) presided, and among those also present on the
platform were Messrs. J. W. Clulow, John Addison,
the Rev. W. B. Bliss, Messrs. S. Bennett, P. Par—
' geter, H. Humphries, W. MacMillan, R. B. Guest,
T. Wood, C. Ford, Alderman Greaves (Kiddermin-
ster), J. T. Gallinioro, S. Cave, Holt, Willetts, C.
Beckley, J. WriAht, G. Turner, Bazillier Hingley,
A. Chambers, T. Mobberley, E. Cook, B. Scriveu,
H. Scriven, J. Humphries, J. Brown, J. Pearson,
J. Ward, E E. Cooper, W, J. Hudson, W,
Partis, &c.
After votes of confidence in the Government
policy,_.

- Mr Sheridan, who was received with cheers, first
acknowledged the kind reception given to him, the
best return for which, he said, was that in the
present session be should give his vote in favour of
that great measure oa which so much of the future
prosperity of the working classes mainly depended
At the outset he wished to allude to an unfortunate
local incident which had happened in connection
wi,h a school at Pensnett. A child was said to
have died from overpressure. He had seen the
President of the Education Department and dis-
cussed the matter with him, and the President hid
assured him that the reply sent to the case had
been well considered, that Mr. Buchanan, the
medical officer of the district, was a min of most
unquestionable ability, and in whom the Govern
meat placed the fullest reliance' that he was per-
fectly sure there was no ground for supposing that
the death of the child was caused by any action at
the school, but that it proceeded from dropsy super-
vening on a case of scarlet fever; and that he felt
there was nothing really to inquire into. If, how-
ever. anyone from Pensnett thought there was
anything further he (Mr. Sheridan) could do in the
matter, or if they would like him to put any ques•
tion on the subject in Parliament, or if they wished
any memolial presented, he should be very happy
to go into the matter—(applause). Proceeding to
refer to the session of Parliament just commenced,
he said already thunder clouds had strewn them-
selves, and thunder had been heard at Westminster,
and already they had been favoured with a scene
by that little noble Lord—Lord Randolph Church-
hill—(hisses)—who had figured as captain-general
of the Conservative party. The other night when
he rose nothing was more ridiculous or absurd than
what he had to say, and it was manifestly improper
that the time of the Government should be em-
ployed in lingering when their policy was to press
forward with those real sterling measures which
were to be introduced, and not to hamper the
parliamentary proceedings with questions foreign
to the business—(hear, hear). When, however,
the pending vote of censure had been decided, the
real work of Parliament would go forward. The
question of Egyptian policy was a very serious and
important question, but the fate of the Govern
ment was by no means involved in the division to
be taken this week on the vote of censure, for they
were sure of a majority—(applgule). Nevertheless,
the policy of the Opposition was to attack the
Gov.3rnment, and endeavour to dent its armour in
various places, and if they failed in effecting their
object directly in one pace, they hoped by reiter-
ated attacks to ultimately accomplish their pur-
pose. Proceeding to review in detail the
history of the Egyptian question he said
it would be a great mistake if the English
Government were to promote a power in Egypt at
all capable of being converted into a power hostile
to England, until at least another road to India
other than the Suez Canal had been found. But
whether that roadlwas open or not, he thought whilst
England remained mistress of the seas, the safest,
wisest, and surest road to India would be found
by way of Egypt. It had been found necessary by
the Government to revive the old and almost for-
gotten sovereignty of Turkey over Egypt—the echo
lof a sovereignty they might almost term it—and

with the aid and sanction of the Sultan England
was enabled to do whatever she pleased in the land
of the Pharoahs. If England were to cease for a
single day to give support to Turkey the policy
which Peter the Great proclaimed in his will would
be adopted by Russia—the Sultan would be driven
from Europe and a Russian Eastern empire would
be established on the banks of the Bosphorus—(ap.
plans* This being so it was important we should
be should be careful what we did in Egypt. With
respect to the Soudan, the meaningless addition of
it, madeup of wastes and deserts as large as Europe
itself, would of course be of no use to Egypt under
the protectorate of England. It was not to be sup•
posed that England would assist in re-conquering
the Soudan to place it under the dominion of the
Turks, or that we should send British troops and
spend British money to effect such a conquest as
as that which the Tories in Parliament urged the
Government should have undertaken. A Govern-
ment like the present would not consent to that,
the effect of which would be that our forces would
be lost, and our troops would leave their bones in
the desert as a prey for the vultures. All he could
understand England would consent to was to take
the protectorate of Berber, where General Gordon
had already arrived --(applause). He urged that
the misfortunes in Egypt could not be fastened on
the Government, and, alluding to General Gord.m's
miesion, he sad his pro ;ress so far showed that
there was extreme prebablity that he would accom-
plish his remark tble mission altogether—(hear,
hear), If thAt should be so, England would very
likely take the protectorate of Egypt on the lines
he (Mr. Sheridan) had mentioned, and, for ()nee in
the history of that unfortunate country. life and
property would be safe. He had very little doubt
but that the Government welt d come out of the
conflict with flying colours—(applause). He ha 1
with the greatest possible attention looked ioto the
subject, and into all the evidence contained iu the
B.ue Books now before Parliament, and there was
not the smallest evidence to show that the Govern-
ment had in the least degree committed itself in
the way they had been charged with doing—(ap—
plause). All that was sensible, just and reasonable,
the Government could show had been done by them
and their agents, and he had not the least doubt
that the vote, when it was taken in the Rouse
would be an expression of absolute "confidence in
the Government by a large and significant ma
jority—(applause). The next question of import-
ance which the Government had before it was the
questiou of Reform—(hear, hoar). The Franchise
Bill, as proposed, was a very simple, plain, straight-
forward, and, as Mr. Chamberlain said, a very
earnest measure—(lpplause). All it souelit to .do
was to give citizens the rbsolute right and posses-
610'1 of the franchse which had been so lung end
strongly .vithheld from them, an Iho presumed
teose present would supp nt the carry:ng arils Bill
--(applause). When the Bill was carriel it would
1(1,1 to the roll of electors some 2,000,000 votes,
rind it would set at rest the question of the equal-
isation of borough and county votes; but whether
it would rectify all the discrepancies whit h there
w :re in the franchise question or not he was not
pared to say. It would, however, be accepted
waei gratitude as an instalment of reform of which
more would afterwards be wanted, His impression
was the Tories would not permit the House of
Lords to throw out the Bill, because they kn-w if
the House of Lords refused it, the Liberal party
would go to the country with th: cly that the
House of Lords was stopping the progress
of absolutely necess try reform —(applause)—and
that such a campaign as would take place under
circumstances of that sort would send the Liberal
party back to power with a stronger majority than
before—(applause)—and that the Tories would go
back considerably daieaged, whilst the great card
th3y had to play, and their only card under the
circumstances—the questioe of a redistribution of
sears—would have lost more than half its value.
I The policy of the ['ones would be to
I pat the Bill on the back as being very sensible and
proper. and yet say they must take care it was
properly guided, corrected, protected, and
curbed, it might be by a wholesomely-prepared Bill
for the re—distribution of seats. The whole force of
the Tory party will be thrown into that question of
re.distribution, awl there they might do themselves

