The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-06 00:00:00

Etc tonrbritige 0 berm.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 1879.
PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT.

FRANCE is so near a neighbour of Great
Britain—indeed, the nearest neighbour that
we possess— that we naturally feel more in-
terest in the politics more immediately across
the Channel than in those of other European
countries. The political life of Berlin, of
Vienna, of Buda-Pesth, or of Rome, is as so
much Greek to most of us; we do not follow
the doings of the newly-created Turkish
Parliament; while Russia, alone of all Euro-
pean countries, has no legislature whatever.
But the leading men of France are known to
us; and when M. Thiers was alive his
speeches on great questions commanded
quite as much attention here as in France.
Therefore the intelligence that, after a lapse
of more than nine years, the French Cham-
bers have once more met in Paris, is not
without its interest for English people. Ver.-
sailles has ceased to be the legislative capital
of France, and Paris is restored to its proper
primacy.
Mighty changes have come over France
since last the Chambers met in the Metro-
polis of that country. It was at midnight
on the 3rd of September, 1870, that Count
, Palikao, having been compelled reluctantly
Ilto admit the truth of the news of the Sedan
capitulation, the deposition of the Napoleonic
dynasty was carried in the Chambers, and a
Government of National Defence was formed.
The Emperor Xapoleon was a captive in the
hands of his enemies, and the Emp-ess was
a fugitive from French soil. There can be
little doubt that the decision of the Cham-
bers was swayed by popular clamour. This
was not the first time a howling multitude
had invaded the halls of the Legislature and
overawed its debates. Coming down in
thousands from the northern suburbs of
Paris they were accustomed to surround the
chamber and to dictate their own terms to
the terrified deputies. Soon after the scenes
herein referred to, Paris was besieged by the
German army, and necessarily ceased to be
tile centre of national adminstration. The
Government had to be - carried on first at
Tours, then at Bordeaux; and in January,
1871, a National Assembly was convoked at
Versailles for the purpose of ratifying the
terms of peace. At Versailles, some twelve
miles from Paris, the seat of government
remained until a few days ago, when the
Chambers once more took up their qurirters
in the capital. Versailles was low, adhered
to because it was free from the raids of tu-
multuous mobs, which, however disposed to
mrach upon a building in their immediate
midst, would naturally object t a walk of a
dozen miles. However, let us hope that
after ninety years of turmoil and revolution,
a more peaceful day has dawned for France.
There is no longer any jealousy between
England and France; we have no interest
in the weakening of a former great rival ;
and at the time of her misfortune nine years
ago there were nowhere more sincere sympa-
thisers with France than the people of Great
Britain.

There is one consideration which will at
once present itself to many a mind at the
news that the Senate has taken up its
quarters in the Palais Luxembourg, and the
Deputies in the Palais Bourbon. The two
buildings are some distance apart, manifestly
a very inconvenient arrangement. France,
with all her splendid public buildings, is
without a Palace for thilLegislatnre in which
the two Chambers can meet under the same
roof. Such a magnificent structure as that
which stands upon the banks of the Thames
and wherein our own Parliament meets, is
totally unknown in Paris. It has handsome
temples, palaces, museums, and hospitals;
bntno Palace of the Legislatrter. This would
be quite accounted for by the absolutist
principles which actuated the monarchy of
France up to the outbreak of the first revo-
lution ; but since then there has been m.orc
than one forth of government professing to
be founded on liberty. Yet the fact remains
that to this day France has not provided 4a
home for its Parliament, which has to be
content with a makeshift; and the omission
is one that ought to be supplied by our
neighbours without delay.

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.

The market to-day was pretty stiff, busi-
ness possessing a firmer tone and in favour
of eellers all round. Coraplaintit were very
numerous of manufacturers not being dispo-
sed to sell, although at rates fixed by them-
selves, some of them being higher than those
at which last transactions took place. None
of the marked bar houses wee represented
on 'Change to-day, and this circumstance
gave rise to some speculation as to the
probability of bars being put up again in a
few days, the belief that this will be so being
strengthened by the fact that these houses
are full of orders, and will not book forward.
The unbranded bar makers have also plenty
to do, and they are obtaining prices which
are only 1.55. a ton below the official basis
which rules the market. Sheets were very
actively inquired for, but difficult to pur-
chase, consequent on manufacturers having
sonic very large contracts on their books,
and the upward tendency of quotations, For
common sheets to-day £8 10s. was asked
for singles, the terms for lattens_varying
from £12.t0 £l3. Hoops and strips were
much sought for, the former particularly, at
£7 - Os. Several small lots of boiler-plates
were purchased. In the pig trade prices
were even firmer than in the finished
branches, the makers positively refusing to
sell unless higher prices were given. £3
10s. to £3 15s. was asked for best hot-air
all-mine metal, while part-mine could not
be got under £3. Pigs from other districts
were comparatively unsaleable from the
dearness which characterised the quotations
Ironstone had a very large sale, and there
was an increased demand for fuel at tha
advance rates. A meeting of blast-furnace
proprietors will be held in Birmingham to-
morrow (Thursiay) to consider the applica-
tion of the men for an advance of wages.
• •

BIRMINGHAM, Thurs lay.

This afternoon the market was well-at-
tended and quotations were firmly sustained,
the enhanced price of fuel having the effect
of rendering both the manufacturers of
tinished iron and the producers of the crude
material less disposed to accept contracts on
the existing terms. Another reason which
still further operated to strengthen the
market was the declaration of an advance of
10 per cent. in the wages of blast turnace-
men, which decision was come to at a meet-
ing of the leading proprietors at the Queen's
Hotel prior to the gathering on 'Change.
The advance will tak. ct irom Saturday
next. Owing to the various arrangements
which exist in regard to wages in the blast
furnace department the exact amount of the
concession cannot be stated. The furnace
keepers, who as a rule, receive about 4s. a
day besides a bounty of id. or 2d. for each
extrarton per week that the furnace pro-
duces above the stipulated quantity, will
:eceive an increased remuneration af about
rid. per week, and the other classes of wcirk-
men, whose wages vary from 3s. 6d. to 4Eit.
a day, in like proportion. At a meeting of
the Cannock Chan Colliery owners this

afternoon the demand of the colliers for an
advance of 20 per cent, in wa—es was con-
sidered, the men having intimated their in-
tention to send in notices for the advance at
the pits to-morrow. It was decided to make
no alteration in wages or prices at present,
and to leave the men to take their own
course. It was stated that under existing
prices the men are not entitled to any in-
crease of remuneration, but that with any
further rise in the price of coal an advance
in advance in wages would be conceded with-
out application. Although prices are not
being raised in some instances, the coal-
owners are withdrawing the concessions
that they have hitherto made to customers,
and insisting upon the full prices contained
in their circulars.