The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-09-30 00:00:00

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SATURDAY, SEPT, 30, 1876

XL GLADSTONE IN SOUTH DURHAM.

On Saturday afternoon the Right Hon. W. E. Glad.
atone, who is the guest of the Duke of Cleveland, unex-
teotedly 'delivered a speech at Staindrop, in South
Jiarham. The tiberal Association of Staindrop
Etelbolttd him to that villiage. Mr. J. W. Pease,
P., presided. In reply to the welcome, Mr.
ladstone, who was received with tremendous cheer-
-112?, said :

_-; ---- •
.•,,isidEocir, kr. Pease gentleinen,— I hope,
mewed I am sure yell wanotmistinderstand the reason why
I have been unwllliii* tt give to this meeting but a friendly
character. I son bhgaged at present with my wife and a par-
ot out family hi paving several ftiendly visits in different
• l. 1!. of the country, and I feel that it is not desirable, on
grounde, that private operations of that kind should,
DI being circulated through tho conntiy to Connelion with
Lteeehts tm matters Of punt intefest, assume the air of con-
andes for actluirlhg a notoriety through the kind par-
hty ot thole Ik4ic may be inclined to listen to me. That
draiall.y, thb difficulty. Nothing at all can happen in this
• al, or in any other room but what would be a pleasure to
=hit. It is very pleasing to receive this abundant and
"Tar Whelming acknowledgment which jmeet at all times,
al'a!,yerhaps. northernhoglishMen more than any others
rlb oE4ollbd tti make in their firm and fervid natures to those
tlll2 are Wiliitg to keive them; but when it becomes frequent
atieetihei are made and represented in the newspapers,
- causes the idea that there is some plot or intrigue going
op, and in my position it would not have a very favourable
11,Peot if such an occurrence did happen. Although
sir. Badcock has wished me in your name many years of
health and strength, I ratist remind you that it is
31'ore than 44 years since my public ;life began,
and it certainly has not been prolonged by means of
great abstinence. I do assure you that it is not always
that lam in as good trim and feather as I have been. A
Lreception of this kind is enough to make a man well, if ever
Qe II M. Under infirmities of what I will not call old age,
but what is something not very distinct from it, I am not as
able to serve the State and undertake public cares as I have
~been; for this reason, so far as I can I throw upon others
the responsibility of looking to the affairs both of the country
Ind of the Party with which I take it all of us, or nearly all
bflls, ate closely aasociated.
l• ir. GliOstono then spoke at length on the Eastern
teuestiolka mad its bearings upon the existing relations
,fsttaften the political parties of this country. He said
that all the Liberal party wanted was that the Govern-
bent should change its policy with regard to the state
of affairs in the East, and that, if the Conservative
Party wished to prevent their opponents from reaping
144 benefit by the existing state of affairs, what they
had to do was as clear as day. Speaking for the
Liberal party, he was satisfied that if the Government
took the matter up in the Bann spirit which had actu-
ated the movements of the party to which he belonged,
the latter would be perfectly satisfied. He at the
titns admitted that he did not know whether,
trven with the best exertions on the part of the Govern-
inent, it 'would be possible to do everything that was
attire' d. In conclusion, Mr. Glafistone said—
• .Willkiregard to the imputations of Party feeling and
PAY action, I think we may safely put them aside, because
.1111 our sincere desire that our Conservative friends should
"ter into a generous competition with us to see who can most
ellregctually act in regard to this matter. We have taken a
th e share in it. but we may not be omnipotent. If there are
who will have their say, we cannot answer for them in
I,..nlable degree and manner as we can for ourselves. We
we have special reasons to sharpen our desires, to
duty in this business, because, without at
Maltreat casting any blame upon anybody, or enter-
;ll into the question of who is to blame, whether
tb__le the few or anybody to blame, we know the occurrences
9t. circumstances have happened, and the weight of the
Eritish name has not been heard on the right side. It has
07l1_ given to the oppressor, and has been withheld from the
0;:vr• Let us, with great earnestness endeavour to discharge
4;,.??!.it individual duty in our own individual sphere, not
th.t9ing from any ditnculty it may entail. Having done
tin let us refer the Issue to that Almighty Governor of the
s,itiverle Who has regard to justice and to truth, and who, in
own
applittrerti time will cause truth and justice to triumph.

11911 t Monday Mr. Gladstone received, at the Deanery,
"ruato. a deputation from the Liberal Association of
that city, and in replying the right hon. gentleman
eidd that if those who were carrying on the Govern-
kent Were disposed to alter their course, and do what
It'iraajight, he should not wish to put any obstruction
co!heir Path. But it was the duty of the people to
se
rAe care that the queation of the day was understood
tho wlio wen I-4
power.