•

a great deal of service by mutilating the Franchise
Bill and damaging its value. No doubt, too, they
would try obstruction, but not open and patent ob-
struction, to this Bill. He thought, however,
Liberals might be of good hope that the end of the
present session would see the passage of this great
measure and the enfranchisment of the people. If
the Bill passed, and a good and satisfactory Bill for
re-distribution passed, they might then, he thought,
in connection with the Corrupt Practices at Elec-
tions Bill, be enabled to send a great many more
members to Parliament who really and practically
represented the working classes—(applause). That
wai what,was wanted in order to effect great social
eterms which were necessary in the interests of the
people. Great reforms, too, were necessary in the
H ouse of Commons, and there was hardly a depart-
ment in the State in which reforms were not
necessary. There were questions affecting the
House of Lords, affecting land, and a more
epi able distribution of wealth, which could be
dealt with as soon as a large extension of the
franchise was successfully passed. Until theu he
was afraid the House would remain what it now
was, one third of it a least being relatives ano
frit nds of the Upper House, and a very largd
section of it representing placemen and those whe
held situations under Government--(applause).
There were but two members in the House who
might be said to directly represent the working
I classes—viz , Mr. Burt and Mr. Broadhurst—(ap •
plause). The popular element must take its place
in the House very soon if the extension of the
franchise took place, and other great changes were
mentioned. Would, he asked, the same misery,
poverty, want, and unhappiness then chaiacterise
the working classes of the next generation as an the
last? He said that better times were coming,
.anct
that with reform would come great social improve-
ments. There was hope dawning for the working
classes, wholmust look forward to the passage of
the Franchise Bill as the greatest possible boon to
be offered to the country—(applause).
The usual vote of thanks to the chairman ter-
minated the proceedings.
On Wednesday night Mr. Sheridan, addressed his
constituents in the Grainger's Lane School, Cradley
Heath, Rowley Regis. The chair was occupied by
Mr B. Hingley, and there were also present Messrs.
E. Hingley, G. Green, H. Green, J. Addison, R
N. Hall, J. Clulow, F. Coley, J. Hingley, Henn

The Chairman said he had heard it on good
authority that at the rext general election the Con-
servatives of the Parliamentary borough of Dudley
intended to bring forward a candidate in opposition
to Mr. Sheridan, and he would therefore urge them
o get their firces in order.
Mr. Sheridan, M.P., who was received with
cheers, said that on the previous evening a most
important motion was brought before the House of
Commons, and when the division was taken he
hoped to be present to make one in swelling the
numbers of those who would vote in favour of the
Government—(applause). On the previous even-
ing in the House of Lords, by a majority of one
hundred votes, a vote of censure was passed upon
the Government; but he could assure his can-
stituents that the vote would not have the least
effect upon the Government, who were prepared to
do their duty, and were doing that wnich met with
the approval of the majority of the people of Eng-
land—(applause). The hon. gentleman, in referring
to the Egyptian affairs, said he believed a requisi-
tion was being signed by a number of Liberal
members in favour of the Government establish—
ing a direct and permanent protectorship in Egypt.
Mr. Sheridan afterwards dealt with the county
franchise que,tion, and said the present was the
test session of the present Parliament. If the
house of Lords refused to assent to the extension
of the county franchise the Liberals would appeal
to the country, and it would then be for the people
to consider if reform was not badly needed in the
House of Lords—(applause). He advocated a
proper and fair distiibution of land which was not
being used by the owners, and was of opinion that
the land question would settle itself when land-
owners ‘,ould not be in a position to compete with
foreigners in the selling of meat and wheat—(hear,
hear). With the extension of the franchise he was
convinced there would be reform, and the working
classes would be thereby benefited.—(applause).
On the motion of Mr. George Green, and seconded
by Mr. T. Homer, a vote of canfidence was passed
in the hon. gentleman.